by Trey Nosrac

Part 1 ishere.

Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Part 4 is here.

Julia and Walt Binghamton sat in matching blue Adirondack chairs on the sprawling green lawn of their gated property. They waited for Renee Tuttle to arrive and retrieve the two retired racehorses standing near the white gazebo to the left of the three-car garage.

Walt mused, “Are they retired harness racehorses if they never raced?”

She shrugged, “A cryptic question. Perhaps we should refer to them as retired attempted racehorses.”

“Or hopeful but failed racehorses.”

Julia said, “They are fascinating, big, powerful, quiet, and docile creatures. Did you ever attend a harness horse race?”

“No, but I watched a few videos last night. They race, pulling a cart with a driver. A group of eight to 10 horses begin the race behind a car with a fence and travel parade style in a circle, except at the end when they bunch together. The horses race wearing boots, buckles, headgear, leggings, poles, numbers, goggles, and whatnot. They looked as if they were ready for a medieval joust, and the people in the buggies carry whips.”

“Oh dear.”

A grey truck with the logo Final Strides Horse Care on the door pulled a large red horse trailer into the driveway at 2021 Remington Road, Huntington Valley. A tall woman in her 30s turned off the truck engine, hopped out of the driver’s seat, and waved cheerily to the Binghamton’s. The visitor wore jeans, a grey sweatshirt, and a blue baseball cap with her ponytail pulled through the back.

The woman walked toward the couple. They met at the bottom of the porch stairs, and the woman in the blue cap extended her hand, “I’m Renee Tuttle.”

Julia took her hand and smiled, “Nice to meet you. I’m Julia, and this is my husband, Walt. Over there are Drive and Iggy, the pawns in this game.”

Renee reached into her rear pocket, pulled out an envelope, waved it excitedly, and shouted, “We are ALL pawns in Lewis’ last game! I have the story. The mystery is solved. It’s unbelievable. I got a second letter yesterday. I was going to call you but decided to wait to show it to you.”

She handed the envelope to Julia. Walt read the hand-written letter over his wife’s shoulder.

Dear Renee,

I am sure you are confused about the pick-up location. I truly believe the “delay” in transit is, well, was, a no-lose possibility. I have researched possible targets. The Binghamtons appear to be a wealthy, childless, upstanding couple. A few days under their stewardship may allow you to have patrons to support your worthwhile non-profit organization. I believe this couple may adopt these two horses as I did. This intentional delay may be a remote possibility, but at the very least, you can drop off some brochures and meet the unwitting horse minders face to face.

Good luck. Thank You. Give Drive and Iggy a good life.

On another matter, when you receive a rather substantial check as an endowment from my estate liquidation, you will also find a few pages of suggestions for practical solutions to the problem of care for unwanted or uncared-for horses.

I have given the problem of horses that need care a great deal of thought. Of course, I can no longer implement my ideas, but the little manifest I leave behind may be helpful.

Lewis

The trio were silent for a few seconds as they digested the words in the letter.

Walt said, “Fascinating. I find this character fascinating. I wish we had met him.”

Julia spoke softly, “Obviously, he doesn’t want anything. He hopes and wants to help horses and make his money beneficial. It’s oddly genius.”

Renee, “He fell in love with his horses. I do that every month, and I wonder what plans and ideas his horse care manifesto will have?”

The trio were silent for 10 seconds. Julia broke the silence, “Renee, your truck will go home empty. Iggy and Drive now have a new home. Can I rely on your help and advice on building a barn and horse care?”

“Absolutely! Holy smokes. Funding for Final Strides, horses placed, and I can’t wait to see his plans, his horse rescue manifesto. Good old Lewis, he was a junkyard Nostradamus.”