Excerpt-The Hunt

Chancellor and Sunday trotted quietly, their heads bowed low against the rain. When Doug reached the spot where Sunday had first run past them in the woods he stopped and looked around.

"Nancy?" he called out.

No response. The throaty sound of the horses' heavy breathing filled the air.

He called louder. "Nancy." He heard nothing but the faint echo of his voice, the horses' breathing, and the rain splattering on the soggy leaves. A forbidding chill crept through him. He shivered as he gathered up the reins and trotted on again.

As he approached a small clearing, both horses stopped abruptly, wheeled around, and tried to bolt back down the trail. Doug turned them again towards the clearing . . . but quickly pulled them to a halt when he saw what had spooked them.