Chapter 8
Abraham
ABRAHAM JULIAN NOTICED his prized horse, Champion, had a slight limp during the final approach to the Beaumont Plantation, so he decided to walk next to his friend for the last mile. So much for my grand entrance, Abraham chuckled. He seemed tall in the saddle with Champion, and loved the expressions of surprise when he dismounted. Abraham was barely five feet tall.
Given the hours spent training Champion, Abraham never needed to hold the reins or pull and tug. He merely motioned in a direction with his riding crop and the horse obeyed. If he tapped the crop on the ground, Champion attempted a crouch, and if he held it high, the horse would stand on his hind legs. This, however, was not the time for tricks. Abraham suspected Champion had stepped on something because he
