“Kirsten said it all happened so fast she couldn’t be certain, but she did see a deer break from the trees just beside the coop. It ran out into the landing area just as Grantham’s horse was about to take off.”
“A deer you say?” Thumper asked.
“Looked pretty big, she said. She caught a quick glimpse of the rack, enough to know it was a buck. By the time she got to Grantham it was gone.”
Ryman’s knees wobbled and he turned a sickly shade of pale.
“The strange thing,” Chet continued, “is what he said when he regained consciousness. He kept saying ‘Abomination’ over and over. Said his name was ‘Abomination,’ said he was an ‘Abomination.’” Chet looked at Ryman. “Seems your opening remarks this morning made quite an impression on him.”
Thumper reached out to steady Ryman as he began to tot
