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Roots and Beginnings

Welcome to Cedar Hill Farms of Franklin, Tennessee

Est 1854

John C Goodwin III, Owner

Welco Dad just uprooted inia and hauled me to Tennessee two days before senior year

My father couldn’t give up this opportunity to work as head groom at a fancy farm that trains horses for the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup, and I didn’t want to be the evil daughter who stamped her foot and refused to come

It doesn’t totally matter, because home is where my dad is But it still sucks that I had to leavehorses It would’ve becoh school, and now I have to start all over again

I punch the code into the alar open, and I steel myself for the half-mile trek to Hillcrest, the staff quarters My claustrophobic new hoantuan whitechairs dot the wraparound porch, waiting for soinia, it was justin our trailer Noe’re sharing quarters with six other staff members and their kids To escape, I took a walk to don Franklin this , but I’m cash poor at the moment so there wasn’tI need before school starts is to gain a reputation as that weird girl who loiters

So here I ao talk to the lead trainer about getting so cash poor I used to exercise racehorses at the track and casino in Charles Town But that was at a totally different level--the horses I rode there were like driving a Ford and here they are like Ferraris Hell, the Queen of England stables her horses thirty minutes away

What if the trainer thinks I’ since I was four, but still Just go talk to hio back to loitering I inhale then let out the deep breath I’ve been holding and take in the scent of cornbread, fresh laundry, dirt, cedar trees, and of course, horseshit

I can do this

I charge down the driveway and suddenly a wailing, high-pitched alarht is: Tornado! But the skies are as blue as a robin’s egg Seconds later I see a brown and white blur streaking across the grass A racer Two guys on ponies are chasing it He s h to slon He zips past me as I yell "Stop!" and take off after him The horse circles back around I hold a hand up "Whoa, there"

The horse slows to a jog, studying es rip, I thrust hi hi a saddle

"Did you throw your rider?" Suddenly he rears up and kicks his feet When he returns to all fours, I get up in his face again "Whoa!" He cowers, bowing his head

One time a horseman told me I have a ith horses Dad told s like that because they’re just trying to get into my pants But I do have a ith horses Dad, however, does not have a ords

I confir the engraving on his bridle Tennessee Star is his na his nose He’s beautiful--a light brown chestnut hite s A Ferrari I never rode such a well-made colt in Charles Town

Then, fro up on a horse I don’t take my eyes off that rider, even when Tennessee Star tries to yank away

I haven’taround like he’s king of the place Which is technically his title, I guess When we arrived two days ago, Mr Goodwin’s chief of staff told me the Goodwin fa staff aren’t allowed inside the manor We were instructed to keep our distance froet fired on day three, I haven’t spoken to the boy

Still, he’s beautiful I should start a azine called GQ Cowboy, and he could be the cover model every month Wavy hair the color of straw curls out from under his cowboy hat His snohite button-down shirt is spotless and pressed, tucked into his jeans, the arms rolled up to his elbows The three coonhounds that always seeht a giggling maid told me his name: Jack Goodwin And he’s seventeen, likeon Monday

"Star!" Jack says, dis fluidly "You’re too srabs the bridle as I let go Two far up on ponies and Jack wordlessly hands Star off to one of the the horse’s flank before they lead him away

"If I didn’t love that horse so e in New York City," Jack says in a deep Tennessee drawl "That’d teach him not to buck his rider and run off"

Once he confirrasp on his stallion’s reins, Jack turns to ht s Star That was insane how you cornered hi like it"

"No problem"

"So what can I do you for?" He tips his cowboy hat in an exaggerated ht white teeth Behind closed lips, I run htly crooked front ones "You’re a bit late for the tour They’re at eight am and it’s nearly noon now"

He thinks I’ to explain, but then he unleashes his awatt smile It makes uy is hot, but I don’t like boys who get whatever they ithout trying I worked daet my part-time exercise rider job back in Charles Town Just like I’ll work da the stallion’s mane "Do you want a private tour? You know, to say thanks for catching my horse?"

A private tour? Like,the Goodwins’ privacy rules Besides, hanging around people like Jack is not

"I’uests this weekend," Jack says "I hope she’s not having another fashion show for charity, because I barely survived the last one"