Page 1 (2/2)

"We haven’t"I know I’d have remembered you I’m Jack Goodwin"

I shake his hand quickly "Savannah" What a player "I gotta get up to the house"

I stalk off and Jack hustles after me "Wait! I’ll escort you"

He’ll escort me? How primitive

The horsestallion--probably no older than five--and he’s sprinkled hite and black, like Rocky Road I can’t resist touching his nose "Who’s this?"

"This is ley"

"Your bro?"

"My sister tells est bunch of bull I’ve ever heard I can sense the cocky confidence radiating off his tanned skin

"So why did Star run away?" I ask

"Two baby raccoons clied to chase them away, but not before a bunch of the colts and fillies started screa I think that’s why Star took off"

"Makes sense" Anything will scare horses when they’re young Especially if they’re Thoroughbreds Dad says they’re crazy because of inbreeding Thoroughbred bloodlines are worse than the royal families of Europe

When we reach the top of the hill, the racetracks and barns co over ataround both practice tracks A field of haystacks sits beyond the tracks, and a garden full of sunflowers and vegetables lies between the tracks and the er than a Walinia is a shack by co ainst ley doesn’t like anybody but me My father hasn’t raced him yet ’cause he’s too stubborn and mean"

"Maybe he’s just lazy and doesn’t want to race" I kiss the horse’sout of it"

"Maybe"

"Your dad lets you keep Wrigley even if he can’t race?" Caring for a Thoroughbred for one year costs more than a new pickup truck

Jack pats the horse’s neck "I love hiood with horses Does your dad own a farainsthello "Hello," I say back

"Wrigley," Jack says, securing the lead around his hand "It’s not nice to be so forward"

I kiss the horse again "You’re such a pretty boy"

"Thank you," Jack says, grinning

"I was talking to the horse"

"I don’t believe you My bro Wrigley is nothing coley’s side

"Is Jack always such an ass?" I ask the horse I can’t believe I said that I feelthe color of strawberry ice crea I better watch ht on out of here

I reach into e one You kno some people take antianxiety meds? Well, I eat candy I rip off the crinkly wrapper and stick the sucker in my mouth Instant relief

I peek up at Jack’s blue eyes He’s nicer than I figured he’d be And he has a sense of hurin on his face "Did you come with Senator Ralston to meet with my father today? Are you related to him?"

Me? Related to a senator? I look down at ht black T-shirt I’m about to fess up that I’ve just eons and therefore he and I can never speak because his family values their privacy when a man storms out of the house and up the hill to us

"Jack!" The man is dressed exactly like him--pressed shirt, dark jeans, and cowboy boots "Abby Winchester has called the house eight ti for you and I’ainst the wall"