Page 7 (2/2)

Jack stares at h me Why the hell did I ask that? Who aht attend the sa out his horse’s mouth

"Sorry," I say quickly "I shouldn’t have said anything"

Jack keeps looking atserious I’ to check on Star" He disappears froeslike she’s worried aboutdeeply "I’m okay"

The announcer announces that it’s ten minutes to post time Bryant Townsend mounts Minerva, and I head over to the fence so I can collect her after she finishes the race

Rory joins uaranteed purse on this one"

"I know," I reply, grasping the white fence, white-knuckled

If Minerva wins today, Mr Goodill be 100,000 richer, and Rory says he tends to give good bonuses to the grooms, exercise boys, and trainers ith his horses Mr Cates never did things like that One point for Mr Goodwin

"I could sure use the e applications," Rory says "They’re expensive Like, some of them are thirty-five bucks apiece"

"Da yet?"

Rory lifts a shoulder, staring out at the track "I’ra scholarships likeI’ht during the grand tour of Franklin, Rory confessed thatcare of his autistic nine-year-old brother Special schooling doesn’t co all over the country Rory’s older brother gave up attending a fancy college so they could afford special schooling

"What happens if you can’t afford college?" I ask "Are you just gonna keep working on your screenplays or take over Whitfield Faronna take over Cedar Hill?"

"I can’t do it," Rory says quietly

"H with our faro through this when I’onna run the farm? Your brother, Will?"

"Frankly I don’t care who runs it It’s a black hole"

"But the farm’s been in your faotta do what’s best for s aren’t meant to last"

"But your family--"

"Would you drop it?" he hisses He clutches the fence and I suck in a deep breath, staring at the scoreboard

"I’ nore your dick friend over here"

"It’s okay," I say quietly, resting a hand on his arm "I understand" But I don’t So his family has had a few bad seasons So what? I’ive up on thenant, I can’t iainst other fillies and mares, which means that Mr and Mrs Goodwin, Jack, Shelby, Bryant, and Gael go to the winner’s circle and have their picture made with the horse

When Bryant dismounts, Jack hands Minerva off to Rory so he can hot-walk her and lead her back to her stall "I want you to watch Star’s race with ood luck"

I nod Mrs Goodwin and Shelby disappear back to their box, but Mr Goodwin stays put against the fence, thuone I need a hot dog"

Jack whispers to s, so he has to sneak them"

"Do you want one?" Mr Goodwin asks Jack

"That’s the stupidest question I’ve ever heard" Jack adjusts his suit jacket "Of course I want a hot dog"

Mr Goodwin gently taps Jack’s cheek "How about you, Savannah?"

"Yes, sir" I reach into ive him cash, but Mr Goodaves me off "Wait here so I can find you," Mr Goodwin says, then goes over to the concession stand

"Dad refuses to get a cell phone," Jack says "That’s e have to stand here so he can find us"

"Why doesn’t he have a cell phone?"

"Because he insists on living in the prehistoric era I read this story about how apes in zoos use iPads and I showed the article to Dad, hoping it woulda computer or a cell, but you knohat he said?"