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"What’s tomorrow?" Cindy asks

"I ate lunch with Jack Goodwin today, and he asked "

"And?" Dad asks

"I said okay I told Jack I’d "

"Shortcake, there are other boys out there," Cindy says slowly, shaking her head Does she have to callto ith his horse, but I don’t want you around him," Dad says "I don’t want you to upset Mr Goodwin"

What if they knew he nearly kissed ht?

Cindy nervously taps her knife on a plate "Have you been spending ti, I overheard hi his little sister how ood roleyou want a guy to say about you "He was talking abouton with you and Jack?" Dad asks in a rush

"Nothing," I say,hot

"Shortcake, you knoe don’t need any draht now Not with a baby on the way" How unfair He’s the one who got his girlfriend pregnant

Mylunch with Jack, and I like working with hiether, and I can’t sort it out in h the sa the free lunch, not havingyard-sale clothes--and I can’t even flirt with Jack without feeling guilty, because Dad and Cindy are having a baby they didn’t plan for

"I’ with Star," I say "That’s all"

"You don’t need to ith Star on the gate," Dad says, sipping his coffee His hand shakes as he sets the cup back on the table "I’ll talk to Jack in thepersonally if he’s that worried about the colt"

"Dad, it’s okay I can handle it…Can we get sos up her phone, and soon we’re toasting my new sister over rhubarb pie

If pie only cured confusion

The nextI meet Jack at Greenbriar barn at 5:00 a to peek over the horizon, and the grass is still dawith Star, we bring Mr Goodwin’s stallion Lucky Strikes with us to the gate This horse won the Preakness and the Breeders’ Cup a few years back People who don’t know horseracing think the Kentucky Derby is the most important race in the world, but the Breeders’ Cup in California attracts the best horses of all It had a 5post," I say

I hand Jack two bags full of baby carrots and sliced apples; then I ate He whinnies, his ears go flat, and he backs up I rub his neck and co nonsense to hiate It’s not scary It’s okay"

I pat his neck again "Jack, coate behind you, and cliate, resting a hand on Star’s head Star is going crazy, whipping his head around every which way, banging against the stall

"Feed him an apple slice," I call out, and Jack follows my orders Starthe reins steady

"God, you’re a taskmaster"

"Feed hi sweat off his face

"Remind me never to work on a submarine," I say, both overwhel before baths, Jack and Star both have their own , so I decide to take an extreme course of action "Star!" I transfer the reins to one hand and grab Jack’s hand with the other

"What the--" Jack gazes down at our linked hands and glances around, as ifsure we’re alone

"See, Star? Jack’shands, until Star’s breathing calms down and he’s still I think I’ve bored the hell out of the horse

"That’s probably enough," I say "Let us out of the gate, and noe’ll do the sa with Lucky Strikes while Star watches"

Back outside the gate, I call for an exercise rider to ate I stand with Star, feeding him apples and carrots, while Lucky Strikes ate, over and over Then I feed both Star and Lucky Strikes apples out of et your training style from your dad?" Jack asks

I nod "Dad always says that horses learn by watching other horses And all guys love food, right?" I hold up the bag of carrots and apples

"True"

I wipe sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand "I need to exercise Star before school"

Jack sain"