Page 19 (2/2)

But it hurts Bad

I want to screa irl That’s not who I auy to validate me And on top of that, I don’t want to ruin e do have: a great working relationship

"Hey," I say quietly "It doesn’t sound like either of us can handle a relationship right now…" My voice cracks with e out, keep being friends, keep working together I’ve really liked getting to know you better, and I don’t want to lose you," I say in a wobbly tone

His eyes find o back to where ere, okay?"

I stand and charge toward the manor house, and seconds later Jack bounds up to walk beside , oblivious

I slap a fake s I pull a cherry sucker out of my pocket, rip off the wrapper, and stick it intothe relief I need so badly

Hold on Tight

At daybreak on Tuesday, day two ofthe horses Now that it’s Septe into fall, rass, but I’m still hot as hell

I steer Echoes of Su her into a trot An exercise rider orks for another horse owner calls out, "Wo on the racetrack! Go uys around hinore them and ride on by Assholes

At the 3/8 pole, Bryant Townsend rides up beside ivesthe dirt "You coirls shouldn’t be jockeys?"

"I ca any more of et anyto trot What Bryant says uilty--jockeys only make money when the horses they ride win, and when Jack asked me to become Star’s jockey, that meant Bryant would lose business if Star were to win

"I need this chance," I tell Bryant

"Just don’t agree to race any other horses I have a car pay me to think about how lucky I a Echoes of Summer, second up on my schedule is Star Sweat drips downup

Three other exercise riders are right beside me when a baby raccoon appears on the top of a fence post A colt screams and jerks his head Then two of the fillies do the saoes ballistic at forty ht as Star rears onto his hind legs Oh shit "Star," I say in a soothing voice "It’s okay It’s okay" But I’m terrified Star returns to all fours, sidesteps, and jerks his head again, whinnying, and I kick his sides and try to urge hie

The next time he jerks, he uses such force I can’t hold on He pitchesan eency exit Avoid Star’s hooves Atteht onagainst his sides The wailing alar on the interstate without a car Outriders begin to chase after Star as I bringcolt clips my shin with his hoof and I screa

"No, no, no!" Jack sprints up to me and slides onto the track like a baseball player into second base "Are you okay?"

I don’t respond I hold a gloved hand out toward hi

Jack squeezes"Don’t ever do that toto

"No," Jack says

Dad and Gael follow behind Jack, and seeing the horrified look on Dad’s facetiot wacked with a crowbar Da andand butt are okay

Mr Goodwin jogs up "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"I’h clenched teeth "I just had the wind knocked out ofup my chance to race this Saturday! "What you need is a da hiht on that," Jack says

"Maybe you should go to the doctor," Dad says, but I shakehurts except forand my butt," I whisper, e ata draency room visit just because onna have a nasty bruise toet you off the track," Mr Goodwin says, looking over at the gates "We’ve got about twenty riders waiting"

Cedar Hill is a business, after all I lurch tome home from school to make sure I don’t have a head injury

"Dad, don’t That’llho over so at