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"Mr More? I ondering? Whenever you read old stuff like this, people’s spelling is weird, and they use an f when they et why that is? Did they actually say it differently back then?"

Balthazar could only stare at her, nonplussed, for a long second Then he ed to say, "They didn’t pronounce it differently The spelling was just--a convention of the tis we do today that are just as strange" He took a deep breath "Moving on!"

The rest of her school days were never as ot her transfer out of anato the janitor’s heart attack the sa was just too much to think about The school filled her free hour by letting her work as an aide to Mr Bollinger, as super nice but didn’t have a whole lot for her to do

So only the places she kneere safe--but with va She’d deal with the impact her psychic visions would have on her life more when this crisis had passed

Her routine involved capping off each day with study hall, norood part That hen she got to text Balthazar soah she never, ever cut under the bleachers Usually she ith Madison and her group of friends, which meant they could sometimes sit near Balthazar and even talk and joke with hih Skye was careful never to speak to him directly when there were soclose to hiaze followed her while she joked around with Madison, Keith, Khadijah, and the rest of the gang

Best of all, though, hen they were alone together

"You’re really good with Pepper beside her While she was on Eb, he sat astride the mare from her stables, as fairly old and fairly cranky As a result, she wasn’t ridden often--which otten a little fat However, Balthazar handled her smoothly

"I’ve always done best with mares Not sure why" Balthazar patted the reddish shoulder of his horse; Pepperirl"

"With you, she is" Maybe the old horse had never needed anything but kindness and patience "The only other rider she was ever as good as Dakota He was gentle with her, like you"

For a o--riding ahead of her on Christ stubborn Peppermint swiftly uphill, while she and Eb followed behind The forest seehter

"You don’t speak about Dakota often," Balthazar said His voice was even, inviting her to talk if she wanted to, but clearly not pushing the matter