#1 Blazing Courage by Kelly Milner Halls

CHAPTER ONE
    The Auction
    â€œWait!” I yell. Jack Manley, my stable manager, is walking so fast I can hardly see him through the dust. Hundreds of hooves can do that—raise a sandstorm in a stadium—especially when every hoof is up for auction.
    â€œKeep up, Annie!” he bellows in his gruff, cowboy voice. “Do you want that mare or not?”
    It’s hard to believe the day has finally come. After a lifetime of collecting Breyer horses and Kathleen Duey novels, after thirteen months of cleaning tack and shoveling manure, I am about to buy a horse—as much horse as my two hundred and six dollars of savings can get me. More horse than I’ve ever had before.
    The United States government takes care of miles and miles of open wilderness that is home to wild horses. When the herds get too big, they round a few up and sell them to the highest bidders. Jack had been studying the Colorado round-up horses for days to pick the right one for me.
    â€œMy choice is an Appaloosa,” he says over his shoulder, “sixteen hands of spotted awesome. We should be able to get her for a song, if you get the lead out of your boots.”
    Jack’s stride is so much longer than mine that I have to jog not to get left behind. He’s fast for an old guy, and tall, but it’s hard to tell. Fifty years of rodeo takes a toll. Break enough bones and you wind up crooked. I top out at five feet. I’m short enough to be a jockey, but too heavy; pleasingly plump , I overheard someone whisper once. So what? Horses don’t care what you look like.
    Hundreds of people fill the arena seats, most holding bidders’ numbers. Our number is 1206—my birthday. Jack says that’s a good sign. Only a hundred horses fill the red pipe corrals on the far end of the dirt arena floor. Some of the animals seem calm. Others, not so much. Jack explains the calm horses will go for more money, because they’ve been green broken.
    â€œThey’ve been sweet-talked,” Jack says with a wink. “They don’t think you’re going to eat them, and they’re rider ready.” Then his smile disappears.
    â€œWhat?” I say.
    â€œShe’s here,” Jack replies. “The Butcher.”
    Most of the people have turned out to buy riding horses cheap. Everyone from dude ranchers who give tourists a thrill to top trainers—all shopping for equestrian bargains. The best horses will go to them, but what about the rest?
    â€œShe’ll buy a bunch of them,” Jack growls. “She’ll ship them to China, and they’ll come back as dog food.”
    I feel sick to my stomach, and I can’t help staring. She doesn’t look evil. Boots to hat to braided gray hair, she looks ordinary. She glances our way and whispers to the man sitting next to her. He tips his black ball cap, and they laugh. I wonder, what could be funny about that job?
    Jack nudges me. “Forget her. It’s starting.”
    The auctioneer steps to the microphone. Auction workers lead horses, one at a time, to video cameras, and instantly they appear on the stadium Jumbotrons. People oooh and ahhh at each new horse. My heart beats like the wings of a dragonfly.
    We wait for the Appaloosa Jack scouted, but I worry. A Paint mare built like a Quarter Horse goes for two hundred. A Palomino colt sells for two twenty five. A string of twenty-two horses sell for more than I have in my pocket, and the Appaloosa is still eight horses down the line.
    I tug on Jack’s sleeve to ask if he’s worried too when a wave of laughter distracts me. A little four-year-old Buckskin slips out of her halter and gallops away from the handler. He chases after her, yelling, “Whoa!” The cameraman runs behind them. He’s trying to get a shot for the video screen, but he gets too close. The horse bucks and kicks her back hooves inches from his face. He falls back into the dirt as she canters away,