#1 Blazing Courage by Kelly Milner Halls Page B

keep her calm.”
    â€œHey little girl,” I whisper as I gather up the slack. “We’re going to be good friends, you and I.” Her tan ears move forward, and so does her body. She doesn’t know what I’m saying, but she studies the tone of my voice.
    â€œCome on, girl. I already love you. Can’t you love me a little?” I offer her a slice of apple.
    She makes a soft, reassuring sound, a nicker deep inside her throat—like the purr of an oversized, untamed kitten. I wonder how long it’s been since she’s eaten. She breathes deeply, then slowly moves toward me, all the way into the trailer. As she takes the treat from the palm of my hand, I smile.
    â€œYou like that?” I ask, as I pull another piece from the bag. She takes it, too. “I’m glad,” I say. “You’ll like me, too. You’ll see.” Her muscles tense as Jack slams the back trailer door and locks the latch. She’s alert and unsure but still taking bits of apple. For now, she’s decided to stay calm.
    â€œTime to head home,” Jack says, petting the Mustang’s forelock. I step out of the trailer cabin and head for the passenger side of his old truck. All I can do is smile as I put on the seatbelt.
    â€œLook at you,” Jack says, snickering, “All that homeschooled smart girl melted away to reveal sappy sweet in its place? Just for the case of dog food riding in my trailer?” He punches my arm and it stings, but only a little.
    â€œHey!” I say. “I’m not the one who did the bidding. Who got sappy first?”
    â€œI guess I had rocks in my head,” he says. But he’s smiling like an outlaw as he slips a CD in the car stereo. Willie Nelson never sounded so good.
    Unloading is easier than loading was. The little Buckskin is more than ready to get out and pushes back the minute the trailer gate opens. That’s good, as long as she doesn’t panic and twist an ankle—or worse, run away. If she bolted, it could take days to find her.
    I snatch up the lead the minute she’s out and dangle an open bag of apples—a peace offering—to distract her. She’s tired, so she doesn’t resist. “Smart horse,” I say.
    â€œWhat’s that ?” Peggy yells from atop her giant grey Thoroughbred. Jinx was an Olympic dressage champion before Peggy’s father bought him. His real name is Imperial’s Silver Jinx, and I’d need a stepladder to climb into his saddle. But Peggy the teen queen would never let me ride him anyway. To her I’m just “the help.” She’s not that even much older than I am. What a pain.
    â€œDon’t let her bait you this time,” Jack says.
    I nod. “It’s my new horse.”
    â€œLooks a bit small to be a horse,” Peggy says. “She could be a cute little lead pony for Jinx, I guess. What do you say, Jinx, would you like a pet?”
    We all know the answer to that question. Jinx bullies all of the other horses. He’s pastured alone when he grazes. No one will even rent the stall next to his.
    â€œSpeaking of lead,” Jack interrupts, “lead her to the empty paddock, the strong, metal one.”
    I’m a little nervous. What if she tries to run? But Jack thinks it’s okay, so I trust him. “Should I take the halter off, once I get her in there?” I ask.
    Peggy rolls her eyes. “Dumb and dumber,” she says.
    Jack ignores her. “Yup,” he answers me. “Her lessons begin tomorrow morning—and so do yours. But tonight, she gets to relax.”
    â€œ That should be fun,” Peggy says as she tethers Jinx to the rail and walks to her chauffeured Imperial Enterprises Town Car. “Annie, give him a good rubdown when you’re done playing Little Pony . A star like Jinx deserves the best.”
    I don’t answer, but she knows I’ll get it done. I’ve worked for Jack and