Arenât you going to jump the hedge?â
I didnât answer. I kept my head down as I led Beauty past Dad and into the barn.
Richard trailed after me, with Summer at his side. âThatâs what we needed to see. Thanks, Winnie.â
I snapped Beauty into the cross-ties. I couldnât look her in the eyes.
Lizzy, Dad, and Catman walked up. Lizzy still looked puzzled. âWhy didnât Winnie jump the hedge?â
Catman whispered something to her, and her expression changed. She shot me a look of pure pity, which hurt worse than anything she could have said.
I glared at Catman, knowing heâd told her Iâd chickened out.
âWeâll see you in the house, Winnie,â Dad said, herding Lizzy and Catman out of the barn.
I kept brushing Beauty, trying not to think about what Iâd done. What Iâd not done. IÂ thought Spidells had left until I heard Richardâs voice outside the barn.
âGlad I caught you! Iâm at the Willis place.â He was talking on the cell phone. âNo, Winnie hasnât had any more luck with this horse than we did.â He chuckled. âSheâs a good kid all right. And very talented too, when it comes to ordinary horses. . . . Wait âtil you see the hunter Iâve found for you. More money, but can he jump!â
He paused. My ears buzzed. I couldnât breathe.
Richard chuckled. âYour wife will come around. Tell her not to worry about the mare. Iâve made some calls to a camp in Columbus. . . . I agree. Poor Winnie did her best, but she couldnât handle the high jump. . . . Sure! Tomorrow afternoon, right here. Iâll bring the trailer. Glad I could help.â
Summer honked, and I listened to the gravel crunch as Richard ran to his car.
I hung out in the barn, saddle-soaping tack, scrubbing the soft soap into saddles and bridles until they foamed clean and shiny. Anything so IÂ didnât have to talk to humans.
It was dark when Lizzy came looking for me. âYou okay?â
âIâm fine!â I insisted, pushing past her and outside, where stars winked at each other.
âItâs okay to lose your confidence, Winnie. Everybodyââ
I wheeled on her. âWho said I lost my con- fidence? Catman? Well, I didnât!â I stormed toward the house. Lucky for Catman, I didnât see him anywhere.
Lizzy dogged me. âYou should have told Dad and me!â
âThereâs nothing to tell!â I screamed, making it to the front steps.
âWinnie?â Dad shouted from the shed.
I pretended not to hear.
I ran to the bedroom, slammed the door, kicked off my boots, slipped into my pjâs, and dove into bed. I hadnât lost my confidence! That was ridiculous.
A long time later I heard Lizzy come in. I pretended to be asleep as she got ready for bed and clicked on her reading light.
A knock came at the door.
âCome on in, Dad!â Lizzy called.
I didnât budge. The door opened, and footsteps crossed to my bed. I squeezed my eyes shut. The footsteps moved to Lizzyâs side of the room.
âNight, Lizzy,â Dad whispered.
âNight, Dad.â Then Lizzy slipped into praying: âGod, thanks for being Immanuel. Help Winnie turn around and see that youâre in that boat with her.â
I knew she was talking about what Ralph had said in church, about Peter and the other fishermen and the storm, and Jesus sleeping in the boat. But I didnât care. All that mattered was Bold Beauty. Iâd let her down. And tomorrow sheâd be gone forever.
Dad left, and Lizzy read for a few minutes before turning off the light. Within seconds I heard the Lizzy-snore Iâd known my whole life.
I sat up in bed. The full moon shined a spotlight through the window. White streams of light washed the pasture. I could see the outline of the hedge. In a few hours Bold Beauty would be taken away to a place where no one
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