Hercules: A Matter of Trust by Heather Brooks

her.”
    Emily tensed at the mention of Moondance, hoping they wouldn’t mention the one class she’d ridden in. “Um, thanks.”
    Meredith grinned. “Oh my gosh, Emily, you should have seen Alison and Icy! She ended up riding him in a couple classes, and he was awesome. They won both of them, and she had three different people ask Debby where they’d found him! He’s absolutely gorgeous and so good.”
    Alison’s face lit up. “He was brilliant, wasn’t he? And you did so well with Halo! You’re so going to be ranked this summer with him.”
    â€œYou think?” Meredith beamed. “That would be so cool. I’d love to qualify for Harrisburg at the end of the year, not that Debby would ever take us to Pennsylvaniafor the show, you know? Or even Washington. They’re both so far.”
    â€œBut if we both qualified, it might be worth it to make the trip.”
    â€œYou think? Are you going to try to qualify with Icy?”
    â€œNext year, maybe. We could go to Arizona for the winter circuit to get some points.”
    Meredith squealed, and they started to talk away. “Seriously? Is your mom thinking about taking us down there?”
    â€œNow that we have Icy, yeah. Icy and Halo could compete, you know?” They turned the corner and disappeared, but Emily could still hear them. “And it would be great exposure. If we could have Sapphire ready to show by then, think of all the exposure….”
    Their voices faded, leaving Emily alone with Sapphire. For a long moment, she stared after them, feeling completely invisible. The good feeling from Meredith’s initial concern had completely faded in the face of their talk about their success and the fact they both had completely forgotten Emily was there.
    Sapphire snorted quietly and nudged Emily.
    â€œOh, Sapphire.” She unhooked him from the cross ties and hugged him as he pressed his face to her chest, for once not trying to knock her down. She pressed herface to his, rubbing her cheeks over his soft ears, holding him against her. “I matter to you, don’t I?”
    He snorted and pressed harder against her.
    â€œYou were so smart to be bad today in that class, Sapphire. Thank you for doing that,” she whispered. “I can’t tell you how much it meant to me.”
    He lifted his head to look at her, then lifted his upper lip in a grin that she couldn’t help but laugh at. “You are such a goof.” She scratched behind his ears and giggled when he pointed his head at the ceiling and wiggled his lip with delight. “But a smart, gorgeous goof.” She stopped scratching, and he dropped his head to look at her, the expression in his brown eyes clearly requesting additional scratching.
    â€œAnd I’m so glad you screwed up Aunt Debby’s plans to sell you. It looks like we have lots of time now.” She fisted his mane, gripping tightly as she leveled a determined gaze at him. “There’s no way I’m going to let her sell you, Sapphire. We’ll find a way, won’t we?”
    He stomped his foot and swished his tail, and the tightness finally began to ease from her chest. “Just so you know, you’re my best friend.”
    He pressed his face to her belly, gently, as if he knew she was injured and fragile, and she knew then that she could always count on him.
    Always.
    Then she thought of his antics in the model class, and she grimaced. Would Sapphire have taken off like that if Emily had been showing him, or would he have been good? She’d liked to think he would have given her what she needed—
    He gave her a hard shove and knocked her onto her butt.
    She frowned as she stared up at him. “Do I need to be careful about what I trust you for, Sapphire?”
    He turned his head toward the door and flared his nostrils. Then he nickered and popped his head out the door, snuffling the plate of brownies. Emily