Hercules: A Matter of Trust by Heather Brooks Page A

gingerly hopped to her feet. “Oh, I forgot! I brought you treats!” She grabbed the plate and handed Sapphire a carrot and popped another brownie in her mouth.
    She grinned as they chomped. “I know you wouldn’t have let me down in that class, Sapphire. You and me, beautiful. We’re on the same team. High five.” She held up her hand for a high five, and he licked the chocolate off her palm in what she decided to take as an affirmative.
    They’d met over chocolate, and they were bonding over chocolate. Chocolate buddies never let each other down.

14
    E mily was up and dressed before six o’clock the next morning, her back too sore for her to sleep. It felt almost normal when she was vertical, so she decided to get up and get going for the day, hoping she could slip in and take Sapphire on a walk before the barn got active. A little private time before dealing with everyone.
    But when she walked into the kitchen, Aunt Debby was there eating oatmeal and reading the latest issue of The Chronicle of the Horse . She looked up when Emily entered the kitchen. “You’ll ride Moondance in your lesson today.”
    Emily tensed. “My lesson?”
    Aunt Debby nodded. “Your lesson. We’ll talk aboutwhat happened at the show and then work on some more jumping—”
    â€œMy back still hurts,” Emily interrupted. “I can’t.” She thought about jumping again and…No. She wasn’t ready.
    Aunt Debby stopped chewing and looked at her for a moment, studying Emily so intently that Emily began to feel uncomfortable. “Okay, I’ll give you a day, but the doctor said you are okay, so we’ll do a lesson tomorrow. Eight o’clock on Moondance.”
    â€œCan I ride Sapphire?”
    â€œNo.” Aunt Debby closed the magazine and looked at her. “So, you want to talk about your flat class?”
    Emily glanced longingly for the back door. “I don’t know what happened.”
    Aunt Debby raised her brows. “No?”
    â€œI picked up the wrong lead,” Emily mumbled.
    Aunt Debby nodded. “I saw that. We’re on the same team, Emily. Don’t hide things from me.” She leaned forward. “Emily, I know you were expecting great things at the show, but it’s okay that you didn’t win. This type of riding is different, and you need to give yourself time. You’ll get there.”
    Emily gritted her teeth, hating that she had no rebuttal. She’d proven her aunt right, that she didn’tdeserve to be in higher classes.
    â€œNow, I’m thinking that part of the confusion was that there were so many other horses in the flat class, so I want you to ride Moondance on Thursday at ten. I teach a group lesson then, and the ring will be crowded. I want you to participate.”
    Emily tensed at the thought of trying to maneuver around all those horses again, felt the same franticness that she’d experienced at the show, and she shook her head. “My back—”
    â€œWhen you’re ready then.” Aunt Debby stood up. “If you aren’t riding, what’s your plan today?”
    â€œI was going to spend some time with T.J., hang out with Sapphire, and then check on Hercules.”
    Aunt Debby nodded, completely ignoring the T.J. comment. “Good. Let me know how Hercules is.” She tossed her bowl in the dishwasher then left, letting the door slam shut behind her.
    For a second Emily was tempted to race after her and beg for the lesson at ten o’clock, but then she thought of jumping, thought of that moment when she hadn’t been able to breathe or move, her panic and fear…and she shook her head.
    No. Too soon.
    There was a whicker from the direction of the sink,and Emily looked toward the window, then smiled when she saw Max’s grizzled gray head sticking through the frame. “Hi, Max.”
    His ears perked up, and she went to the fridge and grabbed