Hercules: A Matter of Trust by Heather Brooks Page B

him a head of iceberg lettuce and set it on the counter. He snorted his appreciation and began munching it, spreading lettuce bits all over the counter. She watched him for a moment and saw that he was keeping his eyes on her. “You’re lonely, aren’t you? You miss Grandpa, don’t you?”
    She rested her elbows on the counter and watched him eat, realizing that she knew exactly how he felt. Alone.
    Then there was a scuffle from outside, and suddenly Sapphire shoved his head in through the window as well. “Sapphire!” Her heart lightened. “You got out again! You’re such a bad boy!”
    He snorted unapologetically and jerked his head, as if to beckon her out of the kitchen.
    â€œOkay, okay. I’m coming!” She grabbed an apple off the counter, filched a lead shank by the door, and then headed out of the kitchen.
    Sapphire was standing at the back door waiting for her the moment she stepped onto the porch. She hooked a lead shank to his halter. “You want to comewith me to visit Hercules? Maybe you can show him that I’m not so scary.”
    He pranced in place happily, his ears perked and his tail up as Max lumbered around the corner. She patted Max. “You want to come, too? We can all visit Hercules.”
    Max sighed his assent, and she chortled at him, then slung her arms over the backs of each horse as the three of them began to head toward the back pasture: Sapphire’s well-muscled shiny black coat and Max’s old swayback. She heard someone shouting for Sapphire, and she yelled back that she had found him, laughing as Sapphire winked at her. “You’re such a troublemaker. You know that, don’t you?”
    He pranced slightly, not enough to jar her back but enough to make her laugh, and Max gave Sapphire a baleful look, as if he couldn’t deal with such energy and impertinence.
    â€œOh, Max, give him a break! He’s actually quite charming.”
    Max ignored them both, plodding along at a slow, steady pace, as if he were leading the way to their destination—with them but not truly committed to them. It was like he was putting up with them because he had no one else to be with, and they were better than nothing.
    Yeesh. Even Max didn’t think she was anything special.
    Then Sapphire turned his head back to look at her, and she saw his chocolate eyes fasten on her. “Yeah, except for you. I won’t forget.”
    Sapphire swished his tail, then he did a little dance that dislodged her arm from his back and made Max roll his eyes. Sapphire danced again and looked at Emily, so she did a little jig like he’d done.
    His tail went up, and he pranced again, then looked at her.
    She laughed and danced again, this time waving her arms and wiggling her head like he’d done.
    He snorted and spun in a little circle, ripping the lead shank out of her hand before he came to a stop, looking at her expectantly.
    With a giggle, she shimmied in place then spun around like he’d done, totally cracking up by the time she was facing him again. “You are soooo funny, Sapphire!” She grabbed the lead shank with a light heart and started back toward the pasture again, this time with a grin, feeling truly happy for the first time in days.
    The sky was a gorgeous blue, not a cloud to be seen. The air was fresh and crisp, and she could see endless fields before her. Tall, thick pine trees were hiding birdsthat were singing, and up ahead were pastures full of horses. And beside her was her best friend. “Everything’s going to be just fine, isn’t it?”
    He snorted in agreement, and her heart leaped with joy.
    Then she realized they were passing a trailer full of extra jump standards. She looked at them as they walked past, at the white wood, at the little black cups for the rails to sit in, at the red-and-white-striped rails on the ground. Exactly the kind of rail Moondance had tripped on.
    How badly would she