Sapphire: New Horizons by Heather Brooks

eat it. And maybe apples, too. “Just thinking about doing something for Trooper made her feel better. “So, um, if I hadn’t taken Sapphire out and fallen off, we might never have found Trooper, huh?”
    Her dad raised his eyebrows at her. “I understood why you took Sapphire, but he’s not my horse. You’re going to have to talk to your aunt about it. She hasn’t forgotten.”
    Emily sighed. “Yeah, I figured as much.” She leaned her head back and looked out the window, watching thefields go by, when suddenly there was a crash and the truck shuddered and she realized Precious was freaking out. “Dad! Precious will hurt herself!”
    â€œI know.” Her dad slammed the brakes on, jammed the truck into park, and jumped out of the truck and raced back to Precious as the whole trailer shook even harder.

15
    H er dad threw open the door and disappeared into the trailer before Emily could even get her cast untangled from the saddle pads at her feet. The trailer shook again, and Emily finally got out and tottered back, her heart racing.
    By the time she stuck her head in the door, her dad was soothing Precious, who had her head in the air, her eyes wide. Her legs were trembling, and her nostrils were flaring. Her dad was soothing her in soft tones, stroking her neck.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œShe just got scared being in here alone. Broke her halter.” As he talked, Precious slowly lowered her headand stopped trembling. She took a big breath and then snorted on the hay net hanging in front of her.
    Emily climbed into the trailer and patted Precious. “It’s okay, sweetie. It’s just a short ride.” Precious’s neck was soaked with sweat, and her muscles were tense. “Poor thing. I wish it was close enough to walk her.”
    â€œShe’d never make it.” Her dad pulled a backup leather halter out of the small trunk in front and strapped it around her head. Precious ignored him as she took a bite of hay, munching it with a relish that made Emily smile.
    â€œShe’s hungry.”
    â€œI’ll bet she is.” Her dad hooked Precious back up to the cross ties and gave her a pat. “She seems happy now. Let’s go.”
    Emily hopped down, and her dad followed, but the instant they stepped out, Precious’s head went up and she started to dance in place again.
    Her dad jumped back in, and Precious settled down right away and started eating. He rubbed his hand over his forehead, and Emily suddenly realized how tired he looked. “Did you go to bed last night?”
    â€œNo.” He sighed. “You’re going to need to stay back here with her.”
    â€œReally? Cool.” She climbed in and wrapped herarm around Precious’s neck. “I’ll stay right here.”
    â€œNo, you won’t.” Her dad grabbed a hay bale that had been shoved against the front wall of the trailer and pushed it up near Precious. “You’re going to stand against that wall, and you’re going to keep that hay bale between you and the horse. Don’t try to grab her if she panics, and keep out of reach of her hooves. If she starts to act up, I’ll come back.” He gave her a stern look. “Do you understand?”
    Emily blinked at the expression on his face. He’d never looked at her like that before, like he was so serious and that she’d be in major trouble if she didn’t do what he said. “Yeah, okay.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Promise?”
    â€œI promise. Really.” And she did. She didn’t want to get stomped.
    He reached past her and cranked open the window. “Yell if you need me. I’ll be able to hear you.”
    â€œGot it.” She got into place as he stepped out of the trailer, gave her a final warning look, and then shut the door.
    Precious snapped her head up, then saw Emily and went back to eating.
    â€œEverything okay?”