by Alison Hart
As they walked around the paddock, the thudding of Spots’s hooves on the ground sent waves of joy through Jas. Tears welled in her eyes, and she realized how much she’d missed riding all these weeks.
But then, suddenly, came the same gut-wrenching feeling of loss she felt when Whirlwind had died. She knew she belonged on a horse. But when Grandfather got out of the nursing home, they would have to move into an apartment.
Once Jas left Second Chance Farm, there would be no room or time for horses. She would probably never ride again.
Fifteen
“OUCH,” JAS SQUEALED. THIS TIME SHADOW had gotten her, his big teeth pinching her skin along with her T-shirt. Swinging his head around, Shadow pricked his ears, as if to say, “Look how cute I am!” Jas frowned and pointed the brush at him.
“You are not cute,” she scolded. “In fact, you’re due for a reality check. You may be bigger and stronger, but you keep forgetting that I’m the dominant one in this herd.”
He bobbed his head, as if to agree with her. But Jas could tell by his devilish expression that he didn’t believe a word she said. As if to prove it, he kicked out with his front hoof, striking the wall of the stall.
Jas rolled her eyes. It was the Fourth of July weekend, over two weeks since they’d brought Shadow to the farm. He was still lean, but he’d gotten so sassy that Jas had already cut out his special feed and turned him out all night in a bigger paddock. But that wasn’t doing the trick. Shadow had turned into a high-spirited brat.
Since she had to groom him in the stall, she had to be extra careful. When she’d first seen him at the auction, she guessed his height at about sixteen-three hands. Now his head didn’t hang and his body didn’t sag, and she figured he was closer to seventeen hands, with legs like tree trunks and a girth like a barrel. For her own safety, she couldn’t let him buffalo her.
Taking up a little slack on the lead, she continued to brush him. Only this time, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. When she hit a ticklish spot and he swung his big teeth around, she raised her elbow and popped him hard in the muzzle.
Startled, Shadow jerked his head up and stared at Jas in surprise. She just went about what she was doing and ignored him. When he raised his front hoof to strike, she growled “no” and whapped him on the shoulder with the end of the lead.
Indignant and hurt, he gave her a puzzled look. Then he lowered his head and nudged her with his nose. Laughing, she scratched his forehead.
“I forgive you. Just remember: I’m the lead horse in this herd. Once you know this, we’ll get along great.” She let out her breath, knowing that she’d have to be on her toes every minute. She also knew what a horse like Shadow really needed—riding, at least two hours a day.
For the past three days, Jas had been working Spots and a quiet mare named Flower. And she’d had a blast. But even though Jas had been riding since she was four, she’d never met a horse like Shadow. She was used to fine-boned hunters, bred for grace and conformation. Shadow was like an out-of-control freight train.
A loud banging from the feed room told Jas that Chase had arrived for the evening feeding. She dropped her brush in the grooming box and unhooked Shadow’s lead.
As she shut the door behind her, Chase came up the aisle with feed buckets swinging from each hand. “Can I help you feed?” she asked him.
“Why would you want to do that?” Chase responded. Without looking at her, he dropped the buckets in front of the last stall and started scooping out grain. Excited nickers rang up and down the aisle.
“Why would the famous equestrienne lower herself to doing humble chores?”
“Knock it off, Chase,” Jas fumed. “You’re being a jerk. I just want to help.”
This time he looked up. “I’m being a jerk?” He poked his thumb into his chest. “Have I been the one swaggering around the barn since I rode Spots last Tuesday? Have I been the one with my nose stuck in the air as I talk about doing dressage with this horse and eventing with that horse? Nooooo,” he answered his own question. “I’ve been mucking stalls, mending fences, cleaning wounds, sweeping …”
Jas raised one hand. “All right. You made your point. I haven’t been pulling my weight. I was just so excited about riding again that I got carried away.”
“You and Miss Hahn,” he grumbled. “It’s like she’s forgotten the purpose of the farm.” Pushing past Jas, he dumped feed through a slot into one of the tubs. “She thinks she’s back on her father’s fancy-shmancy horse farm. You know, she used to be a horse snob, just like you.”
“I’m not a horse snob!” Jas protested, following after him as he went down to the next stall. “And what’s wrong with being excited about riding?”
“We’re suppose to be rescuing animals.”
Jas propped her fists on her hips. “You know what, Chase? I think you’re the one who’s a snob. You like horses only when they’re abused or sick.”
“Not true. I just don’t think they have to win some ribbon to be worth something.” He scowled at her as he went over to Shadow’s stall.
“Who’s said anything about winning ribbons?” Jas snapped. “We’re talking about riding. Look how much better Spots is since I’ve been riding him. He’s not perfect, but he’s not such a hardheaded sourpuss, either, like you.”
“Spare me the insults,” Chase snorted. Striding past her, he continued down the aisle, the stiff set of his shoulders telling Jas that she was getting nowhere.
Oh, why do I even bother with him? she fumed at herself. Communicating with Spots is a lot easier.
She looked into Shadow’s stall. He was attacking the feed in his tub as if it was his last meal. She’d wait until he finished eating, then turn him out for the night.
“You want to know why I’m really mad?” Chase suddenly asked right behind her. When Jas turned to look at him, the hurt in his eyes took her by surprise.
“Why?” she asked as her stomach tightened.
“Because … because … because I can’t ride worth a damn.”
A giggle of relief bubbled in Jas’s throat.
“I knew you’d think it was dumb.” He whipped around to leave, but Jas caught his wrist.
“Wait.”
Chase stopped, although he refused to look at her. Jas kept her hand on his arm, his skin warm under her touch. Slowly, she slid her fingers down his wrist until they met his palm. Almost desperately, he laced his fingers with hers.
“What’s wrong with not being able to ride?” she asked, her heart thumping.
He slanted his face toward her. “Nothing. At least I never thought anything about it until I saw you ride. I mean, when I watch Lucy ride, I want to sympathize with the horse. When I watch you ride a horse, it’s … it’s …” He rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Dang, I really stink at explaining stuff like this.”
Jas waited.
“It’s like watching two people dance,” he said quickly. “How’s that for dopey?”
Jas smiled shyly at him. “I thought it was nice.”
“Well, you would.” He dragged the toe of his tennis shoe in the dirt.
“So you want me to teach you how to ride?”
“No. At least not now. I’d be too embarrassed. Maybe later when …” His voice trailed off, and his eyes flicked toward her.
Jas’s heart skipped a beat. Maybe later when we know each other better? Was that what you were about to say?
“Anyway, I really like taking care of the horses,” he rushed on. “Doctoring them, that kind of stuff. For now, I’ll let you do the riding.”
He grinned crookedly, and Jas suddenly realized how close they were standing to each other. So close, in fact, that all she had to do was tip her head up and he could kiss her. At the thought of his lips touching hers, Jas’s cheeks flamed and she stepped backward. Her fingers slipped from his grasp. “So can I help you feed?”
“Sure.” He reached for a bucket, his neck as red as her cheeks.
Jas picked up Shadow
’s lead line. “Let me just turn out the brat,” she said. “He’s finished eating.”
“Put him out with Jinx,” Chase suggested.
Shadow was licking the bottom of his feed tub, trying to get every last kernel. When she hooked the lead to his halter ring, he lunged for the open door.
“Whoa,” she barked, digging in her heels so he wouldn’t pull her with him. He stopped in his tracks. “Good boy.” She scratched his shoulder, then made him move when she wanted.
Obediently, he walked down the aisle until he saw Jinx, then he arched his neck and pranced sideways. Jas told him to walk, and when he ignored her, she reminded him with a swift snap of the lead.
Jinx was in the middle of the field, grazing. Shadow danced in place, eager to join him. Jas led him through the gate and then shut it. She then made him stand for a second.
When she unhooked the lead and stepped away, Shadow exploded—bucking and rearing across the pasture. Jinx raised his head and gazed with disinterest.
“Man, is he something,” Chase said, coming up beside her. “I never thought the dull-eyed horse we bought at that auction would ever end up like that.”
“I had no idea, either,” Jas admitted as she watched Shadow trot across the pasture, snapping his legs like a dressage horse doing a Grand Prix movement. “I wish I knew the story behind him.”
“Really, even I can tell he was once somebody’s valuable blue-ribbon winner.” Chase shot her a teasing look.
“Oh, shut up,” Jas said as she punched him on the arm. For a second, they stood side by side, their hips touching, watching Shadow show off. Jas rested her arms on the top board. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she felt happy.
Shadow nipped at Jinx’s flank. When he didn’t get any reaction, he cantered to the far end of the paddock and stared into the next field, where the neighbor’s cattle grazed. Raising his head high, he whinnied loudly at them. Then without warning, he galloped toward the fence and jumped over it as if it wasn’t even there.
Jas and Chase gaped in astonishment.
“Did you see that?” Chase exclaimed. “That fence is at least five feet, and Shadow practically stepped over it!”
Jas shook her head in disbelief. “I’ve never seen a horse jump like that.”
On the other side of the fence, Shadow galloped around the cattle, who scattered like startled deer.
Jas’s heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she realized who Shadow reminded her of—Aladdin—the horse that could jump over the moon.
No, that’s crazy. Hugh’s horse has been dead five years. This has got to be just a coincidence.
“Old Man Hopkins is going to be furious if he sees one of our horses chasing his cows,” Chase said. “He’s always looking for an excuse to close us down. We better go catch Shadow.” Putting one hand on the top board, he vaulted over the fence.
“I’ll get a bucket of grain.” Jas dashed into the barn, grabbed the feed bucket, and ran after Chase, who had climbed into the neighbor’s pasture. With a toss of his head, Shadow pranced around Chase as if they were playing a game of tag. Jas was scaling the fence with the bucket in her hand when Shadow suddenly swerved and thundered right at her. Quickly, she flattened her body against the top board. It looked as if Shadow was going to run right into the fence—and Jas. But at the last second he effortlessly leaped over the fence and back into his paddock.
Jas’s jaw dropped. Shadow cleared her by a foot!
Shadow slid to a halt, and with a pleased look, trotted over to Jas and stuck his head in the feed bucket, almost ripping it from her hand. Taking a huge bite, he lifted his head, tossing grain right and left. Beside him, Jinx greedily picked kernels off the ground.
“Wow!” Chase jogged up, sweat rolling down his cheeks. “I’m going to have to add another board to that fence!”
“Make that two boards,” Jas gasped.
Chase shook his head in disbelief. “What are we going to do with him? He can’t just go jumping in and out whenever he wants.”
“One thing we’re not going to do is tell Miss Hahn.”
“Why not?”
“Because if Hopkins complains, she might get rid of him,” Jas said quickly.
Chase gave her a skeptical look. “Diane wouldn’t do that. What’s the real reason, Jas?”
“I can’t tell you,” she said, hoping that he’d understand. Not that she totally understood herself. But if there was some strange chance Shadow was connected to Hugh, she didn’t want Miss Hahn reporting it.
“You know, Jas, you’ve got a lot of secrets to keep to yourself,” Chase said. “One day you’re going to have to trust somebody.”
“I know.” Reaching down, she ruffled Shadow’s forelock. She couldn’t look at Chase. “I’m just not quite ready yet.”
“So what are we going to do with the big gorilla?” said Chase as he climbed the fence and sat beside Jas, with his heels propped on the center board.
Jas tapped her lip, wondering the same thing. Maybe Shadow wasn’t Aladdin, but he was definitely the most powerful jumper she’d ever seen. And if his little show was any indication, he obviously thought leaping over obstacles was child’s play.
The trouble was finding a rider who could handle him. Jas eyed the big horse as he happily sprayed grain everywhere. Slowly, she grinned.
“I know exactly what we’re going to do with Shadow,” Jas said as she leaped off the top board into the paddock. “We’re going to turn him into the best jumper in the state.”
“Oh, really?” Chase sounded unconvinced. “And who’s going to ride him?”
Standing on her tiptoes, Jas threw her arm over Shadow’s withers, her grin spreading wider.
“I am!”
Sixteen
ALADDIN.
The death of that horse five years ago was driving Jas crazy. Even though she knew there was no way Shadow could be Aladdin, the similarities were too eerie.
It was Tuesday morning, and Jas was sitting at the kitchen table with Ms. Tomlinson. Before she had tuned the social worker out, they’d been discussing her monthly allowance. Usually, Jas was interested in money. But this afternoon, she couldn’t have cared less.
What was really bugging her was the way Hugh had thrown out Aladdin’s name when he called her that first day. As if he was deliberately taunting her. Even if Aladdin had nothing to do with Shadow, Jas was convinced the horse had something to do with Whirlwind’s death. It seemed Hugh thought that Jas wasn’t smart enough to figure out the connection. This time, Jas was going to prove him wrong.
She had seen Aladdin only once or twice before he died. Phil had said he was big and chestnut-colored. Jas racked her brain, trying to remember more about the horse. But it had been so long ago, and she’d been very young.
Phil must have a photo, thought Jas.
Tomorrow afternoon, Jas was visiting Grandfather. If she could just get Phil to bring a picture of Aladdin to the nursing home, she would be able to tell if Shadow and Aladdin were the same horse. And if they weren’t, then she would focus on finding the link between Aladdin’s and Whirlwind’s deaths.
Miss Hahn had a school group coming to the farm during Jas’s lockdown time this afternoon. That would be the perfect time to call Phil at High Meadows.
“Any questions, Jas?” Ms. Tomlinson’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“Uh, no.” She had no idea what Ms. Tomlinson had been saying.
“Miss Hahn said you need new tennis shoes,” the social worker went on. “I know how expensive those brand names can be. So remember, the money is for the whole month. If you spend it all at once …”
Forget new sneakers, Jas thought. The blacksmith was coming this afternoon, and she was going to spend her money on horseshoes for Shadow. She’d lunged him several times since his big adventure in the cattle field. He’d surprised her by walking, trotting, and cantering like a gentleman. Now he was ready to ride.
“… and you can save the rest for toiletries.”
“Don’t worry,” Jas assured her glibly. “I’ll get sneakers at Payless and have plenty of money left over.”
“Payless is a wise choice.” Ms. Tomlinson blinked her watery eyes, then sneezed. Jas tipped the chair in an attempt to get away from the germs.
“I have one more matter to discuss.” Dabbing her nose, the social worker opened the file folder and rummaged through the stack of papers. “I contacted your mother.”
“What!” Jas dropped the chair back to the floor.
“I’ve contacted your mother. She’s living in Florida.”
“You mean my birth mother,” Jas corrected hotly. “That woman in Florida doesn’t qualify as a mother. She never took care of me.”
“I realize that,” Ms. Tomlinson said. “But she is a relative, and we had to contact her. I was finally able to reach her yesterday.”
Jas looked out the screen door, wanting to focus on anything but what Ms. Tomlinson was going to say. Lassie and Reese were staring into the kitchen. When they realized that someone had noticed them, they wagged their tails excitedly.
“Your ‘birth’ mother said that her circumstances are such that she is unable to be your guardian at this time,” Ms. Tomlinson continued, her tone matter-of-fact.
Just say she doesn’t want me, Jas thought bitterly. I’ve heard it plenty of times before.
“That means you’ll remain in the custody of social services until your grandfather is better. I’m sorry, Jas.”
Jas snorted. “Don’t be. My grandparents raised me. They were my mother and father.”
“And your grandfather is getting better.” Ms. Tomlinson smiled, happy to give her some good news.
“Yes,” Jas replied, trying to sound pleased. But she could feel herself hardening inside. Why did she have to bring up my mother?
Iris Schuler had abandoned Jas when she was two. “It’s not that she doesn’t love you,” her grandparents had patiently explained.
Jas knew the whole story—at least the one her grandparents told. Iris had been only sixteen when she’d gotten pregnant, and like Jas, she’d lived and breathed horses.
