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Higher up, and a little to the right, Jacob leaned close to Meg. “See the guy down there in the blue shirt and black hat with that other guy showing the blonde where to sit? That’s Danny Mack.”

Meg watched them, eight or ten rows down. They were laughing. She couldn’t see much of Danny’s face because of his hat. But the girl was pretty.

“So there he is,” Jeremy said. “You going to ask him about the dog?”

“Maybe.”

Jeremy spat between his feet. “Dog dumper.”

Mrs. Harris leaned over and glared at him. “No spitting.”

“Sorry.”

“He doesn’t look like a dog dumper,” Meg said.

Strangely, she hoped this boy wasn’t the Danny Mack she was looking for. He looked nice.

Danny and the other guy made their way down the stands and headed toward the rough-stock pens.

Meg stood.

“Go get him,” Jacob said.

“Yep.” She started down, heading toward the chutes, where the contestants were.

It was a different world back there.

Men and boys barely out of high school milled around, brooding, thinking whatever they thought before going out to get stomped and broken.

She moved through them.

Who are you, Danny Mack?