Saturday’s football practices were when the coaches installed the game plan for their upcoming opponents. Danny got there early and found Coach Kinen in his office making his final notes on the five-by-seven cards where he drew the plays. He put the marker down and pointed to the chair beside his desk.

“Have a seat, Danny.”

Danny didn’t like the look on his coach’s face. He could feel the bad news.

“Coach, I—”

Coach Kinen held up his hand. “Danny, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I can’t make a decision until I see how you look. Maybe you’re going to be right where you left off. I don’t think so. It’s almost impossible for a running back to take six weeks off and just hit the ground running.”

Danny wanted to remind Coach Kinen that he wasn’t just any runner. He was Danny Owens, the guy everyone worshipped after the opening game, but he saw that his coach didn’t intend to listen.

“So we’ll see how you look running around out there today, and if you look good, when I get the chance, I’ll try and get you a few live reps with the second team.”

“Second?” Danny knew that reps with the second team meant a line that wasn’t as good and a backup quarterback who was a far cry from Jace, who ran the offense like a Swiss watch. It would mean quick closing holes, if he had any opening at all, and a quarterback whose timing and handoffs were rarely smooth.

Coach Kinen gave him a look of surprise. “You didn’t expect to take reps from Markle, did you? You saw the game Thursday. You were there. He’s been pretty amazing.”

Danny wanted to remind his coach that he’d been amazing too, and that, yes, he did want some of Markle’s reps. How could he compete running only with the second team? But he said nothing. The look on Coach Kinen’s face told him he couldn’t.

“Okay, Coach.”

“I’m surprised by your reaction, Danny.” The coach frowned. “I thought you’d be excited for the chance.”

Danny swallowed and responded right away. “Yes, sir. I am. Thank you, sir.”

Coach Kinen smiled and leaned back so that his chair squeaked. “Well, that’s okay. You’re a good kid and I know next year you’re gonna do great things for us.”

Danny’s insides chilled. Coach Kinen didn’t want him to have a spectacular performance in the big game. He didn’t want Danny to be selected for the varsity like his father before him had been. He wanted a star running back on his team next year. Danny stood up with his limbs trembling and left the coach’s office.

He dressed in silence and walked out to the field before most guys even arrived at the locker room. He got down in a two-point stance with a football and started to blast his way through the gauntlet machine. But after six weeks away, his timing was off. The arms in the cage battered his upper and lower body, causing unexpected pain. Confused, Danny tumbled down inside the machine, cursing aloud. Panic filled him and he looked toward the locker room to make sure no one had come out early enough to see him. They hadn’t, and he struggled to his feet. He had to worm his way out of the gauntlet because the only way to get through it clean was to hit it running and not stop.

He’d just freed himself from the machine when he saw Jace and Duval Carmody exit the locker room and head toward the field. Instead of trying again, he ran through the ropes, lifting his knees high. It hurt, but it didn’t trip him up. He should have done it first. It got his legs moving and warm.

“Hey, Danny,” Jace called, “come catch with us.”

“Sure.” Danny swelled with pride to have Jace treat him this way, and he hustled over to work with them while Jace loosened his arm.

“So you’re back.” Jace gunned a pass at Duval, who snatched it from the air before tucking it under his arm briefly and then passing it back to Danny.

Danny caught the ball and handed it to Jace. “Yeah. Not with the first team, though.”

“Really?” Jace stopped and looked at him before passing it to Duval again. “Well, Markle has looked pretty good. I still think you’re better.”

“Thanks, Jace. I wish you were the coach.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

Danny caught Duval’s pass. “To Coach Kinen?”

“He listens to me sometimes.” Jace accepted the ball, spun it to find the laces, and rifled it to Duval.

Danny didn’t know, but certainly there was a chance that Jace could make a difference.