Chapter 2

I grabbed Sarah’s arm and whirled her around. “Let’s not go there now.”

Sarah stopped and faced me. “Have you seen Chancy yet?”

“No. That’s why I wanted to go. But now, I’ll have to wait longer to know if she’s still mine.”

Neither of us spoke as we moved away from the barn. Further into the thick trees, I stopped. “Want to see Colton?”

Sarah’s blue eyes lit. “Yes, and he can meet Darby.”

We ran back to my house with Darby barking and running alongside. As we entered, Darby quieted and lifted her nose. Loud shrieks coming from the laundry room made my heart bang against my chest. “Oh no! We weren’t gone long! He’s supposed to be sleeping.”

My legs did double time. At the baby gate, my mouth dropped open. Colton had done his business all over the floor and turned his water bowl upside down. He ducked his chin, and his eyes peered from inside the crate.

Sarah peeked over my shoulder and held her breath until she turned pink. “Ooo! Nasty.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m sure glad mom took care of Darby when she was a puppy. What are you going to do?”

I set my hands on my hips and stared at her. “I’m going to clean it up. I’ve done this with the horses, and I can do it for my pup.”

Screwing her face, Sarah guzzled air and then whooshed her words out in one breath. “Do you want me to ask your dad to come help?”

“Nah. Just tell him we’re back. He’s in his office.”

Colton’s ears sagged, and his eyes begged for forgiveness. I spoke to him in a soft, happy voice. “Hey, little guy! What have you done?”

He poked his nose an inch out of his crate, his nostrils opened and closed.

“Kind of stinky in here, isn’t it?” I wrinkled my nose.

He lifted his back leg and scratched a spot behind his ear.

“I’ll get this cleaned up.” While holding my breath, I grabbed the scooper and paper towels by the sink and cleaned until I thought I’d suffocate. My breakfast threatened to come back up. I climbed over the gate, stepped into the hallway, and sniffed a noseful of fresh air. I swallowed and inhaled twice. Ready or not, I’m finishing this.

Dad arrived with Sarah. “Oh!” He backed up. “I heard a commotion in here but couldn’t interrupt my phone call. It looks like you’ve got it under control. That-a-girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re welcome.” He grinned and bowed. “Just part of your training. These things happen. Get him bathed, and I’ll fix lunch for you girls. I have one more call to make.”

Sarah shook her head. “Ooo! Sorry, Mr. Ryan. No way I can eat after smelling this room. Trina, call me when you’re going back to the barn. I’m heading home.”

“Ah, come on Sarah.” My shoulders straightened. “Don’t you want to watch?”

She twisted her head back and forth, pinching her nose.

I used my most convincing voice. “This will be his very first bath, and you’ll miss it.”

Sarah’s monotone nasal voice hummed. “Mom wants me to unpack, and Darby’s getting bored. I’ll see you later.”

I ducked my head and mumbled at the floor. “Okay. Later.”

Colton lay beside his crate, the tops of his ears lifted up and down at the noise of running water. Once the sink filled, I lowered him inch by inch, letting his front paws touch. His eyes widened, his body stiffened, and he tried to crawl out of my arms. I cupped my right hand with water and put it up to his nose. He sniffed, and then lapped the warm water and inched in.

Pointing the spray nozzle away from his body, I let him relax to the sound and rush of the water. “Stand. Good boy.” He blinked, but didn’t fight me. I sprayed him in quick, soft squirts, speaking slowly, and worked in a new lavender scented shampoo. “This will be my first scientific experiment. Let’s see if the lavender smell calms you.”

Colt turned white in the soapsuds. Only his black nose poked out and dead fleas floated to the top of the froth.”

As I rinsed his body, every few seconds, Colt shook from his head to the tip of his pointy tail. Soap and water splattered. Dark-brown splats landed on the floor, the wall, and on me.

Using my hands as a shield didn’t add any protection. Water dripped from my chin and my soaked clothes. “Okay, Colt, almost done.” I rinsed him until the murky-water turned clear.

He squirmed, and fought being wrapped in a towel. But as soon as I rubbed every inch of his body, his eyes softened and closed. If he had been a cat, he would’ve purred. I set him on the floor, and in one second, he untangled himself from the towel.

Then he raced off. Colton ran through the hallway, leaving a trail of puddles. As I caught him, all four legs thrashed. I fought to hold him, but he slipped right through my fingers. He looked over his shoulder to see if I followed and ran smack into the wall.

“Oh, no! Are you all right?” I pressed his body to the floor. “I’ve got you now, you little squirm ball.”

Colton rolled over as if he was a turtle on his back and kicked his legs in the air. I smiled at the sight and scratched his tummy. In the next instant, he wiggled around to his feet and escaped.

Barking echoed from the den. He jogged around the coffee table and kept his eyes on me. His mouth pulled back in a grin. I went one way, and he took off the other direction. He sprinted to my parents’ bedroom, sprang onto their newly upholstered, yellow and orange ottoman. Without a pause, he launched himself onto the matching chair and shook.

Colton stood, panting. That gave me enough time to rush forward and get a tight hold. I squeezed his wet body to mine, and he twisted to get free.

Dad tried to contain his laughter. “He’s certainly full of himself.”

In the kitchen, I set Colt behind another baby gate and giggled. “I don’t think he inhaled enough of the lavender smell.”

While I helped Dad with lunch, Colton lunged at my shoe lace.

My legs tangled over his body, and I stumbled to the nearest counter. “I’m taking him outside.”

Colt wound himself inside my legs, pulling on the other shoelace. As I stepped toward the sliding glass door, my foot punted him like a football an inch above the floor. He spun into the cabinet, and scrambled to his feet.

Before he charged at me again, I slid the glass door open. Colton raced across the grass and watched squirrels bounce from limb to limb. As he slowly ran down like a wind-up toy, I wrapped his purple training harness around his chest and clicked on his leash for the first time.

I swallowed my laughter as he halted, and gave me The Look as if saying, “What have you done?”

He wasn’t fighting the harness. He’d worn one since he was three days old. But today I had attached a leash to the two-purple corded bands wrapped around him. He shook his entire body, inched through the trees, and shivered twice before surrendering to the new feeling.

In a few minutes, the summer heat made Colton’s tongue droop, and he slunk home. Inside, I unclipped his leash and harness and he quivered once more. I massaged his back with both of my hands and his glance told me, “Thank you.” I opened the baby gate to the hallway, and he toddled to his crate.

The aroma of a BLT sandwich floated through the hallway, competing with the lingering poopy odor.

During lunch Dad listened to me complain about the new girl. “Give her a chance. You don’t know what happened before they got here.”

I tilted my head with a puzzled look. “You think?”

He nodded and finished his lunch.

“I’ll try.” I released my breath at the same time I spoke. “Dad, I know I’ve already left Colt, but I’ve got to find out about Chancy. He’s asleep now, and I promise, I won’t stay long. Fifteen minutes, max.” Grinning, I raised my eyebrows. “And I bet he’s safe for a while.”

Dad checked his watch. “I’ll call this my lunch break. Hurry. I have more work to do.”

“Thanks.” I ran the whole way. Before going into the barn, I jutted my chin forward, preparing to meet the new girl. With both wooden sliding doors open at each end of the barn, the little breeze we enjoyed drifted through one door and out the other. Knight flung his head over the first stall door. He inspected my every movement, and then he snorted and neighed.

I rubbed his nose. “Hey, fella. You’re awfully handsome.” I glanced around and called, “Morgan?” No sound. I returned my attention to Knight. “I guess you’ve been left all alone on your first day here.”

“Hey, Trina.” Mrs. Brown called from the tack room on the opposite side of the six stalls. She walked out, smiling. “I wondered when you’d be back. Chancy’s been waiting for you.”

“Really? Oh, Mrs. Brown. It’s so nice to see you.” I hugged her. “I came to see if she’s still my schooling horse.”

Chancy tossed her head over the fifth stall door, blowing her lips. My pulse speeded. “Hey, Pretty Girl. I’m comin’.”

One by one, the other three horses threw their heads over their stall doors. I let out a happy gasp and rushed down the row of heads, speaking to each horse and patting their necks. The last stall on the same side temporarily held Ashley’s Warm Blood, Vaunted, a stocky, bright bay with three white legs. His thoroughbred mother had been bred with a draft horse. This type of horse suited riders showing in advanced events. Vaunted could jump higher with stronger legs and had a calmer disposition than a hot-blooded thoroughbred.

Mrs. Brown followed me. “First off, you don’t have to worry about losing Chancy. I’ll keep her for you as long as you want to ride. She enjoyed Heather riding her, but as you can see, she’s excited to see you.”

“What’s up with the new girl? She seems kind-of spoiled.”

“Morgan? I haven’t met her yet. Spoken with her mother, though. It seems Morgan’s only boarded at fancy stables where all the grooming and feeding was done for her. And Mrs. Hart doesn’t want her daughter doing any of what she referred to as ‘menial labor.’”

My eyes widened. “Really?” I snickered under my breath. “Her name’s Morgan Hart? Whoo! Her last name doesn’t go with her personality.”

Mrs. Brown chuckled. “Hang in there, Trina. Let’s not jump to any conclusions.”

I stroked Chancy’s smooth, round belly and listened to Ms. B’s words.

“I told her mother we’d be responsible for the care of her horse when she’s not here. But when she’s riding, it’s her job to tend to her horse’s needs. We’ll have to see how it goes.”

“Maybe I’ll meet her tomorrow. I’ve only got a few minutes before I have to get home. Did you hear I have a new puppy to train?”

“I did. Your mom called last night. I can’t wait to meet him. Is he as cute as Sydney?”

“Almost.” I stared at the floor. Every time I heard Sydney’s name, my stomach ached like I’d swallowed a rock. I gulped and smiled. “He’s so much younger and full of mischief. He looks and acts different than Sydney, which makes it easier to start over. Driving home, we invented new names. His nose looks like a piece of coal. And the word coal made me think of a colt. So, I decided to name him Colton.”

Mrs. Brown’s eyes crinkled. “Your own little colt. Very cute.”

I rubbed Chancy’s soft brown nose. “Sarah and I plan to do treats with the horses tonight. When’s Morgan coming back?”

“I don’t know, but honey, no bad attitudes are going to change our happy barn.”

I bowed my head and muttered, “I hope not.”