Gift Horse by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online Page B

denim dress. Considering Gram ordered Sam to dress warmly even on summer nights, Sam guessed that Gram and Brynna, just like Pepper and Ross, had bolted out-of-doors in a hurry.
    â€œSeems like they all got crazy at once,” Gram said, not taking her eyes from Sweetheart and Popcorn. “You never heard such stamping and neighing.”
    â€œWe ran to the barn and when we got there, the pigeons in the rafters were swooping and circling,” Brynna said. “Just in case something was in the hayloft, we turned Ace and Sweetheart out. When we got back out here, Popcorn was bashing his chest against the fence, so we let him join the others.”
    Brynna looked at Dad. She didn’t ask, but her raised brows seemed to be checking to see if he thought what they’d done was a good idea. It had been risky, Sam thought, since Popcorn had been running wild just two years ago.
    â€œHe seems quiet enough, now,” Dad said, and it sounded like he approved.
    Ace’s chin bobbed over Sam’s left shoulder as if he agreed. When she turned to rub the white star under his forelock, Sam noticed Blaze had quit barking.
    As if the dog’s silence signaled that everything had returned to normal, Sweetheart blew through her lips and stared toward her cozy barn.
    Sam’s chest swelled with eagerness to announce her deal with Mr. Fairchild. Now that she was sureAce and the other horses were safe, she had to tell everyone. And Jen would be next. How cool was it that she’d have another horse to work with? Tomorrow!
    â€œGuess what—” Sam began.
    â€œThat’s my good girl,” Gram crooned as she reached up to grab Sweetheart’s halter. Gram’s eyes shifted to Sam, but when the pinto didn’t resist, Gram raised a finger, telling Sam she’d heard, but needed to keep Sweetheart moving back toward the barn.
    â€œGrace,” Brynna called softly after Gram. “I’m going to open the bunkhouse door so Blaze can check things out.”
    â€œGood idea. We’ll go slowly,” Gram said.
    Sam’s eagerness to announce her news kept building as Dad rubbed the back of his neck. That gesture meant he wasn’t sure what to do. In spite of her impatience, Sam smiled. Dad was so used to being in charge, he was surprised when Brynna and Gram didn’t ask his advice.
    â€œNo need to let Blaze out and get the horses into a lather all over again,” Dad said. “I’ll check things out.”
    Chafing her hands over her sleeves, Brynna kept walking toward the bunkhouse. “I want Blaze to investigate, anyway,” she said.
    â€œAre you telling me,” Dad asked in a joking voice, “that you trust that dog more than you do your new husband?”
    â€œOf course not, honey,” Brynna said as she grinned and stamped her muddy shoes on the bunkhouse porch. “If you want to crawl on your belly through every inch of that barn, you go for it.”
    Dad shook his head as Blaze exploded through the half-opened door, zoomed past the people and horses, then stopped and raised his nose to sniff the night air. Gradually, his head lowered and his tail swung in an embarrassed wag.
    â€œNothing, huh?” Dad asked the dog.
    Blaze panted, then looked up at Dad. The dog’s mouth stretched into a wide, shame-faced grin.
    â€œWe’ll go take a look around, just for fun.” Dad rumpled the dog’s ears. “Sam, turn Popcorn back in with his buddies.”
    Sam looked at the albino mustang, unhaltered and wandering. Did Dad think she could just reach up, grab a handful of mane, and lead him back? It was possible, but…
    Dad must have noticed her dubious look, because he added, “Just open the pasture gate a foot and see if he starts to go in on his own. I think whatever happened is over.”
    A low nicker rumbled from Ace’s chest and he swished his tail, looking between Sam and Sweetheart.
    â€œGo ahead, boy. You’ll