Chapter Two

DUST FROM THE HAY FLOATED in the sunbeam coming through the barn window. Jade twirled with her hand above her head, disrupting the air and sending the tiny particles floating in new directions.

Copper neighed. She lowered her arm and stepped over to the horse, hugging Copper's neck.

"I love you." She kissed the smooth coat on Copper's jaw, laughing when the pony tossed her head. "I know. I want to go for a ride, too. But momma won't let us until someone can teach me."

Mr. Sweeney gave her Copper on her tenth birthday. She'd only rode the horse during her birthday party. Since then, Mr. Sweeney and her mom told her she couldn't ride until she had lessons.

"I'll save all my money I get for doing chores to buy lessons, Copper. I promise." She smoothed the mane where it always tried to fall between her ears and get in her eyes. "By summertime, we can ride to the creek behind the cottage. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"How will you do that when you're not allowed to ride the beast?" A deep familiar voice startled her.

"I'm going to learn." She grabbed Copper's halter and led the horse toward the stall door, closer to Hank. "I'll be as good as you when you ride Charger."

Hank reached over the wooden door and rubbed Copper between the ears, messing up her mane again. "I was riding horses before you were born."

She focused on him. "Who taught you?"

He stared at the pony, continuing to stroke her head. Jade thought he wouldn't answer, but then he swallowed, making that lump at the front of his neck move.

"My dad."

"Oh," she whispered.

She'd learned long ago not to ask him about his dad. Thinking about his dad put Hank in a bad mood, and he usually walked away and wouldn't stay and talk to her.

Mr. Sweeney was mean to his son. He not only yelled but hit and kicked Hank, too. He made him bleed.

It made her sad because Mr. Sweeney was nice to her. He'd even bought Copper for her. Though, momma wondered why he'd buy her a gift that cost hundreds and thousands and gazillions of dollars.

Horses were expensive and not toys.

But she'd return Copper to Mr. Sweeney if he stopped hitting Hank. She'd hate to say goodbye to Copper, but someone else would love him if he were given away. Hank had nobody but her.

Mrs. Sweeney never stopped Mr. Sweeney from hurting Hank. Even her momma wouldn't say anything to stop Hank's dad from beating on him when he was angry.

She'd known Hank her whole life. Ever since momma moved into Mr. Sweeney's cottage, back before she could remember.

"Why don't you hop up on the horse?" He patted the board. "Bring her over here, climb up, and slide onto her back. I'll lead you around the paddock."

She glanced back at Copper and bit her lip. She really, really wanted to ride.

A heaviness settled in her chest. She couldn't ask Hank to let her. If anyone found out, Mr. Sweeney would get mad.

"I can't," she mumbled.

"Why not?"

"Mr. Sweeney and momma said I need riding lessons." Her throat tightened in disappointment. "I haven't saved enough money to hire someone. I get two dollars a week. I don't know how much it'll cost, but I'm going to save all my money. I won't even buy ice cream when momma takes me into Whitefish."

"That's bullshit." He opened the stall door, lifted her, and held her until she grabbed Copper's mane. "My dad has more money than anyone in the county. I'll teach you if he won't pay for your damn lessons. Go ahead climb up."

She climbed up to the top rail and threw her leg over the horse. Squeezing her legs, she held on to the mane. Without a saddle, she'd fall. But she wanted to ride more than she worried about falling. Hank would make sure she stayed on Copper's back.

"Relax." He put his hand on her back. "Copper ain't going to let you slide off."

"How do you know?"

"I know." He grabbed the halter and led the horse out of the stall.

Hank stopped in the sunshine and pivoted, taking her behind the barn. The paddock was in the opposite direction.

Her stomach fluttered. Used to the uncomfortable but exciting way Hank always broke the rules, she sat straighter in anticipation of what he would do. She wasn't worried about getting in trouble for herself. Momma would set Mr. Sweeney right, the way she always had when he came to the cottage in a bad mood.

"Why do you ride your motorcycle so much when you could ride horses everywhere you wanted to go?" She relaxed, riding the bumps as Copper walked. "Horses are quiet. Your motorcycle is loud."

Hank glanced away from her, walked a few more feet, then stopped Copper. "Because the old man can't stop me from riding something I paid for."

"Like Copper was a gift to me, so she's mine to ride whenever I want, right?" She patted the horse's neck.

"Yeah." He looked around the area. "Same thing."

A grove of trees blocked where the creek filled the pond. She'd walked that way with her mom plenty of times. Behind her, the barn blocked the view to the Glacier Crest Ranch, where her mom worked, and Hank lived with his parents.

A clink drew her attention back to Hank. He undid his belt buckle and pulled the leather strap out of the loops on his jeans.

She leaned forward and scratched Copper underneath her neck where she liked to be rubbed. "What are you doing?"

"I'm giving your horse a little freedom to take you on a ride." He studied her. "You're not scared, are you?"

She lifted her chin. "I'm not scared."

She liked being on top of Copper. Even without a saddle, riding was fun. It was her favorite thing to do in the whole world. She never wanted to stop.

Hank looped the end of his leather belt through the halter, then threaded the leather through the buckle, making a long lead. Jade kicked her feet at how smart he was. Copper shot forward, rocking her.

"Whoa." Hank put his hand on Copper. "Mind your feet, Jade. Any time you tap her sides, she's going to walk."

She held on tighter. "I want her to walk."

"Then, let's go for a walk." Hank stepped back, holding the end of the belt in his hand. "When you want her to go, you click your tongue—"

"I don't know how."

He stepped toward her again. "Put the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth." He squinted at her. "Now press the rest of your tongue up there." He paused. "Got it?"

She nodded because she couldn't talk with her tongue pushing up.

Hank reached out and grabbed Copper's halter. "Now, pull down your tongue."

She opened her mouth. Hank chuckled and looked away. "Let's try it a different way. Put your tongue back on the roof of your mouth."

She followed his instructions.

"Without moving your tongue, pretend you're sucking a milkshake up a straw."

She sucked her cheeks in. She held her breath with her tongue on the roof of her mouth.

"Okay, drop your tongue."

A soft click came from her mouth. "I did it."

"Good enough." He stepped back, holding the belt. "Now click again, and at the same time, tap your heels gently against Copper's sides."

Doing exactly what Hank had taught her, the horse shot forward. She tightened her hold on the mane, tottering from side to side. Caught up in the excitement, it took her a moment to realize that Hank was standing in one spot while Copper walked in a circle around him.

She rode for several minutes, around and around. Every time Copper slowed, Hank told her to tap her heels. Each time the horse listened to her, she shared a smile with Hank. He was teaching her how to ride.