That was when Hanna had an idea.
“I’m going to ride with you,” she told Izzy. “Get on first.”
“What? You want to actually ride a horse?”
“Yes!” Hanna cried, imagining her beautiful gray horse getting hit by a car, his heavy body collapsing lifeless to the pavement. “Now get on!”
Izzy obeyed mutely and climbed onto Fettucini’s back. Then she offered one of her stirrups to Hanna.
Hanna took one, two, and then three deep breaths before she stuck her foot in the stirrup and leapt onto the horse. She landed awkwardly on the back of the saddle, and a stinging pain shot through her bruised hip. But Izzy was already turning Fettucini the way Shy Guy had gone, and she made a kissing sound with her lips.
“Hold on!” she shouted. Hanna’s arms wrapped around Izzy’s waist as Fettucini leapt into a gallop, taking off after Shy Guy.
They sprinted down the gravel road, Hanna barely holding on as Fettucini bumped and bounced under her. Her stomach turned with every lurch, but all she could think about was getting to Shy Guy.
Then, up ahead, she spotted him. The ranch house whizzed past. Ma Etty stepped out onto the porch, sipping her coffee, and she stared after Izzy and Hanna as they galloped by.
“Will!” she yelled behind them. “Get your horse!”
Hanna had to admit that Fettucini was fast. The three of them roared down the drive, following Shy Guy’s dust trail. Part of her thought—no, knew—that she should be afraid. But there wasn’t room inside her for fear for herself. Right now, she only had space for Shy Guy. What if a truck came barreling up Bridlemile Road too fast? She could hear his bones crunching . . .
No! All Hanna could do was grit her teeth and hold on as they flew down the road, toward the front gate—which now hung wide open, the QUARTZ CREEK RANCH sign hanging over it.
“No, no, no!” cried Hanna, visualizing Shy Guy making it all the way to Main Street in Quartz Creek. But he wasn’t running as fast anymore, and Fettucini easily overtook him on the straightaway.
Then Izzy and Hanna were galloping alongside him, clouds of his dust filling the air. Maybe Hanna could jump from one horse to the other, like in the movies? But that couldn’t work. She’d get herself killed. But if she got off Fettucini, she couldn’t keep up with the horses on foot.
A diesel engine roared up ahead. A truck was coming! Dread settled in her chest as she imagined her worst fear coming true.
But Izzy let out a whoop. “Paul!” she shouted. “We’ve got a runaway horse!”
A blond head in a wide-brimmed hat leaned out the window of the truck.
“Runaway?” Paul slammed on his brakes, and the truck swerved. Shy Guy stopped and reared as the truck’s metal body swung around in front of them. It fishtailed, rear wheels spewing gravel until it sat stopped in the middle of the road, wedged between the fence and the creek. It wouldn’t stop a horse if he was determined, but it created a small barrier.
Shy Guy neighed like a demon and reared again, sending Fettucini dancing away. Shy Guy’s head craned left, then right, searching for a way past this new blockade. There was enough room at the back of the truck to slip by—and as soon as Shy Guy saw it, he lunged.
“No way!” said Izzy, reining Fettucini around to get between Shy Guy and the tail of the truck. Shy Guy backed off, throwing his head from side to side in his panic.
Paul was getting out of the truck to try to catch him with a lead rope when Shy Guy broke past the barrier Fettucini had formed with his body, knocking their legs. He dashed toward the gap between the back of the truck and the creek bed.
“No!” Hanna couldn’t let him run into town, undeterred, in this frantic and frightened state.
She jumped off Fettucini, landing with an unceremonious thud and a cloud of dust. Every muscle in her back and hips ached, but she ignored them. She grabbed the lead rope from Paul and jogged toward Shy Guy, even as he reared up again.
“Hey, buddy,” she crooned, keeping enough distance that his flailing hooves wouldn’t hit her. He landed on all four feet again and turned to look at her, ears pinned back and panting. Sweat coursed down his chest.
“Hey there,” Hanna said again, in her calmest, kindest voice. “It’s okay, boy. Everything will be all right.”
His ears pricked slightly toward her, and his eyes followed her every step. His entire body was tensed to run, even as he looked tired, breathing heavily.
“Hanna,” warned Paul. “Don’t go near him. Let me—”
“I’ve got this,” she said, still using her kindest voice. Shy Guy’s gaze flicked to a point behind her, probably Paul, and his ears flattened. “Don’t either of you move,” she said.
“I’d listen to her,” whispered Izzy.
“Hey, Shy Guy,” Hanna said, earning his attention again. She took another step toward him. “Hey, you pretty boy. See? It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Shy Guy’s nostrils flared, and he lifted one foot as if he might take a matching step back, but she held her hands out palms up and he stopped.
After a long moment, the only sound was Shy Guy’s heavy breathing, and she took another step toward him.
“It’s just me.” Hanna was so close now she could smell his terrified sweat. Shy Guy shook his head, mane swishing over his huge neck. If he bolted now, he’d trample her. But if she showed fear, she would only frighten him.
Hanna had to be brave for both of them.
One more step, and she was close enough to touch him. She reached out and gently ran a hand along Shy Guy’s long nose, and he seemed too tired to pull away. He whuffed, his hot breath filling her hand. Slowly she moved her hand down his neck and, fingers shaking, wrapped the lead rope around it. She tied it off in a loose knot.
“Got him,” she said. Shy Guy shimmied away as Paul appeared at her shoulder, carrying a halter. He stopped mid-step.
“Maybe you should lead him back,” he said quietly, handing her the halter.
“Yeah.” Hanna rubbed the exhausted horse’s head and neck a few more times before he was calm enough that she could buckle it over his head. He tilted his head away, but seemed too tired to fight back. She clipped on the lead rope and finally let out the breath she’d been holding.
“You did it,” said Izzy, her voice surprising Hanna. She’d forgotten anyone was there but her and Shy Guy.
“Knock on wood. We still have to get back.” She turned toward the ranch. Shy Guy’s head hung low beside her. He was too out of energy to pull away from her as he had with Fletch.
Grasping the lead rope tightly, Hanna said, “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Ten
Hanna and Izzy walked back up Bridlemile Road, Shy Guy on Hanna’s left, following along uneasily, and Izzy leading Fettucini to her right. Mr. Bridle had caught up to them on his big black horse and rode up ahead of them to make sure the way was clear. After closing the ranch gate, Paul drove behind as a blockade in case Shy Guy tried to make a break for it again. That left the two girls and their horses alone.
“Hanna . . .” Izzy trailed off. When Hanna glanced over, Izzy was fixated on her feet. “I . . . I didn’t know that would happen.”
“What? When you pushed me off that fence?” Keeping her voice low to avoid startling Shy Guy, Hanna halted suddenly and turned to Izzy. The fury she’d pushed down while she focused on the rescue bubbled up, hot and fiery, to the surface. “How did you think it would turn out?”
“I don’t know,” said Izzy, still not looking up. “I didn’t think.”
“Who even does that? Pushes someone from four feet up into a corral? I could have broken my neck. Shy Guy could have trampled me. I could actually be dead right now, Izzy.”
Shy Guy pulled his head away, snorting nervously at the sound of her voice.
Hanna had never been so angry in her entire life. She had disliked Izzy before, with her teasing and mocking and prancing around like she was the queen of the world. But this time, she’d gone too far.
“I’m . . . I’m sorry.” Izzy’s voice was so quiet, Hanna almost didn’t hear her. “I’m so sorry, Hanna. I really am. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt. I . . . I don’t know what I was thinking. Please don’t tell.”
The request surprised Hanna so much, her response was a question. “Don’t tell?”
“Please don’t tell Madison and Ma Etty what I did. I’m in so much trouble already, you know. That’s why I’m here. If my parents find out . . . if they hear I can’t even stay out of trouble at a rehab camp, I’m done for. They were already threatening to make me change schools.”
“But . . .”
Izzy covered her face in her hands and tears dripped out, down her chin, onto the dirt. “Please! I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” Shy Guy fidgeted at her wail.
They needed to keep moving and keep it down if they were going to get Shy Guy home safely, so Hanna let out a sigh. “Okay, fine. I won’t tell.”
Izzy dropped her hands to her sides and relief flooded her face.
“But don’t think it means I’ve forgiven you. You put my life at risk for a . . . what? A joke? That’s hard to forget.”
Izzy nodded. “I understand. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Hanna wasn’t sure what to make of the determination in Izzy’s voice, but as they approached the ranch house and she saw Ma Etty waiting for them, she felt a little hopeful.
Or maybe it was the adrenaline.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
After Hanna had returned Shy Guy to his corral, Ma Etty told her to come inside.
“That was incredibly reckless, Hanna Abbott,” she said, hands perched on her hips.
Hanna winced at her full name.
The ranch house was abuzz with news of Shy Guy’s flight—and the maneuver that saved him. But Ma Etty had ushered everyone out of the living room except for the two girls in question.
Before Hanna could say anything, Izzy pushed in, physically standing between Hanna and Ma Etty.
“Hanna did the best she could, given the situation,” said Izzy. “If we hadn’t done something, Shy Guy would be roadkill!”
This made both Hanna and Ma Etty flinch.
Still. Of all people, it was Izzy defending her. Hanna didn’t know what to make of that.
Ma Etty surveyed them. “You could have asked someone for help,” she said. “Leaping onto a horse when you’ve never received even basic riding lessons . . .”
“We had to act fast,” said Hanna. “If we’d had time, I promise, I would’ve way preferred to ask for help instead.”
Paul leaned his head out the dining room doorway. “I don’t know what you’re lecturing her for, Ma Etty,” he said, his bushy blond mustache twitching. “That girl handled that horse incredibly well in a difficult situation, especially for a newbie.”
Ma Etty frowned. “I didn’t ask you, Paul.”
“Well, that’s true,” he responded good-naturedly, “but isn’t she the one that’s scared to even get near a horse?” He tilted his head at Hanna.
“Yes,” Ma Etty allowed.
“Pretty remarkable what she did, then, isn’t it? Riding double your first time on a horse!”
Ma Etty didn’t say anything, but her gaze went to Hanna.
“She didn’t want to do it,” said Izzy, breaking the silence. “But she had to!”
“Now, now,” said Ma Etty, putting her hands up. “There are always options.”
“There wasn’t one this time.” Izzy crossed her arms. “Hanna’s the only one Shy Guy will let anywhere near him. It was a good thing she was brave enough to ride after him with me, because nobody else would’ve been able to get a halter on him.”
Even though she was the one on trial, Hanna didn’t dare interject—Izzy was handling it better than she would’ve.
“It was still a pretty dangerous thing to do, for someone who’s never ridden before,” said Ma Etty. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt on my watch. You didn’t even have a helmet!”
Izzy gaped at her. “What? You can’t be mad at Hanna for that. The scaredy-cat actually rode a horse! You should be happy.”
Now, Ma Etty looked more confused than angry. She tilted her head at Izzy.
“And that makes me wonder. How did all this happen in the first place?”
Izzy and Hanna exchanged a glance. It was Hanna’s turn to hold up her end of the bargain. She wished she’d worked on an excuse earlier.
“Shy Guy got out,” she said lamely.
“How?”
Hanna opened and closed her mouth. This was the same thing that had happened when her mom found the stash of stolen stuff under her bed and demanded to know what she was doing. Hanna wasn’t imaginative enough for good excuses.
“It was an accident,” chimed in Izzy. “The gate wasn’t latched properly.”
Hanna nodded along. “Yep. And when Izzy came over with Fettucini to say hello, Shy Guy got scared and ran.”
“To say hello?” Ma Etty surveyed both girls like a detective examining two suspects.
“Right,” said Izzy. “You know, because . . . because Hanna and I have been hanging out a lot!” She flopped on the couch next to Hanna and put her in a headlock.
“Have you?” said Ma Etty, her surprise genuine this time.
“Y-yeah,” managed Hanna, forcing herself to smile as she pushed Izzy off. “We have. All the time.”
“We even came up with a joke,” said Izzy. “Why didn’t the horse speak?”
Hanna gave her a blank look. “Uh . . . why?”
“Because he was a little hoarse!”
Nobody laughed at the lame joke except Izzy, but Ma Etty did crack a smile. “Well, that’s good to hear. But I’m still not happy with how reckless you were—riding double, leaving the property without permission . . .”
“We had to think fast,” said Izzy. “We made a snap decision, and I stand by it.”
“A decision that could have saved Shy Guy’s life,” chimed in Paul. Ma Etty gave him an annoyed look for his continued interference. “Even if she did get a little beat up.”
Ma Etty’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, Hanna. How are you feeling? Neither of you has explained how Hanna got all covered in dirt.”
Paul gave them a sheepish look and withdrew back into the dining room.
“I fell,” said Hanna. “It was . . . before Shy Guy got out.”
“Mm-hmm.” Ma Etty didn’t sound convinced, but when no one opted to explain further, she let out a defeated sigh. She did look pleased, though, to see the two girls sitting on the couch together. “Well, nobody’s in trouble here, I suppose. Everyone did what they could in a bad situation and made it work.” She nodded in Hanna’s direction. “But you should be more careful. Remember, Shy Guy has had a hard time in life. You can’t always trust him.”
Hanna closed her eyes. “I know. But I think . . . I think he could be trusted again. He’s a good horse, Ma Etty, but he’s been hurt a lot.”
“He was letting you scratch him,” said Izzy. “Nobody could do that before, right, Ma Etty?”
Hanna shrugged. “I think he just knows I won’t hurt him.”
Ma Etty’s smile widened. “I’m glad we paired you two up, then. He needs someone like you.”
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Madison told them at breakfast that Fletch would be working with Izzy, Rae Ann, Cade, and Josh so she could give Hanna a private lesson. Hanna waited for a snide remark from Izzy about getting more special treatment. But Izzy kept eating, even catching Hanna’s eye and smiling lopsidedly.
Dumbfounded, Hanna missed her mouth with a forkful of eggs and spilled it right down her shirt.
After they broke up for riding instruction, Hanna met Madison by the corral.
“Normally we start everyone with the basics,” she said. “We call it ‘groundwork’—you know, how to handle the horse, lead it, and ask it to wait. Like heeling a dog. I want to teach you how to do it correctly right from the beginning so
Shy Guy knows he can’t get away with any fooling around on your watch. Given we can even get that far.” Madison held out a pretty green halter to Hanna. “I think green is Shy Guy’s color,” she said with a grin.
Hanna took it, put it over her own shoulder, and shivered. She’d had no problem putting a halter on Shy Guy yesterday, when his life was at stake. It had been instinct.
She’d felt superhuman.
But now, with the halter in her hand, fear whistled through her blood. Madison had . . . expectations. Groundwork? Bossing around a horse?
Hanna couldn’t do that. Hanna didn’t know how to boss around anyone. Who would listen to her, anyway? Certainly not a big horse like Shy Guy.
“One thing,” said Madison. “Remember to listen to everything I say. If it feels like Shy Guy might act up, I want you to drop the lead rope and get away as quickly as possible.”
“You think that might . . . happen?” Hanna shivered.
“I don’t know,” said Madison. “I really don’t. But I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Shy Guy stood peacefully in the middle of the corral, facing away from the gate. When they approached him from behind, he raised his head and pinned his ears back—until he spotted Hanna. Turning completely around, his ears pricked toward her.
Hanna walked up to the fence, and slowly, he walked forward to meet her. She patted his nose through the bars, and he let out a soft whuff.
“All right,” said Madison, sounding like she’d been holding her breath. “We’ll start with opening and closing the gate. We want Shy Guy to wait behind the gate while you open it and go in.”
“Go in?” said Hanna. She had thought they would work somewhere a little less . . . enclosed.
“Yep. Just say, ‘wait,’ and hold the halter and lead rope in your hand. Shake the rope at him to ask him to move back. Don’t open the gate until he’s standing at attention and giving you plenty of space.”
Hanna stared up at Shy Guy. He stared back at her through the fence. Carrying the halter, she made her way around the corral to the gate. He followed her every movement with his ears. Once she was at the gate, she said, “Wait.”
Shy Girl & Shy Guy (Quartz Creek Ranch) Page 6