Shy Girl & Shy Guy (Quartz Creek Ranch)
Page 14
“I don’t know . . .”
“Trust me, Hanna. She’s your mom. She loves you, and I know she wants to understand you. I think that seeing what you’ve done here will help.”
She nodded. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now. “Okay.”
“Don’t worry,” said Ma Etty, smiling. “It will be fine. I promise.”
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The next morning, while the other kids loaded their things into the old Econoline van to head to the airport, Hanna saddled up Shy Guy and did a few exercises with him in the arena. Izzy appeared outside the fence and leaned against it.
“Looking good, killer,” she said. “You guys are awesome together.”
Hanna and Shy Guy sidled over, and Hanna dismounted. Izzy slipped through the bars and, without a preamble, wrapped her up in a hug. “Don’t you forget about me.”
Hanna laughed, thinking about spiders crawling around in her bed. “It would be impossible to forget you.”
“Your mom’s here.” With that, Izzy affectionately punched Hanna’s shoulder, turned, and climbed back out. Then she was gone, and Hanna blinked back tears.
Sure enough, her mom walked around the side of the barn and paused when she saw Hanna. She didn’t say anything as Hanna led Shy Guy over and opened the gate to the arena. Her mom cautiously stepped through, her shoes already muddy from walking around.
“Hi,” said Hanna.
Her mom smiled a cautious smile, but her eyes were happier and brighter than she’d ever seen them.
“Oh, my Hanna.” Her mom leaned forward and put her arms around her. She kissed the top of Hanna’s head, then stepped back to observe Shy Guy. “Wow. He’s so gorgeous. Like one of your toy horses.”
“Yeah,” said Hanna. “I thought the same thing.” Slowly her mom reached out one hand toward Shy Guy, who, surprisingly, didn’t flinch away. She petted his soft nose, and Shy Guy blew out a gust of air.
“Tell me everything,” her mom said. “Everything. Please.”
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When Hanna was done, her mom was crying. She hugged Hanna again and held onto her tightly. Hanna felt tears land on her hair.
“You’re incredible,” her mom said. “You’re such an incredible girl. Ma Etty told me how proud she is of you. How frightened you were and how hard you worked anyway. It’s all thanks to this guy?”
Hanna nodded. Her mom released her, and Hanna patted Shy Guy’s strong neck. He dipped his head as if to say, Yes, that’s me.
“I guess,” said Hanna. “He’s the one who’s incredible. You wouldn’t believe the things he knows, Mom. He’s smart. He’s sweet. He’s kind.”
“Sounds like a girl I know,” her mom said.
“And he’s so eager to please. But to Elena . . . it was never enough.” Hanna paused, choosing her words carefully. “I know how that feels, you know. For nothing you do to be enough.”
Her mom sucked in a breath, then gave a slow nod.
“Hanna,” she said, voice shaking a little, “I . . . I think we have some things to talk about.”
“I think so too.”
“The stealing. It has to stop.”
“I know.” Hanna swallowed back tears. “I didn’t do it because I like it, Mom. I did it because I . . . I was so angry at you. Because I tried my hardest to be the best, to be the daughter you wanted, and you kept telling me it wasn’t enough. That I wasn’t good enough for you. So I thought stealing would show you how good I’d been. That I could also be an awful daughter, if I wanted.”
“Oh, Hanna.” Her mom’s eyes turned glossy. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way. You are exactly the daughter I want. More than! You’re perfect.” She stroked Shy Guy again, and he leaned into her hand. His brown eyes observed them both with a gentle kindness.
“If I promise to be better,” her mom began, sniffling, “will you promise not to steal anymore?”
“Of course!” Hanna felt something inside her break. “Of course, Mom.”
This time, her mother’s embrace was a bear hug. When she was finished, her mom let her go and said, “And what about Shy Guy, here? You must be so sad to be leaving him behind. After what you told me, I’m sure he’ll be sad to see you go. You know, there are some horse barns near our house. Maybe we could ask Ma Etty if we could take him with us?”
Hanna’s heart nearly exploded out of her chest. Keep Shy Guy? Oh, how she wanted to! Shy Guy understood her in a way only Shy Guy could, the same way she understood him.
But she shook her head.
“I can’t,” she said quietly. “I can’t ever ask him to get into a trailer again—not after what Elena did to him.”
Her mother’s eyes shone with unshed tears. She wiped them and nodded.
“I understand,” she said. “You are so brave.” Summoning a smile, she added, “Now show me what you two can do! I hear good things.”
Taking a deep breath, Hanna stuck her foot in the stirrup and pushed herself up. Once she was on Shy Guy’s back, everything was perfect.
As they walked along the fence, Hanna let out just enough rein for him to glide into a trot, and then more rein until they fell into a sweet, smooth extended trot.
Then they were sailing—no, flying—together around the arena. Shy Guy’s powerful hooves pounded the dirt, and his shoulders rippled, all silver muscle and shine. And the wind had never felt better as it raced through Hanna’s hair.
About the Authors
Kiersi Burkhart grew up riding horses on the Colorado Front Range. At sixteen, she attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland and spent her young adult years in beautiful Oregon—until she discovered her sense of adventure was calling her elsewhere. Now she travels around with her best friend, a mutt named Baby, writing fiction for children of all ages.
Amber J. Keyser is happiest when she is in the wilderness with her family. Lucky for her, the rivers and forests of Central Oregon let her paddle, hike, ski, and ride horses right outside her front door. When she isn’t adventuring, Amber writes fiction and nonfiction for young readers and goes running with her dog, Gilda.
Acknowledgments
We have to thank our superhero agent, Fiona Kenshole, for suggesting that we write this series in the first place, for encouraging us to work together, and for championing us all the way to publication. Huge thanks to Anna and our wonderful team at Darby Creek for bringing Quartz Creek Ranch to life. Thank you to Heidi Siegel for all her horsey expertise; to Cesca for letting us use her band name; and to Whitney for dropping everything to make sure this book became a reality.
We also want to remember Spring, the wonderful gray horse who serves as the real-life inspiration behind Shy Guy. When Kiersi was a young girl, she was entrusted with rehabilitating an abandoned horse named Spring—from foundered to healthy, from forgotten to loved. You went through so much, and were still so full of heart.
Wherever you are, Spring, this one’s for you.
Shy Girl & Shy Guy
Cover
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-Four
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Back Cover
uy (Quartz Creek Ranch)