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  Inez made a determined cut into her steak and her expression said she knew what would follow, but Sam was eager to hear about Violette’s childhood. It couldn’t have been an ordinary one.

  “No, I lived with my mother until pretty recently,” Violette said. “I’ve always loved animals, but she had no use for them. I remember luring stray cats to our deck in Malibu.” Sam noticed everyone’s smiles slip when Violette added, “Until my mother threw scalding water on them.”

  “Why?” Sam cried out.

  Violette fidgeted with the sunglasses she’d placed next to her plate. For a second, Sam thought she was about to put them on, but she didn’t.

  “She said they took up time I could be using to become a better actress,” Violette explained. “She said they were dirty, too, getting paw prints on the hardwood floors. And they must have, because she always knew when I’d sneaked one inside. The time she found cat hair on her black cashmere sweater—” Violette stopped.

  For an instant, she covered her lips with both hands, shook her head in denial, as if her offense had just been discovered. Then, finally, she went on.

  “She wouldn’t let me go to bed until I’d examined every black garment in her closet and picked off the hairs with tweezers.”

  Brynna looked shocked. One of her hands dropped beneath the table. Sam just knew she was touching the bulge of her baby.

  Dad looked angry.

  Except for the swing of the grandfather clock’s pendulum in the other room, there was silence.

  Isn’t that child abuse? Sam wondered.

  But it was long over and Brynna’s sympathy broke the accusing hush.

  “Your mother sounds like a very particular woman.”

  Violette gave a humorless laugh. “You could say that, but I had the animals of the Claus show, and their trainers were so nice to me, you wouldn’t believe it.”

  “You were the baby of the cast,” Inez reminded her.

  “Yeah, and the work was such a…” Violette pressed the heels of both hands against her temples. “I don’t know, an onslaught on my brain, that most afternoons all I wanted was to curl up beside the reindeer, in all that scratchy straw, and pillow my head against them. Their coats are so thick….” Violette’s voice trailed off and her face wore a dreamy, little-girl look.

  Inez’s hands were jerky as she sipped her milk. She kept her eyes on Violette as if she was worried about what the actress would say next. Then, before Violette went on, she nudged her with a question.

  “Tell everyone about reindeer hair. What’s so special about it? I always forget,” Inez said.

  “Oh, well, it’s like no other on earth,” Violette began, and then she launched into an almost scientific description of specially evolved hair that protected the huge deer against subzero temperatures.

  Inez sighed, seeming relieved, before Violette interrupted her own explanation to say, “I was such a little kid while I was starring in that show, that when the reindeer’s trainer lifted off their harnesses at the end of the day, I wanted to take off my clothes, too.”

  “That’s natural enough,” Gram said, chuckling, but Sam saw Gram’s sideways glance meet Brynna’s.

  “I don’t know if it is or not,” Violette said, “I just know that one day, when I actually started to do it, my mother yanked my red velvet shirt down over my tummy. Then I had to go and say something like, ‘My harness never gets lifted off.’ Everyone thought that was way profound, but my mother was humiliated.” Violette turned to Inez, as if she were about to give her a cue. “Mom thought I made her sound like the world’s worst stage mother.”

  “Which of course she was,” Inez said, before touching her napkin to her lips and leaning across the table toward Jake, who’d kept quiet all this time. “Jake, remind me what we’re doing tomorrow with Bayfire.”

  “Lost Canyon,” Jake said.

  “Yes…,” Inez said, probing for more details, but Jake looked reluctant.

  He took a quick glance at Violette as if he didn’t want her to hear what he had to say next. At first Sam was irritated. Didn’t Jake have any compassion? But then Sam remembered why he was hesitant to talk about Lost Canyon in front of Violette.

  “We’re checking out the site for the waterfall jump, remember?” Jake said.

  “Oh yeah,” Inez said, then made a joke of her mistake by gently hitting her hand against her head.

  “I can hardly wait!” Violette said. “That will be so exciting!”

  “Vi,” Inez said, cautioning her. “You’re not riding in this scene.”

  All the little-girl giddiness dropped from Violette’s face and tone and she grabbed her sunglasses from their place beside her unused knife.

  As soon as she slipped them on, she was once more the sly and elegant actress.

  “Of course not, darling,” she told Inez. “When I’m not wanted, you only have to tell me once.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  After dinner, Inez drove Violette through Alkali and back to Darton, where she was staying in a small hotel. Although Sam thought Inez was nice to offer, it caused another coldly worded argument, because Violette wanted to spend the night in Inez’s camper.

  Inez had protested that there simply wasn’t room, and instead of offering her a bed for the night, as Sam expected, Brynna and Dad had seemed oddly eager to clear and wash the dishes and stay out of the conversation completely.

  Jake was gone, too, and Sam had walked halfway to the barn to check on Tempest, when she realized Gram was right behind her.

  “Wait for me, honey,” Gram said, but she lengthened her strides so that Sam barely needed to pause.

  Walking through the twilight without her apron or garden hat, Gram looked young. Sam felt a tug of amazement, realizing Gram had actually been pregnant with Dad, years ago, just as Brynna was pregnant with the new baby now.

  For some reason, it was just hard to believe.

  Before they reached the barn, Sweetheart nickered from the ten-acre pasture, greeting Gram.

  “I’ll be back in a minute, old girl,” Gram called to her.

  Guilt nudged Sam as she realized Gram was the only one who regularly gave the mare attention. Sure, they used her once in a while with the most cautious HARP girls, but she didn’t get the daily pats and hugs Ace and Tempest did.

  “You should watch me halter Tempest,” Sam said proudly as Gram walked beside her into the barn. “She’s doing so well.”

  “I will later,” Gram said before Sam could lift the halter from its hook. “But there’s something we need to talk about.”

  “Okay,” Sam said carefully.

  “I’ve already asked your father, and he’s downright enthusiastic. He thinks it’s the best thing, but I—” Gram broke off and smiled softly as she held both Sam’s shoulders in her hands. “Honey, this time it’s me asking for your permission to do something.”

  Chills rained down Sam’s neck and arms. Dozens of possibilities should be leaping across her mind, but she thought of nothing. She only knew this couldn’t be anything good. Gram looked too serious.

  “With your permission,” Gram repeated the word again, “Sweetheart and I will be joining the riding therapy program together.”

  “Okay,” Sam said again, feeling confused.

  “That means she’ll live in their stable all the time. River Bend Ranch will be donating her to the program, so that even on days I’m not there, the children can use her.” Though the barn was warm from the day’s August heat, Sam froze.

  “You’re giving away Mom’s horse,” Sam said, finally understanding.

  Gram sighed and nodded.

  Suddenly Sam remembered a photograph Dad had shown her of Mom in her wedding dress, riding the spirited young pinto, Sweetheart. Mom’s smile had been radiant as Sweetheart pranced. But that day had been long ago.

  “She’s a good horse,” Sam protested.

  “Honey, she’s a wonderful horse. Sweetheart has love and experience to give, but no one asks anything
of her.”

  “But she’s happy out in the pasture,” Sam said.

  “She’s bored, Samantha. She’s getting fat and losing muscle. She’s left out of all the excitement around here, and I think she knows it.” Gram paused, giving Sam a lopsided smile. “Don’t think I’m talking about myself, either. I can go to New Mexico for cooking classes or do things down at the church, but Sweetheart’s stuck.”

  Sam refused to cry. She looked up into the barn rafters. Last Christmas she’d felt as if Mom’s angel hovered up there, watching over her. What would Mom want her to do now?

  As if the words had been whispered in her ear, Sam said, “In that program, Sweetheart would be at the center of everything, instead of on the fringes.”

  “That’s right,” Gram said. “And don’t you know those children would just love her to death?”

  Sam nodded. Sweetheart would have a second life, surrounded by affectionate children who’d touch that heart-shaped spot on her side a hundred times a week and tell her she was beautiful.

  The guilt Sam had felt as they passed the mare just minutes ago came back. “I’ll give her more attention. I promise. Sunny and Tempest and Ace can do with a little less. I spoil them anyway.”

  “Honey, you’re just one person and school’s starting,” Gram said. “None of us has the time to make her as happy as she could be there.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it. I mean, it’s okay if you do it. You have my permission,” Sam said in a rush. “But I’m going out to the pasture with her right now!”

  Sam left Gram standing in the barn.

  Running as fast as she could, Sam headed for the part of the pasture where Sweetheart’s white spots stood out in the dusk. Then Sam climbed the fence.

  The old mare tossed her head up in surprise, but she didn’t back off even a step.

  She’s so gentle, Sam thought. Kids with crutches wouldn’t spook her. Kids who were awkward mounting or too enthusiastic to play with smaller animals wouldn’t faze Sweetheart at all.

  Sam threw her arms around the warm pinto neck, pressed her face into it, and then she did cry.

  “I don’t want to let you go!” she told the horse. “I love you, Sweetheart. I haven’t shown it as much as I should have and I’m sorry. I know you’ll be happier with those little kids, and I’m so sorry.”

  The old mare shook her head and then she did back a step, but Sam could tell Sweetheart wasn’t escaping her hug. Sweetheart was trying to get a better look at Sam and figure out what was wrong.

  “Why do things have to change?” she asked the horse.

  The old mare blew through her lips and shook her mane, but no matter how long Sam waited—and the grass was wet with dew by the time she said good-bye—neither of them came up with an answer.

  Brynna woke Sam at dawn.

  Sam’s face felt stiff and her eyelids were swollen from crying, but she didn’t feel a bit groggy.

  “What?” Sam said, struggling to sit up and open her eyes, the instant Brynna jiggled her arm.

  “Inez wants to head out for Lost Canyon right now.”

  “How come?” Sam asked, pushing her hair back from her face.

  “Two reasons. First, because the director of her camera crew says the weather forecast for tomorrow includes early morning fog, perfect for this scene, which is supposed to be taking place in England and—are you awake enough for all this, Sam?”

  “Yeah,” Sam said.

  As if he were testing her, Cougar eased away from his place on her quilt and slipped by Sam, set on burrowing into her warm sheets. When Sam caught him and tried to pull him onto her lap, Cougar leaped for the floor and Brynna continued.

  “The other thing is, Inez thinks Violette might come back, and she doesn’t want her to follow you out there.”

  “Okay,” Sam said.

  She swung her legs out of bed and snatched her jeans and a shirt from the floor.

  “A truly wicked stepmother would point out the uses of hangers and chests of drawers,” Brynna joked.

  “Sorry,” Sam said, voice muffled as she pulled the yellow tee-shirt over her head.

  “Who cares?” Brynna said, and Sam emerged smiling.

  “I guess you’re not so wicked,” Sam told her, then asked, “Is Jake here?”

  “Not yet,” Brynna said, watching Sam look for a sock to match the one she held. “But I called. Maxine told me he’s already left Three Ponies. So, as soon as he gets here, I’ll send him riding after you and Inez.”

  “Good,” Sam said. Then she noticed Brynna’s frown.

  “I don’t think there’ll be anything on this ride that you can’t handle yourself,” Brynna said. “Do you?”

  “No,” Sam said, puzzled. “Oh, why did I say ‘good’? Is that what you’re asking?”

  When Brynna nodded and leaned patiently against the doorframe, Sam’s words came tumbling out before she meant them to.

  “It’s just that Jake and I haven’t been getting along that well. He thinks I’m being too nice to Violette,” Sam confessed.

  “I knew something was going on,” Brynna said. “Swear you won’t breathe a word of this to him, and I’ll tell you what Maxine said.”

  Sam made a little-kid motion of crossing her heart, then held up her hand.

  “I promise,” she said, still searching for the other sock, this time under her bed.

  “He’s worried that he’s been too protective of you, and that you won’t know what to do without him to stand up for you.”

  “What? How could she possibly know that?” Sam asked, astounded. She couldn’t imagine Jake telling anyone such a thing. Especially his mother.

  “Let’s see if I’ve got this right,” Brynna said, tilting her head to one side. “He told something like that to Nate and Nate told…” Brynna grimaced, afraid she’d get it wrong. “Quinn? Or maybe I have that backward. Maybe Jake told Quinn and he told Nate? Anyway, one of the boys told their dad.”

  “And he told Jake’s mom,” Sam concluded. She shook her head at the disloyalty of brothers. “I’m kind of glad not to have any siblings.” Without meaning to, her eyes dropped to Brynna’s middle. “Yet.”

  Brynna rubbed the bulge of the baby. “This little one won’t be telling your secrets for a while.”

  A quiet hummed between them as Sam finally found her other sock. The silence wasn’t awkward. It was actually kind of cozy, and Sam realized she was really starting to be excited about her new brother or sister.

  “If I was really sappy,” Sam muttered to herself, “I’d tell myself some changes are good.”

  “I don’t know exactly what you mean,” Brynna said, yawning. “But if you’re talking about buying some new socks, I’m all for it.”

  The previous day’s hard work had only made Ace and Bayfire more spirited. Inez and Sam started out playing follow-the-leader and ended up in a game of anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better.

  Inez still didn’t talk to Bayfire, pretending this was just ordinary riding, as the day before had been, but she was really preparing Bayfire for the next day’s stunts.

  “The crew’s already been out here and installed the rubber mats for the jump,” Inez told Sam.

  “Rubber mats?” Sam asked.

  “Textured rubber floor mats,” Inez explained. “Since we’re working on public land, we got permission from BLM to install them as long as we pull them up when we’re done. They’ll give Bayfire’s hooves better traction on takeoff and landing.”

  “Good idea,” Sam said, thinking how slick the rocks in Lost Canyon could be, especially if it was a foggy morning.

  Inez shrugged. “We take all kinds of safety precautions for the animals. When Bayfire worked in Little Sure Shot, we had to pack his ears with cotton to protect him from the incessant—though pretend—gunfire.”

  “What if something still goes wrong?” Sam asked. She didn’t mention Violette, but that’s who she was thinking about.

  “We’ll have a vet on scene. You know him, in fact,”
Inez said.

  “Dr. Scott?” Sam asked.

  “That’s the one,” Inez told her. “Apparently the makeup crew was practicing wounds on a horse pastured near Clara’s and he was startled by their realism. But he’ll be up here, and we have sort of an ambulance trailer, too, just in case. And most important of all, we’ll have a bucket of grain. Nothing settles a guy’s nerves like a snack,” she said, rubbing the stallion’s withers.

  They looked for shale hillsides to climb and descend. When they spotted a willow tree alongside the river with drooping branches, they rode beneath them.

  Sam was giggling from the long tickling willows, when they emerged and Inez said, “Speaking of ‘just in case…’”

  “Were we?” Sam asked, wondering what Inez was talking about.

  “Yeah,” Inez said. When she pulled down the bill of her green cap just the way Jake did with his Stetson, Sam wondered what Inez was up to. “Remember, I said we had the ambulance standing by just in case.”

  “Oh, right,” Sam said.

  “Well, I want you to be my backup,” Inez blurted. “Just in case Bayfire isn’t up to the jump tomorrow, I’d like you to do it with Ace.”

  Sam’s head spun. She actually felt dizzy at the idea of jumping from rock to rock on the rim of Lost Canyon.

  “I can’t,” she said.

  “Well, let’s wait and take a look at it,” Inez offered.

  “I’ve taken a look at it,” Sam said, “and even with those traction mats, I’d be too scared.”

  Inez’s gaze lowered to Ace. She wet her lips.

  “I’d be too scared for me and Ace,” Sam added.

  Inez shrugged. “It was just an idea. After Violette brought it up yesterday, I couldn’t get it out of my head.” Inez sighed. “Don’t give it another thought, okay? But I would like to put Bayfire over a few jumps today, just to get him geared up for the big one.”

  As they approached Lost Canyon, Sam remembered a gulch.

  “Don’t know if you want to try it,” she told Inez, “but there’s a gully left from the time the river flooded. It’s a little too wide to jump and a little too narrow to comfortably ride down one side and up the other.”