Clare came down for supper, and though she didn't eat much that I could tell, she did manage to finish sitting out the meal

with everybody else. Crane's lasagna was perfection. Add in some garlic bread, and green beans, and it was a really

good meal. Ivy was lively company. She injected a good amount of fun to our group around the table.

She was sitting next to Crane, across the table from where I sat, and every time that Crane said something, it seemed

as though Ivy's gorgeous green eyes sparkled. I mean, it wasn't as though she was obvious about it, or anything weird, but, knowing

what I knew, that she liked Crane the way that she did, well-it spoke for itself.

And then, when supper was over, and the table had been cleared, Ivy and Crane went for a walk.

I was sitting on the top rail of the fence that faces the meadow, just thinking things over. I had just about made up my mind to

tell Ivy that I wouldn't be to work the rest of the week. I mean, if I couldn't drive myself there, or home again, then it just

seemed too much bother.

Warrior wandered over to lay in the grass near me. It was while I was sitting there that I saw the Jack. He was ambling

my way, stopping every once in a while to nibble on meadow grass. I felt my heart leap. I hadn't seen him in over a week.

I dropped off the other side, and went to get some apples from the bin in the barn, and then came right back. I walked

out to meet him, and he seemed, in his own way, glad to see me.

He took an apple from my hand, and I ran my hands over his neck and scratched his forehead.

"Where have you been, fella?" I asked him.

When he'd eaten his second apple, I sat down in the grass right there, while he went back to munching meadow grass.

I tried to do some thinking, while I was sitting there. Just being out here, in the meadow like this, in the quiet, and with the

Jack and my dog nearby, seemed to have a sort of calming influence on me.

I thought over the weekend. Trying to straighten things out in my mind. I just felt sort of bruised from what had happened

with Adam. I mean, not bruised on the outside. Although that spanking he'd given me had definitely left a hurting on me, I didn't

think it had actually left physical bruises. I meant that I felt bruised on the inside. Some of it was embarrassment, sure, but,

also, I think my feelings were a little hurt.

I wasn't mad at Adam, exactly. I knew he'd done what he felt was the right thing to do. I just thought he hadn't needed to

get so tough. And now, things just felt awkward between us.

I heard a whistle, a high-pitched, piercing whistle. When I turned my head, I saw Ivy. She was just a ways off, and she waved.

I waved back, and she came walking on to me.

"Well, hello there, guy," she greeted the Jack. She stood there, giving him an appraising glance.

"He looks good," she surmised.

"Yeah," I agreed.

"He's getting plenty to eat, it looks like."

"Yeah," I said, again. "I don't know where he's been hanging around at. I haven't seen him for awhile."

Ivy sat down beside me in the grass, stretching her legs out.

"I'm going to be heading home soon," she said.

"Supper was good, huh?" I asked her, and she gave me a smile.

"Yes. Supper was very good."

As far as I knew, Crane was still seeing Cindy. There was definitely something between Ivy and him, though.

I hoped that nobody's feelings were going to be hurt.

After we'd sat there a few more minutes, just talking about general things, Ivy said she needed to get going.

"I was thinking-" I said. "I can't drive until Friday, so I don't think I'll be in the rest of the week to work."

"Oh. Well, okay," Ivy said, looking puzzled. "Is your truck broken down? If so I could-"

"It's not that," I said, and then hesitated. "It's something that Adam put down for me." I didn't really want to

explain anything more.

"Oh," Ivy said, and then nodded. "I might be able to come and pick you up at school, and then take you home

if you want me to."

"That's a lot of running for you. What if you got an important call? I wouldn't want you to be late for a call-out

because you were being a taxi for me," I said.

"Maybe I want to," Ivy said. "Did you ever think of that?" She smiled at me.

"Well, if you're sure," I said.

"Alright. So, tomorrow it is," Ivy said. "What time should I be at the school to get you?"

"Twelve-fifteen."

"Okay." She stood up, brushing off her jeans. "See you then."

"Okay. Bye."

After Ivy had gone, walking back towards the house, I went on sitting there. The sun was lowering in the sky to the

west.

7

It was getting cooler. I began to wish I'd brought a jacket out with me. I could have gotten up to go get

one, but I wasn't ready to go inside the house yet. I tucked my legs up to my chest, and rubbed my hands up and down

my arms.

I heard someone else coming. Swishing thru the grass. I turned, just a little, to look. And, then, I turned back

to face forward again, watching the Jack.

Adam paused, standing beside me. "Hey," he said.

"Hey." I looked up at him, quickly, and then back down again.

Adam eased himself down onto the ground, beside me, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"Here," he said, handing off a sweatshirt to me.

I took the sweatshirt from him, again feeling a conflict in emotion. He'd brought me a sweatshirt so I wouldn't be cold.

"Thanks," I said.

"Temperature's really dropping," he said.

I pulled the sweatshirt on over my head, tugging it down. It wasn't even my sweatshirt. It was pretty raggedy, and I thought

it might be one of Evan's old ones. Adam must have picked it up off the back porch before he headed out here.

We sat there in quiet for a few moments, and then I ventured forward in what I had to tell him.

"Ivy's going to come pick me up at school, and then bring me home after work the rest of the week," I said.

For a long moment Adam was quiet. "Uh huh," he said.

I looked to my right. "It's not okay?" I asked.

"I just think it's a bit much to ask of Ivy."

"I didn't ask her," I protested. I met his gaze. "I didn't, Adam. She offered."

He nodded a bit, and I went on, "I told her that I thought I wouldn't be into work the rest of the week, and she

offered to come get me."

Adam wrinkled his forehead a little. "Why did you think you wouldn't be to work the rest of the week?" he asked.

"I thought it might be better-easier, if I didn't," I said. "So none of you would have to tote me back and forth."

"I see," he said.

I studied him. There was something in his tone. Great, I thought to myself. I'd ticked him off five seconds into the

conversation.

"Was I wrong?" I asked, wrapping my arms around my knees again. "About it being easier?"

"It's fine," Adam said. "If you and Ivy worked it out, we'll let it go as it is."

I wasn't sure what to think of that. I couldn't tell, really, if he was irritated or not.

"The burro looks good," he said, then.

"Yeah. He does," I agreed, glad to have the subject changed.

"He hasn't been around, has he?"

"No. Not for a week or so," I said. "I don't know where he goes when he's gone like that. And then, he just

reappears."

"Yeah. He's a mysterious little fella," Adam said. "I'd like to know how he gets in and out like he does, when we can never

find a fence down."

"Sometimes I think he's magic," I said.

Adam turned to look at me, a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Well, he's somethin' alright. I don't know if it's magic."

For just a moment, I felt like smiling back. I did smile, just a tiny one, and looked back at the Jack.

"So," Adam said, then. "Should we talk?"

I looked at him again, as he went on talking. "About what it is that's wrong between us?" His eyes were intent on

my face, not wavering.

"I guess it's that-" I hesitated. "I feel embarrassed. And, my feelings are sort of hurt."

"Embarrassed because you think you're too old to be spanked," he said. More as a statement, not a question. "Well, I don't happen

to agree with that. It'd be different if I was takin' you out to the barn once a week to paddle you. That I could go along with. But,

I'm not doin' that. Before Saturday night, I can't even remember the last time I gave you a real spanking." He paused,

still watching me. "So, I don't go along with you thinkin' you're too old."

"It's not that I think I'm too old, exactly," I said, trying to explain. "I guess-it just felt as though-" I hesitated, and then

shook my head in frustration, looking out into the meadow. "I don't know how to explain it."

Adam was quiet for a long few moments then, too. "What about your feelings bein' hurt? Explain that to me."

"It shocked me a little," I admitted. "I feel like you were more-strict, than you had to be."

"Harsh, you mean," he amended.

I nodded.

"I didn't do it in anger, Harlie," he said.

"I know."

"I thought about it, before I did it. And, like I said, it's not as though you get it often-" he went on.

"I know," I said, again.

"Did I not explain things to you the right way? About why I did it?" he asked.

"You did."

"It won't happen again, as long as you don't lie to me," he said.

I nodded, in acknowledgement.

Adam was watching me, looking a little perplexed, as though he was trying to understand.

"Part of it, I think," I began slowly, "Is that I feel badly because-like you said, I've done a bunch of work, rebuilding trust

with everybody after last spring. And then-because of something stupid, I ruined it."

"I wouldn't say ruined. I'd say-" he paused, thinking. "More like a detour on the road. You get around it, and keep on

going."

I gave a small nod. "I guess."

"I meant it to make an impression on you. So that you don't think of lying as a casual thing," he said.

"I won't think of it that way," I said.

"Okay."

For a few moments then, we sat in silence. Quiet. I don't know why, but I did feel a bit better. Even though we hadn't really

talked about anything that I didn't already know.

"I did mean what I said to you this summer," he said. "That if something needed to be told, or said, to me, that you

would do it, or otherwise we'd have a problem. I needed to carry thru with what I told you then."

I plucked a handful of meadow grass in my hand. I nodded again. "I understand."

"I love you, Harlie," he said then. "I only want what's best for you."

I flicked my glance to him, and away from the grass in my hand. "I love you, too."

We regarded each other steadily for a couple of seconds, and then he said, "Are we okay? Or is there somethin' else

you want to say?"

"We're okay," I said.

He nodded, and then said, looking regretful, "As far as you driving Clare home today-like I said, I'm glad you were there. It bothers

me a little bit, that you'd think I'd get upset because you did that."

"I didn't really think that," I admitted. "That you'd get mad about it, I mean. I was just-in a mood."

He nodded. "Mmmm. Well, I'm glad."

We exchanged a last glance. It was one of a settling, of sorts. Of understanding.

"I think I'll head back inside," he said. "You about ready to come in?"

"In a few minutes," I told him.

"Okay." He got to his feet. "Don't be too much longer."

"I won't."

And then, before he headed back to the house, he ran his finger down my cheek. And smiled at me.

7

I was asked by someone else in the rescue group at school to take home a trio of rabbits. They'd been given for

Easter to some kids, and the kids were already bored of them. So, the parents were searching for a home to give them to.

Maxie Schroder was the one who approached me about it, between classes in the hallway.

"I'd keep them," she said, "Only my house is already bursting at the seams with the cats I've taken on."

"I still have the skunk," I reminded her. "I don't know where I'd keep the rabbits-"

"Well, can you ask your sister-in-law, anyway?" Maxie pleaded. "They're really cute."

"I'm sure they're cute," I agreed, a little drily. I didn't dispel Maxie's belief that it was Hannah who would either okay or

nix the rabbits coming home. Hannah probably wouldn't care one way or the other.

"I'll even let you take my hutch," Maxie said, obviously trying to sweeten the deal.

"I'll ask," I told her. "But I doubt it."

"Okay." Maxie unwrapped a piece of Dentyne and popped it into her mouth. "Want some?" she offered, holding the pack out.

"No, thanks," I said.

As we began walking down the hallway together, thru the throng of other kids, she said, "Hey, I'm having a party this weekend. At my house.

You and Guthrie can come if you want."

"Oh. Well, thanks," I said. "I'll tell Guthrie. When is it? Saturday?"

"Yeah. Around seven. My parents said everybody had to be out by midnight. We're just gonna play some music, and have a

wienie roast in the yard. No alcohol. You can bring a date. Guthrie will probably bring Kristin, right?"

"Yeah. Probably. If he comes," I said.

"Okay. Well, let me know by the end of the week if you're coming or not, so I can get a head count."

I said I would, and went to the office to wait for Ivy. She was late picking me up. I'd been waiting for about

thirty minutes by the time she arrived.

"Sorry," she told me. "It's been a crazy morning."

"No problem," I said, tossing my backpack in the seat before I climbed up into her truck.

"I've got to run to Sonora," she said. "Are you up for riding along?"

"Sure."

So, we set out for Sonora. As we rode, we talked. Well, mostly Ivy did the talking. She seemed to be in a really great mood.

I figured that a lot of that had to do with her walk with Crane the night before.

I realized that I didn't really know that much about Ivy, personally. I mean, about her family and where she came

from, and all of that.

So, I asked her a few things. She was an only child, which I always find sort of interesting, when I hear about it.

I mean, that's just so far out of the realm of my own life.

"My parents were older when I was born," she explained. "They didn't really expect one child, so when I came along, they

knew there wouldn't be any more."

Once we got to Sonora, we ended up at the stock yards there, meeting up with a friend of hers that worked there.

There were a lot of horses in one of the back corrals, and Ivy's friend said they were there in preparation for an auction

that was going to be held the next weekend.

Her friend, Leah, led the way to the horses, and we stood there for awhile, looking them over.

"That's the one I was thinking of," Leah said, pointing out a particular paint gelding.

"Well, I can try to look at him," Ivy said.

I'd figured out from their conversation that Leah wanted to purchase the horse, and wanted Ivy to see if he had

a clean bill of health.

I helped Ivy, and she managed to get into the corral and look the paint over with not much problem. He was friendly, though

it seemed to me that he was very thin.

A few of the horses, though, weren't so friendly. They were skittish, which I found out, when I tried to approach them.

Some of them were sad in appearance, too. Thin, ribs showing, their coats obviously in need of care. One of them really caught

my attention. He kept himself off to the side, and didn't show much interest in anything, it seemed to me.

"He's an old fellow," Ivy said, and I turned. I hadn't realized she was beside me.

"I thought so," I said. "How old, do you think?"

"Hard to say, exactly. Twenty, maybe."

"Some of these are old race horses," Leah said, joining us.

"They are?" I asked.

"From a personal collection of a retired jockey, that passed away a couple of years ago. Since his death, they've fallen into

the hands of one of his family members."

"He didn't do a very good job of caring for them," I said.

"No. You're right. He didn't," Leah said.

I tried to approach the old horse, but he was having none of it. Old though he was, he made his feelings known about

being approached. So, I backed off.

"Ready?" Ivy asked me.

I said I was, though I could have spent more time wandering thru the horses.

As we stood, talking to Leah, I asked her who the famous jockey had been.

"I can't remember the jockey's name right off," Leah said. "But, I do know that old horse you were looking at ran in the Kentucky Derby

in the late 60's."

"Did he really?" I asked, my interest definitely peaked. "What was his name? Do you know?"

"I think we have it inside, on the records," Leah said.

So we went inside the office, where Leah gave Ivy and I a bottle of pop each, and then she sifted thru

some paperwork.

"Dark Commander," she said, finally, looking up from her papers. "He ran in the Derby in 1968, it says here."

As they were still talking, I walked back out to the corrals, carrying my bottle of orange soda. I walked to the side of the

round pen where the horse, Dark Commander, was at. He still had his head down, and I stood as near as I could, reaching

my hand thru the fence slats.

"Hey, boy," I said. "I hear you were a really big deal, once upon a time."

The horse raised his head, and looked at me. There was something in his eyes. Something special.

I stayed there until Ivy came out to get me. We were saying goodbye to Leah, when I asked her, curiously,

"How much do you think he'll go for, at the auction?"

"The old guy?"

"Yeah," I said.

"It's hard to say, really. I wouldn't think much."

Much to me, and much to someone else, could very well be two different things.

"Probably a couple of hundred," Ivy suggested. "Right, Leah?"

"Maybe. The kill buyers will be out in droves that day."

Instantly, my hackles went up. Kill buyers? Ah, the legal glue factory suppliers. Grrr.

7