The rest of the afternoon, on the ride back from Sonoma, and then, while we were working at the office, I kept thinking.

Thinking about that horse. Even though he'd been worn down looking, there was something regal about him. I tried

to explain what I was thinking to Ivy.

"I think I understand," she said. "He's a proud old guy."

"Are you going over to the auction?" I asked.

"I don't know. I might."

"To maybe buy one of them?" I asked.

"No, definitely not. I don't have any spare cash for buying a horse right now. I wish I could."

"Oh," I said, and Ivy gave me a side-long glance.

"How about you? Are you thinking of buying a horse?"

"No," I said. "Well, I don't know," I hedged. "Maybe." I gave her a look. "I'd like to."

Ivy smiled. "You are so funny, Harlie."

"Funny, ha ha, or funny strange?" I asked.

"Funny ha ha, and you're pretty transparent, too," Ivy said.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Maybe not to everybody," Ivy said. "Don't worry. I'm sure you can still be mysterious to some people."

7

That evening I brought up the party at the supper table. Partly because that was the first chance I'd had

to talk to Guthrie. Hannah immediately showed interest.

"So, at Maxie's house?" she asked.

"Uh huh. Starting at seven," I said.

"She said for you to bring Kristin," I told Guthrie.

"Ummm," Guthrie said, chewing around his biscuit.

"Any alcohol planned?" Crane asked, from his position across the table.

"Nooo, Crane," I said, stretching out my words.

"Alright. Just a question," Crane said.

"Her parents are going to be around," I assured Crane.

"Some parents are cool with alcohol at parties," Evan spoke up, reaching for another biscuit.

"Evan," I said, pinning him with a 'hush-up' type of look.

"I'm just sayin-" Evan said, lifting a hand.

"Maxie said no alcohol," I stressed.

"I think it sounds like a good idea, for both of you to go," Hannah said, encouragingly.

"What time is this party over?" Brian asked.

"Midnight," I said.

I looked down the table toward Adam. He hadn't said anything. I could tell he was listening, though.

"Who will you go with?" Hannah went on, looking at me.

"I hadn't thought about it. Bill, probably," I said. "I'll ask him and see if he wants to go."

"Askin' a guy out, huh, shortcake?" Evan said, with a grin.

"What's wrong with that?" I asked, though I knew he was just kidding around.

"Yeah, Evan," Crane joined in. "It's the twentieth-century. Females are allowed to do the asking."

"It's not like that, anyway," I said, and added, without thinking, "Besides, it's just Bill. It doesn't matter."

There was a bit of silence, and I realized how it had sounded.

I shrugged. "Anyway-" I said, and waited for the conversation to switch to something else.

7

That night I was preparing for bed, coming out of the bathroom after having brushed my teeth, just as Adam was coming

up the stairs, carrying a sleeping Isaac.

I paused there, by the bathroom, and switched off the light.

"Hi," I said, softly, so as not to wake the baby.

"Hi."

As Adam paused, I leaned down closer to the baby's face.

"He's the most beautiful baby in the whole world," I said.

"He is pretty darn cute."

I ran my finger softly over Isaac's cheek.

"What do you think?" I asked him. "About Maxie's party on Saturday?"

Adam looked a little surprised at my question. "I think it sounds alright, if you and Guthrie want to go."

"Okay." I met his gaze. "There are three rabbits that need to be fostered. A kid got them for Easter last spring, and you know

how some kids are. They get bored with a pet, and then don't want them anymore."

Adam knew what was coming next. I could tell by the way his eyebrows went up a notch or two.

"Maxie has a bunch of cats already, and she said she'd let me have the hutch she uses, if I'd take the rabbits on," I went on.

Adam sighed. "Harlie," he said, in sort of a drawn-out way.

"I know. But, rabbits aren't that much trouble, really," I said.

"Three rabbits can easily become twenty rabbits," Adam said. "Which means more hutches needed, and less chance of

rehoming."

"Yes," I agreed. "Maybe we could separate them, though. Put up a partition, or something?"

"There comes a time, when limits have to be set," Adam said.

"Okay," I said. I'd figured it had been a long shot, anyway, asking him about the rabbits. I could tell Maxie that I had at least tried.

Adam, again, looked a bit surprised. "That's it?" he asked, raising another eyebrow. "No pleading? No arguments?"

"Nope," I said, and then I smiled at him. A genuine smile.

Adam's return smile was just as genuine. Warm.

I dropped a very light kiss on Isaac's forehead.

"Goodnight," I said, and headed towards my own bedroom doorway.

"Sleep good," he said.

7

The school newspaper had been printed by the next day, and I began to get noticed due to my article about

controlling the pet population. Miss McQueeny was complimentary about it, and asked me to stay after class so she could talk to

me.

"I think the local newspaper is interested in running the story," she told me.

For a moment I was startled into silence. "Really?" I asked.

"Really," she affirmed.

"How did they know about it?" I asked.

"I showed it to my friend there."

"You did?"

"It was good enough, so I did."

"That's amazing," I said, feeling excited.

"It should be in next week's edition. They'd like a few more photos to go with it."

"Oh. Like what?"

"You think about it, and snap some pictures, and drop them off at the office. I'm sure you'll choose some good

ones." She stood up, from her spot behind the desk. "I have a meeting to get to."

"Okay," I said. "Thanks a lot."

"Keep up the good work," Miss McQueeny said, and I could tell her mind was already gone on to something else.

7

At lunch, the usual group of us were sitting together. I was biting into my ham sandwich, when I felt Guthrie nudge me,

and then he sat down beside me.

"Hey, I was thinkin', that maybe Kenny could come to Maxie's party on Saturday," he said, in a low tone, so he wouldn't be

overheard.

"I think Maxie would be okay with that," I said.

"Yeah. Well, I was thinkin' it would be good."

I sensed there was more to it than that. I know Guthrie well.

"And?" I asked. "What else?"

"Maybe he could go with you," Guthrie said.

I gave Guthrie a side-long look, and paused in my eating. The talking of the others was going on around us, but I

still lowered my voice.

"Huh?"

"You know. Go with you."

"You mean-like a date?" I asked.

"Not like a date, exactly," Guthrie said.

"I was going to ask Bill," I reminded him.

"Yeah. But, it's not like you really care about that. You said so last night at supper."

I tried to remember what it was that I'd said, exactly. Oh, yeah. Something about it being Bill, so it didn't matter. What I'd meant

by that was that Bill wasn't Eddie.

"Why can't Kenny just come along?" I pointed out, still quietly. I could see Kenny sitting in a spot down the long table, talking

to Lonnie. "I mean, like with us as a group? Why does it have to be with me, like a date?"

"I just think it would be nice if you asked him to go," Guthrie said. "Some of the kids are still givin' him a rough time."

"Who?"

"Some of the guys-" Guthrie sort of gave a look around. "Anyway, will ya ask him?"

"I guess so," I said.

"Well, try to act a little more enthusiastic when you do it, huh?" Guthrie said. "He'll get the idea that you don't

really wanna go with him."

"Go eat your lunch," I told him, and went back to eating my own, and talking to Lori.

7

Since Ivy was coming to get me after the next hour of class, I caught Kenny as he was throwing away his lunch

trash.

"Hi," I greeted him.

"Hi, Harlie," he said. "You look real nice today."

Even though I didn't think it was necessarily true, and that Kenny was just being 'smooth', it's never a bad thing

for a girl to hear.

"Thanks."

"I like that color on you," he went on, eyeing my yellow blouse.

"Thanks," I said, again. "So, how is your day going?"

"Oh, you know," he said, sounding vague. "It's goin'."

"You know Maxie Schroder, right?" I asked.

"Yeah. Sure."

"She's having a party Saturday night at her house. A hot dog roast. I was wondering if you'd want to go."

I'd surprised Kenny. I saw that. His eyes widened a little.

"Really?" he asked, sounding glad.

"Yeah."

"You mean with you?" he specified.

"Well," I hesitated. "Yeah. I mean, there's a whole group of people going-"

"That'd be great, Har," he said, slipping and calling me by the nickname that Guthrie calls me. He was smiling really big now, too.

"Okay." I hesitated again. "There's no alcohol, Maxie said-" I didn't think Kenny was still drinking, but I for sure wanted him

to be on his best behavior. If he was still drinking, that is.

"Right," he said. He gave me an intense look, serious now. "I'm not drinkin' anymore, Harlie. I swear."

"Okay. Well, I just wanted to let you know-" I said, feeling a little awkward.

"You want me to come pick you up?" he offered. "What time?"

"We can go with Guthrie and Kristin," I said.

"Sure. If that's what you want," Kenny said, agreeably.

7

That afternoon, Ivy and I were kept busy at the office. We had three people bringing in their dogs to have

their nails clipped, and one of them also needed shots. I did two of the dog's nail clipping myself, and after that

I was busy sweeping out the back. Ivy paid me, too, and I mentally added the amount to what I had at home.

When Ivy dropped me off at home, I paused, one foot on the ground, to look over at her.

"Want to come in?" I offered.

"I better not," she said, but I could tell that she wanted to.

"You should, though," I encouraged.

"Maybe another day," she said.

I got out, and waved as I went up the front steps.

Inside, I laid down my stuff, like I always do, and went to get a snack in the kitchen. Instead of finding Hannah, or

at least somebody in there, as was usual, it was instead empty. Quiet. I went over and touched the coffee pot. Still warm.

Adam wasn't too far.

7

I found Hannah out back, sitting in one of the lawn chairs, while Isaac sat and played with toys on a blanket on the grass.

"Hi," I said, coming up behind her.

"Oh, gosh!" Hannah said, jumping a little. "You startled me, Harlie!"

"Sorry."

"How was your day?" she asked, looking up at me and shading her eyes from the sun.

"It was okay. Good." I sat down on the blanket beside Isaac, kissing the top of his head.

"I'm just sitting here, taking a little break," she said.

"Is there something you need help with?" I asked.

"Oh, sweetie, there's always something around here that I need help with," Hannah said, with a little sigh. Then she

smiled at me. "Don't mind me. I'm just a little behind with things."

"What about supper?" I asked. I hadn't seen any supper preparations when I'd been inside.

"Brian took pity on me. He's the chef tonight. I don't know what he's got in mind, though," Hannah said.

"Anybody else coming for supper?" I asked. It seemed like we always had an extra person or so lately at supper.

"Nancy is, I think."

"Where's Clare?" I asked.

"She's upstairs, taking a nap. She's doing a lot better, today. I think the meds are helping."

"That's good." I thought for a minute. I had a sort of an idea that I wanted to talk over with Brian.

I was still sitting there with Hannah, when Brian appeared from the pasture, on one of the four-wheelers.

"There you are," Hannah told him, as he walked up. "I was hoping you weren't going to stand me up for dinner."

"Never," Brian said, with a smile at Hannah. "Hey, peach," he greeted me.

"Hi," I said, looking up from where I sat on the blanket.

"So, what's on the menu for tonight?" Hannah asked him, then.

"I'm not even sure yet," Brian said. "Guess you'll have to wait and see."

"I don't care what it is," Hannah said. "As long as I don't have to fix it."

She stood up. "I'll go get started on the laundry," she said.

"Want me to take Isaac?" I offered.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Don't you have homework you want to do?"

"I can do it after supper. I'll watch him for you. Besides, I want to talk to Brian," I said.

"Oh, boy," Brian said, in response to that, with a low whistle. "What's that about?"

I could tell he was joking with me, and I just picked Isaac up, and followed them inside. Hannah went on her way, downstairs to the

basement, and Brian to the kitchen. I installed Isaac in his walker, and then began setting the table, as Brian began rummaging

thru the cabinets, and the freezer.

"So?" I asked him, as I walked around the table, laying down plates at each chair. "Chili? Or spaghetti?"

"Cheeseburgers," he said.

"Yum."

"How about you slice up some tomatoes and onions for me?" he said.

"Okay." I washed my hands at the sink, and began getting out the vegetables, clearing one end of the table to work at.

Brian began thawing out hamburger in the microwave, and setting up the griddle.

I began slicing the tomatoes. "Yesterday, I went with Ivy to Sonoma," I began the conversation. "There's gonna be an

horse auction this weekend. They already have a lot of horses in."

"Not much boarding space there, is there?" he asked.

"Not really. A few round pens. Some sheds."

He went on, gathering up cheese, and warming up the griddle.

"Some of these horses are from a jockey's own herd," I went on. "Like a famous guy."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. And these horses, some of them, were really top of the line. As in, the Kentucky Derby," I finished, pausing

for effect, and waiting for him to be impressed.

"No kidding?"

"Uh huh."

The microwave was dinging, and Brian went to take the hamburger meat out. As he began making the meat into

patties, I kept slicing the vegetables.

"I was wondering if we could take a ride over there," I said casually.

"A ride where?" he asked. He flicked a glance over at me. "To Sonoma, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"What for?" he asked.

"There's a horse I'd like you to look at."

Brian began putting patties on the griddle, still glancing over at me in between doing that. "And why is that?" he asked.

"Because. I'm interested in him. The horse."

"Uh huh," he said.

"He ran in the Kentucky Derby, in 1968. His name is Dark Commander. And, he's older, over twenty for sure, but you

can tell when you look at him that he really was something special. He's-"

Brian held up the hand that held the spatula to halt my words. "Whoa, whoa," he said. "Are you sayin' that you

wanna buy this horse, Harlie?"

"I don't know," I said. Then, I said, "I think maybe so, yeah."

"Why?"

"Well-because there's something about him. It's like he spoke to me," I tried to explain.

Brian took the spatula and pressed the hamburger patties down flat. "Doesn't every animal 'speak' to you?" he countered. "There's

nothing so unusual about that, is there?"

"Don't tease me, Bri. I'm serious," I said. pausing in my slicing to twist in my chair and look at him.

"I can see that," he said.

I kept watching him, and he turned the burner under the hamburgers on, and then washed his hands at the sink.

Drying them, he turned to lean against the counter, looking at me.

"Okay. All joking aside, what are you thinkin'?" he asked. "You have two horses now, of your own. Plus, any of the

others around here that you want to ride anytime."

"Yeah. But, that's not what this is about," I said.

"Well, what is it about, exactly?" he countered.

"I just-have a feeling about him," I said.

"You're gonna have to do better at explaining than that," he said.

"It's sad, to see a horse that was such a big deal, reduced to being sold at an auction like this. I mean, he was a champion, Bri! A

race horse of the highest quality! And now the kill buyers are gonna be out after him."

"Just because they're there doesn't mean that's where he'll end up," Brian pointed out. "Maybe some nice family will buy

him for their kid to ride around."

I didn't think that the old horse was really in any condition to be ridden by a kid anytime soon. Not, at least, until he'd had

some necessary looking after. And possibly some medical attention, I wasn't sure.

I didn't say that, though. I wanted to get Brian to Sonoma first.

"Maybe that would happen," I said. "But, then again, maybe some nice family won't buy him. That leaves the kill buyers."

Brian stood there, finishing drying his hands, and then he tossed the dishtowel onto the counter.

"So your plans are to buy this old guy, bring him home, and then what?" Brian asked. "Retire him to pasture?"

"I don't know. Maybe," I said.

"Well-" he began, and then his eyebrows went up, and his eyes widened. "You don't mean that you're thinkin' of something

else with him? As in-racing him?"

I gave a small shrug, and Brian said, "Harlie, you've got to be kidding me."

"I didn't say that it would happen. There's nowhere around here to race," I pointed out. "I just-" I hesitated. "Will you ride over

there with me, Bri? To look at him?"

Brian gave me a long, long look. Isaac breezed in between us in his walker.

"Please?" I asked.

The hamburgers were beginning to sizzle, and Brian turned around, to flip them. When he'd done that, he looked at me again.

"We can run over there, and take a look," he said.

I gave him a glowing smile. "Thank you, thank you!" I said.

"To take a look," Brian specified. "If I don't think you should spend your money on him, I'll tell you so. Fair enough?"

"Yes," I agreed. "Fair enough."

7