Summary

Erin has never known an easy lift. She's had to suffer her stepfather's abuse in silence while her mother looks the other way. Her only escape are her dreams of Olympic glory and of attending college; but unlike the other riders of Tree Star Farms who have the same dreams, Erin has to work hard and study longer so as to make every show count and to keep her place in the Advanced Program. This hasn't been a problem before but come August her schedule will be a bit more complicated as she takes extra courses in order to prepare for the SAT and ACT tests. If she scores well in both of these it will help to gain a wide variety of scholarships. So, when Santiago and Mr. Granger surprises her with something that will make her life easier, she couldn't be happier!

Star hates it when people compare her to the average Thoroughbred. She's not ashamed of her bloodlines, but she's far from the stereotype of a hotheaded racehorse. She doesn't mind that her owner isn't rich, or that her tack are from the second-hand store bin. She's simply happy that she doesn't have to race against other horses on a racetrack or bred to a stallion when she's not ready. So, when Santiago tells her owner that she's going to sponsored, which includes outfitting both of Erin's horses, Star's excited to share in her girl's good fortune!

But with these good pieces of fortune come situations that will test both horse and rider to beyond their limits! Will forgotten memories help them move forward? Or will history continue to repeat itself?

Erin's POV:

Sammy: Hey Erin, did you receive your summer assignments?

Erin: Yes . . . how'd you know?

Sammy: Long story but did you get it?

Erin: Sammy what's going on? Where did this email even come from? It says that it's from the Connections Academy. I'm enrolled in Jefferson High School.

Sammy: Erin will you quit being like your mare and just answer my question?

Erin: Quit being like Diablo! But fine, yes! I got an email from Connections Academy with my summer assignments. But I'm not doing two different school assignments.

Sammy: You're not doing two different schools' assignments! Listen it's too long of an explanation to say by text and knowing your parents they're still awake right? Where do you eat breakfast?

Erin: I was just paid so I'll be stopping by McDonald's for breakfast and . . . I'll start looking through the reading list to see which one I'll buy first.

Sammy: Don't worry about buying the books or the school supplies, that's why I need the list and your Kindle login info.

Erin: What?! Okay now you need to give me more details.

Sammy: Okay here's one bit of info, Dad's buying our books tomorrow and if you need any school supplies for the summer let us know tomorrow.

Erin: Sighs. Fine but let him know that I'll pay him back.

Sammy: Don't even try cause all he'll do is return the money back into your bank account.

That was the last message I'd been able to read before I had to go to work, even as I reread the strange text messages when I woke up this morning-hoping to find more information from Sammy but found that there was nothing-I still couldn't discern exactly what Sammy had meant by all this. Who enrolled me in Connections Academy, the online school that Santiago partnered with so that all of his underage students could continue to receive an education while competing on the A Circuit? And why? Who was going to pay for it?

I mean it's nice that Mr. Granger is buying my books and supplies for the summer assignments but what about in the fall?

"What about this evening when Mr. Granger finds out that Freya and Eric hadn't followed through on their part of the contract?"

I sighed as that comment pushed its way to the forefront of my plans for the day. I looked at my laptop screen where my Notion account was open; I had been in the process of creating my timetable for today and had almost forgotten that today was May 2nd, the last day of the contract that had been drawn up between Eric and Freya and Mr. and Ms. Granger three months ago. I quickly typed in the meeting but since I didn't know what time Mr. Granger was going to come over, I only left a question mark in the space for the time it was to take place.

Not knowing what was going to happen after the meeting, I left my evening routine blank before saving the doc so that it was available on the app on my phone and then shut down my laptop. Standing up from my desk, I slip the laptop in my bag before sliding my arms through the straps and, picking up my sneakers, I quietly leave my room, locking the door behind me.

It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dark trailer though as I slip my keys around my neck, I have to cover my nose with my arm so as to cover the smell of the weed and spice emanating from the living room, which only grew stronger as I reached it. And found Freya passed out on the floor and Eric passed out in his favorite recliner; both of them were in . . . positions that left little to the imagination for any person who would happen to come in. I left the trailer and stepped out into the early morning.

I don't bother to lock the door since the lock was broken and Eric hasn't bothered to fix it himself and Freya hasn't bothered to call the property owner to get it fixed. I sat down on the steps and slipped my shoes on, making sure the laces tight before standing up and going to where my bike was locked. I kept an ear out for any sounds that indicated that Eric or Freya had gotten up but all remained silent and by the time I had unlocked my bike and pushed it to the end of the driveway, I was able to relax and look forward to at least the first part of my day.

If we do well in our Dressage classes this weekend, maybe Santiago will let Steele and I compete more in jumper classes.

Santiago liked to make sure that his students were well-rounded not just in one area of riding-like either flatwork or in jumping-but with me and the other working students, he really likes to make us sign up for Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Equitation, and the Hunters just so it allows us to be able to catch more rides and show other potential trainers and sponsors that we have more to offer. I've heard some of the students complaining about it but with the exceptions of those riders, everyone else has been able to move forward with their riding. But Santiago is more than just our riding coach and boss, he actually cares about all of his students, sometimes even standing up to parents who-despite paying our wages and salary-push their kids too far.

"You can't make money out of dead horses and you definitely can't gain new clients if they think you push your students beyond their boundaries," he would say whenever I asked him if he worried about losing the clients he did have. "We all have our expectations but kids and animals are not machines and if you push them too hard they'll break and won't ever work again."

Maybe that's why he was one of the few successful trainers in the country, bringing up any horse or pony no matter its breed to sell on for five or even six figures. Taking the rich kids and offering them a safe haven to train, compete, and still be able to receive a good education during the height of the showing seasons; while offering us working students opportunities to gain experience and excel on our own to match up to the rich kids. Not that he ever treated either of us differently, to him we were at his barn to learn the art of horsemanship.

Unlike other trainers, who would take advantage of the free slave labor, Santiago paid his working students the same as his regular employees and while we were allowed to come to the barn seven days a week to earn some extra riding time, we only work five days a week. But Santiago is strict about one thing and that's making sure that none of his students fall behind in their academic studies. If a student brings in a bad report card, they're banned from riding until they can bring their grades up. My dream was to attend an equine-based college and so far, my academic history will help me win some scholarships, but Santiago wants me to have unlimited scholarship opportunities and, thanks to him, I've been enrolled to take the SATs and ACTs next spring.

And while scoring well on those two tests would help me out immensely, it also means that I'll be spending two extra hours at my school three times a week for the SAT/ACT Prep Course. And less time at the barn.

But it will all be worth it if I can get full-ride scholarships and can escape that hellhole I thought as fifteen minutes later, I turned into the parking lot of McDonalds. Maybe I can take my classes online and still ride for Santiago? He has that small cottage that I could clean out and repair during my free time this year and next year so that it's ready for when I turn eighteen. My mind started planning on how to talk to Santiago about my college plans and of allowing me to take over the cottage as I pulled up on to the walkway in front of the restaurant and stopped next to the door where one of the managers, Treasure, was unlocking the door for the early morning customers.

"Morning Erin! You want your usual?" she asked as I got off my bike and locked it up.

"Yes please," I replied and grabbed my backpack from the basket. It was only five-fifteen in the morning and my shift didn't start until seven. I had my summer reading list that I was still confused about and I wanted to see if Sammy had made good on his word that his dad was going to buy the books that are listed on it. After being confused about the whole thing in general at first, I read the reading list for Literature and found that it was pretty intense; whoever the teacher was loved historical fiction because the list contained works that were all series. One of the series though was interesting since, upon doing some research on it, one of my favorite actors, Aiden Turner, came up in connection with it, Poldark.

I followed Treasure to the front counter where she was behind the register and started tapping on the screen.

"So, a homestyle breakfast with hotcakes, orange juice, and milk?" she asked.

"Yep," I replied as I pulled out my phone and pulled up my Google Pay account. As soon as she finished ringing my order up, I held my phone up to the reader and soon, the receipt printed out of the machine and she moved to grab my drinks while I grabbed one of the plastic numbers to take to my table.

"You got any plans for the summer?" she asked.

"No, just doing my summer homework and riding my horses," I replied.

She sighs as she sets my drinks down. "Girl, you work too hard! One of these days you're gonna burn out."

"Yeah but if I want to go to college I need to study to keep my place in the Advanced Program. And if I want to go to the Olympics I need to train," I replied. "And besides, I find both of them fun," I add.

"Well take my advice and at least take a day off?" she suggested. "The world won't come to an end if you have a bit of fun."

I nod, knowing that unless I made some form of agreement, she would keep after me about it, before accepting my drink and making my way to my favorite table in the back. I set down my drinks on the table and opened my backpack to take out my iPad so that I could pull up my Kindle account. My plan was to start my Literature assignments by reading the Poldark series first before I take notes on it so that I can answer the set questions that had been assigned as part of the assignment. As I made myself comfortable in the plastic seat, my phone screen lit up, telling me that I had a new message.

Knowing that it wasn't from Eric or Freya, I unlocked my screen and pulled up my messages. Uh-oh.

The message was from Sammy and, after reading it, it brought up a feeling of anxiety mixed with adrenaline.

Sammy: Morning Erin! I don't know if you're awake yet so I'm sorry for how early it is. My father still follows his military schedule which means waking up at 5 am. Anyway, which Mcdonald's are you at?

"Here you go! One homestyle breakfast with hotcakes!" Treasure's voice broke in as she set my food on the table. "What's wrong? You look as though someone came along and stole your horses' carrots!"

If only it were that simple I thought. "Well . . . three months ago my friend's parents made a deal with my parents and it's in three parts. The first was that for three months, while his dad paid all of our bills, my parents were to go to NA and AA meetings, remain clean and sober for three months, and start to actively get their life together," I explained. "Well . . . they've been going to the meetings because his dad has a driver to take them there and back every day all day."

"But it's like putting a Band-Aid on a snake bite without sucking out the poison first," she said. "It's pointless for them to be going to these meetings if they're just going to continue to drink alcohol and use drugs."

I nod. "To anyone else, if someone offered to pay for all of their bills and they bought your groceries, you would think that they would actually try to get clean," I said. "Especially when the next part of the deal pretty much continues from there."

"Oh? What was the next part?" she asked.

"After passing their drug tests, they'll each have three months to find a full-time job, while he will continue to pay our bills, and his driver will take them to the meetings and to places to apply," I explained. "Then after that third month, if they have jobs, for the next six months, besides paying our bills, his wife will teach Freya how to keep a household, how to budget and balance a checkbook, and how to pay bills." I sighed, wishing again that I had been born into a normal family and not into the one where I was the responsible adult. "Plus, he was going to help them both get a drivers' license and at the end of the year, help them each buy a car so that they can sustain themselves. And now I don't know what to tell Sammy."

"I would tell him the truth," she said. "They're going to find out anyway since they're going to be drug-tested. If you lie it's going to reflect badly on you."

I nodded, though this time, it wasn't just so she would get off my back about it. Taking a deep breath, I started typing out a reply and, before I could change my mind, pressed 'Send.'

Erin: Hey Sammy, I'm at the McDonalds that's about twenty minutes away from the barn, you know the one everyone usually goes to when they want McDonald's? Anyway, I got some bad news; while I appreciated everything that your parents have done for us, Eric and Freya haven't even tried to get clean or sober, they've continued to use drugs. What's more, if you were to go over there right now, they should still be passed out from smoking pot and spice; and there should still be drug baggies.

"Good luck," she said before she left.

I smiled and pulled up my Kindle account and, on my phone, I pulled up the email I had gotten from Connections Academy. The email had the usual header that stated quite clearly Connections Academy along with a welcome message from the administrator.

Connections Academy

A Path Forward

Dear Ms. Porter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Connections Academy, a virtual public online school where we carve a path forward for all students. After reviewing your academic history from your previous school, Jefferson High School, we have placed you in our Advanced Program which as you know from your previous experience focuses primarily on the core academic lessons, while also preparing you for your SAT/ACT testing exams toward the end of your year. Please find attached a list of assignments for your summer homework which must be completed and turned in by September 05, 2016. You will receive an email with the textbooks and school supplies needed on August 01, for the coming term. We wish you the best of luck as you move forward in this new endeavor.

Sincerely,

Matilda Dearing

I clicked on one of the attachments labeled, Literature, and while the list downloaded, I started eating my breakfast. Once the list downloaded, I clicked on the file, and began reading it. The attachment included a syllabus of the summer assignments, telling me which assignment was worth which grade-the fact that the notes were part of the grading system told me that this online school was definitely better than Jefferson High-along with a list of the textbook and workbook I will be needing for the assignments. Finally, there was the list of the extra reading I will be needing.

1). AP English Literature and Composition Textbook

2). AP English Literature and Composition Workbook

3). Poldark by Winston Graham

4). Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

5). The Plantagenet Novels by Philippa Gregory

6). The Tudor Novels by Philippa Gregory

7). The complete series of American Girl

Wow, no wonder the brats are always complaining about how much work they have to do I thought as I looked down at my Kindle and noticed some purchases had been made. No way did he . . . I began as I clicked on my library and found all of the books that I needed had already been purchased and that I just needed to download them and start reading. Sammy wasn't lying when he said that his dad was going to buy our books.

My phone pinged again telling me that I had a message and I found that Sammy had replied to me.

Sammy: We're on our way there now, also dad wants to know if you have gotten those books yet?

Erin: Yes now are you finally going to tell me what exactly is going on?

Sammy: We'll let you know when we arrive, see you soon.

I sighed, knowing that when Sammy stuck to his statements about something, it was near impossible to get him to change his mind. Like telling me what the hell is going on here?

To say that I was nervous about meeting Mr. Granger is to say that I like reading brain teasers and riddles for fun. It's not like Mr. Granger has ever said or done anything to make me nervous or scared of him, but to go three months of paying another family's expenses plus your own is quite a lot of money. And to find out that it was all for nothing and that the two adults of the family had basically taken advantage of your generosity would be a hard pill to swallow.

So, when I saw Sammy first and then Mr. Granger enter the restaurant about ten minutes later, it took every ounce of my courage not to run and hide. But then where would I go? My bike is outside and Sammy would just catch me at the barn. "Sammy! Over here!"

He turned in the direction he heard my voice and, upon seeing me, waved back. "Hey! Dad, she's over here!" he said, turning to his father to say the last bit.

"Hello Erin!" said Mr. Granger, sounding his usual cheerful polite self. "Go ahead and join her son, I'm going to get us something to eat."

"Okay Dad," Sammy replied as he came my way.

I took a closer look at Sammy as he walked toward me. Tall and good-looking, with an easy grace both in and out of the saddle, Sammy Granger was one of the lucky male riders whose parents didn't mind that their son didn't want to play football or become a doctor. He's been riding since he was eight years old and was one of the first people who welcomed me when I first started working for Santiago. But even though he comes from a wealthy family, he actually took an interest in his horses.

The only thing I couldn't understand. Is why he was dating the barn's spoiled brat, Ashley Wean.

"So just to give you a head's up, my dad's not mad at you," he said as he sat down across from me.

"He's not?" I asked, hoping that what Sammy said was true.

"No, he's known for the last month that your parents haven't fulfilled their end of the bargain and he also knows that whatever your parents do is by their choice not yours," he said. He sighed, sounding wistful. "He was hoping that they would have taken the initiative."

"Me too but it doesn't help that Child Protection Services enables them by not enforcing the drug program," I explained. "They were supposed to have made it to where you have to pass a drug test and show receipts and such to prove that you're using the food stamps and cash for your needs and not just selling them."

"What about your case manager?" he asked.

I shake my head. "He hasn't even come by to do his monthly check-in."

"That's because he's under investigation and a new case manager has been looking through all of his notes and case files on you and your mother," said Mr. Granger suddenly appeared from around the corner carrying a McDonald's coffee cup and a cup of orange juice which he handed to Sammy before he sat down. "It's amazing how much people will talk when their backs are against the wall."

Did he just say . . . "Wait . . . I'm confused . . . Mr. Sinclair is under investigation? How? When did this start happening?" I asked, racking my brains to see if there had been some clue as to whether there had been any changes to his pattern of behavior. And then, it dawned on me. While he hadn't made any "official" visits, he would always come around to buy Freya's food stamps and for recreational purposes with either my mom or me or with both of us. I felt my face flush with embarrassment as I realized that he might have told them everything. "What did he say exactly?"

"Based on the evidence he used his connections as a social worker to solicit sexual favors from women, particularly mothers, in exchange for food stamps and cash," he explained. "He seems to know something else but he's not saying anything more."

Why would he? If he mentioned that he had sex with minors . . . he knows that the police officers and corrections officers will let it slip that he was a child molester. I wonder if I should tell them what he wasn't saying.

"Why should you? Every time we tried to tell someone, nothing good happens!"

"So, what's going to happen now?" I asked.

Mr. Granger sighed. "My son told me that your parents, while they have been attending the NA and AA meetings as part of the contract, that's all they've been doing and that they're still doing drugs?"

I nod. "In fact, when I left the trailer this morning, they were passed out and the smell was really overpowering."

"Then I'm sorry Erin but I cannot in good conscience let you continue to stay in such unsafe conditions . . ." he began, reaching into his shirt pocket.

My stomach freeze over. "What? No! If I go into foster care, who's going to care for Star or Steele?" I had so many plans! We had won both the MaClay Finals and we won Champion at the Hunter/Jumper Championships, but I wanted to keep that momentum going! If I go into Foster Care I would have to sell them.

"Here you go Mr. Granger, a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffin, two breakfast burritos, and two hash browns," said Treasure as she appeared with their tray.

"Thank you Treasure," Mr. Granger said politely to her as he took the tray and, after putting the food on some napkins that Sammy had spread out, handed the tray back to her. "Here you go."

"Enjoy," she replied and left.

Mr. Granger turned to look at me. "Calm yourself my child," he said and pulled out a packet of papers. "You're not going into Foster Care."

"But you said that I'm not going back . . ." I began wondering what he meant. If I wasn't going into Foster Care and I wasn't going back to the trailer . . . then where else was I supposed to go?

"Dad and mom were granted custody of you," said Sammy. "So, you're going to come live with us."

I was speechless. Did he just say . . . Then I found my voice. "What?" I asked. I try to imagine the idea of living with Sammy and his parents but I'm having a hard time visualizing it. Me a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, living with Sammy-whom I've always had a crush on-and his family, it's just too new of a concept for me to think about.

Mr. Granger, however, is nice enough to not make me feel like I'm a complete idiot. "I know it's a lot to take in, be assured that we will explain everything tonight over dinner; just know that the next couple of weeks will hold a lot of changes for you. Though you may find my wife to be a bit over-excited to have you as our guest."

"Why?" I asked. I never had a mother figure but Ms. Granger has always been nice to me.

He chuckled. "She's excited about having you join our family," he replied. "We only have Sammy and it's not like you can dress him up with make-up or perfume."

"Thanks dad, but I don't think we needed that image," said Sammy wrinkling his nose.

I chuckled. "I hope she's not going to go through a great expense for it," I replied.

"Well, the surprise is going to take place in three stages, the first stage will be after your shift at the barn," he replied. "We already spoke with Santiago about your schedule and I have assigned a driver to take you back and forth from the barn and he has already assigned a couple of working students to take over your job on the weekend."

"Will I still be able to go to the barn on the weekends?" I asked.

"Yes, though I am wondering something," he began. "If I were to say to you that I am thinking about paying for your training and your horses' board and lodging so that you didn't have to be a working student, what would you say?"

"What? You mean . . . I wouldn't have my job with Santiago?" I asked.

"Exactly, you would be a regular border like Sammy," he replied.

"Well . . . I don't know," I said. "I've been working at the barn since I was eleven, I wouldn't know how to be a boarder." I chuckled at the end to kind of lighten the fact that I was right. I had to work hard; it was part of who I was.

"Well think about it, it would make things easier for you come in the fall when you not only study for the SAT and ACT tests but also participate in the Prep Course," he replied. "As a matter of fact, I also have to speak with Santiago about finishing up some paperwork so I will be taking you both to the barn."

"What about my bike?" I asked.

"I brought my truck so it will easily fit in the back," he replied. "And I can drop it off at the house with the family's bikes so that it will be safe."

"What paperwork do you need to finish?" I asked.

"Even if you don't give up your job as a working student, I was going to pay your horses' boarding fees and take over payment of their farrier and vet bills, this way it will allow you to save more money," he explained. "Plus, while this investigation goes on it may be months before we see any sort of conclusion; in the meantime, your parents may be free and out during this time. To keep you safe and from them trying to influence you in any way, I have enrolled you in Connections Academy of which as you know my son and your friends attend while at the barn."

My eyes flicked to Sammy. "So that's why you wanted my Kindle account information," I said.

He shrugged. "What can I say? We didn't think that you would get the email so soon and we were gonna surprise you, so when I got the email and you texted me about it, Dad figured it would be better to tell you in person," he explained. He made a face. "But seriously, the American Girl series? Isn't that for little girls?"

"Hey, it's not that bad and each book contains a bit of background reading about the book's plot and history," I replied. "I've already got the American Girl books back at the trailer but it was the rest of the books that I thought I was going to have to buy," I add holding up my iPad to show that the books Mr. Granger had bought were in my library. "Thank you for that by the way."

"You're welcome, Santiago has already informed me that your SAT and ACT textbooks and workbooks were going to be delivered to his address so that's taken care of right there," he said. "And thankfully you can take your classes for the Prep online so that will also save some time of you having to go different places."

Actually, what you really mean is thankfully that means that I won't be anywhere near the downtown area where the jail is I thought.

"But I also want you to know that if there's anything you need, financially or someone to listen to, you need only ask."

I only need to ask. I nod in response, though I wasn't sure if I would ever feel comfortable enough to actually ask him for any amount of money, even for a penny. I'm too used to having to buy my own supplies, clothes, and equipment for my horses to even begin to think about asking someone else for help or to buy me something. But then I thought of Star's tack which needed repairs every week or Steele's winter blanket which had come out of the wash with bare patches. But maybe . . .

Before I could say a word about him possibly buying stuff that my horses needed, Sammy spoke up. "Actually Dad, her horses need new tack and equipment; maybe we can spend a day at the tack shop to buy them something?"

But Mr. Granger smiled as if he knew something that neither his son nor I knew about. "Actually, when we get to the barn and your meeting with Santiago takes place, he will have some surprising news for you."

"Really?" I asked, sounding even more confused than before. "What is it?" Exactly how many times am I going to be surprised today?

"I've been sworn to secrecy," he said as he drained the last of his coffee. "If you two are ready to go, I'm going to get a refill on coffee, so I'll meet up with you at the truck," he adds and, standing up, he picked up my tray which we had placed our trash on and left, leaving Sammy and me alone together.

He smiled at me. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," I replied. "How long has this all been going on?"
He looked at me sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well . . . I don't have many specifics on it, I don't know much myself. But one of his clients has a twelve-year-old daughter and she's pregnant. The girl accused Mr. Sinclair of raping her ever since she was five. It was while they were looking through his records that they noticed the inconsistencies and the charges have been piling up." He looked at me, his face taking on a somber expression. "They've been asking all of the girls to submit to a physical exam which means that you will be asked to as well."

Little good that will do I thought which left a bitter taste in my mouth; but I didn't say the thought aloud, today was quickly becoming one of the best days of my life. And, as Sammy and I left the restaurant and he helped me load my bike into the back of his dad's truck, I couldn't help but feel as though all of this was a dream. And that I would soon wake up in my bed either this morning or three months ago when this whole thing between our two families started.

"Better hope that Eric and Freya either resist arrest or let something slip, cause no matter what is found with them now, they can still get out and find you," he said.

"Hey, Sammy?" I asked him as we got into the truck.

"Yeah?"

"Your dad's not going to take on Eric or Freya by himself is he?"

"What? No! He's already called the cops to get them," he explained. "It's more legal for the police to be there, this way if they try anything they can be charged and arrested."

Well, I can tell you for sure that they will be more upset about being taken to jail for drug abuse rather than losing me.

Mr. Granger appeared by the driver-side door and opened it before climbing into the seat. Typing in my address on the GPS before turning his key in the ignition and, as he pulled out of the parking lot, I felt the familiar nerves that I always felt before a show. Only I wasn't about to enter a show ring and I wasn't riding Star or Steele. Instead, I was going back to the trailer-possibly for the last time and I didn't know how Eric or Freya were going to react.

Thankfully by the time we arrived at the trailer park, the police had already arrived and by the time we pulled into the driveway, a female officer was leading Freya from the trailer with her hands behind her back. Freya's face was red and splotchy and she looked like she was crying. I couldn't hear what she was saying but I knew she was talking because I could see her lips moving very quickly.

Mr. Granger parked the truck, but left it on, as he unbuckled his seatbelt, Eric was led out of the trailer. "Stay here until I get back," was all he said before he opened his door and stepped out.

Before he closed the door, I managed to catch some of what they were saying.

"This isn't right! I have the right to do what I want in my own home!"

"No, please! Please don't take my baby away from me! I'm all she has!"

Then Mr. Granger closed the door and we couldn't hear anymore.

Sammy and I watched as his dad spoke with another officer who looked to be in charge. They spoke briefly and Freya looked hopeful as she called out to him, but he ignored her pleading and she was soon placed in the backseat of the police car; Eric was placed in a second car and, soon after, both cops filled out some paperwork and spoke with their supervisor, both cops got into their respective cars before pulling out of the driveway.

Mr. Granger finished speaking with the officer before he came back to my side of the door and I opened it for him. "Come on, they're going to give us twenty minutes to pack your stuff before they close down the trailer for their investigation."

I nodded and he moved to the side so that I could step down from the truck and move out of the way so that Sammy could jump down behind me. "It shouldn't take us that long to get everything, pretty much everything I own is in my closet either in boxes, hung up, or in my duffle bag," I replied as Sammy closed the door and Mr. Granger led us toward the trailer.

Mr. Granger nods as he marches us toward the front door. With a quick, "Thank you" to the officer who was standing by the door, we entered the trailer and I almost stopped at the scene in front of me.

Apparently, the police hadn't come in quiet and stealthy, they had come in with a bang. I'd seen enough of the Law and Order franchise to know that the police officers had kicked the door in so hard that there was a large dent in the middle that looks like it will never come out. What little furniture we had was overturned and even the TV had been knocked off the stand and was now lying on the floor. As we moved it looked as though either Eric or Freya had tried to get away since the mess continued from the living room through the kitchen, but it stopped right outside my door. I took out my key and unlocked the door.

"I wonder why the rest of the trailer is clean?" asked Sammy as we entered my room.

"According to Brooks Freya had tried to run into this room but found the door locked," Mr. Granger explained as he looked around my room.

I wondered what he thought about my room and I tried to look at the room that had been mine for as long as I could remember.

The walls were a dull brown-I'd never been able to decorate it in any way because it didn't look good to the customers-and there was only a box spring and mattress that stood neatly made. A battered nightstand stood next to it with a small lamp while a small desk stood under a window.

But these were only for show, I didn't leave anything in the drawers since either Eric or Freya would try to break into my room to steal anything that they thought would fetch them money. I know that normal girls like Ashley or Kristen would think that I was a monk or someone who didn't know the first thing about what a normal room should look like.

Whenever I went to do Ashley and Kristen's chores at their houses, I would see rooms painted in pretty colors with pictures of their friends and family hung up everywhere. Their desks were the kind that looked like they came from some futuristic furniture shop with large desktop computers and printers. They didn't have to hide their electronics, their clothes, or books, they put them out for display.

I made my way to the closet and, finding the right key, I unlocked the small lock.

"You have to lock your closet?" asked Sammy.

I pulled open the door and reached in to grab my duffle bag that held all of the clothes that didn't need to be hung up. "You'd be surprised what those two would try to sell or pawn just to get their drugs," I replied as Mr. Granger took my duffle bag. "That's got my normal clothes, this . . ." I reached in and grabbed my second and third duffle bags. I held up the second one, "Has my riding clothes, while this one" I held up my third bag. "Has my towels and washcloths. Just in case you were wondering."

Mr. Granger took them without question. "Do you have a bag for the rest of your clothes?" he asked.

I shook my head and instead reached down to grab a box of garbage bags that I kept on hand. "I can rig it so that while they're still hanging up I can put multiple clothes in them like a garment bag."

"What's in that garment bag?" asked Sammy.

"Oh, that's the show jackets that Brooke's given me for the show season," I replied as Mr. Granger left with my duffle bags. "Come on, I'll work on the bags and put each hanger in them while you pull out the hangers."

As I said, it really only did take us ten minutes to get all of my belongings out of the trailer and into the back of Mr. Granger's truck, but we managed to get everything of mine out. As he slammed the tailgate shut, I felt like I had to ask. "What about my keys?" I asked.

"I'll give them to the landlord," he said. "God knows the poor man's going to have a lot on his plate right now."

I took off the keys that belonged to the trailer and handed them to Mr. Granger.

"Good," he said before he looked at his watch. "Looks like we have just enough time to drop your belongings off at the house, so why don't we go do that, and then I'll drop you both off at the barn before I go speak with the landlord?"

"Okay, maybe Mom can make us lunch so we can bring it to the barn?" asked Sammy.

"I'm sure she will have something cooking already," he replied as we got into his truck. "Also, Erin she may ask you questions about your likes and such."

I nodded as I buckled my seatbelt. I was already feeling as though this whole day was almost over even though it had barely begun. It was seeing Eric and Freya in handcuffs being led away from the trailer? Or that I wouldn't have to go back to them for what could be a long time? I mean . . . even if they didn't go to jail for a long time, they will more than likely have to go to rehab right? Or at least . . . Freya would since she was my birth mother.

As Mr. Granger drove away from the trailer and headed towards the main road that would take us to their house, I looked out the back window at the trailer that had been my home for as long as I could remember. I no longer felt the dreadful feeling that I had always felt when I looked at it and I was happy when, as he turned down the road and continued driving, the trailer park disappeared.