Chapter 2

“Stop pretending!”

Snow’s voice blasts through my head.

“I saw you trying not to laugh!”

“You can hear me. I know you can.”

“I’m the smartest horse on this ranch. You can’t fool me!”

I stare at the floor.

How is this horse so observant?

There are at least twenty people in the barn, and somehow he still notices me.

Dr. Keats speaks again, more urgently this time.

“Marcus, you need to make a decision.”

He glances toward Snow.

“I can prepare the injection now. He won’t feel anything.”

Marcus’s fingers tighten around the armrest of his wheelchair.

His stepmother, Diane Winthrop, finally speaks.

Her eyes are wet.

“Marcus, Silver Star loved that colt.”

Her voice catches.

“If she were still here, she wouldn’t want to see him suffer like this.”

“If you really love Snow, let him go peacefully.”

Claire wipes at her tears.

“She’s right.”

She crouches beside Snow.

“This is too cruel.”

Claire reaches out to touch his neck.

Snow immediately turns his head away.

To everyone else, it probably looks like he’s too weak and miserable to be touched.

In my head, he is absolutely losing it.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!”

“I hate this woman!”

“She smells like that awful perfume again!”

I bite down on my lip.

Marcus looks at Snow for a long moment.

Something in his eyes goes dim.

Then he takes a slow breath.

“All right.”

Snow screams.

“NO!”

The sound is so loud inside my head that I nearly flinch.

“No, no, no, no!”

“I can’t die!”

“I’m still young!”

“I haven’t even grown into the most handsome stallion in Texas yet!”

“My feet hurt!”

“That’s it!”

“My feet hurt!”

“Why can’t any of you idiots understand me?”

Snow struggles to lift his head.

His black eyes lock directly onto mine.

“You!”

“The new girl!”

“Save me!”

I don’t move.

He keeps going.

“Save me and I’ll make Marcus reward you!”

“Money!”

“A house!”

“A nice one!”

“With a yard!”

My heart jumps.

Money?

A house?

My mother’s medical bills flash through my mind.

The overdue notices.

The broken heater in our tiny rental.

The way my dad keeps pretending everything is fine.

Snow’s voice rises again.

“What do you want?”

“I’ll get you anything!”

Then he pauses.

His eyes shift toward Marcus.

“You think my owner is handsome?”

I almost choke.

“He’s rich.”

“He rides well.”

“He’s grumpy, but that can be fixed.”

“His leg is messed up right now, but look at his face!”

“He’s still a catch!”

“Save me and I’ll put in a good word for you!”

Shut up.

Please shut up.

Snow keeps going.

“Fine!”

“Pretty lady!”

“No, wait.”

“Mom!”

“You’re my mom now!”

“Mom, save me!”

I close my eyes.

This horse is insane.

Marcus exhales slowly.

Then he looks at Dr. Keats.

“Do it.”

“Wait!”

The word flies out of my mouth before I can stop it.

The entire barn goes dead silent.

Everyone turns toward me.

Dr. Keats frowns.

Diane freezes with a tissue near her face.

Claire looks up.

Her expression changes for only a second.

But I catch it.

Annoyance.

My legs feel weak.

Still, I force myself to step forward.

My eyes drop to Snow’s front hoof.

“What if he isn’t dying from an infection?”

Dr. Keats’s face hardens.

I swallow.

“What if the problem is his horseshoes?”

Silence.

Then Dr. Keats gives me a long, offended look.

“Excuse me?”

I immediately regret being born.

He straightens.

“You’re a stable hand.”

“I’ve treated horses for over thirty years.”

His voice sharpens.

“Do you really think you know more than I do?”

“I’m not saying that.”

“You’re wasting time.”

He points toward Snow.

“Every minute we stand here arguing is another minute that animal suffers.”

Diane’s expression cools.

She turns toward Ryan.

“Who hired her?”

Ryan stiffens.

“She started today.”

“Then apparently no one explained the rules.”

Claire lets out a cold laugh.

She looks me up and down.

“Dr. Keats has treated some of the most valuable horses in the country.”

“And you’ve been here for what?”

She checks her watch.

“Three hours?”

Heat climbs up my neck.

Claire stands.

“You don’t get to walk into this barn and pretend you know better than everyone else.”

She turns toward two ranch hands.

“Get her out of here.”

The two men hesitate.

Then they step toward me.

One takes my arm.

The other reaches for my shoulder.

Snow lets out a weak whinny.

Inside my head, he screams.

“NO!”

“Don’t take my mom!”

“If she leaves, I’m dead!”

“Mom!”

“Help me!”

I want to cry.

How exactly am I supposed to help you?

I opened my mouth once and now I’m about to lose the best-paying job I’ve ever had.

The ranch hands start pulling me toward the door.

Then Marcus speaks.

“Stop.”

They freeze.

His voice isn’t loud.

It doesn’t need to be.

Everyone in the barn goes still.

Marcus looks directly at me.

His expression is cold.

Sharp.

Assessing.

“How do you know?”

I swallow.

Of course I can’t say:

Because your horse won’t stop screaming about his feet.

So I use the only explanation I have.

“I’ve worked around horses before.”

Marcus says nothing.

I continue.

“If Snow had a severe infection, I’d expect other signs.”

Dr. Keats’s expression darkens.

I keep my eyes on Marcus.

“High fever.”

“Cloudy eyes.”

“Bad discharge.”

“Labored breathing.”

I point carefully toward Snow.

“He’s weak, yes.”

“But his eyes are clear.”

“His breathing isn’t that bad.”

“And...”