All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry

Author:Samantha Mabry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Published: 2017-09-21T04:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

“You’re upset.”

It’s been a full day and night since the travelers with the caravan put on their show, and Leo is helping me get Britain ready for her morning ride. “I don’t see why. Bell obviously appreciated her gift.”

Appreciated. Right. After I’d presented her with the instrument, she’d gasped, For me? Then she opened her mouth real wide and let out a scream so loud and high-­pitched the dog down at camp started barking. It was possibly the first time I’d actually seen her happy—ecstatic, exuberant—as opposed to bricked up and guarded like she usually is. Bell then cradled the violin against her chest and disappeared inside the house so she could “hide it somewhere safe for later.”

“My mood has nothing to do with Bell,” I say, tightening Britain’s girth.

“James then?” Leo asks. “He do something to tick you off?”

“I haven’t seen James in a while.” I avoid eye contact with Leo by pretending to struggle with one of the straps on Britain’s stirrups. The ship pendant is still wrapped up in my bandanna, and I feel stupid carrying it around all the time, waiting. “So he hasn’t been around to put me in a bad mood.”

“Maybe the fact that he hasn’t been around is exactly what’s put you in a bad mood,” Leo replies. From over his shoulder, I can see Bell emerging at long last from the house and trotting in our direction. Leo leans in and lowers his voice. “You know, you’re not the only one here keeping a secret. He told me about your plans. About going East.”

Leo’s right. We all have secrets here, and we keep them hidden away the best we can, nested deep down, shoved into the mazes we’ve created inside ourselves. They are safe there.

“Sarah Jac,” Leo says, attempting to read what I’m sure is a pinched and wary expression. “It’s okay.”

It’s not okay. I don’t know what Leo knows. He’s being cryptic, and I don’t like it. I’ve been feeling panicked and vulnerable ever since yesterday morning, when the traveler woman passed along her warning. That feeling has been multiplied by the fact that I haven’t been able to find James and tell him about it. Now it feels like Leo has me backed into a corner. My mind jumps to what happened outside Tulsa. I have to stop this—cut this guy off, cut him out.

“I quit.”

Leo blinks, takes a step back. Bell has come close enough to hear and stops in her tracks. She’s confused, understandably.

“I don’t want to work here with the horses or that girl anymore.”

“Wait.” He holds up his hands, palms facing me. “First of all, I don’t think you have a choice about that . . .”

Leo is calling out my name, telling me to wait, that I have it all wrong, but I’m already gone, jogging back to camp in the direction of the coa line.

CUTTING MAGUEY WHILE I’m angry is good for me. It keeps me focused. So, all in all, I’m having a

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