Samirah's Ride by Annie Wedekind

Author:Annie Wedekind
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781429933933
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

CHAPTER 6

To whom is it that I am going to yield thee up? . . .

Return with me, my beauty! my jewel!

And rejoice the hearts

of my children!

It happened so suddenly, like a summer lightning strike.

Except no, there had been storm clouds gathering for a long time . . . the dispersal of the herd, Bull’s leaving . . . Red’s ever-present, physically palpable stress. And I get mixed up in my memories, for part of that summer was peaceful, after the arrival of Mr. Sun. For a month, maybe more. Then the old man told Jasper that when he left Cold Creek, he’d be taking Sunny with him.

“Dad’s selling him to you?” Jasper was shocked, but I was glad. It would have broken Sunny’s heart to be left behind.

Mr. Sun nodded. “He’ll go with me to my daughter’s. You know, my wife died this year, so I’m going to live with Emily’s family. This summer . . . was my time to say good-bye to Mrs. Sun, to say good-bye to my old life. I needed solitude for painting and thinking, but I also got two very good friends.” First he patted Sunny, then Jasper.

“Okay,” was all that Jasper whispered.

“I’m glad you approve. I hope you find good homes for the rest of the horses, especially Sami.”

I think Jasper and I flinched at the same time.

“What?” We both stared at him. Mr. Sun suddenly looked alarmed and reached for Jasper’s hand.

“Your father told me he was thinking seriously of selling the ranch. Did I misunderstand?” His voice was soft but I could feel the tension in it.

Jasper was silent for a long time, her posture frozen. Then she slowly untangled herself from her seated position and rose stiffly. She walked to my side, pulled herself into the saddle, but did not ask me to move forward. She seemed to have frozen again.

“Jasper?” Mr. Sun said again. “I may have been mistaken. Please forgive me if I’ve upset you.”

Still, my companion seemed stuck, unable to speak or move.

“I should not have said anything, Jasper.” Now Mr. Sun sounded very worried. “You should speak to your mother and father directly. I hate to think that I’ve caused you pain, when surely—”

“You’re probably the only one who bothered to tell me the truth.” Jasper’s voice was broken with tears.

Suddenly her heels dug urgently into my sides, but I needed no encouragement. I wheeled around and we ran as fast as I could carry us back to the ranch. Jasper’s breath came in sobs and I felt a wild energy coursing through her, and through me. I had to find Magpie. Surely Magpie would know what was happening. I plunged through the creek, scrambled up the bank, and pounded through the meadow, my breath sounding close to sobs, too.

I was dismayed when Jasper led me to the barn instead of putting me out in the field. Her hands were trembling as she hastily untacked me and slid the stall door shut behind her. I

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