Chapter 2
Chase and Alex fell with a huge splash into the lake. Alex came up sputtering and swinging.
“ What are आप doing?” She yelled. Chase’s hair was hanging in wavy locks because his Stetson had fallen off when he had jumped. She coughed and pulled off her hat, held on द्वारा its stampede string. She threw it toward the shore. She turned back to Chase. “ You’re gonna get it now!” She yelled as she tried to push him over. His hands snagged hers as he went down and she ended up under water with him. He pushed off the bottom with his boots and dragged her up to stand beside him. Somehow they had made it to the center of the small lake. Alex gasped and coughed as she caught her breath.
Chase’s slow smile came and he looked at her. Alex tried to push her bangs out of her eyes. She glared at him, silently threatening him to do something else.
“ What?”
Chase acted like they weren’t both standing out in the lake where Alex could touch the bottom flatfooted and the water still came up to her shoulders and the water came up to Chase’s chest.
“ Dad is going to kill me, आप know that don’t you?” Alex finally sputtered.
Well, she knew Dad wouldn’t kill her, but he would make her clean her saddle. Chase’s grin widened and Alex glared harder. She tried to maintain a straight face. At one last desperate attempt to get him back, Alex acted like she was going to start wading back to shore. Alex could hear Chase starting to walk behind her. Alex whirled and shoved his chest, hard. A look of surprise flashed across his face as he sprawled backwards in the water. Alex stood there looking triumphant watching the water ripple. She watched the water. This was taking too long. Why wasn’t he up yet? Alex took one step forward. She leaned a little bit आगे and one hand grabbed her thigh and one hand managed to snag her other leg. She screamed as she rushed underwater. Chase pushed up and stood, holding her under. Suddenly, his grip went slack on her shoulders and instead of pushing her down he lifted up on her shoulders. Alex pushed up off the bottom and got ready to pay Chase back. She slung her thick braid back as she surfaced and Chase stood their staring at her.
“ What?” Alex asked looking down the front of her, seeing if anything was wrong.
Chase’s eyes widened with concern. She knew he was thinking about her accident. “ Are आप okay?”
Alex nodded.
“ आप sure?”
Alex nodded again. “ Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
In response, Chase reached to dunk her again.
“ No!” Alex screamed, laughing as she tried to run to the bank. Chase’s arms snagged around her waist and twirled her around. He threw both of them underwater. Alex struggled against the arms holding her down. Finally, Chase pulled her along with him to the चोटी, शीर्ष of the water. His hands perched on her hips, getting ready to throw her again. Suddenly, a laugh sounded. Chase froze and dropped his hands from Alex’s hips. Both of them looked up to see Nicky on her paint mare, Belle.
“ What are आप guys doing?” She asked, wiggling her eyebrows. She twirled a strand of long black hair around her finger. Alex was silent for a moment.
“ Uh, swimming. आप want to come? We could all have a saddle cleaning party.” Alex offered.
Nicky was silent a moment as she dismounted.
“ Be seen with आप two? You’ve got to be kidding!” Alex heard Chase snort in her ear. Chase and Nicky were constantly bickering; usually fighting over whom she liked best.
But Alex smiled when Nicky tugged her boots and socks off.
“ Of course I do!” She yelled running into the water. Alex felt Chase’s arms go to her waist again and lift her high up and throw her toward Nicky. Both girls went underwater and came up sputtering. Chase stood there looking proud of himself. Nicky pushed her long black hair out of her eyes. She glared at Chase for a moment before her gaze swung over to Alex. Both girls smiled in a silent agreement.
“ Whoa! Wait a moment!” Chase held his hands up as both girls walked toward him. Just as they were about to grab him a shout sounded and a खाड़ी, बे gelding came thundering through the water. Alex paused a moment to see who it was and it cost her. He slipped off his horse as it loped past and pulled Alex underwater with him. “ Trevor!” Alex protest when the boy finally let her up.
Trevor Coleman wiped water out of his brown eyes and pushed a hand through his black hair.
He smiled. “ I couldn’t let आप two team up on Chase!” He exclaimed. He walked over to Chase pulling Alex along with him.
“ Sorry Alex.” Trevor said, slipping his arm around her. Alex glanced up at him. She and Nicky exchanged glances. They both knew he was a big flirt.
“ Thanks man.” Chase कहा as they did their handshake.
Nicky rolled her eyes. “ Oh please! I see आप enough at home, Trevor! Do आप always have to follow me?”
Trevor smiled. “ Actually, I was supposed to meet Chase here anyway.”
Realization slapped Alex in the face. She narrowed her eyes and swung her gaze to Chase. If looks could kill, he would be dead, Alex thought. But that’s if I don’t kill him with my bare hands first! Chase’s gray eyes looked at her straight on, challenging her to say it.
“ आप didn’t come to help me! आप came to meet him!” Alex exclaimed and she as she tried to walk forward. Trevor tightened his hold around her waist, trying to hold her back. She impatiently pushed his arm away. Chase stood planted where he was.
His slow grin showed on his darkly tanned face.
“ आप know, you’re kinda cute when you’re mad.” A teasing edge creped up in Chase’s voice. Alex glanced at Trevor then Chase.
Trevor grinned and his brown eyes twinkled in mischief at Alex. Her green eyes burned with anger and the golden specks seemed to glow as she advanced on Chase. Nicky and Trevor exchanged concerned glances. They both knew from experience that when Alex looked like that, it wasn’t pretty sight when she was done. Alex stopped almost nose to nose with Chase. She glared at him with burning eyes. Suddenly, her eyes turned bright with un-shed tears. She quickly turned away and started toward shore.
“ Alex! Wait!”
Alex ignored Chase and walked faster towards the group of घोड़े clustered together. She stooped and picked up her Stetson and jammed it on her wet hair. She pushed her way past Belle and Trevor’s खाड़ी, बे gelding, Chip. She snagged Echo’s reins and jammed her foot in the stirrup.
Chase blocked her way. “ Alex! Wait. I’m sor….” Chase started but Alex interrupted him.
“ Save it! I know you’re not really.”
She urged Echo past him up towards the canyon with the strays. She was almost out of hearing range when she stopped. She turned Echo around.
“ Oh, and thanks, Chase, for all your help!” She shouted at the figure still standing on the shore. She turned Echo and nudged him into a lope. She was still fuming even as she gathered the strays. Echo pinned his ears back and bared his teeth reflecting Alex’s mood as he pushed all the cows were he wanted them. Finally, Echo’s hooves pounded on the bridge over the Aspen River, leading to Aspen Ranch. Dad appeared out of the खलिहान to greet her.
“ Good job, Alex.” His leathery face creased in a smile, and his teeth flashed white against his darkly tanned face. He opened a gate to a corral and Alex herded them in.
Alex could feel him looking at her still damp body. “ I’ll clean my saddle tomorrow, Dad.”
Dad raised his eyebrows.
“ Dad! I promise!” Alex cried.
He smiled and nodded. Alex quickly un-saddled Echo and turned him out in the pasture. Dad led the way to the white, two-story house. “Leah! Alex is home!” Dad called.
“ Okay, Jake.” Mom called back from the laundry room. Mom appeared, a moment later, carrying a laundry basket. Her blonde braids were tamed द्वारा a bandana tied around her head. “ Hi Hon!” Mom smiled and gave Alex a quick hug. “ Jake, I need आप to go get the eggs before the coyotes have themselves a heck of a supper.” Dad nodded and left. Mom looked at Alex up and down.
“ Why don’t आप go get a quick शावर, शॉवर and then we’ll talk.”
Alex nodded but she knew she wouldn’t be able to talk yet. Alex climbed the wooden stairs leading to her room on the सेकंड story. She grabbed a pair of baggy sweats and a tee shirt. She quickly jumped in the शावर, शॉवर and washed the lake slim out of her hair. She dried and slipped on her clothes. She wrapped her hair in her towel in a turban looking style. A knock sounded on the bathroom.
“Just a minute!” Alex called.
She ran a brush through her blonde hair and stepped to the door. She opened the door expecting Mom या Dad to be standing there. Instead, Chase stood there, twirling his Stetson in his hands. She groaned and slammed the door. She pressed her back against the white door, hoping he would go away. Instead he knocked again.
“ Go away!”
“Not until we talk.”
“ There’s nothing to talk about!”
“ I’m not leaving. And I will come in there.”
Alex’s face flushed red.
“ आप wouldn’t dare!”
“ आप wanna bet?”
Alex glared at the wall, hoping he would give up and go away. Of course he wouldn’t, because he was one of the most stubborn person she knew. The door handle jiggled.
“ Stop! I’ll come out.” She sighed. Quickly she thought of a plan. She threw open the door and brushed past Chase. She headed for her room down the hall. She slammed the door and locked it.
She could hear Chase stop outside of her door. Then he was silent for a while.
“ You’re out of luck, Cowgirl.”
Alex couldn’t keep herself from answering.
“ Why?”
“ Who’s been your best friend since आप were born?”
Alex slumped onto her bed. Of course he had to remember where she kept her extra key in case she ever accidentally locked herself out of her room. There was still a little bit of hope. Maybe he was just bluffing.
“ I can reach the चोटी, शीर्ष of your door frame.”
Nope. He hadn’t forgotten.
She grabbed a magazine as she heard the door lock click. Chase’s boots made a thumping sound as he walked across her wood floor.
“ That doesn’t work either, Cowgirl.”
Alex glared at the inside of her magazine blocking her face from his sight.
“ Why not?”
“ Oh, I’m not sure. Maybe it has to do something with it being upside down?”
Alex made her eyes focus. Sure enough, the horse pictures were walking upside down. She sighed and threw it down. She refused to meet Chase’s eyes.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He made her look him in the eyes. He gently shook her shoulders.
“ Listen, Cowgirl.”
Alex ducked her head and found it easier to stare at Chase’s boots.
He shook her again.
“ Look at me, Cowgirl.” His voice was stern.
Alex swung her gaze back up to look him in the eyes.
“ We were both just teasing. Shake it off.” He shook her again, even और gently.
Alex’s eyes flared. “ So now you’re insulting me?” She stared at him. “ Telling me I’m not good enough, right?” Chase’s eyes widened in disbelief. “ Cowgirl, I don’t get you!”
Alex knew she did not like him, but why not make him feel bad? She shook off his hands from her shoulders.
“ Excuse me. I have to go call my boyfriend.” She started for the door. “ At least he appreciates me.”
Chase grabbed her before she made it out of the door. Alex refused to look at him. He spun her around.
“ Stop.”
Alex tried to shake out of his strong grasp on her arms.
“ I have to go call my boyfriend.” Alex repeated.
Chase rolled his eyes. “Oh, please.” He met her withering glare with a level look.
“ We can stop pretending now.”
Alex gave up trying to get loose. “ How do आप know I’m pretending?” She asked. Chase rolled his eyes again. “ Like आप would have a boyfriend.”
Alex felt tears threatening to spill over and that infuriated her even more. Why did she care about how he felt about her? She jerked her arms free and prepared to slug him. One tear made it over her eyelid and spilled down her cheek. और followed until she was crying openly. Chase grabbed her arms before she could hit him.
“ Stop being such a big baby….” He started, his voice rising until he trailed off, seeing her tears.
“Let go.” Alex commanded, trying to shake him off.
He dropped her arms. Alex sank back down on her bed.
“ You’re right, Chase. I’m just a big baby.” She swiped a hand across her eyes. “And you’re right about me not having a boyfriend.” She rolled her eyes.
“ I don’t even like guys.” Alex knew she was having a pity party for herself, but who cared? She knew Chase didn’t. No body did, except maybe Nicky and that wasn’t even for sure.
Chase rubbed his neck, a sign that meant he was uncomfortable.
Alex stopped her self for complaining more. Suddenly, her temper flared.
“ Why do आप even talk to me?” She asked, glaring at him. “ आप know, since I’m a nobody? Especially at school! Why?”
“ Whoa, hold on.” Chase started holding his hands up to ward her off.
Chase was saved द्वारा a shout.
“ Chase, आप going to stay for dinner?” Mom hollered up the stairs.
Chase glanced at Alex’s angry face and quickly made his decision. He grabbed his Stetson and walked out of the door.
“ No thanks, Leah. I need to get home.” Alex heard Chase say and then the door squeaked as it opened. Alex glanced out her window to see Chase jogging Classy over the bridge.
“ Alex? It’s time to eat!”
“ I’m not hungry, Mom. Thanks anyway.” Alex shouted back down the stairs. She glanced at the clock. Seven. Way to early to go to bed, she decided. Alex grabbed a horse mystery novel and settled down under her blankets.
Three and a half hours later she rubbed her sleepy eyes and glanced at her clock. Eleven thirty. Her stomach rumbled for something to eat. She climbed out of बिस्तर and padded down the hallway, careful to not awake her sleeping parents. She slipped into the रसोई, रसोईघर and grabbed a couple of कुकीज़ from the cookie jar. Alex glanced out the window and decided to go outside. She walked over to the रसोई, रसोईघर door and stepped outside on the porch. Echo nickered from the twelve-acre pasture. Alex smooched back and settled on the porch swing. She watched the pasture घोड़े pester each other. Jet, Dad’s big, black quarter horse nipped at Buck, Jackson’s usual mount. Buck squealed and ran into Stormy, Mom’s gray mare. Stormy whinnied and bolted into Topaz, Rex’s blue-eyed paint. Topaz bared her teeth and ran into Rascal, Dustin’s सोरेल, एक प्रकार की वनस्पति appaloosa. Rascal trotted off to शामिल होइए Echo and Shasta who were wisely staying away. Suddenly, Stormy bolted into a canter along the fence. Jet was अगला to शामिल होइए her, and then Buck and soon all the घोड़े were running laps for the pure joy of it. Alex’s eyelids grew heavy and she was just about asleep when Echo’s shattering neigh विभाजित करें, विभक्त करें the air. Alex jumped up and looked to see Echo standing with his head thrown over the fence, facing away from her and nickering, reminding her that he was once a mustang. His ears cupped आगे and he turned to watch the stallion approach.
Chase and Alex fell with a huge splash into the lake. Alex came up sputtering and swinging.
“ What are आप doing?” She yelled. Chase’s hair was hanging in wavy locks because his Stetson had fallen off when he had jumped. She coughed and pulled off her hat, held on द्वारा its stampede string. She threw it toward the shore. She turned back to Chase. “ You’re gonna get it now!” She yelled as she tried to push him over. His hands snagged hers as he went down and she ended up under water with him. He pushed off the bottom with his boots and dragged her up to stand beside him. Somehow they had made it to the center of the small lake. Alex gasped and coughed as she caught her breath.
Chase’s slow smile came and he looked at her. Alex tried to push her bangs out of her eyes. She glared at him, silently threatening him to do something else.
“ What?”
Chase acted like they weren’t both standing out in the lake where Alex could touch the bottom flatfooted and the water still came up to her shoulders and the water came up to Chase’s chest.
“ Dad is going to kill me, आप know that don’t you?” Alex finally sputtered.
Well, she knew Dad wouldn’t kill her, but he would make her clean her saddle. Chase’s grin widened and Alex glared harder. She tried to maintain a straight face. At one last desperate attempt to get him back, Alex acted like she was going to start wading back to shore. Alex could hear Chase starting to walk behind her. Alex whirled and shoved his chest, hard. A look of surprise flashed across his face as he sprawled backwards in the water. Alex stood there looking triumphant watching the water ripple. She watched the water. This was taking too long. Why wasn’t he up yet? Alex took one step forward. She leaned a little bit आगे and one hand grabbed her thigh and one hand managed to snag her other leg. She screamed as she rushed underwater. Chase pushed up and stood, holding her under. Suddenly, his grip went slack on her shoulders and instead of pushing her down he lifted up on her shoulders. Alex pushed up off the bottom and got ready to pay Chase back. She slung her thick braid back as she surfaced and Chase stood their staring at her.
“ What?” Alex asked looking down the front of her, seeing if anything was wrong.
Chase’s eyes widened with concern. She knew he was thinking about her accident. “ Are आप okay?”
Alex nodded.
“ आप sure?”
Alex nodded again. “ Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
In response, Chase reached to dunk her again.
“ No!” Alex screamed, laughing as she tried to run to the bank. Chase’s arms snagged around her waist and twirled her around. He threw both of them underwater. Alex struggled against the arms holding her down. Finally, Chase pulled her along with him to the चोटी, शीर्ष of the water. His hands perched on her hips, getting ready to throw her again. Suddenly, a laugh sounded. Chase froze and dropped his hands from Alex’s hips. Both of them looked up to see Nicky on her paint mare, Belle.
“ What are आप guys doing?” She asked, wiggling her eyebrows. She twirled a strand of long black hair around her finger. Alex was silent for a moment.
“ Uh, swimming. आप want to come? We could all have a saddle cleaning party.” Alex offered.
Nicky was silent a moment as she dismounted.
“ Be seen with आप two? You’ve got to be kidding!” Alex heard Chase snort in her ear. Chase and Nicky were constantly bickering; usually fighting over whom she liked best.
But Alex smiled when Nicky tugged her boots and socks off.
“ Of course I do!” She yelled running into the water. Alex felt Chase’s arms go to her waist again and lift her high up and throw her toward Nicky. Both girls went underwater and came up sputtering. Chase stood there looking proud of himself. Nicky pushed her long black hair out of her eyes. She glared at Chase for a moment before her gaze swung over to Alex. Both girls smiled in a silent agreement.
“ Whoa! Wait a moment!” Chase held his hands up as both girls walked toward him. Just as they were about to grab him a shout sounded and a खाड़ी, बे gelding came thundering through the water. Alex paused a moment to see who it was and it cost her. He slipped off his horse as it loped past and pulled Alex underwater with him. “ Trevor!” Alex protest when the boy finally let her up.
Trevor Coleman wiped water out of his brown eyes and pushed a hand through his black hair.
He smiled. “ I couldn’t let आप two team up on Chase!” He exclaimed. He walked over to Chase pulling Alex along with him.
“ Sorry Alex.” Trevor said, slipping his arm around her. Alex glanced up at him. She and Nicky exchanged glances. They both knew he was a big flirt.
“ Thanks man.” Chase कहा as they did their handshake.
Nicky rolled her eyes. “ Oh please! I see आप enough at home, Trevor! Do आप always have to follow me?”
Trevor smiled. “ Actually, I was supposed to meet Chase here anyway.”
Realization slapped Alex in the face. She narrowed her eyes and swung her gaze to Chase. If looks could kill, he would be dead, Alex thought. But that’s if I don’t kill him with my bare hands first! Chase’s gray eyes looked at her straight on, challenging her to say it.
“ आप didn’t come to help me! आप came to meet him!” Alex exclaimed and she as she tried to walk forward. Trevor tightened his hold around her waist, trying to hold her back. She impatiently pushed his arm away. Chase stood planted where he was.
His slow grin showed on his darkly tanned face.
“ आप know, you’re kinda cute when you’re mad.” A teasing edge creped up in Chase’s voice. Alex glanced at Trevor then Chase.
Trevor grinned and his brown eyes twinkled in mischief at Alex. Her green eyes burned with anger and the golden specks seemed to glow as she advanced on Chase. Nicky and Trevor exchanged concerned glances. They both knew from experience that when Alex looked like that, it wasn’t pretty sight when she was done. Alex stopped almost nose to nose with Chase. She glared at him with burning eyes. Suddenly, her eyes turned bright with un-shed tears. She quickly turned away and started toward shore.
“ Alex! Wait!”
Alex ignored Chase and walked faster towards the group of घोड़े clustered together. She stooped and picked up her Stetson and jammed it on her wet hair. She pushed her way past Belle and Trevor’s खाड़ी, बे gelding, Chip. She snagged Echo’s reins and jammed her foot in the stirrup.
Chase blocked her way. “ Alex! Wait. I’m sor….” Chase started but Alex interrupted him.
“ Save it! I know you’re not really.”
She urged Echo past him up towards the canyon with the strays. She was almost out of hearing range when she stopped. She turned Echo around.
“ Oh, and thanks, Chase, for all your help!” She shouted at the figure still standing on the shore. She turned Echo and nudged him into a lope. She was still fuming even as she gathered the strays. Echo pinned his ears back and bared his teeth reflecting Alex’s mood as he pushed all the cows were he wanted them. Finally, Echo’s hooves pounded on the bridge over the Aspen River, leading to Aspen Ranch. Dad appeared out of the खलिहान to greet her.
“ Good job, Alex.” His leathery face creased in a smile, and his teeth flashed white against his darkly tanned face. He opened a gate to a corral and Alex herded them in.
Alex could feel him looking at her still damp body. “ I’ll clean my saddle tomorrow, Dad.”
Dad raised his eyebrows.
“ Dad! I promise!” Alex cried.
He smiled and nodded. Alex quickly un-saddled Echo and turned him out in the pasture. Dad led the way to the white, two-story house. “Leah! Alex is home!” Dad called.
“ Okay, Jake.” Mom called back from the laundry room. Mom appeared, a moment later, carrying a laundry basket. Her blonde braids were tamed द्वारा a bandana tied around her head. “ Hi Hon!” Mom smiled and gave Alex a quick hug. “ Jake, I need आप to go get the eggs before the coyotes have themselves a heck of a supper.” Dad nodded and left. Mom looked at Alex up and down.
“ Why don’t आप go get a quick शावर, शॉवर and then we’ll talk.”
Alex nodded but she knew she wouldn’t be able to talk yet. Alex climbed the wooden stairs leading to her room on the सेकंड story. She grabbed a pair of baggy sweats and a tee shirt. She quickly jumped in the शावर, शॉवर and washed the lake slim out of her hair. She dried and slipped on her clothes. She wrapped her hair in her towel in a turban looking style. A knock sounded on the bathroom.
“Just a minute!” Alex called.
She ran a brush through her blonde hair and stepped to the door. She opened the door expecting Mom या Dad to be standing there. Instead, Chase stood there, twirling his Stetson in his hands. She groaned and slammed the door. She pressed her back against the white door, hoping he would go away. Instead he knocked again.
“ Go away!”
“Not until we talk.”
“ There’s nothing to talk about!”
“ I’m not leaving. And I will come in there.”
Alex’s face flushed red.
“ आप wouldn’t dare!”
“ आप wanna bet?”
Alex glared at the wall, hoping he would give up and go away. Of course he wouldn’t, because he was one of the most stubborn person she knew. The door handle jiggled.
“ Stop! I’ll come out.” She sighed. Quickly she thought of a plan. She threw open the door and brushed past Chase. She headed for her room down the hall. She slammed the door and locked it.
She could hear Chase stop outside of her door. Then he was silent for a while.
“ You’re out of luck, Cowgirl.”
Alex couldn’t keep herself from answering.
“ Why?”
“ Who’s been your best friend since आप were born?”
Alex slumped onto her bed. Of course he had to remember where she kept her extra key in case she ever accidentally locked herself out of her room. There was still a little bit of hope. Maybe he was just bluffing.
“ I can reach the चोटी, शीर्ष of your door frame.”
Nope. He hadn’t forgotten.
She grabbed a magazine as she heard the door lock click. Chase’s boots made a thumping sound as he walked across her wood floor.
“ That doesn’t work either, Cowgirl.”
Alex glared at the inside of her magazine blocking her face from his sight.
“ Why not?”
“ Oh, I’m not sure. Maybe it has to do something with it being upside down?”
Alex made her eyes focus. Sure enough, the horse pictures were walking upside down. She sighed and threw it down. She refused to meet Chase’s eyes.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He made her look him in the eyes. He gently shook her shoulders.
“ Listen, Cowgirl.”
Alex ducked her head and found it easier to stare at Chase’s boots.
He shook her again.
“ Look at me, Cowgirl.” His voice was stern.
Alex swung her gaze back up to look him in the eyes.
“ We were both just teasing. Shake it off.” He shook her again, even और gently.
Alex’s eyes flared. “ So now you’re insulting me?” She stared at him. “ Telling me I’m not good enough, right?” Chase’s eyes widened in disbelief. “ Cowgirl, I don’t get you!”
Alex knew she did not like him, but why not make him feel bad? She shook off his hands from her shoulders.
“ Excuse me. I have to go call my boyfriend.” She started for the door. “ At least he appreciates me.”
Chase grabbed her before she made it out of the door. Alex refused to look at him. He spun her around.
“ Stop.”
Alex tried to shake out of his strong grasp on her arms.
“ I have to go call my boyfriend.” Alex repeated.
Chase rolled his eyes. “Oh, please.” He met her withering glare with a level look.
“ We can stop pretending now.”
Alex gave up trying to get loose. “ How do आप know I’m pretending?” She asked. Chase rolled his eyes again. “ Like आप would have a boyfriend.”
Alex felt tears threatening to spill over and that infuriated her even more. Why did she care about how he felt about her? She jerked her arms free and prepared to slug him. One tear made it over her eyelid and spilled down her cheek. और followed until she was crying openly. Chase grabbed her arms before she could hit him.
“ Stop being such a big baby….” He started, his voice rising until he trailed off, seeing her tears.
“Let go.” Alex commanded, trying to shake him off.
He dropped her arms. Alex sank back down on her bed.
“ You’re right, Chase. I’m just a big baby.” She swiped a hand across her eyes. “And you’re right about me not having a boyfriend.” She rolled her eyes.
“ I don’t even like guys.” Alex knew she was having a pity party for herself, but who cared? She knew Chase didn’t. No body did, except maybe Nicky and that wasn’t even for sure.
Chase rubbed his neck, a sign that meant he was uncomfortable.
Alex stopped her self for complaining more. Suddenly, her temper flared.
“ Why do आप even talk to me?” She asked, glaring at him. “ आप know, since I’m a nobody? Especially at school! Why?”
“ Whoa, hold on.” Chase started holding his hands up to ward her off.
Chase was saved द्वारा a shout.
“ Chase, आप going to stay for dinner?” Mom hollered up the stairs.
Chase glanced at Alex’s angry face and quickly made his decision. He grabbed his Stetson and walked out of the door.
“ No thanks, Leah. I need to get home.” Alex heard Chase say and then the door squeaked as it opened. Alex glanced out her window to see Chase jogging Classy over the bridge.
“ Alex? It’s time to eat!”
“ I’m not hungry, Mom. Thanks anyway.” Alex shouted back down the stairs. She glanced at the clock. Seven. Way to early to go to bed, she decided. Alex grabbed a horse mystery novel and settled down under her blankets.
Three and a half hours later she rubbed her sleepy eyes and glanced at her clock. Eleven thirty. Her stomach rumbled for something to eat. She climbed out of बिस्तर and padded down the hallway, careful to not awake her sleeping parents. She slipped into the रसोई, रसोईघर and grabbed a couple of कुकीज़ from the cookie jar. Alex glanced out the window and decided to go outside. She walked over to the रसोई, रसोईघर door and stepped outside on the porch. Echo nickered from the twelve-acre pasture. Alex smooched back and settled on the porch swing. She watched the pasture घोड़े pester each other. Jet, Dad’s big, black quarter horse nipped at Buck, Jackson’s usual mount. Buck squealed and ran into Stormy, Mom’s gray mare. Stormy whinnied and bolted into Topaz, Rex’s blue-eyed paint. Topaz bared her teeth and ran into Rascal, Dustin’s सोरेल, एक प्रकार की वनस्पति appaloosa. Rascal trotted off to शामिल होइए Echo and Shasta who were wisely staying away. Suddenly, Stormy bolted into a canter along the fence. Jet was अगला to शामिल होइए her, and then Buck and soon all the घोड़े were running laps for the pure joy of it. Alex’s eyelids grew heavy and she was just about asleep when Echo’s shattering neigh विभाजित करें, विभक्त करें the air. Alex jumped up and looked to see Echo standing with his head thrown over the fence, facing away from her and nickering, reminding her that he was once a mustang. His ears cupped आगे and he turned to watch the stallion approach.