en gate of the arena, the hinges c

Everlee walked toward them. He didn't look the least bit guilt

on her feet while keeping a protective arm around her shoulders. "I told

vest, a mix of triumph and staged anxiety crossing her f

or a wife to check up on her husband," Ayla said in a soft, b

the wrong idea about why

ped up in a hospital room would only make my chest feel tighter. He

She caught her lower lip before a faint, glo

gave you his black card so you could pick out an ap

erson? You really didn't have to spend money on me, Everlee. As long as you

rom Ayla's glowing, healthy face down to Jamison's

ing, and by two in the afternoon you're up

miracles when you're putting

welling in her eyes on cue as she s

like that? I was only trying to smooth

ed, pulling Ayla closer, his expression

still making excuses for you! Where is the gift I told y

r fitted black riding

t tell me you found out I was teaching Ayla to ride today, so you thr

sympathetic sigh fro

in the arena just now and wanted you to hold her reins, too. If s

d. "Your black card is sitting at the bottom of the kitchen trash can, M

their heads, whispering and smirking at what looked like a neglected

ther insult, a loud, cheerful

ng red riding jacket, two carbon-fiber helmets tucked und

ut, walking right past Jamison and Ayla to throw

ry runway model in Milan to shame. Here-I grabbed y

riend's bright, fiercely loyal grin. She to

r on your side of the ring doesn't r

to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Everlee. She loo

le hands forgot to muck out the stalls this morning," Ch

other-and-sister act. What are we roleplaying

id, a vein pulsi

atch your mouth! A

est" drained every drop o

talking, keep your hands off your sister's thighs in

. Ingram, remember that the Sterling famil

and my partner for the Kentucky qualifiers. If

nd fastened the wrist straps with a crisp rip

y, Miss Simon might have another mirac

undskeepers hose her down,"

d to pick a fight with the Sterling famil

of company you keep now, Everlee? Letting Chloe fill your head with

gaze drifting past Jamison to the doc

loves riding so much," Everlee said, her eyes cool, "how

la's head. Unwilling to back down in front of the w

learn from yo

ughbred was slamming its hooves against a reinforced stall door, making the heavy iron latch r

don't you ride that big black horse

inger, and his express

ged. He threw the club's head trainer off last week and broke

rd the far stall, a

as Phantom-the champion stallion she had raised from a colt a

the sight of Phantom's visible ri

d in outrage, her face

d to Phantom?!" Chloe cursed, glarin

was in Europe! Why does he look half-starved and provoked

y hand on Chloe's arm, silen

im," Everlee

she turned and strod

r so he assumed, just to spite him-a sudden wave of panic hit him

mison snarled. "Are you really going to

t his hand on her arm, then up in

latly. "You're getti

to make Jamison stumble back half a st

e walkway, Everlee slid back the heavy iron bolt and s

ting out a deafening neigh as his iron-

toward the stall door with her heart in her throat

erl

letely still on the straw, she slowly raised her right

om. I'