Chapter 7
Zack clung to the horse’s back, barely holding on, his face pale as he stook with fear.
Yara, standing nearby, started crying, completely out of her depth.
In a Rash, Ruby shot forward.
“Ruby! What are you doing? Get back here!” Jolie yelled, her voice shrill with panic.
“Move! Get out of the way!” Zack shouted from the horse, his heart racing Ruby seemed fearless, and it scared him senseless, cold sweat dripping down his face.
Yara, laking worry for Zack, had a nasty glint in her eyes. Deep down, she hoped Ruby would get hurt.
Everyone watching stood frozen, holding their breath, dreading a tragedy.
But Ruby stood calm in front of the wild white horse, her round face steady, not a hint of panic.
Her mind raced, pulling up the horse–taming tips her mom had taught her.
She pursed her lips and blew a sharp, clear whistle, the sound almost magical. Amazingly, the horse slowed down, staring at her, puzzled.
Ruby made soft, gurgling sounds, like she was comforting a pet cat or dog. Her small hand gently stroked one of the horse’s legs, as if they were having a
chat
The horse, which had been acting crazy, started to calm down. He knelt on the ground, gentle as a puppy, practically ready to wag his tail.
Yara’s mouth fell open, her eyes huge, like she’d seen a ghost.
Zack, shocked and rattled, jumped off the horse. He’d ignored Ruby’s warning before, but now he got it–this soft–looking girl had saved him.
“Thanks,” he said, a flicker of warmth crossing his usually cold face before it went back to normal.
Ruby gave a big, dimpled smile. “Be careful when you ride next time, okay?”
Ruby gave a big, dimpled smile. “Be careful when you ride next time, okay?”
Jolie rushed over, pulling Ruby aside to check her over. “Ruby, are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” Ruby said with a gr
Jolie sighed in relief. “Come on, let’s find your mom. No more dangerous stuff, alright? If she finds out, she be mad!”
Ruby stuck out her tongue at Jolie’s words “She’d never be mad at me. I’m just too adorable.”
She waved at Zack. “I’m off to find my mom. Bye, Little Knight!”
Zack watched Ruby bounce away, her small figure disappearing into the crowd.
His brows furrowed, a shadow of sadness in his eyes. Ruby’s cheerful “mommy hit him like a sharp jab.
Images of his own mom flashed through his mind–her gentle patience, her strict nagging, and then the cold way she walked away. His fists tightened, nails biting into his palms
Yara shot a nasty look at Ruby’s back, then turned to Zack. “That kid’s so annoying! Are you thinking about your mom?”
Zack’s head jerked up, his eyes icy. “I’d rather think about anyone else than her.”
1/3
Chapter 7
Yara jumped in quick. “Right, your mom’s awful. When Auntin Joanna marries your dad, you’ll have a new mom”
Zack pressed his lips together, staying quint
Joanna, who’d been chatting someone up nearby, hurried over. “Zack, Yara, what happened?”
She hadn’t been watching the kids–she’d been too busy chasing connections at the horse club.
The owner, a
a young, successful businessman just back from abroad, was her target.
She wanted to get in with him, but the staff had politely shut her down.
Still, she’d heard the owner was hosting a big party soon, and Byron had an invite. She’d go with him.
Yara, piling on the drama, retold the story, pointing at the while horse being led away by staff. “It’s all that dumb horse’s fault it tried to throw Zack off, So mean!”
Joanna’s face hardened, her voice cutting. “A horse that wild doesn’t belong here! What if it hurts someone? make sure the staff handles it right now!“.
Zack glanced at the horse, then at Ruby disappearing into the crowd. “That girl said the horse was sick. It’s my fault, not his,”
Joanna’s eyes tracked Ruby, landing on the woman she ran to. Her heart skipped, a jolt of shock freezing her for a moment.
Sylvia. It was really Sylvia.
Joanna’s breathing quickened, her chest tightening like a fire was burning inside.
“How dare she come back?‘ she thought to herself. ‘Who does she think she is? Is she here to take Byron?”
Even after Sylvia’s three year absence, Joanna’s relationship with Byron had never moved forward. She blamed Sylvia for it all.
Her voice turned firm when she heard Jolie. “Ruby, you can’t do dangerous stuff like that again! What if you got hurt? Do it one more time, and you’ll be grounded!”
“Sorry, Mom, I won’t do it again,” Ruby mumbled, head down, her little face all pouty and sorry. But her big, shiny eyes flickered with a sneaky spark.
It was her classic move–play the sad card, and Sylvia would cave.
Sure enough, Sylvia’s stern look softened at her daughter’s face. Her heart twinged. Ruby had grown up without a dad, and Sylvis always felt she owed
her for it.
ay sorry,” Zack said, pushing up his glasses. His nearsightedness blurred the figures in
“Looks like her mom’s chewing her out. It’s my fault–1 should go say the distance, but he started walking toward Ruby.
Joanna’s stomach lurched. She grabbed Zack’s hund. “Zack, don’t. It’s getting late, and your dad’ll be pissed if we’re not back soon. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone apologize.”
She couldn’t let Zack see Sylvia. If they reconnected, her spot in the Blair family would be toast.
Yara piped up. “Yeah, Zack, listen to Auntie Joanna, Don’t make Mr. Blair mad!”
Zack paused but nodded, following Joanna to the car parked outside the horse club.
Just then, Sylvia wrapped up her meeting with the club owner and led Ruby to their car.
Through the car window, Zack caught a glimpse of Ruby, and Sylvia. He could only see a side profile, so he leaned forward, trying to get a better look
