Chapter One Hanna pressed her cheek to the cool window as the clunky old Econoline van trundled off the high way Hills carpeted in evergreens and wildflower meadows gave way to a cute old-fashioned mountain town It looked like it had been pulled right out of a painting hanging in her grandma’s house one of those perfectly picturesque country villages A quaint diner sat between a candy store and a rock shop Couples walked hand in hand down Main Street And every store had a horse painted on the sign Horses It was always horses At least Quartz Creek Ranch was beautiful or it had looked that way in the brochures Hanna’s 1
mom showed her As part of the ranch experience the brochure had read youth will be paired up with a ther apy horse and given thorough riding instruction Just the thought of the horses sent shivers prickling up and down Hanna’s arms She retied her long sandy blonde ponytail for the tenth time and pulled her long legs up to her chest on the seat Everyone The brunette who had introduced herself as Madison back at the airport waved at them from the front of the van We’re almost to the ranch If you look out the window on the left side you can see our very own Quartz Creek She was one of the two head trainers at the ranch The other was driving a black guy who’d been the one waiting at the airport for her with a sign reading Hanna He’d introduced himself as Fletch spoke with a thick New York accent and wore a big cowboy hat Both trainers looked like they were in college The two girls sitting up in the middle seat shuffled over to the left side so they could look out the win dow crowding the skinny kid who’d sat down there first Hanna had claimed the far back seat thinking that was the best way to avoid attention and to get enough room for her long gangly legs But that plan had backfired 2
What’s her deal asked the Latina girl with bushy hair glancing back over the seats at Hanna and not appearing to care that anyone else could hear her She hasn’t said a word since we left the airport The redhead with the upturned nose shrugged She’s probably messed up As if everyone here wasn’t messed up in some way thought Hanna Par ents didn’t send their kids to Quartz Creek Ranch for fun It was rehab for struggling youth as the brochure had put it Without using the word rehab of course But Hanna wasn’t a struggling youth Okay so she’d made some bad judgment calls She cer tainly didn’t deserve being banished like this Six weeks in the dead heat of summer in the middle of nowhere Colorado You’ve always liked horses Hanna her mom had said as she filled out Hanna’s application for rehab camp even attaching a pristine school photo in the top corner Horses You should be happy Learning to ride will be great for your posture They’ll teach you discipline and manners You could use some of those The van took a sharp right turn and Hanna grabbed the ripped seat back for balance At least 3
there was one rule about this place she liked par ents couldn’t call or write letters Kids couldn’t even bring phones or computers with them Quartz Creek Ranch was a no-contact zone for a whole six weeks Like going to Antarctica This is Bridlemile Road said Madison ges turing out the front window to the gravel road that ran between a row of trees and a glittering creek Named for Will Bridle’s great-grandpa Mr Bridle’s family has ranched on this land for generations Fletch followed up with a few jolly honks of the van’s horn Hanna closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat Maybe this whole thing could be all right she thought Maybe her mother sending her off to this remote place could be cool as long as she was left alone to enjoy its natural beauty By herself Alone Maybe the horses were optional Soon the van stopped and Madison bounded off to open the gate for them Through the windshield Hanna could make out a sign erected above it QUARTZ CREEK RANCH The letters were smoky and black ened around the edges like a cattle brand 4
