Once the van had passed through the gate Madison closed it behind them and hopped back in You may think Disneyland is the most fun place on Earth she said conspiratorially but it doesn’t hold a candle to Quartz Creek The girls at the front rolled their eyes and laughed to each other As the van drove by horses trotted up to the fence on the other side of the creek snorting and swinging their heads Hanna’s chest tightened at the sight of them Ooooh said Frizzy-Hair Girl I hope I get to ride that pretty black one Right they’d expect Hanna to ride here The tightness in her chest dropped into her stom ach Those weren’t six-inch-tall plastic critters with painted-on manes like the hundreds of toy horses she’d amassed on her bedroom shelves as a little girl the ones that had made her mom think the ranch was a good idea No Out in the field stood real living breathing horses a thousand pounds each and all of it hooves and muscle Even if Hanna could get on a horse she’d never be any good at riding She’d end up thrown and trampled and her mom’s long list of 5
ways Hanna hadn’t lived up to her expectations would grow longer Soon the van pulled into a driveway and parked in a lot in front of a big ranch house Hanna waited until she was the last one in the van before departing with her backpack Fletch was waiting for her as she came out the sliding door You okay he asked when he saw her face Of course she wasn’t okay She could be hanging out with her friends back home swimming in the neighborhood pool going camping with her dad and getting ready for track season Instead she was stuck here for six weeks Fine Hanna said I’m fine Fletch tilted his head his hat almost slipping off his short hair All right well head on inside the house Hanna He said her name like he knew her like they were friends already It made her happy and sad all at the same time because she knew she’d disappoint him as she always disappointed everyone else 6
Chapter Two The ranch house had a towering sloped roof that blocked the blazing sun as it set to the west Madison led the five kids around the side of the house past the main doors and onto a screened back porch She opened a smaller door there into the house First the mudroom she explained For your dirty shoes Come on in Inside the house the walls were painted rust red and it smelled like cinnamon buns Hanna’s mouth watered as she followed the others down the hall and into the main room where a wood fire crackled invitingly There they are An old woman with a wild 7
mane of curly hair shot up from her chair Welcome welcome Come on in Dinner’s almost ready What are you cooking in there Ma Etty asked Madison I smell cinnamon The old woman laughed Just wait That’s des sert She ushered the kids inside and Hanna took a seat on the end of the couch with Fletch and one of the boys from the van the tall dark-haired one who’d slept most of the trip Hey he said to her holding out a hand I’m Josh Hanna was so surprised by Josh introducing himself first that she took a lot longer to reply than was probably normal Hey she managed to say His blue eyes glittered as she accepted his firm handshake I’m Hanna Cool All right all right the older woman said raising her voice a smidgen but it was enough to get every one’s attention You’ll all quickly find out we believe in action not talk around here except this once We’re gonna talk a little lay some ground rules I’m Henrietta but you can call me Etty We all call her Ma Etty said Fletch You’re welcome to call me that if you like 8
