When the driveway appeared her dad took another sharp turn jerking Ella against her seatbelt Then he stomped on the brakes and when the car had come to an abrupt stop in the parking lot he ripped the keys out of the ignition I made you repack because you don’t even know how to pack your own things properly Her dad threw open the car door and got out Ella unsnapped her seatbelt leaped out and slammed her door behind her I packed just fine the first time Dad You brought way too much stuff The volume of his voice was steadily rising Who needs all that junk at a six-week camp You don’t get it at all Ella found herself starting to shout too to match him Just because I don’t wear the exact same thing every day like you It’s practical Ell her dad said yanking open the trunk of the car Behind them the front door of the ranch house opened A short wrinkly woman in an oversized T-shirt and curly hair came out first followed by a pine tree of a man with skin as dark as Ella’s wearing a ten-gallon cowboy hat A few kids Ella’s own age peeked out the door and another one gazed out the window at them 3
Practical for you said Ella starting to sweat in the hot afternoon air as her voice grew louder But you can’t expect me to wear a suit every day too At least what I wear shows I have a personality Dad rounded on her What do you know It’s about looking professional so I can afford to put a roof over your head and food on the table You go to work every day to pay for all the stupid stuff you buy online Each time her dad raised his voice Ella raised hers more You’re such a brat shouted her dad so caught up in the argument that he’d forgotten all about pulling her suitcase out of the trunk And you’re a workaholic Ella shouted back starting to spiral with fury Then she said the thing she knew would really make him mad At least when Mom was around you came home sometimes Her dad’s face was turning a dangerous sort of red when the short leathered woman hopped down the steps and jogged toward them her expression stunned Hello there she said interrupting Are you Ella Ella opened her mouth to speak but her dad glared at her then at the older woman I’m 4
Jonathan Pierson he said then pointed at Ella That’s my daughter Ella He probably thought Ella’s skin color had confused the old lady Ella figured Since she was half Indonesian from her mother’s side white people sometimes didn’t believe Ella was her dad’s kid even though they had the exact same nose and mouth Yes the woman said trailing off I know She turned to Ella and smiled Welcome to the ranch Ella I’m Ma Etty Ella smiled back The old lady wasn’t confused she had just been addressing Ella directly Ella liked her already She opened her mouth to respond but Dad butted in again Ma Etty he asked crossing his arms Your first name is Ma It’s a nickname Hmm he said unimpressed He gazed around them at the parking lot the beat-up old pickup the horse trailers the tractors I was expecting some thing a little different for a a rehabilitation camp So you’re going to work with Ella on her temper issues Right Ma Etty blanched Everyone gets a fresh start here at Quartz Creek Ranch she said We try not 5
to dwell on what brought our kids here but focus on helping them grow once they’ve arrived With horseback riding therapy We don’t call it therapy she said It’s just horseback riding Dad opened his mouth to say something else but a low rumbling voice interrupted them Mr Pierson said the ten-gallon-hat man who had been on the porch a moment ago He leaned over them Let me help you get your daughter’s things so she can join us for dinner get your money’s worth am I right That’s a good point her dad said backing away from the car to give the big man access to the trunk This is my husband Will said Ma Etty Willard Bridle Bridle Dad asked And that’s your real last name too I take it Ella wished he would just close his mouth and leave already All the kids had come outside to watch her dad make a spectacle four kids who looked about Ella’s age and two much older teenagers stood on the porch Why did her dad have to be so angry all the time 6
