Colt Read Online Free PDF Page B

crutches and leg braces more than he used to. The crutches sat in the chair beside him.
    Brad nodded. Audrey said, “I’ve noticed it too, that you’re looking stronger.”
    Colt said, “So Mrs. Reynolds says fine with her as long as it’s okay with you.” He brought forth what he considered his strongest point. “And since I’m one of the handicapped kids she’ll only charge us half price for the lessons.”
    Brad looked amazed. “Actually, she could charge us double,” he said.
    â€œPeople can be incredibly nice,” Audrey told him. “I never get surprised anymore at how generous people can be.”
    Colt jiggled, waiting impatiently for the answer he wanted. “So can I call her and tell her it’s okay?”
    His mother was ready to say yes, he could tell. But Brad said, “Hold on a minute.”
    Colt hated him. He tried not to show it, but his voice sounded hard and snide as he said, “If it’s the money, I can stop getting my allowance—”
    â€œIt’s not the money,” Brad said. “If we can afford three kinds of lessons for Lauri, we can afford horseback riding lessons for you. What worries me is the risk.”
    Audrey looked at him in surprise. “It didn’t look to me as if those horses would ever do anything to hurt anyone.”
    Brad touched her knee but didn’t answer. Instead, he looked straight at Colt. “What do you have in mind? Just walking around in the ring?”
    Brad understood too much, darn him. Colt didn’t know how he understood so well, but something in his level gaze told Colt he did, and Colt knew there was no use trying to fool him. He decided to start his risk-taking right away. He took a deep breath and said, “I want to learn to really ride, not just plod along with a bunch of baby-sitters. I want to go out on the trails. I want to go faster than a walk. I want to …” He let his voice trickle away, not sure how to say what riding meant to him.
    But Brad seemed to know. He nodded. “See, I used to ride horses when I was a kid,” he said. “Rode when I was in the service too.” He looked at Audrey. “People who work around horses, like Mrs. Reynolds, they get used to the danger, they don’t think about it. And Mrs. Berry, I don’t think she’s ever been on a horse. She wouldn’t know what might happen.” Brad went on quickly, quietly. “Even on the safest horse, there’s always a chance it might spook or bolt, if something scares it bad enough. And even the best riders take falls. Horseback riding’s risky.”
    Colt felt his hands quivering, he was so angry at Brad. So furious he couldn’t speak, not even to yell or bawl or throw a fit, because his mother, who would have said yes if it was just her decision, was looking at Brad with wide eyes. “Then you don’t think Colt should do it?”
    â€œI didn’t say that. I just want you to know. It’s you I’m worried about, mostly. He’s your kid. You’ve got to understand that he could get hurt or even killed.”
    Colt said, his voice shaking, “I could spend my life never doing anything important to me, and I could still get hurt.”
    â€œI know that.” Brad looked back at him, and when their eyes met all Colt’s anger swirled away like water down a drain. He felt weak, and was glad he was sitting down. There was something better than pity in Brad’s eyes. Better even than compassion. He began to understand why his mother had married Brad.
    Audrey said quietly, “Let me see if I’ve got it straight. On the one hand horseback riding will help Colt’s strength and balance—”
    â€œIt’ll help more than that,” Brad said.
    â€œBut on the other hand it’s more dangerous than I had thought.”
    â€œIt’s not like it’s skydiving or something. But it is