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week. Would Brynna let this Crystal have sweet, wise Popcorn?
    She couldn’t trust her with Penny, could she? Even though the sorrel mustang had lots of spirit, blindness made her vulnerable.
    Sam took a deep breath and reminded herself she’d decided to like these girls.
    A hoof crashed against the metal trailer. Could Jinx be reacting to the tension whirling around out here?
    â€œI thought you were taking Buff in early,” Brynna said.
    â€œWe did,” Dad told her. “That’s Clara’s horse.”
    â€œClara’s?” Brynna asked.
    â€œShe just got him. She bought him for a dollar and a piece of upside-down cake,” Sam said, knowing Brynna couldn’t resist such a story. “He’s a mustang and—”
    â€œ And , we’re about to unload him,” Dad insisted.
    â€œUnless we want to use him for the HARP program,” Sam hurried on. She didn’t look at Dad. “Clara said we could.”
    Brynna’s eyes narrowed in thought, then she was moving to peek into the back of the trailer. She peered through the side. Finally, she moved to the front.
    Dad didn’t say a word, just sighed as if the argument were already lost.
    â€œWhat’s he like?” Brynna asked.
    â€œHe likes goin’ back inside that pasture and never seein’ us again,” Dad insisted.
    When Brynna shook her head so that her red braid flopped over her shoulder, she looked much cheerier.
    â€œI mean, what’s his temperament? Is he dangerous? Sam?”
    â€œHis name is Jinx and he’s a little feisty, but he doesn’t act mean,” she said honestly.
    This didn’t seem like a good time to bring up his speed, or the claiming race. Despite Dad’s pessimism, wasn’t it possible that HARP could buy him for more than Clara would get in the claiming race?
    â€œDon’t forget that part where he brings bad luck wherever he goes,” Dad muttered.
    Together, Sam and Brynna stared at him in amazement.
    â€œNot that I believe it,” Dad added.
    â€œHow do you think he’d react to a ham-fisted rider?” Brynna asked.
    Sam’s mind replayed the moment she’d tried to force Jinx to do what she wanted. He’d almost jerked her off her feet. When she’d been sweet to him, he’d done as she asked.
    â€œIf you’re nice to him, he’s nice to you,” Sam diagnosed.
    â€œPerfect.” Brynna nodded with satisfaction. “Wyatt, I promise I’ll find a way to pay for his feed. Just please,” she said, putting her hand on Dad’s sleeve, “please take that horse to our house.”

Chapter Five
    W hen Dad’s truck and the horse trailer rumbled over the wooden bridge spanning the La Charla River and under the high wooden rectangle marking the ranch entrance, River Bend looked like it always did.
    The two-story white house stood on the right. A grassy pasture spread over ten acres on the left and a scatter of corrals covered the area between the bridge and the barn.
    But things weren’t normal. The hens were nowhere in sight. The horses in the ten-acre pasture raced along the fence, anxious and excited. Blaze, the ranch’s watchdog, stood barking in the middle of the ranch yard.
    The HARP girls had already disrupted life at River Bend.
    â€œShall I put Jinx in the pasture?” Sam asked.
    â€œI’ll take care of that,” Dad said. “You’d best go meet the girls.”
    â€œI’d rather take care of Jinx,” Sam sighed. “Horses are easier.”
    Dad turned the truck key off. When he turned to her, his sun-browned face creased into a smile.
    â€œDon’t blame you,” he said. “But you signed on to wrangle the humans.”
    â€œI know,” Sam moaned. “Brynna told me about them last night, and I didn’t really think they’d be so bad. But if they’ve got her worried already, I don’t know if I have a