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could have burned down the barn. You know better than to play with matches. Go get washed up for dinner.”
    Real tears flowed down his cheeks. “But I gotta brush Star. Colin said I could.”
    Kara took a deep breath. Just who’s in charge here anyway?
    Colin spoke up. “Better mind your sister. I’ll brush Star tonight.”
    Ryan started to argue, then hunched his shoulders and hurried out of the barn.
    Kara stuffed the matches in her pocket, spun around, and headed back to Lily’s stall. She bent to pick up the grooming brush. When she straightened she felt Colin’s hand on her arm.
    â€œYou okay?”
    Kara forced herself to relax. “Sure, I’m fine. He just could have burned us out is all. What makes me mad is he knows better.”
    Colin grinned. “I remember when I was six . . .” He squeezed her arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll get through it.”
    Easy for you to say . Kara felt an odd mixture of frustration and gratitude over his concern. She moved away, ducked under the stall guard, and began to run the brush over Lily’s neck and back. The mare turned her head and nuzzled Kara’s shoulder. Kara buried her face in the sweet-smelling mane. “Oh, Lily, what would I do without you? You’re the only one who understands.”

T HE NEXT MORNING K ARA WALKED with Dad down the hill to the hangar where they kept the Cessna. She waved at Greg and Colin who were setting the last of the poles on the new corral. Colin waved back, but Greg acted like he didn’t see her .
    What’s wrong with him? He’d been like that since after the funeral, and nothing anyone said or did seemed to make a difference. He did his work and was civil when he had to be, but she wondered if she’d ever get her older brother back .
    She handed Dad a thick envelope. “Would you take this letter to Tia for me?”
    â€œSure, Sugar Bear.” He kissed the top of her head. “I have to go by the house. Greg said they delivered the new radio, but he couldn’t bring it in on horseback.”
    She watched him back the Cessna out of the hangar and taxi across the bumpy dirt to the harder surface of the runway. She shuddered as she watched the plane leave the ground, bank to the right, and disappear over the top of the ridge.
    What would she do if he didn’t come back? She didn’t want to think about it. She turned away and nearly collided with Ryan.
    â€œWhat are you doing here? You’re supposed to be helping Anne.”
    Ryan frowned. “I wanted to say good-bye to Daddy.” His eyes darkened, and he slid his hand into hers. “He’s coming back, isn’t he, Kara?”
    She swallowed the lump in her throat and kept her voice light. “Of course he is, silly. He’ll be back before you know it. Tell you what. Let’s stop by the barn and take Star and Lily some peppermint.”
    â€œAll right!” Ryan dropped her hand and raced toward the barn .
    â€œDon’t you dare go into that stall until I get there,” she yelled, but he had already disappeared through the narrow door.
    Kara stopped at the tack box to pick out a grooming brush. By the time she caught up with him, Ryan had Star’s halter almost on, but the straps were twisted. The little gelding was tossing his head up and down.
    â€œOne of these days you’re going to get hurt because you won’t listen.”
    â€œI did too listen. I’m not in the stall.”
    She shook her head. It was true. He had opened only the top doors and was perched on the railing trying to wrestle Star into the halter and keep his balance at the same time. He’d be better off inside the stall. She was about to lift him down and retrieve the tangled halter when a figure stepped out of the shadows.
    â€œHey, kid, you gotta grow some to be a bronc rider.” Colin steadied the tottering boy with one hand and gentled Star with the