Free Back in the Saddle by Catherine Hapka

“Stay! Sit! Aargh!”
    She abandoned the wheelbarrow and hurried back into the barn, where she grabbed a handful of kibble out of the can in the feed room. Bandit shadowed her the whole time, drooling slightly when he spotted the kibble. One ofthe other dogs, a chubby beagle mix, spied the treats too and got up from his nap on a pile of saddle blankets. He yawned and waddled after Haley as she hurried back out of the barn.
    â€œOkay,” Haley said when they were in the barnyard again. “Bandit, it’s time to do some serious training. For real this time.”
    After the accident, Haley had spent some time working on the dog’s training, figuring that if he had a better grasp of basic commands, it would be easier to keep him safe. But his cast had gotten in the way at first, and later it had been too snowy and cold to spend any more time outside than necessary, and then she’d just plain forgotten about it.
    But now it was time to get back to that training. Past time, really. Especially since Bandit still seemed ready to race out into the road any chance he got. Haley wasn’t going to let that happen again on her watch. No way.
    â€œLet’s start with an easy one.” Haley held up a piece of kibble. “Bandit, sit!”
    Bandit barked excitedly, leaping up and trying to grabthe kibble out of Haley’s hand. Meanwhile the beagle mix circled her, almost tripping Haley when she stepped back to avoid Bandit’s lunge.
    â€œNo, no!” Haley cried. “Bandit, quit it! And, you—out of the way.”
    She pocketed the kibble, grabbed Bandit by the collar, and nudged the other dog away with her foot. Bandit wagged his tail and let his tongue loll out happily.
    â€œSit, boy.” Keeping hold of his collar with one hand, Haley used the other to press down on the dog’s bony rump. “Sit!”
    Bandit blinked at her, then finally sat. Haley smiled.
    â€œGood boy!” she exclaimed, pulling out a piece of kibble and tossing it to him.
    The beagle mix whined, looking pathetic, so Haley tossed him a piece too. Then she returned her attention to Bandit.
    â€œOkay, now stay.” She held up her hand, palm out toward the dog. That was the way her uncle trained all the dogs on the farm when he had time, and Haley knewthat Bandit had learned the basics when he’d first arrived. “Stay, Bandit!”
    At his name, Bandit leaped to his feet and barked. Then he trotted over and sat down on Haley’s foot.
    Apparently sensing that he might be missing more treats, the beagle mix raced over to Bandit. Bandit jumped to his feet again, bowed to the other dog, and then raced around in circles.
    â€œBandit, no!” Haley cried, pounding her fist on her thigh in frustration. “Get back here, you idiot!”
    â€œHaving problems, Haley?”
    Spinning around, Haley saw her cousin Danny standing by the backyard gate and grinning at her. Right behind him was Owen Lemke.
    Haley’s face went hot. What was Owen doing here? And why did he have to appear just when she was yelling at her dog and sounding like a crazy person?
    â€œHow’s it going, Haley?” Owen stepped into the barnyard and stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “What’re you doing?”
    â€œNothing,” Haley blurted out. “I mean, I was just—What are you doing here?” She glared at him.
    â€œWow, testy much?” Danny said with a snort. “He’s here because we’re going for a ride.”
    â€œWhat?” Haley shifted her glare to her cousin.
    â€œTurkey season starts soon, remember?” Danny shrugged. “We’re going to ride out and scope out the best spots to put our blinds.”
    Haley blinked, belatedly recalling that Owen had gone hunting with Danny on their property a few times the previous year. The two boys were only a year apart in school and hung out sometimes, especially when they wanted to go fishing or