Free Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler

run free unfettering her own spirits, the worries about Mark Peight streaming behind her, lost on the wind, for now.
    Out of the corner of her eye, a dark object crept into her vision. Turning her head, she yelled, goading Paris, who responded with a lowering of her head and an outstretched neck as her muscles renewed their strength, knowing Cody was gaining on her.
    Reuben was bent low over Cody’s neck, laughing. His hair was a shade lighter than his horse’s mane, but they flowed together, rippling in the speed of the wind.
    Sadie realized Cody might actually beat Paris, so she leaned forward, urging Paris on, talking, talking, and was rewarded by the sight of Cody and Reuben falling back, but only for a second.
    As they leaned into the turn, Cody somehow got the inside, and Reuben yelled at Sadie as they inched closer.
    On she came, Cody stretched out, running as Sadie had never seen the horse run. She was determined, all by herself, to beat Paris, Sadie could tell. There was a focus in her eyes, a determination in her bearing, and no matter how much Sadie urged Paris on, Cody and Reuben kept gaining.
    “No!” Sadie screamed.
    They were neck and neck now, coming down the stretch of pasture that led to the lane, so Sadie knew she had to pull Paris in, or they would run downhill at that speed. Sitting up, she pulled back slightly, turning Paris in a circle, back to the wildflowers.
    Reuben was standing up in his stirrups, pumping his fist into the air, yelling at the top of his lungs, exultant, completely caught up in the moment.
    “Cody did it, Sadie! She did! I don’t care what you say! Cody beat Paris!”
    Sadie was laughing, shaking her head, panting, as she pulled Paris to a stop. Cody came prancing up beside them, her nostrils moving rapidly, but clearly not finished running.
    Paris was blowing hard.
    “You did not beat me, Reuben!” Sadie gasped.
    “I did! I’m sure I did. Cody’s nose was ahead of Paris. I saw it!”
    Reuben’s tanned face was alight with victory, his hair disheveled, no Amish straw hat in sight. He decided long ago that there was no use wearing a hat to go riding. It wouldn’t stay on his head longer than 10 seconds.
    “All right! All right!” Sadie conceded, watching Reuben and glad he won, for his sake, although she didn’t seriously think Cody had actually done it.
    “Hey, I bet if I was English, I could race Cody at the rodeos!”
    Sadie nodded, “I bet too you could! And you’d win!”
    “Aw, I can’t imagine! Think about it, Sadie. Riding like that in front of thousands of people, winning a bunch of money. Wouldn’t it be unreal?”
    “Yeah. But we aren’t allowed to race like that. We don’t go to rodeos and stuff either.”
    “Why ever not? That’s so dumb. Who said?”
    Reuben dismounted, threw the reins expertly over Cody’s head, then stretched out in the grass. “Who said?” he repeated.
    “Well, you know how it is, Reuben. We have rules. It’s too worldly to be competitive with our horses. I mean, think about it. If you’re born Amish, you grow up sort of knowing what’s allowed and what isn’t. It’s no big deal.”
    Reuben grabbed the stem of a tall wildflower, peeled off the leaves and stuck it in his mouth. He pushed it to the side, as expertly as Jim Sevarr with his toothpick. “I’m going to go English, he said.
    “Now, Reuben,” Sadie said mildly.
    “I mean it.”
    “You’d break Mam’s and Dat’s hearts.”
    Reuben nodded soberly, then spat out the stem.
    “I know. I’m Dat’s only boy.”
    “That’s right. The least you can do for your parents is love and obey them. You know that.”
    Reuben nodded soberly, then sat up.
    “I like Dat.”
    “Well, good for you, Reuben. Dat’s not a hard person to get along with.”
    “I like you, too. Sadie, you’re my best sister.”
    That was quite a stretch, Reuben saying that, Sadie knew. She reached out with genuine affection to touch her brother’s hair.
    “You’re my best brother,