Free Secret Star by Terri Farley Page A

three times, when he’s been under incredible stress, he’s charged me like that.” Sam stopped to take a breath, then said, “It’s pretty scary.”
    â€œI’ve got to say, you don’t seem as intimidated by it as I am,” Inez said.
    â€œIt’s a mock charge,” Sam explained, feeling like an expert. “Wild stallions do it to weed out challengers who aren’t worthy. When the young males are driven out of their home herds, it’s one of the things they practice in their bachelor herds, and—”
    â€œA mock charge,” Inez interrupted. “If only it were.”
    They were almost at the house when Inez glanced back to see if Jake was still at the pump. He was.
    Then, as Sam watched, Inez Garcia unbuttoned a button at her neck and lowered her white blouse to show Sam the top of her shoulder.
    Black and purple bruising covered the top of the woman’s arm, from back to front.
    â€œHe grabbed me with his mouth, lifted me from the ground, and shook me,” Inez said quietly. “Samantha, there was nothing ‘mock’ about it.”

Chapter Eight
    A s Inez hurriedly adjusted her collar and smoothed her blouse back into place, Sam thought about the discolored flesh around the horse bite. Bayfire had inflicted that bite with crushing power. It was no nip and no accident. He’d lifted Inez off her feet.
    â€œI see what you mean,” Sam said. “He meant that bite.”
    â€œThat’s why I was sure something must be hurting him. I have been with this horse every day of his life for five years and he’s never harmed me, not intentionally. My friendship with him was as strong as that with my best friend, with family! But something has changed.”
    The bump-bump of tires crossing the bridge made them both turn. As they did, they noticed Jake had left the pump. He was just a few steps behind them, giving a wave to the approaching car.
    â€œHere’s Mom,” Jake said.
    Since she had no advice to offer Inez, Sam was relieved when Mrs. Ely drove into the ranch yard, parked her Honda, and hurried over to hug Inez.
    â€œIt’s so good to see you!”
    Both women spoke in unison, then laughed and fell to chattering with such speed, Sam couldn’t follow the conversation. Since it really wasn’t her conversation to follow in the first place, Sam went inside and left Jake standing there, hands in his pockets, unsure what to do next.
    â€œI was wondering when you’d come lend a hand,” Gram said.
    Though Gram was teasing, Sam hurried to help, setting the table with silverware and heavy pumpkin-colored napkins. Sam shuddered. The pumpkin-colored linen made her think of autumn, even though it was still summer outside.
    In two weeks she’d be back in school. She liked school and was looking forward to seeing her friends, but why did she have to let go of summer?
    She’d carried a huge wooden bowl of green salad to the table and poured glasses of milk or iced tea for everyone by the time Jake came in and stood fidgeting near the door.
    When Brynna and Dad came downstairs, Gram said, “It’s about time.”
    The screen door creaked as Jake leaned out to call, “Mom, they’re ready to eat.” Jake’s mother and her friend crossed the porch with hurrying steps and Sam was amazed to hear Mrs. Ely giggling like a girl.
    Gram put a cold platter lined with ruffled lettuce and layered with sliced ham and Swiss and cheddar cheeses on the table. She asked Jake to bring over a basket of bread she’d sliced off the morning’s loaves, and a blue ceramic bowl full of pasta salad.
    Sam looked at the table with approval. Almost.
    It would have been a perfect summer dinner except for the sliced and steamed zucchini Gram had mixed with tomatoes from her garden.
    Sam tried not to shudder. Plenty of times, she’d been told that she was too old to feel revolted by certain foods, but she