Free No Time for Horses by Shannon Kennedy Page A

bed rest the
last time and quit her job. Somebody should have told him that a
man doesn’t just make babies. He’s there to help raise them
too.”
    I winced. “What is it with you and Sierra
McElroy? Why do you have to make me think about my mom as a human
being?”
    “Because we’re rotten to the core?”
    I laughed and hugged her arm. “Okay, I’ll
talk to Robin, Gwen, and Porter. Maybe they wouldn’t mind helping
me out with the little kids if practice gets in the way. You’re
right. I need a back-up plan.”
    While I sat in the gym and watched the other
squads do their various routines two hours later, I thought about
yesterday. Aladdin surprised me when I rode him. He walked and
trotted beside Sierra as if he’d been doing it all his life. When
she hooked on the longe line, he stepped out to the wall and worked
independently. We didn’t ask him for a canter. It didn’t make sense
because he might have launched into a young horse bucking
spree.
    My phone vibrated and I pulled it out. “Hi,
Mom. What’s up?”
    “Are you between riding classes? I thought
I’d have to leave a message.”
    “No, it’s our first rec cheer competition. Is
everything okay?”
    “Fine,” Mom said. “Darby is settling in and
then we’re due at the casino for the late swing shift. I’m going to
pull a graveyard one too. That’s when I make the most tips.”
    “You have three clean uniforms in your
closet,” I said. “I picked them up at the cleaners on Friday before
we headed out to the barn.”
    “Thanks, honey. I don’t know what I’d do
without you.” Mom hesitated and then added, “You’ll have time to go
to the grocery store tonight, right? You have my bank card and a
$300.00 budget.”
    I nearly asked what the counselor would think
about that. Wasn’t buying food an adult responsibility? I decided
to cut her a break and not be snarky. Mom was headed off to work.
She didn’t need to deal with a snotty teenager. “Yeah, Mom, I got
it covered. It’s a lot easier without the kids than with them.”
    “Definitely.” Another pause and she added,
“Good luck today.”
    “You too,” I said, tears stinging and a lump
rising in my throat. “Make lots of tips. You got six kids to
support.”
    “Don’t worry.” A short laugh erupted. “I
never forget that.”
    I hit ‘end’ and put away my phone. That was
the most civil conversation we’d had in a week. Maybe Mom and I
didn’t have as many issues as I thought. Before I could really
think about it or decide how I felt, the Mount Pilchuck squad
strutted out on the floor with giant flashcards that showed the
words they wanted the audience to shout back. They were so hot and
wow, did they know it.
    * * * *
    Saturday, November 16th, 7:15 p.m.
     
    It was our usual middle of the month Saturday
night date. After we had dinner at the Chinese buffet, we stopped
by my house. I grabbed the cloth shopping bags, did a quick last
minute scan of cupboards and the fridge, and then Jack and I were
off to Wal-Mart. We’d load up on groceries and household supplies,
loading down his mom’s car. After that, we’d stop for dessert
somewhere, and we’d head wherever I was spending the night. This
time, I’d be up at Shamrock Stable. Sierra invited me to stay over
since I had internship hours tomorrow. Robin had pointed out a few
weeks ago that if I didn’t go home, my stepdad couldn’t drop the
kids off early, and I’d have time to breathe.
    “So, run this by me again,” Jack said. “Why
are we buying groceries when your mom is supposed to be taking over
the responsibilities at your place?”
    “Because I need food in the house to cook for
the next two weeks,” I said, “and Mom has to work the big tip
nights at the casino. Believe me, this is much easier than
listening to Cathy whine for candy and snivel when I buy veggies or
Kevin complaining that he’s bored.”
    “Or trying to round up the twins when they
want to run amuck in the toy department,” Jack