weâll replace all of this in time for the show. Maybe they can find another location.â
Mom hunched a shoulder. âI doubt it. She said it was a minor miracle they found us when they did. Iâm guessing theyâll have to cancel the show completely. Itâs a real shame, since it could have brought a lot of business to the barn, not to mention all the people who will be disappointed.â
âPlus the ones, like Melissa, who wonât be able to earn the points they need to move on to regionals.â Kate couldnât keep from blurting out the information. After all, even though she didnât particularly like Melissa, she was one of their boarders.
Mom groaned. âI hadnât thought of that, but youâre right, Kate. Thatâs not going to go over well with a lot of people.â
Dad frowned. âI canât see that we have any choice.â
Kate cleared her throat. âUh, can I make a suggestion?â
All eyes swung her way. âGo ahead,â Dad said.
âYou have money put aside to buy a lesson horse. Maybe we should use that to fix things insteadâand you could use the money I have in savings too.â
Momâs eyes lit with hope, then quickly dimmed. âNo, I donât think so, but thank you for offering, honey. The show landed in our laps. We didnât ask for it. As nice as it would have been to host, we canât sacrifice the long-term investment of a lesson horse or your money in the hope that the show will make enough to pay that back.â
Dad nodded. âI agree, although it was a sound idea, Kate.â He jerked his head toward the house. âNan, you probably had better call. No sense putting it off.â
Toriâs mom waved a hand. âMay I make a suggestion?â
Mom smiled. âOf course. And we apologize. We should have waited to have this discussion until after youâd gone home.â
âNo, mi amiga , itâs fine. Would you wait for an hour or two before you make that call?â
Dad frowned. âIâm not sure thatâs fair to the show coordinator.â
Kate edged forward. âBut itâs not like they have somewhere else they can go, Dad. Would another hour or two hurt?â
He turned to Toriâs mom. âDo you have a reason for asking?â
âI do, but may I wait to tell you? It may be nothing. In the meantime, shouldnât we ask God for direction in case He has another idea?â
The stern expression on Dadâs face melted, and he looked a little sheepish. Kate wanted to giggle. He was usually the one telling their family they needed to talk to God about decisions. âI should have thought of that first. How about you folks come inside for coffee and cinnamon rolls?â
Toriâs dad exchanged a glance with his wife, then shook his head. âMay we take one or two to go?â
âKate, Tori, would you girls run into the house and bring the plate out?â
Kate didnât wait to be asked again. She grabbed Toriâs hand, and they raced across the edge of the pasture that separated the lawn from the arena. As soon as they were out of earshot, Kate leaned close to her friend. âWhatâs up with your mom?â
âI have no idea.â Tori turned wide eyes to Kate. âAll I know is, weâd better take her advice and pray. Because if whatever it is doesnât happen, or God doesnât do something quick, this show is toast. At least thatâs the way your dad sounded.â
Tori reached for the door and pulled it open, letting Kate go through first, then following. âBut I have a feeling sheâs going to ask my dad if they can loan your parents the money. Theyâve been saving for years to buy our own house.â
Kate stared at Tori. âThereâs no way Mom and Dad would accept that. They wonât take a chance with their own money for the lesson horse, so theyâre not going to risk