Gabriel's Horses by Alison Hart Page A

hunkered on Tenpenny’s neck, made a kissing noise, and
whoosh
, he flew like the wind across the finish line lengths ahead! Why, you should have seen me struttin’ to that judges’ stand.”
    She laughs. “That’s some tale, Gabriel Alexander. It’s good Jackson told me the real story.”
    â€œWell, maybe Penny didn’t exactly
whoosh
like the wind.” Grinning, I tip my chin high. “I bet you and Annabelle even read ’bout me in the
Lexington Observer
.”
    Smiling in the flickering candlelight, Ma holds my bandaged hands in hers. “Your pa always says you have the gift, Gabriel. Use it smart. Your pa’s skill with horses brought him to Woodville Farm, where life’s been good to us.”
    â€œThen why’d he enlist, Ma?” Angry, I pull my hands from her grasp and jump off the stool. Suddenly, missing Pa gets the better of being proud of him. “He should be here training horses. He should be here with
us
.”
    Rising from the bed, Ma sets the ointment on her dresser. When she turns toward me, tears shine in her eyes. “Your pa did it for us, Gabriel. You know he’s been saving money to buy our freedom. When he heard the Yankees were paying three hundred dollars to every man who enlisted in the Union army, he jumped at the chance.”
    She dabs her eyes with the edge of her apron, then lays her palm below her apron ties. “Gabriel. I’m going to have a baby.”
    My jaw falls slack. “A baby?”
    Ma’s eyes gleam. “Yes. Before your pa left, he added the three-hundred-dollar enlistment fee to the money he’s saved training horses. Gabriel, he bought my freedom from Master Giles. Now this child I’m carrying will be born free!”
    Free!
The word rings like music in my ears. I hug her round her waist. Then I rear back, embarrassed. A winning jockey doesn’t hug his mama, especially when she’s with child. “I forgive Pa then. Now you don’t have to take orders from
no
one.”
    â€œMister Giles will still be my boss. But he says he’ll pay me wages to care for Mistress Jane.”
    I frown. “Why you want to keep taking care of her? You could go off and work in some fancy Lexington store. Sell flowery hats.”
    â€œThat sounds like a fine dream, and maybe one day I will. For now, Mistress Jane needs me, and I need the wages. Together your pa and I will save up for
your
freedom.”
    â€œIf I enlist like Pa, I can be free tomorrow.”
    Ma’s smile hardens into a frown. “No, Gabriel. You’re too young to enlist. And if I have my way, you’ll never be a soldier. I won’t have both my men gone. I won’t have you both shot by Rebel soldiers.”
    â€œBut I want to be free
now
, Ma. Like you and Pa.”
    â€œThen stay here and jockey horses for Master Giles.” Ma places her hands on my shoulders. “Save your winnings. Horses helped buy my freedom and the freedom of this new babe, and one day, Gabriel, they’ll buy your freedom, too.”

Chapter Seven
    A risto’s stall stinks. Leaning on the handle of my pitchfork, I stare at the piles of manure and sloppy wet straw. For the past two days it’s rained, and the horses have been shut up in the barn. This morning, when the sun poked through the clouds, Jase, Tandy, and me hurriedly turned the horses out. Now we got all these dirty stalls to clean.
    â€œSeven days ago, I was a winning jockey. Today I’m pitchin’ manure,” I mutter as I fork up a heavy mat of straw. I toss it into the wheelbarrow, barely missing Jackson, who prances backward like a sissy.
    â€œBoy, don’t be getting my britches messy.” Scowling, he swats at his pants legs. He’s wearing his new cap and a wool vest. A watch chain hangs from the vest pocket and a stalk of straw dangles from the side of his mouth.
    I snort. “You getting as prissy as Annabelle. Weren’t