Ghost Horses by Gloria Skurzynski

that Ashley picked the flower from a border that had been planted along the front steps, but hey, Jack was too puzzled about the echo to worry about it, and his parents didn’t say anything to Ashley.
    Summer seemed pleased with their small gifts. She slipped them into the pocket of her sundress, except for the flower. That she wound into one of her long black braids.

CHAPTER SIX
    Y our mom left a long time ago,” Steven told his son.
    Barefoot, tousle-haired, still in his sleep shirt, Jack had wandered through the connecting door to his parents’ room in the lodge. His dad, fully dressed, said, “She had to get to the seminar, but she didn’t want me to wake you boys since you were up so late last night.”
    â€œEthan’s already awake,” Jack told him. “He was looking out the window, and when I asked him if he liked Zion National Park, you know what he said, Dad?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe said all of Yellowstone National Park used to be Shoshone land, but the government robbed it from them and paid the Shoshone, like, two cents an acre or something like that. Do you think that could be true?”
    Steven took a deep breath and let it out. “Sad to say—yes, I think it could be true. Lots of, uh, less than honorable dealings have happened in our government’s history with the Native Americans.”
    Wow, Jack thought, no wonder Ethan doesn’t like Anglos very much. But still, that was then and this was now. None of the Landons had taken Yellowstone away from Ethan and his tribe. Besides, what could anyone do about it now? Aloud, he said, “I’m hungry. Where are we going to eat?”
    â€œDownstairs in the restaurant. Get dressed and bring Ethan with you. The girls are already down there.”
    Smells of bacon and the faint scent of vanilla met Jack as he made his way up the long staircase from the lobby and into the dining area. Dishes clattered and servers rushed by, intent on carrying food to their customers. It took only a few minutes for Jack to spy Ashley, who was having an intense conversation with Summer. That is, Ashley was intense—Summer just watched and nodded, emotionless. Yet her lack of expression could be deceiving, since she always seemed to absorb everything Ashley said.
    â€œWhere’s my sister?” Ethan asked brusquely.
    â€œOver there,” Steven answered, pointing. “Looks like they already ordered hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream. You can order some too, if you like.”
    After they’d settled into the wooden chairs, Steven asked for coffee and then turned to the four of them. His long arms rested on the polished tabletop like two bent tree limbs, while his fingers knit together. “Well, now, what would you kids like to do today?”
    â€œAnything,” Ashley answered.
    â€œYour mom’s going to be busy with the seminar until late afternoon, which leaves us plenty of time to see the park. I thought maybe while we’re waiting for her, we could all go on a hike. There’s lots of trails that start out here at the lodge.”
    Jack and Ashley agreed enthusiastically. Ethan and Summer exchanged glances.
    â€œI don’t want to go. Neither does Summer,” Ethan said stiffly. Summer dropped her lids as her brother went on, “Ever since you picked us up, you’ve told us what we are going to do. Me and Summer, we don’t want to hike.”
    â€œI can understand that, Ethan. Do you mind telling me why?” Steven glanced at their feet, then asked, “Is it because you two are in tennis shoes? That doesn’t have to be a problem—we can stay on the paved trails.”
    Ashley frowned down at her own hiking boots. Jack knew what his sister was thinking—why should Jack and Ashley have sturdy mountain boots when the two foster kids wore scuffed, frayed sneakers? Fortunately Ashley’s feet were bigger than Summer’s and smaller than