Lead Me Home by Vicki Lewis Thompson

the time to be that patient with a horse that had been spoiled as a colt the way Houdini had. The people who had originally bought him had intended to train him, but they’d botched what little they’d done and had eventually left Houdini to train himself.
    He’d done it, too, Matthew thought with a smile as he opened the gate and walked into the corral. He’d trained himself to be so independent that he had no intention of carrying a human on his back. When he was bored, he unfastened the latch on his stall and took a stroll around the barn, sometimes letting the other horses out, too, if he felt like it.
    Houdini walked toward Matthew, who held an apple slice in his outstretched hand as he whistled softly.
    “You’re not a bad guy,” Matthew said as the horse took the piece of apple and stood munching it, his tail swishing flies. Matthew stroked Houdini’s silky neck and scratched beneath his mane. “You’ve just been allowed to get away with murder.”
    Houdini nuzzled Matthew’s pocket for more treats.
    “Later. We have work to do first.”
    A young male voice still finding its range called over from the fence. “You going to ride him today, Mr. Tredway?”
    Matthew glanced over at the short, wiry boy leaning on the rail. “That’s the plan, Lester.” Matthew had met all eight of the teenagers earlier while they’d been busy mucking out the stalls. He remembered Lester because he was smaller than the rest and didn’t seem to be totally accepted by the other boys. Yet Emmett had told Matthew privately that Lester could clean two stalls in the time it took any of the others to clean one. He seemed to love the work, but the other boys had accused him of trying to suck up by working so hard.
    “Will it be like a rodeo?”
    “I hope not.” Gazing at Lester, Matthew hatched a plan. “Are you busy right now?”
    “Nope. Finished what I had to do so I could watch you with Houdini.”
    “Want to help me?”
    “You bet!” He started to clamor over the fence.
    “Wait a sec. Go get your riding helmet first.”
    Lester’s dark eyes widened. “You’re gonna put me up on him?”
    “I’m thinking about it. You’re lighter than I am, so you could ease him into the idea.” Matthew would keep a firm hold on the horse and Lester could jump off if things got dicey. “That’s if you want to.”
    “Are you kidding? Of course I want to. Be right back.” He took off at a run.
    “Okay, Houdini.” Matthew rubbed the stallion’s nose. “I’m taking a chance on you, so don’t let me down.”
    Lester came back in a flash, buckling his riding helmet as he sprinted toward the corral.
    “Slow down,” Matthew called as softly as he could and still be heard. “No rapid movements and no loud noises.”
    “Oh.” Lester downgraded to a walk. “Sorry.”
    It had occurred to Matthew this morning that the teenagers spending their first summer on a ranch weren’t much different in temperament from Houdini. Most of them had gotten into trouble due to lack of structure, just like the horse.
    So after Lester climbed into the corral, Matthew explained Houdini’s issues while Lester fed the horse a few pieces of carrot. Lester nodded as if he completely understood. Matthew supposed he did.
    “Now just start loving on him,” Matthew said. “Get him used to how you smell. Talk to him, too. In other words, treat him like a friend.”
    Stepping back, Matthew allowed Lester to move in. The boy began by stroking the horse and telling him how awesome he was. Then Lester proceeded to lay all his sins at Houdini’s feet. He confessed how much trouble he’d caused himself and others by doing things he shouldn’t, and he urged the horse to go straight or face the consequences.
    Matthew bit his lip to keep from laughing. But as Lester continued his earnest conversation by giving examples of friends who’d also nearly ruined their lives, Matthew looked on in amazement.
    The horse couldn’t understand the words, but