their grandfathers?
Fluffy the cat started kneading the covers. Jas leaned down and scratched the calico’s ears. He was balled in a circle, between her legs. It was nine o’clock Friday night, and they were both in bed. Jas was reading, her riding helmet snug on her head.
Ms. Tomlinson had arrived earlier thatnight with clothes from the farm. Jas hadn’t dared ask her about Old Sam or Phil. But as soon as she’d taken everything to her room, she’d hugged her helmet and riding boots and cried longingly.
A light rap on the door made Jas look up.
“May I come in?”
“Sure.” Jas wondered what Miss Hahn wanted. She still couldn’t figure the woman out. If she was a spy, she wasn’t trying too hard. She never pried or poked around. As far as Jas could tell, the farm and all its dopey animals were the only things she cared about.
When Miss Hahn opened the door, she stared at Jas for a second, a faint smile on her face.
Oops
. Jas suddenly realized she was still wearing her riding helmet. Whipping it off, she dropped it on the bed.
“Ms. Tomlinson called. Your Sunday visitation with your grandfather has been approved,” Miss Hahn said.
Jas grinned excitedly. “That’s great! I can’t wait.”
I’ve waited too long as it is
.
“It’s set for one o’clock. I’m not sure for how long. That will be up to the nursing home.”
“I don’t care. I just want to see him.” Pickingup the book, Jas opened it back to where she had left off, hoping that Miss Hahn would get the hint and leave. Being alone with the woman made her uneasy. Jas was afraid she’d let her guard down or say something she shouldn’t.
“One more thing. I’m going to need your help tomorrow.”
Jas frowned. “Doing what?”
“Saturday’s the auction at Front Royal. I’m one man short. It takes two people to load and haul, and Chase won’t be here. You’re going to have to come because—”
Because I have to be supervised every second
, Jas thought gloomily.
“Because I’m going to need someone who knows horses. I never know what I’m going to find at the auction.”
Jas wondered what she was talking about. In the spring, she’d gone to a horse auction in Kentucky with her grandfather and Phil. The Thoroughbreds had been gorgeous, fetching prices over a million dollars. Obviously, this wasn’t that kind of auction.
“Why don’t you ask Lucy or one of the other volunteers?” Jas asked.
“They don’t have the experience.”
“All right, then,” Jas reluctantly agreed.She really didn’t have a choice. If she refused, Miss Hahn would just mention Jas’s obligation to work on the goals Mr. Eyler had written down.
“Good.” Miss Hahn gave her a hesitant smile. “Are you enjoying the books you checked out?”
“They’re okay. I really like the ones you suggested by James Herriot, the veterinarian in England.”
“Chase turned me on to those.”
Chase
. That was twice she’d heard his name. “We don’t have to leave until after lunch,” Miss Hahn added.
“Great, that will give me time to spread the mulch.” Jas began reading again, hoping that this time Miss Hahn
would
take the hint.
“Well, good night, and I really appreciate you getting the yard in shape. Everybody’s commented on how good it looks.”
Jas nodded, her eyes still on the page. When Miss Hahn shut the door, she let out a sigh of relief. Being on constant guard was hard work.
And what really puzzled her was how nice Miss Hahn acted. Then Jas remembered Hugh and his false smile. He’d been able to charm a snake. Miss Hahn was probably just like him.
All week, she’d avoided her foster parent by working in the yard and reading. But tomorrow would have to be different.
Tomorrow, she’d have to spend a whole afternoon with her. With a groan, Jas let the book fall on her face. She wasn’t looking forward to it in the least.
Nine
“ WE HAVE EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS to spend,” Miss Hahn shouted above the roar and
Fluffy the cat started kneading the covers. Jas leaned down and scratched the calico’s ears. He was balled in a circle, between her legs. It was nine o’clock Friday night, and they were both in bed. Jas was reading, her riding helmet snug on her head.
Ms. Tomlinson had arrived earlier thatnight with clothes from the farm. Jas hadn’t dared ask her about Old Sam or Phil. But as soon as she’d taken everything to her room, she’d hugged her helmet and riding boots and cried longingly.
A light rap on the door made Jas look up.
“May I come in?”
“Sure.” Jas wondered what Miss Hahn wanted. She still couldn’t figure the woman out. If she was a spy, she wasn’t trying too hard. She never pried or poked around. As far as Jas could tell, the farm and all its dopey animals were the only things she cared about.
When Miss Hahn opened the door, she stared at Jas for a second, a faint smile on her face.
Oops
. Jas suddenly realized she was still wearing her riding helmet. Whipping it off, she dropped it on the bed.
“Ms. Tomlinson called. Your Sunday visitation with your grandfather has been approved,” Miss Hahn said.
Jas grinned excitedly. “That’s great! I can’t wait.”
I’ve waited too long as it is
.
“It’s set for one o’clock. I’m not sure for how long. That will be up to the nursing home.”
“I don’t care. I just want to see him.” Pickingup the book, Jas opened it back to where she had left off, hoping that Miss Hahn would get the hint and leave. Being alone with the woman made her uneasy. Jas was afraid she’d let her guard down or say something she shouldn’t.
“One more thing. I’m going to need your help tomorrow.”
Jas frowned. “Doing what?”
“Saturday’s the auction at Front Royal. I’m one man short. It takes two people to load and haul, and Chase won’t be here. You’re going to have to come because—”
Because I have to be supervised every second
, Jas thought gloomily.
“Because I’m going to need someone who knows horses. I never know what I’m going to find at the auction.”
Jas wondered what she was talking about. In the spring, she’d gone to a horse auction in Kentucky with her grandfather and Phil. The Thoroughbreds had been gorgeous, fetching prices over a million dollars. Obviously, this wasn’t that kind of auction.
“Why don’t you ask Lucy or one of the other volunteers?” Jas asked.
“They don’t have the experience.”
“All right, then,” Jas reluctantly agreed.She really didn’t have a choice. If she refused, Miss Hahn would just mention Jas’s obligation to work on the goals Mr. Eyler had written down.
“Good.” Miss Hahn gave her a hesitant smile. “Are you enjoying the books you checked out?”
“They’re okay. I really like the ones you suggested by James Herriot, the veterinarian in England.”
“Chase turned me on to those.”
Chase
. That was twice she’d heard his name. “We don’t have to leave until after lunch,” Miss Hahn added.
“Great, that will give me time to spread the mulch.” Jas began reading again, hoping that this time Miss Hahn
would
take the hint.
“Well, good night, and I really appreciate you getting the yard in shape. Everybody’s commented on how good it looks.”
Jas nodded, her eyes still on the page. When Miss Hahn shut the door, she let out a sigh of relief. Being on constant guard was hard work.
And what really puzzled her was how nice Miss Hahn acted. Then Jas remembered Hugh and his false smile. He’d been able to charm a snake. Miss Hahn was probably just like him.
All week, she’d avoided her foster parent by working in the yard and reading. But tomorrow would have to be different.
Tomorrow, she’d have to spend a whole afternoon with her. With a groan, Jas let the book fall on her face. She wasn’t looking forward to it in the least.
Nine
“ WE HAVE EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS to spend,” Miss Hahn shouted above the roar and
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