Ghost Horses Read Free Page A

she?”
    â€œYes. She taught us the old ways,” Summer answered for him. “She taught us the traditional way to dress. She taught us how to cook and hunt and even how to dance, like we did today.”
    Ashley beamed, triumphant over the fact that Ethan and Summer Ingawanup were finally opening up. “Do you think sometime, maybe later, you could teach Jack and me how to dance like that? I’d really like to learn.”
    Ethan snickered loudly. His eyes rolled to the sky as he muttered, “I’m not teaching no white guys.”
    That did it. Jack felt irritation surge through him. “Look, Ethan, whether you like it or not, the four of us are stuck together. Do you think it would kill you to stop being a jerk for a couple of weeks?”
    â€œJack—don’t—” Ashley began, but Jack didn’t care. He moved right in front of Ethan, staring him down, eye to eye. “You know, we didn’t ask for you to stay with us, but you’re here with our family. So why don’t you give up the attitude, OK? Then maybe we can get through this until your big sister comes back, and then you can go home and forget about us white people.”
    Ethan stood with his legs spread apart, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes hard. Wind began to blow over the hill, bending the grass toward the ground like stalks of wheat, moving Summer’s hair in dark wisps across her face. Jack wasn’t about to back down, and neither, it seemed, was Ethan. Finally, like clouds parting, Ethan’s face cleared. With what looked almost like a smile, he said, “OK.”
    Nothing Ethan could have said would have taken Jack more by surprise. “OK…what?” he asked, still not believing Ethan’s turnaround.
    â€œOK, I’ll try to be friends.” Smiling slyly, he said, “So you want to learn how to dance?”
    â€œSure,” Ashley answered, nodding eagerly.
    â€œThen I’ll teach you. I’ll teach you and your brother the Ghost Dance.”
    Summer pushed the hair off her face, saying, “No, Ethan—”
    â€œYes. It’s a good dance, very old. Gotta be danced around a cedar tree.” Ethan looked completely different when he smiled. His teeth were white and square in his dark face, but the smile didn’t make it all the way up to his eyes—they still glittered coldly. “Don’t worry,” he told them. “You’ll like the Ghost Dance.” Without another word Ethan spun around and began running through the gravestones, higher and higher in the cemetery grounds until he veered off at the top of the hill. Summer followed him, glancing nervously over her shoulder as she went.
    â€œI guess we’re supposed to go after them,” Ashley said.
    â€œExcept there’s no way I’m going to dance. Not here. Not with Ethan.”
    Ashley’s voice rose half an octave. “What do you mean? We can’t tell Ethan ‘no’ when he’s finally trying to be nice. You’ve got to.”
    â€œYou dance. I’ll watch.”
    â€œNo way!” Grabbing the edge of his sleeve, Ashley tugged hard. “Please!” she begged. “Maybe it’ll make us all friends! Besides, at the powwow you said you wished you could dance like them.”
    â€œThat’s not the same thing. They had costumes and drums. Out here I feel stupid!”
    â€œNo one will see! Besides, our whole trip to Zion will be ruined if we don’t get along with them.”
    That much was true. He looked around the cemetery. His parents, still talking, were finally making their way up to Sacagawea’s marker, but beyond them the grounds were completely empty. Jack heaved a sigh. “OK. But if any stranger shows up, I quit. And let go of my sleeve. You’re stretching my shirt.”
    As they climbed toward the Ingawanups, Jack noticed that Ethan seemed to be searching for something. After a few minutes he