Nickel-Bred Read Free

very excited as we left Chickie’s place and could hardly steer
our bicycles down the bumpy drive to the highway. As we turned onto
the blacktop, an old tan beater car with dents all over it turned
in. I got a look at the driver and stopped my bike. The car raised
a cloud of dust all the way to Chickie’s house.
    “What are you doing, Piper?” asked Addie.
    “I can’t believe it,” I said. “Remember the
creepy guy that hung out with Nasty Jake? When we saved Dotty? The
one we thought was one of his drug guys? I’m sure that was
him.”
    “He’s going to Chickie’s. Do you think
Chickie is a criminal, too?”
    “I don’t know. He does look like one, but he
sure has a nice horse.” I took a deep breath. It was time to talk
to the grownups and I thought I already knew what they would say.
They weren’t usually reasonable. So I called my friend and ally,
Miss Julie, first.
    “Piper, hello,” she said on the phone. “I
haven’t talked to you for days, I’ve been so busy. Why do you sound
out of breath?”
    “Because I’m riding my bike,” I said. “Here’s
what I need to know. If Addie and I found another horse...a free
one... could we keep it at your place with Dotty, if our parents
say it’s okay?”
    “Well, of course, Piper, if it’s okay with
your parents,” she said. “Where did you find a free horse?”
    “It was in an ad. I have to talk to my mom
and dad, so please don’t say anything until I get them on my
side.”
    “My lips are sealed, honey,” she said. “Let
me know what happens. Bye!”
    And that was why Miss Julie was such a
special friend. She was always there for me. I stuck my phone back
in my pocket and smiled at Addie. We had our work cut out for us to
persuade our parents, but at least we had one ally. And this ally
owned a horse barn.
     
    Late that afternoon, I detected that Mom was
getting ready to go out somewhere. She was bustling around, fixing
her hair and fidgeting with a nice blouse she hardly ever wore.
“Are you going out, Mom?”
    “I am.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m going to an early dinner with
someone.”
    “Who?”
    Mom sighed and turned to look me straight in
the eye. “Honey, if I was going out on a date, would you be okay
with that?”
    “Sure,” I said. “But who are you going
with?”
    “Sam Applegate. I’m meeting him at the Old
Springs Inn,” she said, smiling. That was the best and only nice
restaurant in Serendipity Springs.
    “Sweet! Get the stuffed pork chops,” I said.
“Sam’s really cute. And he’s nice, too. Even though I didn’t think
so at first.” Earlier in the summer, I had been sure that Miss
Julie’s son, Sam, was a horrible person, but I was wrong. He was a
great guy, actually.
    “Piper, are you absolutely sure you’re okay
with this? I can wait if you’re not, but I feel like I’m ready to
get on with my life. I’d really like to start enjoying things again
and having some fun.”
    “Mom, I’m more than okay with it. I was sorta
hoping you two would get together.”
    She looked at me like she didn’t know me,
shook her head and walked into the kitchen. She opened the
refrigerator door and took out a frozen pizza.
    “And, are you okay with this for dinner? I’m
in a bit of a hurry and haven’t cooked anything.”
    “I’m fine, Mom. Have a good time and tell me
all about it later.”
    “I’m feeling guilty.”
    “Well, quit,” I said.
    “Okay, then. I won’t be late. Call your dad
if anything goes wrong. See you.”
    “Oh, hey, Mom!” I called as she walked out
the door. “Addie and I found a free horse. Can we keep it out with
Dotty?”
    “Sure, whatever,” she sang, closing the door.
That wasn’t fair. She wasn’t paying attention to what I said, but
it still counted as an okay. I had two adult allies now. Time to
talk with Dad.
    I found my dad at his house, getting ready to
eat supper. He lived in a small house halfway between the clinic
and Mom’s house. He always told me he