Secret Star Read Free

pretty sure the closest university was five hours away. Jake would have to live there, in a student dormitory. That’s why Dad couldn’t count on Jake tohelp around the ranch after this year.
    â€œAre you saying you got the new tractor to replace Jake?” Sam asked. It was a weak joke, but Dad answered with an understanding smile.
    Too understanding, Sam thought. She straightened and hefted the saddle higher.
    The last thing she wanted was to get all sentimental over Jake.
    In fact, she refused to do that. The only reason she was feeling emotional was because of that stupid remark Pepper had made about Ace.
    And there he was. The bay gelding stood with his head over the gate, waiting for her.
    â€œHey, good boy,” she called to Ace.
    He wasn’t that tall, but so what? Neither was she. Fourteen hands was just the right size for her. And Ace was the perfect partner. Every inch of him was fast and tough, hardened by generations of horses who’d lived on the open range.
    And Ace was smart. His ancestors hadn’t been coddled in barns or buckled up in cozy blankets. They’d had to outwit predators, and find food and shelter for themselves.
    Ace pawed impatiently, so she answered him.
    â€œSoon as I get you tacked up, and we greet our Hollywood guests, we’re out of here.”
    Ace must have thought she’d said they were leaving now, because he plunged his open mouth toward the bit.
    â€œYou’re too helpful,” Sam told the gelding as she fumbled to get the headstall in place behind his ears.
    â€œDrives me crazy not getting out there earlier,” Dad was saying to Dallas as Sam led Ace across the ranch yard to the hitching rail. “But dew-wet hay just clogs things up. Then time’s wasted un clogging.”
    â€œGuess the sun’s high enough now that it’s dried some,” Dallas said, agreeing with Dad. Then he focused his sharp eyes on Sam. “And you’re stayin’ around to meet this Hollywood horse trainer?”
    â€œYeah.” Sam tried to sound long-suffering, but she could tell she wasn’t fooling Dad. He knew she was excited. Still, she added, “Somebody’s got to, I guess.”
    â€œSure couldn’t get me to do it,” Dallas said. “I prefer to spend my time with folks who do real work for a livin’.”
    Dallas squinted Sam’s way, as if he expected her to defend Inez Garcia and her type.
    Why was she so excited about their visitors, when everyone else was matter-of-fact? Before Sam answered her own question, Dallas went on.
    â€œSeems to me that askin’ a horse to prove his grit by jumpin’ off a cliff don’t make sense. Fact is, any horse that’d do that without a fire lickin’ at his tail needs a lesson in stayin’ alive.”
    â€œDo they really want him to jump off a cliff?” Sam asked. She hadn’t heard about that.
    â€œSomethin’ like that,” Dad said. “I guess he used to do tricks and one day he just quit.”
    â€œGot smart, I’d say,” Dallas grumped.
    â€œCould be,” Dad said, as if it didn’t matter. “Any way you slice it, we win. With HARP finished for the summer, it’ll come in handy to have a few days’ board. Besides, I wouldn’t say no to a friend of Maxine’s.”
    â€œIt’s nice that we’re fixing up the corral for them,” Sam said.
    Dad nodded. Out by the spare corral, Pepper and Ross were brushing their hands together as if they’d just finished up.
    â€œBrynna says the snow’s gonna have a high moisture content this winter,” Dad said. “That makes it real heavy. Reinforcing those fence posts now is work we won’t have to do later after a heavy snowfall breaks it down and our stock goes wandering.”
    Sam sighed. Everybody thought the movies were no big deal. Dad wouldn’t spend more than a few minutes talking about Inez Garcia and her