Page 114 of Sold to Her Enemy

“Did you have a nice time?” My mother flicks on the small light beside her bed and I pull down the blankets.

As if it’s from outside of me, a feeling of excitement hangs in the air. I will tell her that I have the money to move us out of here tomorrow, but it’s like I can’t feel the implication of that because all I want to do is cry my eyes out.

“It was a good time. You were all right?”

“I’m fine, Mckenna.” My mom closes her eyes. “Your father didn’t think I was going to be fine, but we’ve done all right, haven’t we?”

“Couldn’t have done any better,” I force the words out. “Goodnight.”

“Night. Mckenna.” Her voice sounds old and my heart twists at the loss of hearing her bright laughter.

I make my way to the couch, pulling the old comforter down. Too tired to change, I lie down, but can’t sleep.

The tears leak out of my eyes and I can’t stop them.

It’s true what they say about money and happiness. But it’s a lot easier to live with money than without it. The same can be said for love and I don’t know how I am going to make my dreams come true with my heart in pieces.

24 MCKENNA

Three months later…

“Mckenna, thanks for coming down so quickly,” Grace Ellison opens the paddock gate.

“I don’t know what I can do.” I wipe off the hair that’s clinging to my tank top. It’s a never-ending battle being around these hairy beasts, but I’m not complaining.

“Alice said she was on her way and that if you were around, she would ask you to take a look. You’re the closest thing to a vet here at the moment.”

“I’m just a groomer, Grace.” I walk towards Melody, the gorgeous Appaloosa mare with a distinguished white cap covering her hips. This girl usually trots right up to us, so the fact that she’s staying by the fence, away from her herd mates, is curious.

“I didn’t notice anything obvious when I turned her out,” Grace says.

“You would have spotted it if it was obvious,” I reassure the experienced horsewoman.

“Hey Melody,” I get a little closer, cautiously, and notice she’s keeping her weight off her hind leg.

“What’s your guess, Grace?”

She turns from petting Sundust, one of the most affectionate mares I’ve ever met. “I don’t want to say it, Mckenna.”

Melody staggers toward me, pushing her muzzle into my palm. “Are you uncomfortable, girl?”

I give her a snuggle while paying attention to that back leg.

This herd is a dream, and Melody is the most mild-mannered of these Appaloosa mares. I can’t believe that I ended up here.

The sun dips behind the clouds, and the gray light paints the pastures like postcards. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

“Can I take a look at your back leg?” I move to Melody’s side and gently skim my palm along her rump. She doesn’t back away.

“Good girl,” I purr. She lets me touch just above her hoof, but not her hoof.

“I’m not a vet-”

“Yet,” Grace says.

Her confidence in me is what’s kept me going all these months.

“Yet,” I concede. “But acute laminitis. There’s Alice.” I know the sound of that truck anywhere.

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