Page 35 of Adam's Rising

No sense in lying. Clearly, Shirley had already informed Lala that Claire was talking to the new hand. She could almost hear Shirley’s whiny voice.And then Rusty ran off, leaving me all alone in the ring…

“You never go riding on Sunday,” Claire responded. She knew why Lala was interrogating her, but she wondered if Lala knew why.

Lala stomped her leather wedge on the ground. “I had fun yesterday. I wanted to go. Now it’s too late. You knew I wanted to go, so you took off before I woke —”

Claire walked off, effectively cutting off her cousin’s tirade. Lala’s mother and grandfather might tolerate her tantrums, but Claire agreed with Lala’s stepfather: the girl was a spoiled brat. While Claire was grateful Lala had stood up for her last night, her suggestion that Claire go out with Boyd again had undone every ounce of respect she’d felt.

On the porch now, Lala pushed Claire aside and raced to the door. She ran inside, then pulled the metal screen door shut, locking it.

Claire closed her eyes, then dug in her pocket. She pulled out the keyring with the red and yellow KISS emblem. “I still have your keys. No Blazer, no date with Roger.”

“What do I care? I don’t even want to go out with Roger. I was just trying to help you. If you and Boyd break up, who will you go to prom with? Did you think about that, Claire-Belle?”

“Open the door, Lala.”

Lala pouted, crossing her arms again. “Did he ask about me?”

“Didwhoask about you?”

Lala slammed her foot against the floor again. “You know who! Shirley told me! I’m not stupid, you know!”

“Shirley told you what?” Claire feigned innocence. “That I rode Buttercup?”

“That you were talking to Thomas.”

Claire could tell the truth about this. “I wasn’t talking to Thomas.”

“Yes, you were! She told me! And just like last night, Rusty came running to protect you.”

Claire deflected. “The new hand? He saddled up Buttercup, so what?”

“That’s Thomas!” Seemingly pleased that Claire had dismissed him asthe new hand, Lala unlocked the screen door. “The new hand is Thomas. You didn’t recognize him?”

Again, Claire answered honestly. “No, I didn’t recognize the new hand as Thomas. I didn’t know him well.”

How could Lala not know that he was Adam not Thomas? Had she not spoken with him yesterday? Had she only seen him from a distance? It just didn’t make sense.

Covertly returning the keyring to her pocket as she pulled the rifle off her back, Claire entered the house, stowed her gun, then headed to her room.

“I thought you were going out with Roger tonight?” Claire called over her shoulder.

Evident by the clack, clack, clack of her wedges, Lala followed closely behind. “I didn’t set it up. I was just checking to see what you were thinking.”

Claire stopped in her doorway, turning to her. “What Ithink? I think I need a shower. Just walking through the barn you pick up the smell of hay and manure.” Something Lala always said. Claire actually liked the smell of hay, and she never smelled like manure. It wasn’t like she rolled in the stall with Buttercup. Besides, Buttercup was a lady — sophisticated and sweet-smelling.

Lala crinkled her nose. “You’re right. You smell.”

Claire shut the door, locked it, then raced to the bathroom.

With any luck, Lala would turn on the TV andThe Wonderful World of Disneywould be rerunningFreaky FridayorThe Parent Trap— two of her favorites. Even so, she’d seen them so many times, Lala usually fell asleep halfway through. If she wasn’t sucking face with Roger, that is.

* * *

Thirty minutes later,when Claire inched open her bedroom door, all she heard was… Sports commentary? Was that right?

No Disney fanfare. No Tinker Bell with her magic wand.

She held fast behind the door, waiting.

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