Page 100 of Crystal Iris
“Well… you could help with the horses,” he finally says.
“Could I?”
“I think so—brushing, washing, feeding, that kind of stuff. But I think Hoyt won’t let you.”
“He’s not my boss.” I realize he’s his.
He swallows.
“I’m sorry, I mean, he told me to do whatever I wanted, so… will you show me? What to do?”
“Sure, how about tomorrow at six?”
“Six in the morning?”
“We start early around here.”
“Six is great. See you then.”
I walk back into the house, realizing what I’ve just committed to. I need something to do around here besides reading and eating my share—or two—of Hoyt’s food.Horses—I can do that, I tell myself, grabbing an apple and heading back to my room to read about them on my computer.
I hear a knock on my door an hour later.
“Come in.”
Hoyt walks in, completely covered in mud.
“What happened?”
“Blackwater has a… sense of humor.”
I would have loved to see whatever mess he’d gotten into.
“We’re having a bonfire tonight by the lake. Want to come?” he asks.
“Who’s ‘we’?”
“Broc, Sawyer, and I think Sawyer’s new girlfriend.”
“Sounds… fun.”
“Okay, see you in a couple of hours.”
He turns to leave.
“Hoyt,” I call after him.
He comes back.
“Does your prism do anything when you’re close to the grass or dirt?”
“What do you mean?”
“I swear mine responded to it.”
“Not that I’ve noticed. I’m starting to think they’re all different.”
“Maybe.”
