This book is over a decade in the making. I wrote it, had critique partners read it, and then it sat because I was too afraid to publish it. But now I am firmly moving into writing young adult in addition to my general fantasy and equestrian literature, and I’m looking forward to sharing this story with you. I’m extremely proud of it and hope you enjoy this snippet.

Blurb

Will Piper be able to ride again?

Nearly two years ago the car she’d been riding in with her best friend crashed, leaving Piper unable to walk, let alone ride her horse, Amigo. Shortly after the accident Chloe, her best friend and the car’s driver, moved away. Piper hasn’t seen or heard from her since. She’s been spending her time regaining strength, and when she finds a flyer for a local therapeutic riding program, she feels like this is her chance to get back in the saddle.

But as she finishes her sophomore year, she discovers Chloe is returning and needs a place to board her horse. Piper makes the offer for Chloe’s horse to stay with her, hoping  she can regain the friendship they once had. But Chloe’s changed. She’d always been the adventurous one, but Piper soon realizes there’s something more going on with her friend. And she wonders if she ever knew Chloe at all.

All Piper wants is to ride Amigo again, and competing in the show at the end of the summer makes the perfect goal. But will she move too fast and end up jeopardizing her chances of getting back in the saddle at all? And will her friendship with Chloe survive the summer?

Excerpt

I clutched my fingers around the metal spokes of my wheelchair and feared I’d never get on a horse again. Just looking at the big chestnut gelding in the field made my legs ache to wrap around his barrel and rise into two-point position with the reins light in my hands. My eyes stung. Though I blamed it on the dust left behind by a passing car, I knew the truth. I wanted to ride again and feared I never would.

Taking a deep breath I pressed the chair’s controls and turned it away from the fence. The horse stood a short distance away and watched me. His ears flicked. “Do you remember, boy?” I whispered. The answer scared me. Did he remember the rides through the neighboring trails, jumping logs and splashing through the creek? Did he remember us winning the blue ribbon at the summer show two years ago? If Amigo remembered, he didn’t tell me. He didn’t come to the fence begging for treats. He acted as if I didn’t exist. I suppose, since I was stuck in this stupid chair on my bad days and walking with crutches on the good ones, I probably didn’t. “I’m sorry,” I said with a heavy sigh and an even heavier heart, then rolled my chair along the level cut-grass path leading back to the house. Today was just another day in which I wouldn’t ride.

I swallowed back tears as I headed for our family picnic on the back porch. Dad grilled burgers and mom watched me with sad eyes. She and my older sister, Dena, took care of Amigo, even riding him to make sure he got some exercise. Some days I watched and other days I couldn’t. I don’t think he thought that he was my horse anymore.

Mom looked away as I made it to the flagstone path and rolled to the end of the picnic table. My sister would be home from her job at the mall soon, so it was just the three of us. I debated about wheeling back into the house and getting my crutches. I needed to regain my strength if I wanted to ride again.

I felt bad for my mom. She blamed herself for letting me go out with my friend Chloe Attison to that party. It had started to storm, and though Chloe was driving really carefully, she had lost control of the car. She’d been okay, but I had an injury to my spinal cord. The doctors said I’d never walk again, and now, well, they weren’t promising us a happy ending but seemed more optimistic than before.

I hadn’t given up. I just hadn’t quite found the courage to try a little harder.

“Dinner’s ready,” mom called as she took a tray of burgers from dad. He turned off the gas grill and followed her to the table. They slid into their seats, one on either side of me, and started to pass around the plates and food. Mom kept glancing at me, a strained look on her face. She looked like she wanted to tell me something. She didn’t. Instead, she passed me the ketchup, and I bit into the juicy hamburger.

“I saw Chloe’s mom today. She came into the clinic to schedule a physical for Chloe.”

I paused with the hamburger halfway to my mouth. I sat there, my jaw hanging open like a fly trap, before I closed it. “Oh.” I set the burger on my plate, my stomach doing half a dozen somersaults. “I thought they’d moved to Springfield.”

“Judy says they bought a house just outside of town. I guess Chloe didn’t get along well at the school there, and Judy’s job offered her the chance to come back. I wanted you to know before you heard it from some of the kids at school. Chloe’s in your grade.”

“I know she is!” I yelled before I could stop myself. I closed my eyes, all the pain and horror at finding out I couldn’t use my legs rushing back to me. “Why? Why did she have to come back?” My best friend in the whole wide world had left me when she realized I was broken. She should have stayed away. It was better that way