Ty darted a look at Seth—just as Mom whacked the back of his head.
“Hey!” Seth said. “What about them?”
“I can’t reach Alex,” Mom said, “and Ty has a concussion. Really, you three thought you’d play your dad and me? Did I not give birth to each one of you? You should realize by now that I know your every thought before you even think it.”
“I don’t know about that...” Alex pouted.
Dad smirked. “What’s that bet up to now, boys?”
What?How’d he know they’d been raising the bet?
Seth frowned, seeming as uncertain as Ty felt. “Five hundred.”
Ty could feel five hundred big ones—and that big-screen TV—slipping away.
Now it was Mom who looked smug. “Thank you for accommodating my plans by upping the ante.”
Ty shifted uncomfortably. “What plans?”
“I’m so glad you asked,” Mom said. “Since you and Seth were so certain I should bid on a pony, you’re going to chip in for a buyback next week—that’s five hundred from each of you.”
Alex cleared his throat. “I wasn’t trying to talk you into bidding.”
“No, you were too busy trying to manipulate me into doing what your father wanted. So I hope you’re not trying to weasel out of paying your dues.”
Alex had the grace to look guilty. “No, ma’am.”
“I thought not. Fifteen hundred won’t be enough for a buyback, but your dad and I agreed to chip in the extra. It’s for a good cause after all.”
Dad took her hand. “A very good cause. Wouldn’t you say, boys?”
“Yes, sir,” they said as one.
And just like that, Ty was financing a buyback—and saying good-bye to his big-screen TV.
Chapter 48
It felt even better than usual to sit on horseback this year. And that was saying something. On Saturday of the following week, Ty and his fellow saltwater cowboys rounded up the southern herd. A huge crowd gathered to observe the penning.
Then the next day the cowboys rounded up the northern herd on the refuge’s restricted land. While the public wasn’t allowed on this part of the refuge, they showed up in full force for Monday’s annual beach walk. In an impressive display the cowboys ushered the northern herd along the Atlantic shore toward the southern pen.
The sun was barely over the horizon as they made their journey. A mild breeze carried the scent of salt and horseflesh as foals followed their mothers down the beach. The crowd cheered and took pictures as cowboys herded about fifty ponies and foals in all.
Tyson was relieved when they arrived at the pen without too much trouble. But they had difficulty getting some of the ponies into the corral. A few feisty stallions led the charge. It took a lot of finagling and the wisdom of some old-timers to make it happen. Finally the two herds were safely joined together.
That night Tyson collapsed into bed exhausted. But instead of sleeping, he thought of Jenna. He wished she were here. Even when she’d lived away from the island she’d always returned for PonyPenning Days. It felt so strange not having her here. Strange peering into the crowd and not seeing her smiling face.
His heart gave a hard crack and he rolled over, seeking a better position. Was it too soon to call her? But he already knew the answer to that. It had barely been three weeks since they’d broken up, and he certainly wasn’t over her. He’d promised her time and space. But then again he’d also promised this would get better. And so far he’d been completely wrong about that.
It wasn’t the only thing he’d gotten wrong. He’d thought he’d gotten past his dad’s abandonment. But Jenna’s leaving had helped him see that wasn’t entirely true. He understood her reason for leaving, her fears. And he had to accept that when people left, it wasn’t necessarily about him.
And most importantly, that the people who loved him would eventually come back.
There would always be things he couldn’t control, whether it was someone leaving him or an accident victim’s fate. His new therapist was helping him understand that. Like Jenna had told him, he needed to learn to let those things go. He sure shouldn’t let them stop him from living his life and loving himself.
He must’ve fallen asleep at some point because the blaring of his alarm woke him the next morning. He rolled out of bed, trying to hype himself up for today’s vet check.
Ty reached the pen at sunrise. He and a few others had the honor of choosing the buybacks that would return to Assateague with their herd after the festivities. Those lucky foals—eleven this year—were chosen based on markings, parentage, and health. Ty had been hoping all along they could choose Dream’s foal, and he was relieved when the filly passed the screening with flying colors.The others agreed she was a good, hardy choice. He only wished Jenna would be here to see the auction that would set Dream’s foal free.
