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“Yeah,” I said. “But a horse like that—and there are many, so you’d have to find the right one—would be good for you. Talk to your dad about it. He is a horseman.”

“He’s sad I gave up on paints.”

I shrugged. “If he is, I haven’t heard about it. I think he knew you made your choice. He has to respect you for that. He gets it. And I'm glad to help you find the right horse if I can."

“Really?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not thinking Mack is your idea of a good time. Honestly, the more I see him, the more I think he’s a dressage reject who needs to find a showjumping home or to find an eventer. He loves taking off over poles. We’ll see.”

Piper stood. “Thanks for just listening to me ramble, Chlo.”

“I’m always here,” I said. “You’re welcome anytime.”

“Thanks. Go ahead and just keep the clothes until you’re done showing. I’m gonna go make some popcorn and watch a movie until Dad gets home.”

“Okay. Well, if you need anything, just call,” I said.

Piper departed and I smiled. She was such a good kid. I hoped I’d helped her. I planned to get her the horse of her dreams somehow. She was talented, smart, and fair. I know her mom expected her to go off and be an academic superstar. Maybe she would? But I saw the same talent with horses in Piper that I saw in her dad. And now that she’d confided a big secret in me, I felt obligated to be more big sister than ever, no matter how awkward.

23. NEAR-MISS

COLE

“We should get this done by May,” Eli Robbins, my longtime friend and builder said.

I looked at the plans for a barndominium. It was nothing more than a hobby farm with a small, covered arena, but I knew it would sell like hotcakes. I would have both time and ROI on my side. However, as nice as it looked, it wasn’t what I wanted. It also wasn’t what Piper expected. I still hadn’t told her that we were rebuilding the farm just to sell it. I was hoping to have it on the market once it finished and sold by July. In the interim, I’d try to find some land and stalls to rent or try to tell myself it was okay to stay at Chloe's for another year and a half until landing something permanent.

The thing about it was, Piper was thriving at the new school. She had so many friends. She loved being at the barn around the other ladies. Riley was a fabulous coach. In only three months, Piper grew by leaps and bounds. What had been the most challenging time for us had still been an opportunity for her.

“That’s good,” I said. “I am sure it will be great.”

“I wish we could have done another custom build,” Eli said. “It makes me said about the other house.”

“I know,” I said. “It hurts to think about it. I try not to. But at the end of the day, people died and lost a lot more than we did. Our horses survived by only a few feet. I count us lucky.”

“You really were. It’s awful.”

“Well, onward and upwards. Maybe it’s a blessing. Piper is really loving the new school, we had a safe place to land, and the horses are fine.”

“How is she doing? Is she still riding?”

“Is she?” I chuckled. “That trainer of her works wonders. It’s hard to coach your own kid. Riley does great things. Piper just did amazing at a big competition. I want her to keep at it, obviously, even if it’s not in my discipline.”

“Good for her.”

“I think she’s going to Germany, too,” I said. “It’s all a little weird. That world up there is… completely different.”

“Lots of soccer moms in Land Rovers, I assume?”

“Some in G-Wagons or Lexuses. Maybe the occasional Rivian, but yeah. You get the idea. And as much as I want to complain, it’s those women who are unexpectedly paying my bills these days.”

“How so?” Eli asked.

I filed through the papers. “Well, as much as I hate giving lessons to low-level riders—and I really do—they are glad to jump on a calm horse and trot around while I bark orders at them. They don’t argue. They don’t want to do anything crazy. They just want to calmly relive their younger years for an hour a week. Riley charges $90.00 a semi-private lesson for their dressage riders. I am allowed to offer newbie lessons for $70.00. Down here, if I charged more than $50.00 they’d say it was highway robbery.”

“$70 for a lesson?”

“Yup. And for a private lesson, I charge $95.00.”