Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

Colten grabbed a rope halter off a hook beside Lola Belle’s pen and placed it over the cow’s face. With the rope secured, he opened the gate and led Lola Belle out. The barn was connected to a small turnout where the cows were able to exercise and stretch in a safe environment. Colten got Lola Belle into the turnout, then tied the harness up to a hitching post.


“So, what do we do first?” I asked. He’d given me a rundown of what he had to do, but I couldn’t remember all the steps.


It was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever done in my life, washing a cow. Luckily, I’d come prepared in an old pair of jeans and a faded T-shirt. My sneakers would survive a trip through the mud, too.


At least the cow was well trained and tolerated the water and soap. I’d imagined us chasing it around the pen, trying to keep it still. In fact, Lola Belle seemed to enjoy the attention and the brushing.


Chapter 38