Chapter 9

“Please, Raf, stop,” she pleaded. “I’m fine, okay? Desi would never let anything happen to me.” She gave the gelding an affectionate pat on the neck. A wisp of a smile graced her lips.

Pushing aside his anger, Rafael considered his sister’s words. He again heard the glee of her laughterand tried to remember when, since the accident, he’d heard such a splendid sound from her, failing to pinpoint an occasion. In the blink of an eye he felt like a jerk. Sure, the horses meant a lot to him because they helped keep the ranch going, they got the bills paid and kept the bank away. How had he forgotten their importance to Pearl? Her room with a view, the hours she spent reviewing and tracking bloodlines over the generations, why did he consider it enough when she used to be out before the crack of dawn to start training? Or spend hours telling her troubles to Desitado?

Rafael hung his head. “I’m sorry, I just…”

“It’s okay. I understand,” she said. “I think we both do.”