Read Online Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen - Free Book Online Page A

way.
    â€œYou know,” she said, squinting at me, “you do have some grace, Ari. And I bet you’re just about as smart as a pony, especially in school. Just don’t be a smart aleck, that’s all.”
    We nodded at each other, but there was little warmth in it.
    Or forgiveness.
    *   *   *
    Martha and I still had to work together, since we shared most of the barn chores. Now that we had fewer horses and riders, those chores were lightened considerably.
    Robbie did what he could, though honestly, he was in the way most of the time and cranky when any of us began to push him back to the house.
    â€œMy brother, my turn,” he’d protest, his face pinched and unhappy. I think it was more than that. He’d never had a friend before—except me—and he was possessive of that friendship in a fierce way.
    One time he even turned in his chair as I was wheeling him out of the stall, reaching one of his shortened arms toward Kai. And Kai wailed back, trotting to the door to call out, “Robbie, come back. Now!”
    I tried to argue Robbie out of his temper and his sadness, but Martha was tougher, giving him a stern warning. “If someone hears you whining, Squinch, the game’s up.”
    â€œWhat game?”
    â€œThe quarantine game, kiddo. There are two little boys in the stall. Something won’t add up.”
    After that, all she had to say if he got even slightly cranky was “game’s up, kiddo,” and he’d stop fussing.
    Unfortunately, that never worked for me.
    Meanwhile, Mom had become curiously quiet, almost sleepwalking through the day. She hardly talked to anyone, unless she was asked a direct question. Her eyes had raccoon circles under them, and she looked like she was losing weight. I worried about her. But I didn’t know what to do, and I sure didn’t want to get shrugged off again.
    *   *   *
    On the Friday morning of the third week, I found Mom fast asleep in Kai’s stall, his head cradled in the crook of her arm. If I squinted my eyes and didn’t focus on the rest of him, he looked completely human. Mom had covered up the boy half of him with one of Robbie’s old baby blankets.
    â€œMom,” I said, into her ear so as not to disturb Kai. It reminded me of happier times, when I would wander into the room where she and Dad slept, and I’d crawl in on her side. Waking Dad was out of the question. He stayed out very late at night playing in rock clubs. Mom used to say that not even the atom bomb would get him up.
    Mom looked up, her eyes muzzy with sleep. Then she smiled. I remembered that smile from when she first came home from the hospital with Robbie.
    Before Dad left.
    â€œWere you here all night?” I asked.
    â€œProtection,” she said, “just in case.” Then she glanced at her watch. “Oh my goodness. Look at the time. Go get Martha up.”
    But Martha was already at the door, saying, “I told you she needed to know.”
    â€œNeeded to know what?”
    â€œNeeded to know that you’ve got an early dentist appointment,” Mom said, standing carefully and brushing the straw off her clothes. “Wanted to get it in before anyone comes for a horse. So, go grab something from the pantry for breakfast and make sure Robbie is up—”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me?” I demanded. We both knew I wasn’t talking about the dentist but about her sleeping all night in the stall. “What if Robbie had an emergency and I couldn’t find you? What if…” I stopped for a second, then plowed on. “What if I had an emergency?”
    â€œYou never do,” she said gently. “And if you did, you’d solve it yourself. You never let me in.”
    â€œStill…”
    â€œI just forgot,” she said, blushing. She wasn’t someone who lied easily. It made hiding Kai extra hard on her.
    â€œI’ll drive