Page 23 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

Part of me’s actually relieved. Now that we’ve come down to it, I don’t really want to sell him. I mean, I’m probably just nervous about selling a horse I don’t own. The illegality of it all has me concerned, I’m sure, but I should be panicked that he’s disinterested.

I need that money. Tim needs that money.

If I don’t sell him, where does that leave us?

My only other play is calling my parents, but if I don’t sell him, how will I explain Drago to them? I can imagine just what I’ll say. “Oh, yep. Youdorecognize this horse?” I would laugh. “Funny story. Oliver told me he was going to be put down, so. . .” I could throw my hands up in the air and pretend I thought it was a big joke.

I doubt I’d get much laughter.

Ugh.

I’m hauling on Drago’s reins and turning him around when a car on the road behind us backfires. The noise is so loud and so unexpected that both Drago and I spook.

He takes off like a devil’s on our tail.

Weflypast the two men so fast that I can barely see Averett’s face at all, but it’s enough. His jaw’s dangling wide open.

When I slow Drago down, he scans the area carefully, probably shocked that we aren’t under attack again. I can’t blame him. Those two guys from yesterday had guns, and that backfire sounded almost the same. It was also right behind us, which had to be confusing, too. If it motivated him to bolt right when I needed it, well, maybe God’s on my side. That would be nice.

“You’re right,” Averett’s telling Müller. “He can really move.”

Müller’s back to hopping up and down like some kind of strange cartoon villain. If he had a mustache to twirl and didn’t smile so much, the similarities would be uncanny. “Yes, yes, so you’re on board?” He tilts his head.

“Fine,” Averett says. “I wish Tim was here himself, but if you’re worried someone else will snatch him up, I can’t fault you. He’s got something special. I’ll admit that much.”

But as I hear the words, I realize something.

It wasn’t just simple relief when I thought they didn’t want him. I don’twantto sell Drago. I really, really like him.

Which is stupid.

I know nothing about him.

I can’t possibly keep him without telling my parents what I’ve done, and Icannottell them this.

And the biggest problem is that selling Drago was my solution to a major issue. I have to get Tim out, and fast, and I have no other way to come up with this kind of money. I have absolutely no business saying what I’m about to say, and yet, I find myself saying the words anyway. “Oh, shoot.” I whip out my phone. “I’m so sorry, but I just got a message from Tim.”

“You did?” Müller sounds as confused as Averett looks.

“Yep,” I say. “He said we can’t sell him after all. Problem with—” I cough. “—the paperwork. It’s a long story.”

“How did you even know you got a message? You said that before you got your phone out.” Averett’s scowling.

“Uh, it came to my watch.” I gesture at my plain black watch that’s not smart in any way. Hopefully they can’t tell. “I’msosorry to have wasted your time today.”

“Not at all.” Mr. Müller takes a step closer and holds his hand out toward Drago. “If anything changes, anything at all, call me. I’ll come right back.” He looks up at me then, and I almost feel bad. He looks like he’d have loved Drago almost as much as I do.

Wait, do Ilovehim? A horse I just met? A horse Istole?

As Averett stomps over to the truck and Anselm Müller walks over, turning back and gazing at us wistfully, I realize that I do.

I pat his neck. “I am such an idiot. You know that?”

He turns around and rubs his cheek against my boot, like he knows I just decided not to sell him.

“I needed that money,” I hiss. “I needed it, and my boyfriendreallyneeded it, and I should have sold you. I could have sold a horse that was supposed to die fora hundred grandand I said no.” I smack my forehead. “A hundred grand.” I exhale. “I must have lost my ever-loving mind.”

Drago just whinnies.

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