Trickster

Table of Contents

• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Six
• Chapter Seven
• Chapter Eight
• Chapter Nine
• Chapter Ten
• Chapter Eleven
• Chapter Twelve
• Chapter Thirteen
• Chapter Fourteen
• Chapter Fifteen

Chapter One

David parks the broom against the wall of the clinic. One waiting room, totally swept. Can they leave now? Brenna Lake turns around and says no. They have to wait until Mr. Quinn calls. Brenna and David are on cleaning duty today at Dr. Mac’s Place, the veterinary clinic across the street from David’s house. David always knew he’d end up working here. He’s great with animals and people love him. It took a few years of pestering Dr. Mac, the vet, but eventually she caved in. Ever since the clinic was overrun with sick puppies a few months ago, David, Brenna, Zoe, Sunita, and Maggie have been regular volunteers.

While learning about the medical details is cool, cleaning isn’t. But today, they’re taking a field trip to Quinn’s Stables to visit horses. They’re going to ride, groom, and more! Brenna doesn’t think it’s a big deal. She thinks it’s just shoveling manure and “bouncing along on old horses.” But Sunita says Brenna is just teasing David.

Sunita is the quietest, and probably the smartest, of the bunch. Brenna is one of those natural kinds of girls who wears old jeans and work boots and tries to save the whales.

David tells them that Mr. Quinn has tons of good horses that are fast. But he’s picking up a quarter horse in Maryland today, and that one is reserved for David. Quarter horses are strong and fast, and they need to be smart to do roping and barrel racing in rodeos. Brenna points out David won’t be allowed to ride a fast, expensive horse—not with his history. She’s referencing last year, when David was riding with others at Quinn’s Stables until suddenly he took off. It took half the police force to find him.

But to David, it was more complicated. That happened at the end of fourth grade, right when his dad left. Dad taught him how to ride. He went to high school with Mr. Quinn, and they’d been good friends ever since. Dad had David on a horse before he learned to walk. Riding was their thing together. That day, he was thinking about Dad. He and Mom separated a few months earlier, and despite Dad’s promises to visit, he hardly ever made it. David was just lost in his own thoughts, until he looked around him and the group was gone. He tried a few shortcuts to make it back to the others, but none worked.

That was the end of horse riding for David. Until today. So that’s why David wants to make a good impression. Maybe if David makes a good impression, Mr. Quinn will let David ride again.

David sweeps the fur balls on the floor behind the potted plant. Nobody will see them there. He’s eager to finish the chore so he can go to the stables faster.

Zoe peeks her head through the door that connects the clinic to Dr. Mac’s house. Zoe is Dr. Mac’s granddaughter, and she’s staying here while her mom is in Hollywood. She never sees her dad. She’s a little high-strung, but she’s cool. David thinks living here has been short of a shock to her.

Zoe says David’s mom called for the fourth time. He should probably call her back. Just then, the door to the Doolittle examination room swings open and Maggie walks out, followed by a college-age guy named Erik holding a ferret’s cage. Zoe dashes back inside the house; she doesn’t like rodents, and the ferret’s beady eyes remind her of them. Sunita has told her that ferrets are related to weasels, but it doesn’t matter to Zoe.

After Dr. Mac and Maggie release Erik and his weasel, Dr. Mac wonders aloud where Lucas (Mr. Quinn) is. It’s getting late. David suggests he’s already at the stables waiting for them. Maggie says that’s not possible. He’s not the type to stand around waiting for anything.

Dr. Mac asks David if he’s excited to ride again. It didn’t take much convincing to Mr. Quinn to give David another chance. Dr. Mac even heard that David can ride bareback. David confirms he can a little, and Mr. Quinn was even teaching him how to jump before his side trip. Dr. Mac firmly says that was in the past. If David uses his head and is responsible, Mr. Quinn will be glad to have him around.

Brenna squints out the front window, and says someone driving a blue pickup truck with a dent in the side is pulling up with a horse trailer. David rushes to the door, exclaiming that they were in an accident. There’s a long crease running down the side of the truck and the shiny silver horse trailer. The glass window on one side of the trailer is smashed to bits.

By the time David rushes out of the clinic, Mr. Quinn is already out of his truck. The horse in the trailer neighs. It sounds freaked out, hurt, or both. Mr. Quinn shouts for the doc.