They didn’t say anything about how pale beneath his suntan Tyson grew, trying to balance on Jewel’s back. And no one mentioned the faint violet stain beneath his left eye or the fact that they’d given up any pretense of keeping running and riding time equal. Since Tyson was the better runner and Pauli the superior rider, Tyson would ride only enough to qualify them as a team. Pauli, the rider Jewel trusted most, would ride as long as possible. Tyson hadn’t said a word all morning. Even when Darby said, “So it’s up to me and Tyson to do all the running,” he just sneered. She’d expected that, but Darby hadn’t expected Ann’s reaction. She looked ashamed. And there were tears in her eyes. Darby knew she was the only one who’d noticed, because Pauli was babbling about something entirely different. “I was so bogus with my knot tying yesterday, I spent all night workin’ on ’em,” Pauli promised. “This time they’ll hold her for sure.” Darby nudged Ann away from the group and apologized.
