Thompson.” Callie waved goodbye and walked up the driveway to her house. She could see her father out by the barn giving Celah a bath. Her mother was just putting away the wheelbarrow. Callie smiled as she kicked off her boots by the back door. She finally had some bargaining chips now. As she opened the door the smell of pot roast drifted in from the kitchen, making her mouth water. She quickly changed her clothes and set the table for dinner. Her parents soon joined her. “That was nice of Mr. Thompson to bring you home,” Mrs. McLean said. “We were just getting ready to come get you.” She washed her hands in the sink, then took down a large serving bowl from the cupboard. Callie poured the milk and took her chair at their small, cloth-covered table, waiting for her mom to dish up the food. She swung her feet back and forth, bumping them on the chair leg as she waited for the right time to broach the subject of adopting the orphaned mustang. Her mother set a plate of meat, potatoes, and carrots in front of her, but Callie couldn’t bring herself to take a bite.
