Chapter 16 - June Learns to Lose
June entered her first youth riding competition at ten.
Not on Titan.
On a patient chestnut mare named Penny.
She finished sixth.
She was furious.
Caleb tried to hide his smile.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing."
"I should have won."
"Why?"
"Because I'm good."
"Other kids are good too."
June hated that answer.
Robert attended quietly from the back row.
No sponsorship banner.
No special announcement.
After the class, June threw her gloves into the tack box.
"Penny wouldn't turn fast enough."
Caleb looked at her.
"Did she know what you were asking?"
"Yes."
"Did you ask well?"
June crossed her arms.
"Maybe."
"That's not yes."
She sighed.
Robert almost laughed.
Then Caleb said, "You know what Grant's biggest problem was?"
June went still.
Caleb rarely used Grant as a lesson.
"He thought being talented meant the horse owed him the result."
June looked toward Penny.
The mare was eating hay.
Unconcerned with sixth place.
June walked back.
Touched her neck.
"Sorry."
Caleb nodded.
Robert felt something loosen.
The million-dollar challenge had risked teaching June the wrong lesson too.
That being special meant winning.
That courage should pay.
That animals proved your worth.
She needed ordinary losses.
Bad rounds.
No ribbons.
Horses that said no.
The trust paid for lessons within reasonable limits.
Emily insisted June still do barn chores.
"We have a million dollars," June complained once.
Emily answered, "The shovel has not been informed."
Caleb laughed so hard he had to sit down.
Grant, still incarcerated, wrote June one letter.
Caleb and Emily read it first.
He apologized for Titan.
He did not ask June to forgive him.
June chose not to read it yet.
The letter stayed sealed in a drawer.
That was her decision.
When Robert heard, he did not encourage otherwise.
No child needed to become proof that adults had healed.
At twelve, June finally read it.
Then put it back.
"Do you forgive him?" Caleb asked.
June shrugged.
"I don't know him."
Caleb smiled.
The answer was healthier than everyone wanted it to be.
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