“But don’t you want to finish college?”

Jace lets out a humorless laugh. “College is football for me. I’m at Lincoln on a full athletic scholarship. They’re making millions off of the team that I’m leading. I miss half my classes for practices or meetings, and professors give me A’s on assignments I never even knew about. College has always just been a way to get to the pros for me.”

“But you won’t be able to play football forever. Wouldn’t it be worth it to stay just one more year and get your diploma? Take full advantage of what you can from the scholarship?”

Jace lets out a deep sigh and looks around the sprawling fields we’re riding through. “I need the money,” he confesses. “My parents are close to losing the farm. If Mike doesn’t get a scholarship too, there’s no way they’ll be able to afford to send him to college.”

I’m silent for a moment. “Jace, I’m so sorry,” I tell him. “I had no idea.”

“I know.”

“Do your siblings know?” I ask tentatively.

“No,” Jace replies. “Money’s always been tight, and they know that, but my parents wouldn’t even tell me how bad it was. I had to call the bank to finally find out how much they owe.”

I glance over at his profile. His broad shoulders and strong jaw show no glimpse of the heavy burden he’s carrying that includes his entire family’s futures.

“I’m glad you told me. If there’s anything I can do…” I let my voice trail off, feeling guilty about the millions sitting in my own bank accounts.

“No, it’s nothing you should be concerned about,” Jace replies. “Things will work out.”

I nod, sensing he doesn’t want to discuss the topic further. We reach the end of the cornstalks, and an unplanted field stretches before us.

“Ready for the fun part?” Jace asks. “Hold on!”

His horse surges forward, and mine follows. Clouds of dirt trail after us in the wind as the horses canter along across the smooth soil. We leave the heavy conversation behind us and fly across the packed earth.

Despite my initial apprehension, I relax into the leather saddle as I allow my body to move in time with the horse’s rhythmic movements. I laugh in sheer bliss, feeling freer than I ever have before.

Jace eventually pulls Firewood back to a walk, but I continue to urge Black Beauty forward, guiding her around the open area in several wide circles before tugging on the reins to slow her back to a walk.

I push my windswept hair back and grin at Jace. “That was amazing!”

I spend the rest of the day trying to help out around the farm, with varying degrees of success. I burn the mushrooms Mrs. Dawson asks me to sauté and accidentally uproot several tomato seedlings while weeding in the greenhouse alongside Mr. Dawson. I apologize profusely for both mistakes, but Jace’s parents take them in stride.