The winter was cold & wet. DJ Randall & her friend, Amy Yamamoto, were talking about what they'd rather do than work horses in the rain...anything chocolate would be better. With drips going down her back off her helmet, Amy wanted hot chocolate. Joe Crowder, her Gram's new husband, had sold DJ his horse, Major, when he retired from the police force. Joe observed that Major had never liked the rain. DJ had learned what it was to be a latchkey kid when Gran moved to her new home with Joe. Major enjoyed his dinner. When Amy commented that DJ should say she was catching a healing instead of a cold, DJ knew that slugging her would take too much effort. Joe drove them home, DJ to an empty house. Joe offered to take her home with him, adding that she should take her school things, in case she had to spend the night. Before they left there was another phone call from a stranger, Bradley Atwood, who said he was DJ's father! ( )