Sylvester Author:A. C. Crispin A girl and her challenge — Charlie - short for Charlene - was 16 years old, recently orphaned by a car wreck, and life wasn't promising to get any easier. She was earning just enough money breaking horses in a West Texas stockyard to support herself and her two younger brothers, whom the county wanted to place in an orphanage. The crust old Texan... more », Mr. Foster, who managed the stockyard, has disappointed Charlie's mother and now looked like he was going to fail her as well. And, finally, Charlie's boyfriend Matt was trying to smother her into an early marriage. What next?
But Charlie wasn't ready tolet her life shover her around. When a proud white stallion as self-willed and brimming with as much potential as Charlier herself showed up at the stockyards one day, Charlie could hardly miss recognizing those special qualities. She had a plan, but carrying it through wasn't easy, as she broke, trained and prepared the horse for Olympic dressage competition. She named him Sylvester and he became more than a horse to Charlie, as she saw in him the opportunity to take charge of her life for the first time.
It was a decision that would lead Charlie and Sylvester to a climactic dressage event in Lexington, KY, and the discovery of a glossy, exciting life Charlie had only dreamed of before. Her determination also tapped something in those around her, rallying her neighbors in Alpine, Texas, to her side, sparking a new vitality in the life-bruised Mr. Foster and a romantic generosity in Matt. Life was out there waiting for Charlie and she wasn't going to let it slip through her fingers. Charlie will make it.« less