{"id":906,"date":"2008-12-01T20:58:55","date_gmt":"2008-12-02T01:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=906"},"modified":"2008-12-01T20:58:55","modified_gmt":"2008-12-02T01:58:55","slug":"leave-it-to-chance-by-sherri-sand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=906","title":{"rendered":"Leave It To Chance by Sherri Sand"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his\/her latest book’s FIRST chapter!<\/p>\n

The feature author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n
Sherri Sand<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\n

and her book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Leave it to Chance<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\nDavid C. Cook (May 2008)<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Sherri Sand is a wife and mother of four young children who keep her scrambling to stay ahead of the spilled milk. When she needs stress relief from wearing all the hats required to clothe, feed and ferry her rambunctious brood, you may find her sitting in a quiet corner of a bistro reading a book (surrounded by chocolate), or running on one of the many trails near her home. Sherri is a member of The Writer\u2019s View and American Christian Fiction Writers. She finds the most joy in writing when the characters take on a life of their own and she becomes the recorder of their stories. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Oregon where she graduated cum laude. Sherri and her family live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

She’s also a blogger! So stop by and say hi to Sherri at Creations in the Sand<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $13.99
\nPaperback: 353 pages
\nPublisher: David C. Cook (May 2008)
\nLanguage: English
\nISBN-10: 1434799883
\nISBN-13: 978-1434799883<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cA horse? Mom, what am I going to do with a horse?\u201d Just what she and the kids did not need. Sierra Montgomery sagged back against her old kitchen counter, where afternoon sunlight dappled the white metal cabinets across from her. She pressed the phone tight against her ear, hoping she\u2019d heard wrong, as her four-year-old son, Trevor, ate grapes at the kitchen table.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Libby wanted you to have it. I\u2019d think you\u2019d be delighted, what with the kids and all. You remember Sally, Miss Libby\u2019s daughter? Well, she just called and said it was all laid out in the will. None of their family could figure out who Sierra Lassiter Montgomery was until Sally remembered me from her mom\u2019s church. So she called and sure enough, you were my daughter.\u201d Sierra\u2019s mom tsked into the phone. \u201cWell, you know how Sally is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra hadn\u2019t the foggiest how Sally was, or even who she was. She barely remembered Miss Libby from her Sunday school class eons ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe acted pleased that her mother gave you the horse, but I could tell she was miffed. Though what Sally Owens would do with a horse, I\u2019d like to know.\u201d Her mom\u2019s voice was tight and controlled as if they were discussing how to deal with black spot on her Old English roses.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t want a horse. You, of all people, should know that after what happened when\u2014\u201d How could her mom even suggest she get a horse? Painful pictures of her childhood friend Molly floated through her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoney, accidents like that don\u2019t happen more than once in a lifetime. Besides, Miss Libby wouldn\u2019t have owned a crazy horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra stared out the window where the school bus would soon release her most precious treasures. Her mom never had understood the resounding impact that summer day had made in her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really need to think of the kids and how much fun they\u2019d have. It\u2019s not like you\u2019d ever be able to afford to buy them one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra wished she were having this conversation with Elise rather than her mother. Her best friend would understand the danger she feared in horses, and in her humorous way come up with a sensible plan that would include not keeping the animal.<\/p>\n

Her mom, on the other hand, lived life as if she were on one of those moving conveyors at the airport that people can step on to rest their feet yet keep moving toward their destination. As long as everyone kept traveling forward, she could ignore the emotional baggage dragging behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand why Miss Libby would give the horse to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how my bingo club visited the Somerset rest home every week? Well, Miss Libby\u2019s been there for years and she always did comment on how horse crazy you were when she taught your Sunday school class.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, that was a phase I went through when I was ten and found National Velvet and Black Beauty at the library. I haven\u2019t seen Miss Libby since middle school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously you were special to Miss Libby. I\u2019d think you might be a little more grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deep breath, Sierra told herself. \u201cI am grateful.\u201d An errant grape rolled next to her toe. Trevor\u2019s blond head was bent, intent on arranging the fruit like green soldiers around the edge of his plate. Sierra tossed the grape into the sink and considered how to respond to her mom. She was a dear, but sometimes the woman was like dry kindling on a hot day, and one little spark\u2026. \u201cI\u2019m just not sure that owning a horse would be a wise move at this point in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The front door slammed and Sierra felt the walls shudder with the thud. The 3:00 p.m. stampede through the house meant it was time to get off the phone and determine how to get rid of a horse before the kids found out about it.<\/p>\n

Her mom sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s too bad Sally won\u2019t keep the horse at her place for you, but she said her husband wants the horse gone. He wants to fill the pasture with sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheep? A kitchen chair scraped over the linoleum as Trevor scooted back from the table and dashed for the living room. \u201cMommy\u2019s got a horse! Mommy\u2019s got a horse!\u201d Wonderful. Little ears, big mouth.<\/p>\n

Braden and Emory shot into the kitchen, bright eyes dancing in tandem. Their words tangled together in fevered excitement despite the fact that she was on the phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is it?\u201d Braden\u2019s eleven-year-old grin split his face, and his dark hair was rumpled and sweat streaked, likely from a fevered game of basketball during last recess.<\/p>\n

She held a hand up to still the questions as her mom went on about the sheep that Sally\u2019s husband probably did not need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a horse?\u201d Nine-year-old Emory, her blonde hair still neat in its purple headband, fluttered in front of her mom, delight and hope blooming on her face.<\/p>\n

Despite the fear of horses building deep in Sierra\u2019s gut, her children\u2019s excitement was a little contagious. She wished Miss Libby had willed her a cat.<\/p>\n

Sierra ran her hand down Emory\u2019s soft cheek and whispered. \u201cI\u2019ll be off the phone in a minute, sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we ride it?\u201d Em looked at her with elated eyes.<\/p>\n

Braden tossed his backpack on the table. \u201cWhere are we going to keep it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The kids circled her, jabbering with excited questions. Sierra rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers. \u201cI gotta go, Mom. I\u2019ve got to break some cowboy hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kids clamored around her, Braden taking the lead with an arm draped across her shoulder. When had he gotten so big? \u201cDo we have a horse, Mom?\u201d He asked the question with a lopsided grin, a foreshadow of the adolescence that had been peeking through lately. The preteen in him didn\u2019t truly believe they had a horse\u2014he was old enough to realize the odds\u2014but little-boy eagerness clung to his smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be yes and a no.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Mom!\u201d he complained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was given a horse, but we\u2019re not going to keep him.\u201d Braden\u2019s arm slid off her shoulder, a scowl replacing his smile. \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone gave you a horse?\u201d Emory ignored her brother\u2019s attitude and flashed her most persuasive grin. \u201cCan we keep him? Please!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra smoothed her hand over the silky hair and leaned close to her daughter\u2019s face as Emory went on. \u201cI think we should get four horses so we each have one. We could go trail riding. Cameron\u2019s mom has horses, and they go riding all the time as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not a family anymore,\u201d Braden cut in. \u201cWe stopped being a family when mom divorced dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shard of pain drove into Sierra\u2019s gut. She hadn\u2019t had time to brace for that one. Braden\u2019s anger at the divorce had been building like an old steam engine lately.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d Outrage darkened Emory\u2019s features. \u201cIt\u2019s not Mom\u2019s fault!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarcasm colored Braden\u2019s voice. \u201cOh, so it\u2019s all Dad\u2019s fault?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra saw the confusion that swept over her daughter\u2019s face. She was fiercely loyal to both parents and didn\u2019t know how to defend them against each other.<\/p>\n

Sierra spoke in a firm tone. \u201cBraden, that\u2019s enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

He scowled at her again. \u201cWhatever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra held his gaze until he glanced away.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys, we\u2019re not going to play the blame game. We have plenty to be thankful for, and that\u2019s what is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden\u2019s attitude kept pouring it on. \u201cBoy, and we have so much. Spaghetti for dinner every other night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what, Braden-Maden!\u201d Emory made a face and stuck her tongue out at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more fighting or you two can go to your rooms.\u201d Her kids were not perfect, but they used to like each other. Something had changed. Her gut said it was her ex-husband, Michael, but what if she was falling into the whole \u201cblame the dad\u201d thing herself? What if she was really the problem? Two weeks without a job had added stress and worry. Had she stopped hugging them as often in between scouring the want ads and trying to manage a home and bills?<\/p>\n

\u201cMom?\u201d There was a quaver in Trevor\u2019s soft voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, honey?\u201d Sierra gave him a gentle smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we keep the horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Emory\u2019s blue gaze darted to meet hers, a plea in them. Braden sat with his arms crossed over his chest, but his ears had pricked up.<\/p>\n

Sierra looked at them, wanting them to understand and knowing they wouldn\u2019t. \u201cNone of us know how to handle or care for a horse, so it wouldn\u2019t be safe to keep him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emory\u2019s face lit up. \u201cCameron\u2019s mom could teach us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoney, it\u2019s not that simple. We can\u2019t afford an animal that big. He probably eats as much in groceries as we do, and it would be very expensive to rent a place for him to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could mow yards.\u201d Anger at his sister forgotten, Braden turned a hopeful face to her. \u201cWe could help out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emory jumped onto the working bandwagon. \u201cYeah. I could do laundry or something for the neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden drilled his sister a look that said idiot idea but didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n

Trevor bounced in his chair, eager to be a part of keeping the horse. \u201cI could wash cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are great ideas, but they won\u2019t bring in quite enough, especially since it\u2019s getting too cold to mow lawns or wash cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just don\u2019t want to keep the horse, Mom,\u201d Braden said. \u201cI get it. End of story.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoney, I\u2019d love for you to have a horse, but when I was young I had a friend\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Emory spoke in a helpful tone. \u201cWe know. Grandma told us about the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

They knew? Wasn\u2019t the story hers to share? \u201cWhen did Grandma tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden\u2019s voice took on a breezy air. \u201cI don\u2019t know. A while ago. Come on, Mom. We\u2019re not going to do something dumb like your friend did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Defensiveness rose inside. \u201cShe didn\u2019t do anything dumb. It was the horse that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo because something bad happened to one person, your kids can never do anything fun for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra gave him a look. \u201cOr you learn from your mistakes and help your kids to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden rolled his eyes at her.<\/p>\n

Worry drew lines across her daughter\u2019s forehead. \u201cAre you going to sell him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Em. So we\u2019re not going to discuss this anymore. You and Braden have homework to do.\u201d At the chorus of groans she held her hands up. \u201cOkay, I guess I\u2019ll have to eat Grandma\u2019s apple pie all by myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden grabbed his backpack and slowly dragged it across the floor toward the stairs, annoyance in his voice. \u201cWe\u2019re going.\u201d Emory trotted past him up the stairs.<\/p>\n

Trevor remained behind, one arm wrapped around her thigh. \u201cI don\u2019t have any homework.\u201d<\/p>\n

She squatted and pulled him in for a hug. \u201cNope, you sure don\u2019t, bud.\u201d<\/p>\n

He leaned back. \u201cDo I get a horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra distracted him by inching her fingers up his ribs. \u201cWhat, Trev?\u201d<\/p>\n

He tried to talk around his giggles. \u201cDo I get\u2014Mom!\u201d Her fingers found the tickle spots under his arms and he laughed, his eyes squinted shut and mouth opened wide. She found all his giggle spots, then turned on Sesame Street as the second distraction. Good old Bert and Ernie.<\/p>\n

Now what? She had roughly forty-five minutes to figure out how she was going to get rid of a horse and not be a complete zero in her kids\u2019 eyes.<\/p>\n

She eyed the phone and made her next move. Five minutes later a white Mazda whipped into her driveway. Sierra hurried out the front door waving her arms to stop Elise before she could start her ritual honking for the kids.<\/p>\n

Wide eyed, her platinum blonde friend stared, one long plum-colored nail hovering above the \u201cooga\u201d horn on the dash. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want the kids to know you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wicked delight spread across her perfectly made-up face. Light plum shadow matched her nails. Tomorrow, both eye shadow and nails could be green. \u201cLet me guess! Mr. Pellum asked you out!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNooooo!\u201d Mr. Pellum was a teacher Sierra and Elise had had a crush on in seventh grade.<\/p>\n

\u201cUmmm \u2026 you robbed a bank and need me to watch the kids while you fly to Tahiti?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra gave her a mock-serious look. \u201cDone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise tilted her head. \u201cCan I get out of the car?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra glanced toward the house. All was still silent. \u201cYes, you may.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deadpan, Elise nodded and opened the door. \u201cThen I\u2019m done for now.\u201d Her plump body, swathed in a creamy suit with a purple scarf draped across one shoulder, rose gracefully from the small two-seater.<\/p>\n

Sierra closed the door for her, then leaned against it. Elise had a way of removing the extraneous and reducing a problem down to the bare essentials. \u201cElise, I\u2019m in a predicament.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHon, I\u2019ve been trying to tell you that for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t think you could have seen this one coming even with your crystal ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise gave her the spinster teacher look through narrowed eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t think I like the implications of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra held her hands out. \u201cYou are the queen of mind-reading, according to my children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise chuckled. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing I was just headed out for a latte break when you called. Now what\u2019s the big emergency?\u201d She owned a high-end clothing store for plus-sized women in downtown Eugene.<\/p>\n

\u201cA horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise glanced around as if one or two might be lurking behind a tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cA herd of them or just one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne. Full-sized. Living and breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I\u2019m missing some pieces here. Is it moving in with you? Holding one of the children hostage? What?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra breathed out a slight chuckle and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to believe this, but I inherited it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her friend\u2019s eyes grew wide, emphasizing the lushly mascaraed lashes. \u201cLike someone died and gave you their horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra nodded, raising her brows. \u201cAnd the kids want to keep him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furrows emerged across Elise\u2019s forehead. \u201cWho is the idiot that told them about the horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra tilted her head with a look that only best friends could give each other.<\/p>\n

Elise\u2019s perfectly painted lips smirked. \u201cMoving along, then. Why don\u2019t you keep it? The kids would love it. Heaven knows they deserve it.\u201d She clapped her hands together. \u201cOh, oh! They could get into 4-H, and Braden could learn to barrel race. That kid would think he\u2019d won the jackpot. Emory and Trevor could get a pig or some of those show roosters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra let the idea machine wind down. \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngora rabbits?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo farm animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise\u2019s mouth perked into humorous pout. \u201cSierra, you\u2019re such a spoilsport. Those kids need a pet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA hamster is a pet. A horse is not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diva Elise took the stage, hands on her ample hips. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t want a horse growing up. Remember, I was the one who had to sit and watch National Velvet with you time ad nauseam. You\u2019ve said yourself that Braden needs something to take his mind off the problems he\u2019s having at school and with his dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guilt, a wheelbarrow load of it, dumped on Sierra. \u201cYou are supposed to be helping me, Elise, not making it worse. I want to get rid of this horse and \u2026\u201d her eyes dodged away from her friend, \u201c\u2026 you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm-hmm. And still look like Super Mom in your children\u2019s eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra nodded, but couldn\u2019t find the nerve to say yes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSierra Montgomery, those children have been to heck and back in the last couple years and you\u2019re willing to deny them the pleasure of owning their own free horse because \u2026 because of what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra stared at the ground for a moment, feeling a tangle of emotions rise within. She let her eyes rest on Elise\u2019s and said quietly, \u201cFear? Terror? Hysteria?\u201d<\/p>\n

A look of puzzlement, then understanding settled on Elise\u2019s face, smoothing away the annoyance. \u201cMolly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra nodded. \u201cI won\u2019t put my children in that kind of danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise leaned forward and grabbed Sierra\u2019s hands, holding them tight. \u201cOh, hon. That was a long time ago. Don\u2019t let your life be ruled by the what-ifs. There\u2019s a lot of living left to do. And your kids need to see you taking life by storm, taking chances, not hiding in the shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s easy for you to say. You were voted most likely to parachute off the Empire State Building.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise gave her a cheeky grin, both dimples winking at her. \u201cWe could do it tandem!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you see me jump off the Empire State Building you\u2019ll know my lobotomy was successful, because there is no way in this lifetime you\u2019ll catch this body leaving good sense behind!\u201d Sierra heard the words come from her own mouth and stared at her friend in wonder. \u201cOh, my gosh. That was so my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was bound to happen, hon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Was she serious? \u201cYou think I\u2019m turning into her?\u201d Sierra brought a hand to her throat and quickly dropped it. How many times had she seen her mom use the same gesture?<\/p>\n

Elise laughed. \u201cYou need to stop fretting and just live. We all turn out like our mothers in some respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll except you. You\u2019re nothing like Vivian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOther than the drinking, smoking, and carousing, I\u2019m exactly like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra lifted a brow. Her mom had rarely let her go to Elise\u2019s house when they were growing up\u2014and for good reason. Elise struck a pose like a fashion model. \u201cOkay, I\u2019m the anti-Vivian.\u201d She gave Sierra a soft smile. \u201cAll funnin\u2019 aside, I really think you should keep the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not keeping the horse. And even if I wanted to, I couldn\u2019t.\u201d Sierra took a settling breath and stared at the tree over Elise\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael still hasn\u2019t paid?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise knew more about her finances than her mom did. \u201cHe paid, but the check bounced again. So now he\u2019s two months behind in child support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you heard if Pollan\u2019s is rehiring?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not.\u201d Jarrett\u2019s, the local grocery store where she worked for the three years since the divorce had been recently bought out by Pollan\u2019s. They had laid off the majority of the checkers with the possibility of rehiring some.<\/p>\n

Elise cringed as if she was bracing herself for a blow. \u201cAnd the unemployment fiasco?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra shut her eyes. \u201cMr. Jarrett did not pay into our unemployment insurance, so there is no benefit for us to draw from. Yes, it was illegal, and yes he will pay, but it may take months, if not years, for various lawyers and judges to beat it out of him.\u201d She gave Elise a tired smile. \u201cThat\u2019s the version minus all the legalese.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the layoffs are final, no unemployment bennies, and you\u2019re out of a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMomentarily. The r\u00e9sum\u00e9 has been dusted off and polished.\u201d She gave a wry grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could hire you at Deluxe Couture, but I promised Nora fulltime work. And besides, your cute little buns would drive my clientele away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra waved a hand over her jeans and sweatshirt. \u201cYour clientele would outshine me any day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sell yourself far too short.\u201d Elise glanced at the hefty rhinestone encrusted watch on her wrist. \u201cAnything else I can do for you? Help the kids with their homework? Babysit while you sweep some tall, dark, handsome man off his feet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra laughed. \u201cAnd where is this dream man going to come from?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise gave a breezy wave of her hand and opened the car door. \u201cOh, he\u2019ll turn up. You\u2019re too cute to stay single. I actually have someone in mind. Pavo Marcello. He\u2019s a new sales rep from one of my favorite lines. I\u2019ll see if he\u2019s free Friday night. You aren\u2019t doing anything, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on!\u201d Sierra stepped in front of the car door to keep her friend from leaving. \u201cFirst, I\u2019m not looking. Second, given my history, I\u2019m not the best judge of character. I\u2019ve already struck out once in the man department.\u201d She pointed to her face with both index fingers. \u201cNot anxious to try again. Third, you just told me I\u2019m turning into my mom, which makes me definitely not dating material.\u201d<\/p>\n

A twist of Elise\u2019s lips signaled a thought. \u201cYou know, now that I think about it, I believe he has a boyfriend.\u201d She shook her head and lowered herself into the car. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep looking. I\u2019m sure Sir Knight will turn up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra shut the car door and grinned down at her friend. \u201cAnd what about finding your knight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elise gave her a bright smile. \u201cMr. Pellum is already taken. You really need to find a way to keep that horse; it\u2019ll be your first noble sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst?\u201d<\/p>\n

The little car backed up, and Elise spoke over the windshield. \u201cThe others don\u2019t count.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra stared at the retreating car. There was no way she was keeping that horse.<\/p>\n

After dinner, Sierra crept into Braden\u2019s room. He sat on the bed intent on the Game Boy in his lap, the tinny sound of hard rock bleeding out of his earphones. She waved a hand and he glanced up. She waited and with a look of preteen exasperation he finally pulled the headphones to his shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to say good night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night.\u201d His hands started to readjust the music back into position.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at your homework.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got into my backpack? Isn\u2019t that like against the law or something? You\u2019re always telling us not to get into your stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

She crossed her arms. Frustration and worry gnawed at her. \u201cYou lied to me about doing your assignment. Why, honey?\u201d<\/p>\n

He ignored her and started playing his Game Boy.<\/p>\n

She took one step and snatched the game from his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want some respect when I talk to you, Braden.\u201d<\/p>\n

His chin sank toward his chest, his gaze fixed on his bed, his voice low. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sat next to him, her voice soft. \u201cIs it too hard?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cIt gives me a headache when I work on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBraden, if you need help, I\u2019d be happy to work with you after school.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stared at his knees and picked at a loose string of cotton on his pajama bottoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a phone call from Mrs. Hamison today.\u201d<\/p>\n

His body came alert, though he didn\u2019t look at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said you\u2019re flunking most of your subjects, and she hasn\u2019t seen any homework from you since school started a month ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced up, his jaw belligerent, but with fear in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on? I know school isn\u2019t easy, but you\u2019ve never given up before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMiddle school\u2019s harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

She wanted to touch him, to brush the hair off his forehead and snuggle him close the way she used to when he was small. Back when a hug and a treat shared over the kitchen table was enough to bring the sparkle back to her son. \u201cShe thinks we should have your vision tested.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s noticed some things in class and thinks it might be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged again. \u201cCan I have my game back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou lied to me, son. Again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSor-ry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou break trust every time you choose to be dishonest. Is that what you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

His voice was sullen and he stared at his comforter. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

She touched his leg. \u201cWhat\u2019s bothering you, honey?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Can I have my game back?\u201d<\/p>\n

She stood up. There was a time for talking and this obviously wasn\u2019t it. \u201cYou can have it tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

But would tomorrow be any different?<\/p><\/div>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/h3>\n

Divorced single mom Sierra is struggling both financially and emotionally. Not only did her husband leave her for another woman, but his child support checks have been bouncing – at the same time she was laid off from her job. All Sierra needed was another responsibility when she inherited an aging horse. Did I mention that Sierra is also terrified of horses due to a childhood trauma? So what happens when Sierra is railroaded into keeping Chance and as a result meets two men who will impact her and her children’s lives forever?<\/p>\n

Leave It To Chance<\/a> is a beautifully written story with realistic and believable characters who have serious real life secrets and issues. Interspersed with humor, wisdom, and romance, this book will keep the reader engaged until the end. Leave It To Chance<\/a> is a must read book. You just have to discover how an old, run-down horse is able to help heal wounded hearts and ultimately help lead them back to God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his\/her latest book’s FIRST chapter! The feature author is: Sherri Sand and her book: Leave it to Chance David C. Cook (May 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sherri Sand is a wife and mother of four […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=906"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":919,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906\/revisions\/919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}