Within moments, his parents and Caleb burst into the barn. Caleb kneels beside Julian, eyes wide. "You okay?"
Julian nods, swallowing the pain. "I'm fine. Check Thunder."
His dad moves quickly, speaking softly to the horse, who's trembling and sweating, but unharmed. Slowly, they coax Thunder out of the stall, brushing him down, murmuring reassurances until he finally calms.
Only then do they start to assess the damage. It's clear this wasn't an accident. The ropes were intentionally tied, the objects placed where they'd startle a nervous horse.
Julian's mom calls the sheriff, her voice tight with worry. The deputies arrive, take statements, photograph the scene, but there's little they can do. Whoever did this knew how to disappear fast.
Word spreads quickly. By morning, rumors are flying. Some say it was jealous competitors. Others whisper about animal rights activists who think wild mustangs shouldn't perform. A few even blame Thunder, saying he's too wild, too dangerous.
Julian overhears a stable hand mutter, "That horse is trouble. He shouldn't be in the festival." It stings worse than any bruise.
Julian spends the day limping through chores, stubbornly refusing to let anyone help more than necessary. His side aches where he fell, but what hurts most is the fear: fear that the saboteur might try again, fear that the festival organizers might hear the rumors and decide Thunder is too big a risk.
The phone rings nonstop. Some reporters want to know if he'll pull out of the event. Others, more vicious, hint that maybe Thunder is unstable, that Julian should have never been allowed to ride him in the first place.
By late afternoon, Julian sits alone in the barn, Thunder's head resting gently in his lap. He strokes the stallion's neck, whispering, "We're not quitting. Not after everything we've been through. You hear me?"
Thunder sighs, his breath warm and steady, as if promising he won't give up either.
But outside, the voices grow louder. Some are calling for Thunder to be banned from the festival altogether. Julian closes his eyes, anger and fear battling inside him. He won't let them win. Not now. Not ever. He looks up at Thunder, determination settling in his bones. Tomorrow, they'd face the world, no matter who tried to stop them.