And not for the first time, Elise's words truly made Lucy think.
They made her set aside her own outlook on life and instead see the world as Elise saw it—looking not through the eyes of someone who focused on only the brightest outcome, but of someone who had lost too much in the past to let hope alter logic. Because, in truth, no amount of wishful thinking would make Elise's parents agree to anything. Only hard work would.
And even if that didn't, then having Legacy's best interest in mind—which they both certainly did—meant continuing to train that horse to the best of both of their abilities so that she would have the best possible start to her future, be it at Akiyama Riding Academy or in a new home.
"So that's exactly what we'll do," Lucy said decidedly, "We're going to make it co
