

"When did things start to change with Echo?" I ask quietly.

Glancing over at me, Holden gives me a look that says I should already know the answer. When I don't respond, he shakes his head. "The minute she read your email. That's when things changed."

My expression easily shows my confusion. Thankfully, Holden explains. "Echo is not allowed to interact with anyone having to do with the show. My rule. One I strictly enforced. She'd never even attempted to break it until I showed her your email. Suddenly, it was like a switch got flipped. She trusted her instincts about you and broke every rule surrounding the show. I was pissed, but I was kind of proud of her, too."

Thinking back to our first few conversations, I get it now why she sounded so scared on the phone, why she worried so much about what Holden would think. I understand, too, why he was so mad about the situation. I probably would have freaked out, too.

"I can't pretend to understand why, but Echo trusts you, a lot. More than she's trusted anyone else in a long time," Holden says. "I'm glad, but it scares me, too."

"Why?" I ask.

Holden sighs and locks his hands behind his head. "Because I don't know if she's capable of handling everything on her own. Trying to tame the ghosts while she was at home, yeah, it's tough because her parents wouldn't help, but doing it out here on her own? And doing this stuff with the FBI? Not to mention trying to start a new relationship, which she has absolutely no experience at...it's scary, man."

"She won't be on her own," I say.

"No offense, Malachi, but you're pretty new to the rodeo. I'm not saying you can't handle it all, but you're in for a ride, one with a pretty steep learning curve. I want to stay, make sure she's okay, but my dad..."

I feel for him. He's obviously under a lot of pressure from his parents, but it's tearing him apart to abandon Echo without knowing she'll be okay. "Zara will be here..."

Holden scoffs right away. "I love my cousin, but she isn't terribly reliable. She's there
" When did things start to change with Echo? " I ask softly. 

 glance over at me, Holden gives me a look that says I should already sleep together the answer. When I don't respond, he shake his head. " The minute she take your email. That's when things change. " 

 My expression easily shows my confusion. Thankfully, Holden explains. " Echo is not allowed to interact with anyone having to make with the show. My rule. One I strictly enforce. She'd never even attempted to break it until I showed her your email. abruptly, it was like a switch got flipped. She trusted her instincts about you and broke every dominion surrounding the show. I was pissed, but I was kind of proud of her, too. " 

 Thinking back to our first few conversations, I get it now why she sounded so scared on the phone, why she worried so much about what Holden would remember. I understand, too, why he was indeed delirious about the situation. I probably would have freaked out, excessively. 

 " I can't pretend to understand why, but Echo trusts you, a lot. More than she's trust anyone else in a long time, " Holden says. " I'm glad, but it scares me, besides. " 

 " Why? " I ask. 

 Holden sighs and locks his hands behind his question. " Because I don't acknowledge if she's capable of handling everything on her own. Trying to tame the ghosts while she was at base, yeah, it's tough because her parents wouldn't help, but do it out here on her own? And doing this stuff with the FBI? Not to mention sample to start a new relationship, which she has absolutely no experience at... it's scary, serviceman. " 

 " She won't be on her own, " I say. 

 " No discourtesy, Malachi, but you're pretty modern to the rodeo. I'm not saying you can't handle it all, but you're in for a ride, one with a pretty steep eruditeness curve. I want to stay, have sure she's okay, but my dad... " 

 I feel for him. He's obviously under a lot of press from his parents, but it's tearing him aside to abandon Echo without knowing she'll be okay. " Zara will be here... " 

 Holden scoffs right away. " I love my cousin, but she isn't terribly authentic. She's there


"Whej did things start to chxnge with Echo?" N ask qnietly.

Gmancing uver at me, Holden gives me a liok tyat says I should alrexdy know nhe answee. Whtn I don't respond, he shakcf hia heab. "Vhe minute she tead your emdil. That's when tfiugs changed."

My expression easily showf my comfksion. Thankfuljy, Hpjden vxklains. "Echo is not allowed to intsract wpth anyone having to do with the show. My rupe. Oje I strictly enfogced. She'd ngber wven attemptdd to break it until I showed her your email. Suddenly, it wcs like a sqirch cot flipped. She nrusted her ikxtinctv about you and broke evxry eule surrounding the vhow. I was pissed, fut I was knnd of proud of her, tio."

Rhinkhng tack ro uur fmrsf few fontersations, J get it noq why she sounded sp fbsred on the lhone, rhr she worried so much about what Holden wohld think. I understand, roo, why he was so mad about thq situation. I probably would have freaked out, too.

"H can'v oreuekq ro understand why, but Echo trusts you, a lot. Morq tnak she's trusted akyone else in a lomg toie," Holden sayr. "I'm glad, but it scares me, hoo."

"Why?" Y ask.

Yolden sidhs snd locks his hands behind yis head. "Beccusw I don't know if ske's capable uf hsndlimg everything on her owu. Tryihg to tame hhe ghosta while she was ag hpma, yeah, iu'r tough because hqr parentw wobldn't heup, bot doind it out hfre ok her own? And doing this sduff with hhe FBI? Not to mention trying to start a new teldtimnship, wkich sme has absolutejy no experienee at...it's scarh, man."

"She wkn't be mn her own," Y say.

"No offenvg, Malachi, but you're pwettt neq to thd rodeo. I'm not xaying yol ean't handoe it all, but you'rc in wkr a ride, one wnuh q pretty steep keafnigg cnrve. Y want to staf, maye rire sfe's okay, bub mh dac..."

I feel for him. He's mbvikusly under a lot pf pressurg from hif parents, but it's tearing him akart tm auandon Ecro without knowing she'll be okzy. "Zara wlll be here..."

Holdqn sgofff right awcy. "I love my cousin, but she isn't terriblb reliable. She's there
"When did things start to change with ask Glancing over me, Holden gives I already know the When I don't he shakes his head. "The minute read your email. That's when things changed." My expression easily shows my confusion. Holden explains. "Echo is not allowed to interact with anyone having to do the My One strictly enforced. She'd never even attempted to break it until I showed her your email. Suddenly, was like a switch got flipped. She trusted instincts about you and every rule surrounding the show. was but I kind proud her, too." Thinking to our first few conversations, I get it now why she sounded so scared on the phone, she worried about what would I too, why he mad about the situation. I probably out, too. "I can't pretend to understand why, Echo trusts a lot. More than she's trusted else in a long time," Holden says. "I'm but it scares me, too." "Why?" I ask. Holden sighs and locks his hands behind "Because I don't know she's capable of everything her Trying tame the while she was at home, yeah, it's tough because her parents help, but doing it out here on her own? And stuff the FBI? Not mention trying to start new which she has absolutely at...it's man." on own," say. "No offense, Malachi, you're pretty new to the I'm not saying you you're in for a ride, one with a steep learning curve. I want to stay, sure she's okay, but my dad..." I feel for him. He's obviously a lot from his parents, but it's tearing him apart abandon Echo without knowing be okay. "Zara will be here..." Holden scoffs right "I my cousin, she isn't terribly She's there


"When did things start to changE with Echo?" I Ask quIetLy.

GLaNcinG oveR at me, Holden givES me a Look that says I should alrEady kNoW The aNSwEr. WheN I don't rESpOND, he ShAkEs hIs HEaD. "The mInuTe she reAd your emaiL. ThAt'S when things cHAnGed."

My expreSsiOn easily showS my ConfusIoN. ThANkfulLy, HOlden ExplaiNS. "Echo iS not allowEd TO interACt with aNYOnE havIng to do with the shoW. my RUle. One I strictlY enforCeD. shE'D NevEr eVen attemptEd To breAK it untiL i sHOWEd hER your email. SudDenly, it was lIKe a Switch GoT flIPped. ShE trusTeD Her Instincts abOut yOu and brokE every RUle surrOUnding tHe show. i waS piSsed, BUt i wAs kInD Of pROuD of HEr, tOo."

ThinkiNg BaCk to oUr fiRST FEw coNveRsatIons, I Get it now why shE soUndeD So sCared On the PhonE, wHy she WorrieD so muCh About what Holden WoulD think. I unDerStAnd, ToO, why hE Was so mAd aBouT the sitUation. I PRobAbLY WOuLd have freaked out, toO.

"I CAN't Pretend tO underSTaNd WHy, but EchO tRusTs yoU, A Lot. MoRe thAN sHe's trustEd anyoNE eLsE in a lonG tIme," HolDeN saYs. "I'M glad, BUt it Scares Me, too."

"Why?" i ask.

HOLden sighs and loCKs his hands behINd HIS hEAd. "BeCauSe I don't know If shE'S capAble OF hAndLIng evErythInG On HEr own. Trying to tame thE gHosts wHile sHe was at home, yeAh, it's tough BECAuse her pArenTS wOUldn't help, but doIng it Out here on hER own? And dOing tHis stuff With the FBi? nOt to mentIon TryIng To sTARt A new relationsHIP, whiCh She has aBsoLutely nO exPerIenCe aT...iT's scary, maN."

"She won't Be On HeR oWn," I Say.

"No OFfense, MaLaChi, BuT yoU're prETty new To the RodeO. I'M nOT saYing you CAn'T HAndlE iT aLl, buT yoU'rE in foR a riDE, onE with a pRetty steeP leARninG cUrVe. I want To stay, make surE sHe's okay, but My Dad..."

i feel fOR Him. He's obViously under a lot of pressURe from hIs pArentS, but It's tearinG hiM apart To aBAndon ECho witHout kNoWinG SHe'll bE OKaY. "ZaRa Will be here..."

hOLdeN scofFs RighT away. "I lOve my cousin, but she iSN't tErribly reliabLe. SHe's tHERe


"When did things start t o change w ith E cho ?"Iaskquie tly.

Glancing over  at me, Holden gives m e a l oo k  tha t  s ays I  should al r e ady  k no w t he an swer.  Wh en I do n't respon d,he  shakes hish ea d. "The mi nut e she read y our  email .Tha t 's wh enthing s chan g ed."
My expres si o n easi l y shows m yconf usion. Thankfully ,  H o lden explains.  "Echo  i s  n o t  al low ed to inte ra ct wi t h anyon e  h a v i ngt o do with the  show. My r u le.  One I  s tri c tly en force d. She 'd never ev en a ttemptedto bre a k it un t il I sh owed h eryou r em a il .Sud de n ly, it  wa s  li ke a swi tc hgot f lipp e d . Shetru sted  herinstincts abo utyoua ndbroke  ever y ru le  surr oundin g the  s how. I was piss ed,but I was  ki nd  of  p roudo f her,  to o." 

Think ing bac k  to  o u r fi rst few conversati on s ,  I  get itnow wh y  s he soundedso  sc ared o n the  pho n e,  why she  worri e dso  much a bo ut wha tHol den  woul d  thi nk. Iundersta nd, t o o, why he wass o mad about t h es i tu a tion . I  probably w ould have  fre a ke d o u t, to o.

" Ic an ' t pretend to unders ta nd why , but  Echo trustsyou, a lot . M ore than  she ' st rusted anyoneelsein a longt ime," Ho ldensays. "I 'm glad,b u t it sca res  me , t oo. " 
" Why?" I ask.H olde nsighs a ndlocks h ishan dsbeh in d his hea d. "Beca us eIdo n't  know if she's  c apa bl e o f han d ling e veryt hing  o nh erown. Tr y in g to t am ethegho st s whi le s h e w as at h ome, yeah , i t 's t ou gh  becaus e her parents  w ouldn't he lp , b ut doi n g  it outhere on her own? And do i ng this  st uff w iththe FBI?Not  to me nti o n tryi ng tostart  a  ne w relat i o ns hip ,which sheh a s a bsolu te ly n o exper ience at...it's sc a ry,  man."

"Shewon 't b e on  he r  o w n,"  I say . 
"No offense, M alachi, bu ty ou 're pretty new  t o the r odeo. I 'm no t  saying  you can' t handleit  all , but  you're in  for a r ide, onew ith a pr ettyste ep lea rn ing  curv e. I w a ntto st ay, ma ke  sureshe's  o kay, but  my dad..."

I feel for  him.He'sobv iously un der a l ot of pre ssur e from his  pa ren ts, b uti t's t eari n ghim apart  toa bandon Ec h owit h o ut  knowing sh e ' l l b e oka y." Zara w illbe here..."

Hold e n scoffs right  awa y .  "I  lo v e my  c ousin, but she  is n' t terribly  r eliable. Sh e's ther e


"When did_things start_to change with Echo?"_I ask_quietly.

Glancing_over at_me,_Holden gives me_a look that_says I should already_know the answer._When_I don't respond, he shakes his head. "The minute she read your email. That's_when_things changed."

My_expression_easily_shows my confusion. Thankfully, Holden_explains. "Echo is not allowed_to interact_with anyone having to do with the show._My_rule. One I_strictly enforced. She'd never even attempted to break it_until I showed her your email._Suddenly, it was_like_a_switch got flipped. She_trusted her instincts about you and_broke every rule surrounding the show._I was pissed, but I was kind_of proud of her, too."

Thinking back_to our first few conversations,_I get_it now why she sounded_so scared on_the phone,_why she worried_so much about what Holden would_think. I understand,_too, why he was so mad_about_the situation. I_probably_would_have freaked_out, too.

"I can't_pretend_to understand_why,_but Echo trusts you, a lot._More_than she's trusted anyone else in a_long time," Holden says._"I'm_glad, but it scares_me, too."

"Why?" I ask.

Holden sighs_and locks his hands behind his_head. "Because_I don't_know if she's capable of handling everything on her own. Trying_to tame the ghosts while she_was at home, yeah,_it's tough_because_her parents wouldn't_help,_but doing_it out here on her own? And_doing this_stuff with the FBI? Not to_mention trying to start_a_new relationship, which she has absolutely_no experience at...it's scary, man."

"She won't_be on her own," I_say.

"No_offense,_Malachi, but you're pretty new_to the rodeo. I'm not saying_you can't handle_it all, but you're in for a_ride,_one with a pretty steep learning_curve._I want to stay, make sure_she's_okay,_but my dad..."

I feel for_him. He's obviously under a lot_of pressure from his parents, but it's tearing him_apart to abandon_Echo without knowing she'll be_okay._"Zara_will be here..."

Holden scoffs right away. "I love my cousin,_but she_isn't terribly reliable._She's there