Summary

Chapter 1. The setting for the chapter is a fall morning where Tex’s day is routinely starting. Before heading to school, he rides his favorite horse, Negritto. At school, he meets his best friend, Johnny Collins, with whom he had had a lot of fun riding a motorbike over the summer. Tex reveals he strongly wishes to go back home and ride Negritto. Upon his return home, he finds a grumpy Mason sitting at the kitchen table, not tending to his usual athletic practice. Mason, or “Mace,” is an all-star on the town’s basketball team. After the brothers engage in a heated discussion, Tex, to his dismay, finds out the horses have been sold to pay for the gas and other needs. A brawl ensues, resulting in Mason bruising Tex’s right eye. Running out of the house, Tex meets Jamie and Johnny Collins...