Sean, dressed in a suit, goes to the horse auction that Malvern holds for the visiting buyers. Holly greets him and asks about his role, and Sean explains that he is there to impress people with his knowledge and help Malvern sell the horses he chooses. Sean gives him some advice on what to buy, suggesting a brood mare for breeding.

Malvern approaches and greets them both, asking if Holly has made any choices about what to buy. Holly praises Sean and makes a comment about wanting to take him to the mainland. Malvern explains that he raised Sean since his parents died, which makes Sean somewhat bitter because it wrongfully paints Malvern as a caring stepfather. However, when Holly mentions that Sean is well-positioned to inherit Malvern’s business, Malvern does not disagree with him. Instead, he insults Mutt in a backhanded way. Nearby, Mutt overhears the conversation. After Malvern leaves, Sean is unsettled by the hurt and angry look on Mutt’s face as he storms away.

Puck heads to the beach to continue training. Finn accompanies her first to Dory’s shop, where they hope to have sold some teapots. They have no money left, having used most of it for better food for Dove.

At Dory’s shop, Puck is surprised to find Dory, Elizabeth, and their third sister, Annie, all in the shop. They are talking to a handsome American man. Dory introduces him as George Holly, and then Elizabeth pulls Puck into the back to talk to her. She explains that Holly is interested in Annie romantically and that they hope to convince him to take her back to the US. Puck agrees to be polite to help them. Back in the shop, Holly tells them that he is going to watch the training. Dory urges him to stop by Palsson’s bakery first to try some of their November cakes. Puck and Finn agree to accompany him.

On the way to the bakery, Holly talks about the race. He explains that Sean believes Dove is fast and stands a chance if she runs straight while the capaill are distracted by the ocean. However, he then warns Puck about the men who will try to stop her from competing or even harm her during the race. He also asks Finn about the November cakes, and Finn launches into an excited description of them.

At the bakery, Holly buys several November cakes and cinnamon twists for himself and for Puck and Finn. Outside, he tries one, praising its taste and making Finn proud of the bakery. As they part, Holly wishes Puck luck. He then tells her that he hopes she will stop “wait[ing] for Sean Kendrick to realize that he’s lonely” (310).

Sean is nervous while he waits for Puck the next morning on the cliffs. He isn’t sure what he wants from her or if he wants anything at all. When she finally arrives, she wordlessly hands him a November cake, and the two begin training their horses. Sean forgets about everything as he runs across the cliffs. When they finish, Puck hesitates as if she is going to say something but then simply tells him that she’ll see him tomorrow.

Puck and Sean train together for the next few days, mostly without speaking. She constantly thinks about him touching her wrist. She begins to fear that he will lose Corr but, at the same time, knows that she doesn’t want to lose either.

On Sunday, as Sean and Puck train together, he begins to notice that Dove is nearly as fast as Corr. When they finish, he compliments Puck, insisting that she has a real chance at winning. He tells her to take Dove down by the beach the next day, their last day of training, to be sure that she will be comfortable around the other capaill.

Puck invites Sean to dinner. He knows that he has a lot of other things to do but is still drawn to the idea of having dinner with her, so he tells her he will if he has time.

When Puck gets home, she is surprised to find Tommy and Gabe there with a chicken. As Puck prepares it, Tommy talks about moving to the mainland, assuring Puck that they will visit often and send back money. He also tells Puck that everyone is talking about her and Sean training on the cliffs and how fast they looked.

To Puck’s surprise, Sean knocks on the door. He brings a loaf of bread. She is initially nervous, but Tommy, Gabe, and Finn welcome him without any questions. They talk about strategy, with Puck suggesting that Dove and Corr race on the inside, as everyone else will be too afraid to get close to the sea. She also wants to hang back and save her energy while hoping that a lot of racers fall early. Sean assures her that he will race right by her side. Puck argues, insisting that she won’t be Sean’s “weakness”; however, Sean responds that “it’s too late for that” (323).

Sean wakes in the night to a capall screaming. He goes to the stalls and finds that someone has cut Edana’s hamstrings. He knows that the intended target was Corr, but Sean recently moved his stable. A moment later, he hears noise back by Corr’s stable and runs to it. He finds Mutt with a bloody blade and a spear pointed at Corr, who is backed against the wall. Sean pulls out a switchblade and threatens Mutt, but Mutt ignores him. Sean realizes how hurt Mutt is by his father’s words, so he tries a new approach. He tells Mutt that the only way to win his father’s approval is to win the race; killing Corr will accomplish nothing. Mutt hesitates and then drops the spear.

Mutt quickly leaves the stall, but Sean grabs him and pushes the knife against his neck. He is devastated by Edana’s injury and Mutt’s heartlessness. However, before he can do anything, Malvern says his name from behind him. Sean drops the knife. Malvern tells Mutt to go to his bed, and Mutt begrudgingly listens. Malvern tells Sean to euthanize Edana and then leaves the stall.

The next day, Sean arrives at the beach and finds Puck. He advises her against training, as the weather is rough and the capaill will be restless. She hesitates but then takes his advice. However, she is adamant that she needs to make sure that Tommy is not on the beach, so she leaves Dove with Elizabeth and departs.

Once Puck leaves, Dory speaks to Sean. She warns him against falling in love with Puck. She tells him that they are both too free and would be better off with someone who helps keep them grounded. She also points out that he is in love with the capaill and the races. Sean internally notes that she is wrong; he loves Puck, too.

When Puck returns, she and Sean go down to the beach. After searching for a while, they spot Tommy’s capall. However, as they get closer, they see four bodies lying in the sand. One is Tommy.

The next day, the eve of the races, Tommy’s family has his funeral. Gabe spends the day working tirelessly in the yard, cleaning debris and repairing the fence, until Puck forces him to come in and eat.

The funeral takes place down by the sea. Tommy’s mother greets Gabe, and Puck is shocked to see him crying. Tommy’s father then speaks with Puck. He tells her that she should not be in the race, as it is sacred. For the first time, Puck wonders if he is right. Between the blood ritual to enter the race and the funeral, she thinks about how the identities of the men on the island are tied to the race. Reflecting on this, she feels as though she knows the island better than ever before. Despite this, she is adamant that she is going to compete.

Sean leads Tommy’s capall down to the water. He then releases him into the sea, scattering Tommy’s ashes into it. Puck is overwhelmed by “an unnamed wanting” as she watches him (340).

Sean finds Puck at dusk on the cliffs. She asks him what the race is like. He thinks of it as a horrific “battle,” but he tells Puck that the island will favor those who are brave, and he is adamant that she is the bravest. The two kiss as the sun disappears.

Looking out at the sea, Sean asks Puck what he should wish for. She tells him “happiness,” but he questions what that looks like on Thisby. She tells him that, tomorrow, they will win the race, buy Corr, convince Gabe to stay, and be happy together.

Puck spends the morning anxiously preparing for her race, which will take place in the early afternoon. When she finally goes to leave, Gabe follows her out of the house. He begs her not to race, but she insists that she has to. She says that she needs to keep Dove, afford food, and be comfortable with Finn. When Gabe questions whether dying is worth all that, Puck insists that it is, as she is truly happy on Thisby. When she starts to leave, Gabe grabs her and hugs her. He apologizes for not trusting her more.

Sean paces outside the stalls, knowing that he is too nervous to go to Corr without upsetting him. Holly finds him and asks what he is worried about. Sean points out that he has lost twice to Ian Privett and that Mutt’s horse is a wildcard. Holly doesn’t accept his response, instead pointing out that Sean is nervous about Puck. He asks what Sean truly wants, and Sean insists that he wants to live in his father’s house with Corr. Holly encourages him to win the race; then Holly will give him the mare he bought from Malvern to mate with Corr, allowing Sean to start his own business. Sean likes the idea but insists he still needs to win.