But in her heart, Skye wasn’t so sure.
Chapter ten
By the time Skye and Mrs. Chambers went back into the church, Skye had managed to calm herself down. Despite the fact that Joey and his tambourine were in the prep room with the rest of the band, Skye put him, and all the trouble he had caused, on a back burner and concentrated on the task that lay ahead. Determined to get the job done right for God, Skye filed onto the platform with a smile and a prayer.
The grand finale, with Mrs. Chambers directing, was performed almost flawlessly. In harmony with the band and the choir, Skye focused on every note. Only once did her eyes stray from Mrs. Chambers or the music score to the wall in the back of the church.
Like a snoot queen and her royal snoot court, Hannah and her friends sat on their thrones, engrossed in the program.
There’s only one reason she’s so into this, Skye thought. She wants to see me wipe out again.
But Skye and the Youth for Truth teens gave Hannah no reason to laugh.
At the last note, the band members stood next to the choir. A standing ovation prompted the teens to line up across the stage and take another bow.
Hannah or no Hannah, Skye had done her best.
And her feelings about Joey?
Skye placed him in the back of her mind, simply glanced at the congregation, and smiled.
As the hot summer days drifted by, the folks at Keystone Stables prepared their horses with grueling workouts for the Snyder County Horse Show. Skye and Champ worked on their obstacle course for the Advanced Trail class and helped Joey and Bucky with their routine. While Morgan practiced barrel racing, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers worked with the other students. Chad continued to help too.
As her fickle heart would have it, Skye forgave and forgot Chad’s brief entanglement with Hannah Gilbert. He never mentioned Miss Snoot, and Skye was certainly not going to bring up Hannah’s name—to him or anyone else.
And Joey? Although Skye’s frustration with him appeared to have peaked at the American Pride program, she still struggled with the boy’s unwanted attention. Encouraged by Mrs. Chambers, Skye determined to be more faithful in her daily prayer and Bible time. But as she searched for an answer to her problem, Skye’s strong will constantly took over, and she resisted what she knew was right. So, deciding to do things her own way, she continued to brush Joey off like a bug on her shoulder. “Skye, how come you’re still going into orbit when Joey’s around?” Morgan asked in Skye’s bedroom late one night.
“Is it that obvious?” Skye asked.
“Is the grass green?” Morgan shot back and giggled.
Skye leaned against her headboard and folded her legs. “I have tried—and tried—to be cool around him. He just rubs me the wrong way.”
“Any chance you’ve asked God for any help with all of this?” Morgan’s tone had a flair of sarcasm mixed with her genuine concern. “I haven’t seen you even carrying your Bible to church, let alone reading it here at home.”
“I haven’t exactly been connecting with God lately,” Skye confessed. “I guess that’s been obvious too.”
“Well, duh,” Morgan declared. “How many times have Mr. and Mrs. C. said that we need to connect with God—and often. Somewhere in the Bible it says that our time with him is as important as food to our bodies. We don’t like to miss the times we stuff our mouths, but we don’t think time alone with God is that cool. I’ve been there too. Sometimes my quiet time hasn’t been that important to me. But, sure as sugar, in a few days I’d crash.”
“It seems like I’ve been crashing all summer,” Skye said, then her tired voice struggled to portray excitement. “Do you remember that neat Bible library computer program Mom and Dad gave me for my birthday last year?”
“Yep.” Morgan forced out a lazy smile along with a long, hard yawn. “You showed the CD to me right after you got it. It is neat.”
Skye flopped across her bed and rested her chin on her folded arms. “Mom has challenged me to make a list of different ways to love God, so I decided to do a crossstudy of the word love. You should see all the Bible verses about that.”
Morgan stretched her arms and clapped one hand over her mouth to cover another yawn. “Girl, I’m beat. I’ve got to go to bed, so tell me quick, what about all those verses?”
“Well, there are zillions of them all through the Bible about loving God and loving others. But I found a verse in Matthew that smacked me right on the nose.”
“Go ahead, dump on me.” Morgan tried to stifle another yawn.
“It says something like if we’re kind to others, especially those we’d rather shrug off, it’s the same as loving God. I get a big fat F for that one. I haven’t been kind to Joey at all.”
Morgan rested her head on her fist. “When someone bugs me, I keep reminding myself that God made that person too. Who am I to be putting that kid down?”
Deep in thought, Skye lay like a lump of clay on her bed.
Morgan giggled. “I smell smoke. Are you thinking again?”
Skye giggled too as she looked into the freckled face of her very best friend. “You know, sometimes you are too awesome.”
Morgan’s sleepy eyes managed to twinkle at Skye’s comment. “Me, awesome? How so?”
“Well, you know how my temper’s always getting me into trouble. But since I’ve met you, I can’t remember you ever getting frazzled at anything. You’re so calm and cool all the time. Now, that’s awesome. And you’re not mad at God for letting you sit in that chair the rest of your life. That’s double awesome.”
“Skye, if you wanted to see a mess, you should have known me a few years ago when I was younger and dumber. I used to be really nasty, but I started learning how to keep my smile in the ‘display’ mode.” A Cheshire grin lit up Morgan’s whole face while she drilled her cheek with an index finger.
Skye giggled then fell silent again.
Morgan pivoted her chair toward the door. “If you’re done with twenty questions, I’m history. Six o’clock comes too early around here.”
“Morgan, do you ever wish that boys would pay more attention to you? I mean, you’ll be able to date in a couple of years.” Skye sat up and dangled her legs off the edge of the bed.
“Sure.” Morgan turned back toward Skye. “I’ve had lots of crushes on guys at school. I wish they’d see me the same way, but they never seem to look beyond this chair. Mr. and Mrs. C. always say that God has someone out there for me when I’m older, but it’s still hard to swallow right now. I need a lot of work in that part of my life. Sometimes it can be real tough.”
“Do you want Joey?” Skye chuckled.
“Joey? Well, sure!” Morgan kidded as she headed for the door. “He’s one neat kid. If you can give him up, I’m sure we’ll hit it off just fine.”
Chapter eleven
Finished with their daily barn chores on a sunny Friday evening, Skye and Joey walked along the fenced pasture toward the picnic grove. At the pavilion, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Morgan, and the other Keystone students were already greeting the Youth for Truth teens who had just arrived for hours of fun, food, and fellowship.
“Cloud, kin I ride your horsey now?” Like a pesky fly, Joey was at Skye again.
“Not today, okay?” Skye spoke more kindly to the boy than she had in a long time. “Champ and Bucky and the other horses are snacking on their oats in the barn. Then they’ll take a nice long snooze. Maybe some other time.”
“Oh, okay.” Joey was always upbeat. “Maybe I kin ride your horsey tomorrow?”
“Maybe tomorrow,” Skye said flatly. And a big maybe, she thought as she stepped up her pace. “Right now we’re going to have a picnic.”
“Ooh, I love picnics,” Joey yelled. At the end of the pasture, he started running toward the grove. “Hey, you guys,” he yelled louder, “we’re gonna have a picnic.”
Hurrying across the wooden bridge that spanned the brook, Joey melded into the excited group. The teens, armed with bottles of soda, bags o
f chips, and salad bowls, all greeted him warmly.
Good! Skye let out a long sigh of relief. That’ll get his mind off Champ.
Although Skye considered her “Joey attitude” much improved over the last few weeks, she still struggled with the idea of Joey riding her horse. And with the show only a week away, Skye had been treating Champ like royalty as they practiced for another blue ribbon. Having anyone else ride her champion Quarter Horse now could really mess him up, she reasoned.
As she crossed the bridge, Skye emptied her own mind of horse thoughts and focused on the evening’s fun. Her eyes roamed, looking for one special young man among the group of laughing teens.
Off to one side in his chef’s hat and red apron, Mr. Chambers was already flipping burgers on a gas grill that sizzled and smoked.
No Chad.
At the pavilion, Mrs. Chambers was receiving the invasion of side dishes from the guests while Morgan stacked paper plates and napkins.
No Chad.
Skye shifted her eyes to a gazebo nestled under a cluster of pines. Three girls were already seated inside, apparently engrossed in each other’s news of the day.
No Chad.
As Skye reached the pavilion, she scanned a small clearing near the gazebo. There Chad, Joey, and two other boys were getting ready to start a game of horseshoes.
He’s here! Skye lit up with a smile from ear to ear.
Mrs. Chambers whisked by and handed Skye a bag of Styrofoam cups. “Would you please fill these with ice? The ice chest is under the table. I’ve got to get more serving spoons from the house.” Mrs. Chambers glanced back as she hurried toward the bridge. “Oh, and Skye, the wet wipes are down at Morgan’s end of the table.”
“Okay, Mom.” Skye cleaned her hands and tackled the task before her. Opening the chest, she started to scoop ice into the cups and line them in neat rows on the table.
“Hey, Skye.” Melissa flashed her pleasant smile as she approached with five other girls. “We’re going to try a new kind of soccer. Mr. C. said we could play in the field. We’re going to practice kicking the ball between piles of horse manure. Want to be the goalie?” The girls all laughed.
“Too cool.” Skye laughed too. “But first, I need to help get stuff ready here. I’ll join you when I’m finished.”
“Catch you later then,” Melissa said, hurrying away with the girls.
Skye turned toward the horseshoe pits where Chad was laughing up a storm. For once, she didn’t mind missing out on her friends’ idea of fun. I’d rather just watch him, she told herself as she scooped more cups of ice.
Like a hub in the center of a spinning wheel, Skye stood amid the happenings of an exciting time. From the girls in the gazebo to the boys playing horseshoes to Melissa and her soccer team, the picnic exploded with fun.
But suddenly Skye found herself in a moment of deep thought as she studied Mr. Chambers busy at the grill, Morgan folding napkins, and Mrs. Chambers rushing into the back of the house. What a family! All they want to do is help. They’re always thinking of others. I just think of me.
Skye flipped back her long hair and turned again toward Chad. He is so cool too. He even likes to help Joey! All I’ve ever wanted to do is get away from the kid.
“Skye!”
As though miles away, Skye barely heard her name called out. “Huh?”
“What are you doing?” Morgan howled with laughter. “We’re not feeding the whole church! Just the youth group. You have half the table covered with cups. You go, girl!”
“Oops.” Skye started dumping ice back in the chest. “I guess—”
“Never mind.” Morgan giggled. “I can see your brain is focused somewhere else.”
“You have no idea,” Skye said as she headed toward the open field.
Plates mounded with food, intense horseshoe games, and one repulsive soccer ball later, the teens all gathered at the pavilion before going home. Standing at the head of the long table, Mr. Chambers presented a challenge from the book of First John. The topic just happened to be “Loving God and Loving Others.”
With Chad on one side and Joey on the other, Skye listened intently to Mr. Chambers. Studying this very subject of love for weeks, she yearned to know more. When Mr. Chambers finished with a question-and-answer time, Skye was into it 100 percent.
“So, kids,” Mr. Chambers said, “we’ve decided that a good way to show your love for God is by going to church, reading the Bible, and praying. But what else can we do?”
Bobby stuck his hand in the air and punched his glasses back on his nose. “We can shape up at home so our parents don’t go bonkers!”
Everyone roared with laughter.
“You should know, Bobby!” Mr. Chambers laughed with everyone again.
“I think it’s important to invite other kids to church so they can know the truth about Christ,” Chad said sincerely.
Kids like Hannah Gilbert? With bent elbows on the table, Skye rested her head between two clenched fists to cover her scowl.
Morgan raised her hand. “We can listen when we’re in church and not act lame.”
“Good point,” Mr. Chambers said. “Anyone else?”
“Ooh, ooh, Mr. Chambers!” Joey waved his hand.
“Yes, Joey.”
“We can be nice to everybody, especially to my girlfriend, Cloud.” Without even looking, Skye knew Joey was gawking at her with puppy-dog eyes. She felt her face start to redden as she stared at a knot in the table.
Everyone giggled.
“And you are nice to everybody.” Across the table, Mrs. Chambers tried to direct attention away from Skye. “Joey, that’s a very good way to show that you love God.”
Skye took a quick glance at Joey, whose jubilant smile glowed, once again inviting her into his world.
Strangely, Skye found herself staring deep into the eyes of this special boy. But unlike before, the heat of shame did not surge through her body like poison. Now, for the first time, she saw Joey Klingerman as just another kid who needed help. Her help.
“That’s cool,” Skye said. From the depths of her heart, an exuberant smile erupted and splashed across her face.
Chapter twelve
Acrystal-clear Saturday in August brought crowds of horse lovers to the Snyder County Fairgrounds for the annual horse show. Around a large, fenced oval, fancy-dressed dudes on glistening horses intermingled with parked trailers. Waiting their turn to ride, dozens of contestants tightened cinch straps on saddles, checked bridles and hooves of their mounts, and primped their own western clothes. Others who had already competed were relaxing on their mounts as they watched the show or were at their trailers untacking and pampering their horses.
Cheering fans packed the grandstand while blaring speakers announced the next event. The aromas of barbecued chicken and funnel cakes intermingled with the smells of sweating horses and fresh manure as a cool breeze whisked across the field.
Sitting on Champ outside the show ring, Skye cheered as Morgan and her dun mare, Blaze, raced around three barrels at lightning speed. Along the fence with Skye stood Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Chad, Joey, and the other Keystone Stables students, all in western clothes and all screaming their heads off.
Skye looked sharp in her suede Stetson leveled to her eyebrows with her dark hair drawn back in a tight bun. A leather-fringed vest covered a purple-checkered shirt. A black necktie, cowhide gloves, blue jeans, chaps, and polished black boots made Skye a perfect match for her mount.
Champ’s black bridle with purple browband set off a leather-cut black saddle. The poncho roll highlighted his copper coat and silky mane and tail. The Quarter Horse’s rippling muscles glistened with a lather of sweat as he stood puffing and nodding his head. On the cheek strap of his bridle hung a blue ribbon.
As she watched Morgan compete, Skye caught a glimpse of a familiar snooty face on the opposite side of the ring. Sitting on a golden Palomino near the fence was Hannah Gilbert in the finest western duds money could buy. Her long blonde cu
rls flowed from under a powder blue Stetson garnished with shiny medallions. I’m glad she’s way over there, Skye thought, and she can stay there.
Morgan cut Blaze around the last barrel, raced out of the ring, and headed toward Keystone’s group.
“Twenty seconds flat for Morgan Hendricks!” the loudspeaker announced. “That’s good enough for second place!”
A round of applause exploded from the grandstand, followed by another announcement. “Attention! All you special cowpokes out there, the Special-Needs Beginners’ Western Pleasure class is coming up in about ten minutes, so get your horses ready. But right now, our next barrel racer is Sam Fowler on Tomahawk, a registered Paint.”
Mr. Chambers greeted Morgan and Blaze. Grabbing the bridle, he patted the horse’s neck. “That was a darn good ride, Morgan. You cut each barrel clean as a whistle. Nice job.”
Mrs. Chambers joined him. “That was a great run, Morgan.”
“Thanks,” Morgan said. “Blaze was at her best today. I’ll be happy with a second.” She glanced back at the ring to watch the next racer.
“It seems that lately our favorite colors are red and blue,” Skye said to Morgan.
Morgan giggled. “Well, if nothing else, we’re patriotic!”
Mr. Chambers turned toward Keystone’s horse trailer. “We need to get Joey and Bucky ready for their class.”
“I’ll stay here with the other students,” Mrs. Chambers said.
“I’ll be right here watching the other racers.” Morgan started to maneuver her horse closer to the fence.
“Mr. C., I’ll help you get Bucky ready,” Chad said.
Skye backed her horse away from the fence and pivoted him toward the trailer. “I think I’ll give Champ the rest of the afternoon off. He deserves it.” She patted her horse’s neck, slid off his back, and led him next to Mr. Chambers and Chad.
“Joey, come with us,” Mr. Chambers said.
“I’m comin’, Mr. C.!” Joey ran toward Mr. Chambers.
At the trailer, Mr. Chambers backed Bucky, already saddled, down the trailer ramp. “Chad, get me a hoof pick from the cab, will you?”
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