The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books

by Jessica Burkhart

  I shifted my bag and set off for my dorm in Winchester A. Butkis Hall, which everyone just called Winchester for obvious reasons. Inside the dorm, chatter filled the hallway and girls ran up to each other, giggling and hugging after the long winter break away from each other. When I’d moved into Winchester last fall, I’d hated the bright yellow hallway walls. Now, I touched the wall and smiled. It was good to be home.

  I peered inside Livvie’s office, but it was empty. Livvie, our dorm monitor, was probably helping someone move in or assuring a parent that she had plenty of rules (#67 in the handbook) to keep us out of trouble.

  I dodged a pile of red suitcases and stopped outside the door with the familiar bubbly pink sign reading SASHA AND PAIGE. I opened the door and peeked inside.

  “Paige!”

  “Sasha!” Paige squealed. “Hi!” Paige Parker, my friend and roommate from Manhattan, looked stylish as usual in indigo skinny jeans and a soft camel-brown cashmere sweater. She dropped her textbooks on her desk and ran over to hug me.

  I let my bag fall to the ground.

  “You totally disappeared over break!” I said. We’d texted and chatted on the phone until a few days ago. Then I’d gotten a cryptic text from Paige that had said, Gonna be MIA till school. Mom’s stressing family time. Save me!!

  Paige groaned. “I know! Sorry. I thought Mom was finally going to let me watch TV for once. But all I got to see was The History of Christmas on PBS. In. Two. Four. Hour. Segments.”

  “Yikes. Well, that sounds … interesting?”

  “Oh, especially the hour-long talk on the origin of the evergreens from Washington’s largest tree farm.” Paige sat on the end of my bed and watched as I hauled my bag in front of my closet and started unpacking. She stuck out her bottom lip and widened her green eyes.

  “Oh, I know what you want,” I said with an evil grin. “You want all of my Southampton Socialite episodes.”

  “Please, pretty please!” She fell to her knees as if she were at Mass. Hmmm … maybe I could get a batch of her homemade chocolate chip cookies out of this. …

  “I don’t know …, ” I said in a singsong voice.

  “Sasha!” Paige wailed. “I need brain-rotting TV! Now!”

  I laughed, rifling through my bag for the DVDs. “They’re all yours. But I’ve got to get to the stable. Callie and I made plans to race!”

  The word “race” made my heart pound. My gelding, Charm, was a Thoroughbred/Belgian mix. He loved to run—especially against other horses. It was the perfect way to start the rest of the school year.

  I held the DVDs out to Paige. She took them and kissed the covers. “Thank you, thank you! Oh, and I already told Suichin and Annabella that we’re watching a movie tonight after our welcome-back meeting with Livvie. Invite Callie, too, if you want.”

  “Cool.” A movie night sounded great. And I’d missed my floormates, Annabella and Suichin—it would be great to see them again.

  I plucked my buzzing phone from my pocket and flipped it open.

  Hey, Sash! R U on campus yet? Want 2 meet up 4 ice cream ltr? —Jacob

  “Jacob wants to meet me,” I said.

  Paige looked up from the DVD cover she was reading. “He like-likes you,” she sang.

  I rolled my eyes at Paige as I texted him back.

  Got 2 take care of Charm first, but I’ll text U when I’m done.

  Unpacking could wait until tonight. If I hurried, I could squeeze in a ride with Callie and see Jacob before Livvie’s first Winchester meeting of the semester. The meeting would be the usual—basically, a list of rules. No boys in dorms, bed by ten thirty, study every free second of the day. Last semester, Livvie had even told us that reading while we brushed our teeth was a great way to get in an extra two minutes of studying in the morning.

  I grabbed a pair of breeches from my drawer and slid into them. Mom and Dad had gotten me new paddock boots for Christmas and the dark brown leather gleamed against my fawn-colored breeches.

  “See you at the meeting,” I said to Paige.

  “’Kay,” Paige said, tearing her eyes away from the TV for about three seconds and then turning back. “Win for Winchester!”

  “I will!”

  I hurried out the door and headed down the Winchester hallway.

  On the corkboard near the exit, a pink heart-shaped flyer with fancy lettering caught my eye.

  CALLING ALL 7TH & 8TH GRADERS

  Sweetheart Soirée—the only place to be

  on Valentine’s Day.

  I checked the back of the flyer for more information, but that was it. No time, place, or even website to check for details. I made a mental note to ask Paige about that when I got back.

  Outside, in the freezing cold, students and their parents still packed the campus. The newbies hugged their parents and struggled not to cry. The returning students smiled, waved good-bye, and ran off to reunite with their Canterwood friends. Last September I had been a wreck on move-in day, and it had started with a disaster. But today was different.

  I wasn’t Union Sasha anymore. Canterwood Sasha was here to chase blue championship ribbons, make good grades, and hang out with her new best friends. I dug into my pocket, pulled out my favorite Bonne Bell lip gloss—Dr Pepper—and smoothed some on.

  Another thing Canterwood Sasha was here to do? Win the race!

  US VS. THEM

  “CALLIE!” I SQUEALED, THEN QUICKLY GLANCED over my shoulder. If Mr. Conner heard me screaming in the stable, I’d be in trouble for sure.

  “Sasha!” Callie left Black Jack, her Morab gelding, crosstied in the aisle and ran up to me. We hugged and I walked over to pat Black Jack’s shoulder.

  “It’s sooo good to be back!” I twirled in a circle and breathed in the horsey scent. “Everything is the same,” I said cheerfully. I wanted to see every inch of the place again from the tack room to the hot walker. The sweet scent of clean hay wafted through the air and the stable was warm against the winter chill.

  “Did you think the stable changed in the three weeks we were away?” Callie asked.

  “It might have,” I said. “Look, the nameplates are brighter.”

  Callie peered at the gold nameplate on one of the lesson horses’ stall door. “You’re a weird girl, Sasha Silver.”

  “But that’s why you love me,” I agreed. “We’ll be ready in ten.”

  “Deal,” Callie said.

  I ran to Charm’s stall and swiped a cotton lead line off the hook on the wall.

  “Charm?” I called into the roomy box stall. He lifted his chestnut head from his hay net. Stalks of hay stuck out from the corners of his mouth. “Silly boy,” I said, unlatching the stall door. Charm stepped over to me and head-butted my arm. He whickered softly and let me stroke his cheek. He sniffed my hair.

  “I missed you, too,” I whispered, wrapping him up in a hug. “Let’s get you out of here and go for a ride.”

  Charm bobbed his head in agreement.

  I led him out of the stall and examined every inch of him. “Wow,” I said. “Mike and Doug took excellent care of you.” Charm’s chestnut coat gleamed like a new penny. His blaze was blinding white and his hooves were clean. I’d have to remember to thank Mike and Doug, the stable’s grooms, for taking such good care of him while I was away.

  “One more hug,” I said. Charm leaned his neck into me. “Okay, time to tack up!”

  A few minutes later, Charm and Jack were tacked up and ready. Outside, Callie and I halted the horses, put on our helmets, and prepared to mount.

  I slipped my left foot into the stirrup and was about to push myself up from the ground when I heard hoofbeats behind me.

  Heather Fox, Julia Myer, and Alison Robb—aka the Trio—gazed down at me from atop their horses. All of the girls wore fawn breeches tucked into shiny black boots.

  “Ready yet?” Heather asked me, her blue eyes narrowed. Her perfect blond hair hung in two loose braids.

  “For what?” I asked. I lifted myself into Charm’s
saddle and turned him to face the Trio. Callie mounted and edged Black Jack beside Charm.

  Julia rolled her eyes. “For the race.” Her bay mare, Trix, pawed the ground and snorted.

  “Callie invited us,” Heather said, her lips curling into a barely there smirk.

  I twisted in the saddle, turning to Callie. “You did?” I whispered.

  Callie shrugged. “They were riding anyway, so I thought it would be fun to race them.”

  “Okay,” I said to the Trio. “Let’s go,” I squeezed my knees against Charm’s sides and urged him forward. Now Charm and I really had to win.

  “How about we line up behind that fence post?” Alison suggested. She pointed to the edge of the fence line.

  The five of us nodded at each other and eased our horses into a line.

  I crouched forward and stared between the chestnut tips of Charm’s ears. The five horses shifted and tensed as we steadied them in the back pasture. Icy wind whipped my hair back and I shivered beneath my plaid coat.

  “We’re racing on three and we go until we hit the woods,” Heather said from her spot on my right. Her copper-colored Thoroughbred gelding, Aristocrat, flexed his neck and strained against the reins. Charm eyed him before staring ahead. He knew as well as I did that we had to beat them. There was no way I could come back after winter break and lose to Heather.

  “One,” called Callie. She shifted over Jack’s saddle.

  “Two,” said Julia. She lowered herself over Trix’s neck.

  “Three!” shouted Alison.

  We heeled our horses forward. Alison’s palomino, Sunstruck, dashed ahead for an early lead.

  Charm surged forward with such force, he almost threw me back in the saddle. I grabbed a hunk of mane and steadied myself. His muscles had grown since we’d started training at Canterwood last September. His gallop hadn’t been half as fast back then.

  “Go, go!” I shouted. My hands inched up along his neck and I leaned forward in a jockey’s crouch. The brisk wind stung my eyes, but I asked Charm for more speed. Horses rushed around us in a cloud of black, bay, palomino, and chestnut.

  Aristocrat’s hooves pounded beside me. The gelding edged his nose in front of Charm’s. Charm rolled an eye to look at his rival and dug his hooves into the ground, fighting to keep his nose in front. Dark fence rails flashed by us. The horses galloped past the boys’ dorms at the south end of campus. Quickly, I ducked my head under my arm and looked back. A couple of yards behind me, Alison and Julia battled for fourth place. Callie and Black Jack pulled even with Aristocrat’s flank.

  Heather and I were fighting for first—of course. Our eyes connected before Heather dropped herself lower over Aristocrat’s neck and yelled, “Go!” He turned on another burst of speed and challenged Charm to catch him. The horses galloped full out. We perched precariously over their necks. One misstep and we’d be pitched to the ground. But it was too late to think about that now. Charm wouldn’t fall. Run, Charm! I thought. We can’t lose!

  Charm stretched his legs into a flying gallop and the wind in my ears drowned out the sound of the other horses. Charm’s long strides churned up the frozen grass. I let him out one more notch, but that was it. I didn’t want him to get hurt. The woods, rushing toward us, were a few yards away. Chunks of mud flew from Charm’s hooves. Mud clods had to be pelting Julia and Alison.

  “C’mon, boy!” I urged Charm. He found another gear and pushed to stick his head in front of Aristocrat. Charm and I were going to pull off a win! The tree line loomed closer and Aristocrat fought to catch Charm.

  Suddenly, a black blur zoomed past Aristocrat and jumped ahead of Charm. Callie and Black Jack surged past us on the outside and galloped through the clearing. I’d thought they were way behind us! A spray of mud flew through the air and specks landed on my face and thwacked against my helmet. Charm shuddered for a second and hesitated when mud hit his face. He shook it off and lurched forward, chasing Jack. Callie’s red coat with a white heart on the back looked like a target racing ahead of us. We were almost there! Aristocrat swung wide around a tree and lost ground. He ran back by Charm’s flank.

  “Go, boy!” We could still catch them! Charm’s gallop lengthened and he pulled his head even with Jack’s. Callie and I turned our heads to look at each other. Neither one of us was giving up. She looked away and urged Jack with her hands. Jack got his nose in front of Charm’s. Charm fought to keep up.

  I clicked to Charm. We tried to catch Callie and Jack, but the invisible finish line between two boulders at the wood’s edge was too close. Jack thundered over the grass between the rocks and Callie pulled him to a canter as they headed into the woods. Aristocrat and Heather crossed a second after Charm and me.

  Callie won.

  How had that even happened? She’d been behind three seconds ago!

  Charm yanked against the reins, frustrated over our loss. “It’s okay, boy,” I whispered to him. Julia and Alison galloped in behind us. We slowed the horses to a quick trot and let them cool down. When the dirt trail began to narrow, we pulled them to a walk. The horses, exhilarated by the run, tossed their heads and stretched their legs. Charm shook his head and huffed.

  “That was so fun!” Julia said. She pulled a compact out of her pocket and checked her reflection. She flicked a speck of dirt off her cheek and passed the mirror to Alison, who held it out to admire the tiny diamond studs in her ears.

  “Wow, where did you come from?” I asked Callie. “I thought Jack was running flat out and then you shot by us.”

  Callie rubbed Jack’s neck. “I rated him until the final strides and then let him out all the way.”

  “Nice one.” I tried to hide my frown. I didn’t know she was using actual jockey strategy in our race. Heather soothed Aristocrat, who tossed his head and crabstepped. He wanted to run more.

  “You totally kicked our butts, Callie,” Heather said.

  Hmm. She was being awfully gracious about losing. Suspicious.

  While everyone started chatting about school, I let Charm ease back a few strides. I’d been so focused on beating Heather, Callie had slipped right by us. Charm and I had underestimated her. But I couldn’t be mad at her for winning. Callie and Jack were a great pair and they’d beaten us. So why did it bug me so much? Callie dropped back to ride with me while the Trio ambled a few strides ahead of us.

  We reached the top of a hill and looked down at Canterwood’s campus. From here, I could see the tennis courts, the closed outdoor swimming pool, the lacrosse field and the stable. Our outdoor dirt ring, cross-country course and dressage arena had a few older riders practicing. My disappointment over losing lifted as I took in the campus.

  “It looks so much less intimidating from here,” Alison said. She stroked Sunstruck’s mane and rode closer to Julia. “But when we get back down there …” She was right. Canterwood Crest Academy, known for its fierce academic reputation and even tougher athletics, looked small and quiet from atop the hill. But once classes started back up, it would be back to cut-throat competition, studying day and night.

  “No kidding,” Heather murmured. She pushed back her helmet and revealed her golden, sun-kissed face. It looked like she had spent her winter break on a tropical beach somewhere.

  The Trio urged their horses ahead of me and Callie. I thought about how it had been among the five of us at the beginning of the year, my first few months here at Canterwood. Callie and I had become instant BFFs, but it had seemed like the Trio was out to get me from the very beginning—Heather had even put signs up instructing me toward the wrong meeting place for our very first team meeting.

  But once we found out we’d all made the advanced riding team, things had calmed down. It was like now that we were an actual team, we had to start acting like it—for the good of our riding. And now it even seemed … more or less peaceful.

  “What did everyone do over break?” I called out, deciding to take advantage of everyone’s good mood.

  Julia and Alison didn’t hesitate
.

  “My parents took me to Bermuda,” Julia bragged. “We snorkeled and rode horses on the beach.”

  Alison slowed Sunstruck in front of me. “I hung out at my sister’s apartment in NYC and went to her New Year’s Eve party. She let me stay up late.” Alison turned around in her saddle for emphasis. “Till two.”

  Behind the Trio, Callie and I rolled our eyes. “What about you?” I asked Heather. “Did you go to Bermuda and stay up till two?”

  She looked over her shoulder and glared. “Sasha, we’re only trail riding to give the horses a break from campus. Don’t start acting like we’re BFFs.”

  I held my heart with mock surprise. “We aren’t?”

  Callie snickered.

  Okay, maybe “peaceful” wasn’t the word.

  “Well, if you’re so obsessed with me and just have to know what I did over break, I’ll tell you,” Heather said. “My parents bought me a stack of presents, and then ditched me for Christmas morning. Satisfied?”

  “Oh,” I said. “Sorry.”

  Mr. Fox, with a heart two sizes smaller than the Grinch’s, wasn’t exactly Dad of the Year. If he wasn’t bossing Heather around about grades or riding, he was totally focused on his business. The man had at least three cell phones and probably talked on all of them at once.

  “Movie tonight at Winchester,” I whispered to Callie. “Want to come?”

  Callie nodded and her black ponytail bounced. “Sounds good—I’ll bring the junk food,” she said.

  I checked my watch as I posted to Charm’s trot. Charm’s legs and chest were flecked with mud—it would take forever to brush it out. I’d never make it to meet Jacob now. I’d text him later.

  Even though we’d texted a few times over break, the last time I’d seen Jacob was at the winter dance, when we’d danced together pretty much all night. I’d had such an amazing time—especially since I’d been crushing on him all semester … but then we’d both had to go back home for break. Now, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was he my boyfriend? My friend? And even though we didn’t have time to meet up today, I figured that maybe not seeing me for another day would make Jacob miss me more and he’d be even more excited to see me in class.