The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books

by Jessica Burkhart

  Callie’s jaw dropped. “No way! Show me the counting! I can’t even picture it.”

  “Okay.” I halted Charm in the deserted aisle and Callie stopped Black Jack a few feet away. “Okay, Charm, let’s show you off.” Charm blinked his eyes in understanding and stood ready for a command.

  Callie stood still and Jack seemed to watch Charm with curious eyes.

  “Charm,” I said, standing in front of him. Our eyes met and I lowered my voice into a commanding tone. “Three.”

  Charm dipped his head and then raised his left foreleg in the air. He brought it to the ground one, two, and then three times. “Yes! Good boy!” I took a sugar cube from my pocket and put it on my outstretched palm. Charm inhaled it and crunched.

  “Wow!” Callie shook her head. “I can’t believe you taught him that. I’ve only seen horses on TV do it! That’s so cool.”

  “He loves it and—” Wait. Horses on TV. “This is it!” I shrieked. Black Jack raised his head in alarm. “My documentary topic with Jacob. We can film Charm’s tricks and prove horses are smart.”

  “It’s perfect,” Callie said. “You’ve got to call Jacob.”

  “I’ll call him after the meeting.” Since Jacob didn’t know anything about horses, it had been my job to come up with the perfect footage. But until today, I hadn’t even thought of anything interesting. Now, I had the perfect idea and Jacob and I would be able to hang out and work with the horses.

  We took Charm and Black Jack for a few more laps around the stable before we put them in their stalls. “Bye, boy,” I told Charm. “You’re going to be a big screen star soon!” Charm tossed his head, his forelock falling over one eye, and looked like a movie star posing on the red carpet for her latest flick. My horse was über-glam.

  Callie and I met up in the skybox overlooking the arena. Mr. Conner used the smaller space when he wasn’t meeting with many students.

  Julia and Alison walked in and took a couple of seats behind us. They were both chomping noisily on florescent green gum. I could smell the mint from where I sat.

  “Hey, guys,” Callie said. She turned around and looked at them.

  “Hey,” Julia and Alison said together. They both wore striped sweaters over black breeches with suede knees.

  Julia turned back to Alison. “Did you figure out Sunstruck’s problem yet?” Julia asked.

  Alison shook her head. I shifted in my seat to listen. “He won’t stop cribbing! Mr. Conner and I have tried everything. We painted the door with peppery paste and sprayed it with this no-chew stuff from Horse Supply. I put a cribbing strap on him last week and it didn’t even work.”

  “That’s dangerous, too,” I said. “Those pieces of wood he’s swallowing could make him sick.”

  Alison frowned. “I know. And I’d die if something happened to him.”

  “Have you tried another flavor of the no-chew spray?” Callie asked. “Some horses don’t mind the pepper taste.”

  “I’ve tried every flavor,” Alison said. “I even did a homemade one with cayenne pepper. But he’s ignoring it and chewing through the top of the stall door.”

  I’d just read something about cribbing in Young Rider last week. “He’s at the end of the aisle, right?”

  “Yeah.” Alison nodded. “So?”

  “Well, it’s quiet and there’s not much traffic down there. Didn’t you just move him after we got back from break?”

  “I did!” Alison said. “He didn’t crib in his old stall. Do you think he’s bored?”

  “He could be,” I said. “Maybe he needs to be around more people or horses. Move him or give him a stall ball.”

  Alison looked back and forth between Julia and me. “I never would have thought of that,” Alison said. “I’m going to move him after the meeting.”

  “Tell me how he does,” I said.

  Julia gave me a fleeting glare before looking at Alison.

  “I will,” Alison promised. She leaned back in her chair with a satisfied grin. The door opened and Heather stepped inside. Our smiles disappeared when Heather folded her arms and eyed us.

  “What’s going on?” she asked. She wedged her way between Julia and Alison, forcing Julia to move over so she could sit between them.

  “Sasha gave me an idea about Sunstruck,” Alison said, oblivious to Heather’s death stare. “I think it might just solve his cribbing problem.”

  Heather pressed her lips together. “Oh.” She paused. “Good. I know you were worried about that.”

  “I was,” Alison said. “After the meeting, I’m moving him to another stall and giving him a ball to play with.”

  Heather nodded, but didn’t say a word.

  The skybox door opened again and Mr. Conner stepped inside. He pulled off his black gloves and tousled the snow out of his hair. “Hi, girls,” he said. He pulled up a chair and plopped his paperwork on the desk. “We’ve got a few regionals things to talk about.”

  “Yes!” Callie whispered. “Show study sheets!”

  That made me sit up a little straighter. There wasn’t much time to practice. Especially when I had to put more hours into biology. And film class. And English.

  Basically everything.

  Mr. Conner handed me a stack of papers. I took one and passed the stack to Callie. The heading on the paper read JUNIOR EQUESTRIAN REGIONALS RULEBOOK and it was at least two hundred bound pages of show regulations, schedules, practice suggestions, and required attire.

  “And here’s your parental permission form,” Mr. Conner said. He handed me the next stack of papers.

  Mr. Conner waited for us to stop shuffling papers before he spoke again. “Did you get the e-mail with the group practice times?”

  We all nodded. The e-mail had been in my inbox last night.

  Mr. Conner stood and smiled. “All right. I expect you to read the handbook several times and come to me with any questions. See you at your next practice.”

  I moved to get up and my foot kicked something. I looked down and saw Heather’s oversize bag. A piece of notebook paper stuck out of the side pocket. Heather was still talking to Julia and Alison, so I leaned forward and squinted at the paper. “GamerGuy” was written on the corner. In Jacob’s handwriting.

  I sat back in my chair. He’d given her his IM name? Why?!

  Heather reached backward and snatched the bag off the floor without even looking at me.

  I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She didn’t need to know I’d seen that paper. She’d rub my face in it. If something was going on, Jacob would have told me.

  Wouldn’t he?

  The Trio flounced out of the room and I took a few deep breaths before getting up.

  “Want to read the rulebook together tomorrow after class?” Callie asked.

  “Um, sure,” I said. “I’ll call you later.”

  I hurried away before Callie could realize something was wrong. Outside, I headed for Winchester. The air was uncomfortably cold.

  “Sasha!”

  Eric hurried up the sidewalk. He stepped up to me and pushed his blue hood off his head.

  “Hey,” I said. “Ready to run screaming out of Canterwood yet?”

  Eric laughed and we started to walk together. “After writing two papers this week, almost. But I love riding here.”

  “Me too,” I admitted. “It makes up for the insanely tough classes.”

  Eric’s brown eyes warmed. “Definitely. I’m riding one of Mr. Conner’s school horses, Luna, and she’s great.”

  I nodded. “I’ve seen other people ride her and she looks like a smooth horse.”

  We walked in silence for a few seconds. I couldn’t keep my mind on our conversation. WHY did Heather have Jacob’s IM name in her bag?

  “Sasha?” Eric interrupted my thoughts.

  “Huh? Oh, sorry,” I said.

  “I was just asking you if maybe I could have your number. You know … in case I want to text you or something.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Su
re.”

  He handed me his phone and I punched in my number. I gave him mine and he did the same.

  We reached a fork in the sidewalk. Winchester was right and Blackwell was left.

  “Bye,” I said, giving him a distracted smile.

  “Bye,” he echoed.

  When I got back to my dorm, it was empty and a sticky note was in the middle of my mirror.

  Sash—I’m at cooking class. Will you please read my essay draft? <3, P.

  I sighed and pulled off my coat and boots. I sat at my desk and tried to read, but I couldn’t focus.

  Get a grip, I told myself.

  But Heather’s piece of paper kept popping into my head.

  CHARM GETS SCHOOLED … BY HEATHER

  LEAVING HEATHER AND ME ALONE TO PRACTICE sounded like the dumbest idea Mr. Conner ever had. But it was actually working out.

  Heather and I been riding for half an hour on a freezing Wednesday afternoon and we hadn’t fought once about the lesson. We both took riding too seriously to ruin practice with fighting. That kept me from throwing a zillion questions at her about her “friendship” with Jacob. Paige and I had run though every scenario about why Jacob was hanging out with Heather.

  Paige was sure they had a class together and that was how they knew each other. After class, I was going to sneak a couple of questions about Jacob into our conversation.

  “All right,” Heather said. She pulled Aristocrat up beside me. “That’s half an hour of flat work. Ready for jumping?”

  “Definitely,” I said. Beneath me, Charm’s body tensed when he got within a few yards of Aristocrat. “It’s okay,” I whispered to him. “You’re a better jumper than he is.” Charm snorted and nodded. I hid my grin.

  “Let’s take those jumps,” Heather said. She nodded in the direction of two verticals and a double oxer.

  “Okay,” I said. “You want to go first?”

  “Sure.” Heather flicked a bit of hay off her hunter green sweater. I looked down at my own stable coat—covered in chestnut horse hair—and tried to brush off a few.

  She let Aristocrat out into a smooth canter and they circled twice before heading to the first vertical. Mr. Conner had set up three jumps that he trusted us to get over easily while he wasn’t supervising. But he had repeated the “no jumping without a partner—ever!” rule about fifty times. I relaxed the reins and leaned back in the saddle, resting my hand on top of Charm’s rump.

  Aristocrat snapped his knees under his gleaming body and lifted into the air. He barely made a sound as he hit the ground and cantered toward the next jump. Heather gathered him and did a half halt to slow his stride before he floated over the red and white rails. They made a sweeping turn for eight or nine strides and then lined up for the double oxer. Heather’s eyes centered on the jump and Aristocrat took it without hesitation. If Mr. Fox had seen that ride, he would have known Heather didn’t need to bribe a judge to win.

  “Nice,” I called as Heather trotted Aristocrat over.

  “Thanks,” she said. “Your turn.”

  “Let’s do it,” I whispered to Charm. He craned his neck around to eye me and then straightened.

  We cantered around the indoor arena twice, avoiding the jumps, and then I pointed Charm at the first rail. Three, two, and now! I counted the strides in my head. Charm’s takeoff was perfect. He righted himself on the ground and then cantered toward the second jump.

  “Easy,” I said. He tugged on the reins and increased his speed by a fraction. No, no—too close to the double oxer! I thought, but it was too late. The oxer had a two-and-a-half foot spread and Charm took off too late. His back hooves clipped the second rail and it tumbled to the ground with a thunk.

  Why did that have to happen in front of Heather?!

  I frowned and trotted Charm next to Aristocrat. Charm’s muscles tensed and he tried to shuffle away from his rival.

  “That was awful,” Heather said. She dropped the reins and crossed her arms. “Do it again.”

  She was right. I had to end the lesson with Charm on a good note or he’d lose his confidence. I didn’t say a word and turned him back to the course. I rode him up to the double oxer and dismounted to set up the knocked pole.

  We flew over the first two jumps, but Charm strained toward the double oxer. “Slow down,” I said in a firm voice. I checked his stride, but he ignored my hands and this time, he left the ground a half-stride too early. He knocked the rail again and I fought back a scream of frustration.

  “Sasha!” Heather called from her spot on the other side of the arena. “What are you doing?”

  “He keeps knocking the rail,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “He’s not doing it wrong,” Heather said. “You are.”

  “No, I’m not,” I protested. “He’s not listening.”

  “You’re not giving him the right cues.”

  That was it. “Fine,” I said. I dismounted and pulled Charm’s reins over his head. I held them out to Heather. “You do it, then.” Charm slowed his pace and tried to back up when he realized I was leading him to Heather.

  Without a word, Heather dismounted and we swapped reins. Charm’s furious glare made me realize what I’d done. My horse was in enemy hands! Charm may have had two bad rounds, but he didn’t deserve that.

  But it was too late. Heather had already mounted. She rode Charm in a large circle to get used to him.

  I turned Aristocrat in a circle and moved him back against the wall. He stepped a couple of feet sideways and stood as far away as the reins would allow. I reached out to pet him, but he laid back his ears and watched Heather and Charm.

  I’d never seen anyone else but Kim, my old instructor, ride Charm before. It killed me to watch him move fluidly (sigh) under Heather. His rounded back and arched neck looked near perfect from my spot on the sidelines.

  Heather’s hands softened and she urged Charm over the first jump. He didn’t hesitate—he rose into the air. They cleared the second vertical without fault. Heather closed her fingers around the reins and asked Charm to slow before the double oxer. He—my horse!—responded to her command and he collected his stride before popping over the double. They landed just feet away from the jump and with a triumphant grin, Heather guided him over to me.

  “That was nice,” I admitted. I waited for Heather to dismount, but she stayed on Charm and circled him.

  “You should try Aristocrat,” she said. “Mr. Conner keeps telling us we should ride different horses.”

  True. He had said that. Most Olympic riders had two or three horses to ride in case one became injured.

  “You sure?” I asked. I’d never seen anyone else ride her hundred thousand–dollar horse—not even Julia or Alison!

  “It’s fine,” Heather said.

  I turned so I couldn’t see Charm’s face and gathered the reins in my left hand. I slid my foot into the stirrup iron and lifted myself into the saddle. Aristocrat danced beneath me and I squeezed my legs firmly against his sides. He listened and moved forward, flicking an ear back to listen for another command.

  “Good boy,” I said. His good manners won out over his dislike for me.

  He didn’t rush the verticals and jumped them as if he could do it all day. He moved easily toward the double oxer and I sat still and gave him his head. His timing was perfect—we cleared the poles by several inches.

  “All right!” Heather called from atop Charm’s back.

  “He’s a great horse,” I said. I patted Aristocrat’s neck and tried to avoid looking at Charm. He strained against the reins to reach me, but recoiled when Aristocrat blew a breath in his face.

  Heather nodded. “He really is. Charm is better than I thought.”

  I decided to let that go.

  “So,” I said. “Next time we’ll work on endurance and timing?”

  “Sounds good. Maybe go canter up and down the hills for an hour.”

  “Can you make the next practice?” I asked. “Or … are you meeting someone or so
mething?”

  Heather frowned. “Meeting someone? Like … ?”

  “I don’t know.” I paused. “Maybe Julia or Alison or a guy or …” I trailed off.

  “Aw,” she said. “You think I’m meeting Jacob. Maybe I am. What’s it to you?”

  “You’re only interested in him because I like him.”

  “I’m just giving him options,” Heather said.

  “He doesn’t need options. He likes me.”

  We both turned when we heard a huff from the arena door. Julia, with arms folded, frowned at us. She looked as if she was hiding in her oversize royal blue sweater that almost covered her knees. “You’re letting her ride Aristocrat?” Julia squeaked.

  Heather jutted out her chin. “She was taking a jump wrong, so I had to show her how to get over the oxer. Relax.”

  “But you never let anyone ride him.” Julia’s voice turned to a whisper as she looked at Heather. “I’ve never ridden him.”

  Heather gave an exaggerated sigh. “Jules, we’re busy. Okay?”

  Without another word, Julia spun around and left. Heather didn’t move to go after her.

  We dismounted and swapped reins. The horses followed us and as we circled the arena to cool them out.

  “Did you ever find out more details about the Sweetheart Soirée?” Heather asked.

  “Actually, I did,” I said. I tried to sound as if I didn’t care. “Paige told me everything.”

  Heather froze. “She did?”

  I smiled. “Every detail.”

  Okay, that wasn’t completely true, but I loved seeing Heather squirm!

  Heather sniffed. “Whatever she told you was probably wrong anyway.”

  I shrugged, leading Charm forward.

  Heather pulled Aristocrat beside Charm and looked at me. “You should probably tell me what she said. Then I can tell you how wrong she is.”

  “Nah,” I said with a grin. “You’re right—it’s probably wrong and you wouldn’t want to hear it.”

  “But—” Heather started.

  I held back a laugh and walked Charm away.

  DESSERT— THE NEW FOOD GROUP

  CLASSES HAD ENDED FOR THE WEEK, BUT Paige’s School of Culinary Arts was in full swing. Paige and I had barricaded ourselves in the Winchester common room to make potential recipes for her application.