Half an hour later, Charm was cool, dry, and taking a few slow sips of water under the watchful eyes of Mike.
Julia and Alison walked Trix and Sunstruck around the yard to cool them down after their class.
“Hey!” I called as Callie walked over. She and Jack were done for the day, but she had to untack him and assist Mr. Conner.
“Alison got first in her class and Julia got second,” Callie whispered.
“Really? Wow!” I said.
“I know! You going to watch Heather?”
“I’m on my way right now,” I said.
“Call me if anything happens.”
“I will.”
I left Callie and headed toward cross-country. I weaved through the crowd of people with umbrellas, blankets and lawn chairs.
When the bell sounded, Aristocrat shot out of the starting box. Heather guided him easily over the stone wall and they disappeared into the woods. I walked through the grass and found a clear spot near the course’s end. I plopped onto the cold grass and drew my knees to my chin, snuggling into my coat.
While I waited for Heather and Aristocrat to finish the course, I texted Jacob.
First place!! :o) I typed.
A second later, my phone chimed.
Told you! Congrats!!!
I wanted to break into a nerd dance. Three exclamation points.
It didn’t take Heather and Aristocrat long to emerge from the woods. When they raced toward the finish line, I knew their time had been waaaay faster than Charm’s and mine.
Heather guided Aristocrat over to me after his vet check and we waited for the judges to announce the winners.
“Good ride,” I said.
Aristocrat’s sides heaved as Heather walked him in circles.
“Thanks.” Heather took off her helmet and snapped it onto one of Aristocrat’s stirrup irons.
“How sad that you’re still here,” a voice snipped.
Heather and I turned. Jasmine had one hand on her hip and the other on Phoenix’s reins. I’d missed her ride when I’d been cooling Charm.
“You really think you placed, Heather?” Jasmine asked. “At least Sasha was smart enough not to even bother bringing her nag for the ribbon ceremony.”
I’d had it. She could insult me, but no one dissed Charm.
“Charm is NOT a nag!” I yelled. “Don’t ever call him that again. I’m not like you. I wouldn’t push him or risk an injury to win.”
“Please,” Jasmine said. “He’s just a horse.”
“Well, I bet my horse beat yours,” Heather interjected in a sweet voice. “But you totally helped me.”
“What?” Jasmine narrowed her eyes.
Heather stepped closer. “The oil you put on Aristocrat helped us glide over the course. Right to the blue ribbon.”
Jasmine’s mouth opened and closed.
“Thanks for that!” Heather chirped with a giant smile.
Jasmine pulled Phoenix away to wait.
“And now, the ribbons are to be awarded for cross-country,” the announcer said.
“Third place goes to Abigail Hille on Orbit, for Priestly Day School,” the judge announced. A short girl on a leggy mare accepted her yellow ribbon.
“Second place goes to …” Heather and Jasmine glared at each other. “Jasmine King on Phoenix, for Wellington Prep.”
A smattering of applause broke out. Jasmine tugged poor Phoenix forward and snatched the red ribbon from the judge’s hand. She crumpled it into her hand and disappeared off the course. I blew a silent breath of relief.
I stuck out my hand by my knee and gave Heather a low high-five.
“Our first-place rider is Heather Fox on Aristocrat, for Canterwood Crest Academy,” the judge said.
“Congratulations!” I said.
Heather smiled and patted Aristocrat’s neck. They headed up to the judges. The judge held out a hand to Heather. She shook his hand and returned the smile. Heather took the ribbon and held it in front of Aristocrat. The gelding lowered his head and nosed it.
A grin crept over my face. Heather did deserve to win cross-country. Sure, after the show, everything would go back to normal between Heather and me. But at least we’d pulled it together for today. For Canterwood.
The rest of the results went up on a wooden announcement board. Charm and I had snagged fifth place. Not bad!
“Excellent, excellent job, girls,” Mr. Conner said. He smiled at us, but his attention was on Aristocrat. “Let’s get him cooled. When you’re finished, I want you to come out by the van, okay?”
Heather and I nodded. Mr. Conner walked off and we followed behind him. I was just glad Jasmine was gone. She made even Heather look nice. I never wanted to see her again!
“Sorry your mom and dad couldn’t come,” I said to Heather as she led Aristocrat back to the stable.
“Whatever,” she snapped. “I didn’t want them here anyway.”
“Oh,” I said, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut.
“But I’m glad I won,” Heather said, her voice softer now. She straightened and looked at me. “I proved to my dad that I don’t need him in my face to win. I win because I’m good.”
The last sentence could have sounded cocky or like Heather was bragging. But she wasn’t. She was good. The moments when she acted like a human and not an Ice Queen were few, but it gave me hope. Maybe we had a shot at being civil to each other more often.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “We were both good today.”
With that, we walked in silence the rest of the way to the stable.
The Canterwood riders were officially dirty, cold, and ready to go home.
“Bye, Mom and Dad,” I said, hugging them one last time.
“Great job today, honey,” Mom added.
“We love you,” Dad said.
I waved as they headed for the car.
Callie’s mom, as pretty as Callie with her same dark features and long eyelashes, hugged Callie again.
Heather stood off to the side while Mr. Robb kissed Alison’s forehead and Mrs. Myer practically crushed Julia with her enthusiastic hug.
The horses were bandaged, blanketed, and ready for the trip back to Canterwood. I knew Charm couldn’t wait to get back in his old stall and sleep. We were both taking tomorrow off and I’d hand-walk him on Monday instead of riding him. He’d worked so hard and I wanted him to get enough rest.
The five of us gathered around Mr. Conner.
“You’ve all done well today.” Mr. Conner smiled. “Several other instructors noticed your rides and commented to me that I’ve got a strong, capable team.”
We looked at each other.
“I’ve kept this quiet until now, but during midwinter break, I’ll be overseeing an intensive and exclusive clinic at Canterwood. Various instructors from other top schools in New England will be teaching different areas in the clinic. Competitive riders from other schools will be staying at Canterwood for the clinic. Only a few select riders will be offered slots.”
Callie and I eyed each other.
“I want to extend seats to the five of you and your horses. If your parents agree to allow you to spend midwinter break at Canterwood, I’d love for you to attend.”
“What?” Alison said. “No way!” Julia clasped her hands.
“I take it that you’re interested, then.” Mr. Conner smiled.
“I’m in!” I said. No way Mom and Dad would say no. Charm and I would learn a million things from the clinic!
“Me too!” Heather added.
Julia and Callie nodded.
“Good,” Mr. Conner said. “Talk to your parents and get their permission. It won’t be an easy week, but you’ll learn a lot. Let’s load these tired horses so we can get them back home.”
I went to Charm’s stall and clipped a lead line to his halter. “You did great today, boy,” I said. I stroked his blaze and rubbed his neck. “Change of plans for midwinter break. I won’t be going home and you won’t be eating all day and hanging
out with Jack.” Charm gave me an evil eye. “But I’ll be staying with you and we’ll be riding in Mr. Conner’s clinic.”
I leaned into Charm and he bumped me with his muzzle. I kissed the end of his blaze and hugged him.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and peered at the lit-up screen. Paige!
“How’d you do?” she asked. Her voice was squeaky.
“First in show jumping and fifth in cross-country,” I said proudly.
“Sash! That’s great!”
“I’m really excited! Plus, guess what?”
“What?”
“Mr. Conner invited the Trio, Callie, and me to a clinic at Canterwood. Charm and I are staying on campus for midwinter break!”
“Wow!” Paige squealed. “That’s awesome. But it figures.”
“What?”
“I was going to stay on campus for break, but I can’t now.”
“Why?”
“Because … I got a call today from The Food Network for Kids!”
“No!” I screamed. Charm cocked his head toward the phone. I held it close to his ear so he could hear, too.
“Yes! I got it! I’m the new host of Teen Cuisine!”
“PAIGE! OMIGOD!!”
“I have to go to New York City over break and tape the shows,” Paige said. “That’s why I can’t stay on campus.”
“That’s the best reason EVER,” I said.
Paige laughed. “We’ll have to celebrate double victories tonight.”
“Get the movies ready,” I said. “And the chocolate. And the chips.”
After we hung up, I took Charm’s blue ribbon from my coat and pinned it on his halter. He’d want to wear it on the van ride home just in case Aristocrat gave him a hard time.
NOT JACOB
OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, I’D DEVELOPED AN unhealthy new obsession. I couldn’t stop staring at the blue ribbon over Charm’s stall. I’d put it up on Sunday morning and could barely tear myself away.
“Are we going to trail ride or are you going to make out with your ribbon?” Callie teased.
“Well, blue is my color,” I said, laughing. “I’m ready.”
Mr. Conner had canceled all riding practice for the week after the show. I was glad—I needed a break from drills and it had been forever since Callie and I had hit the trails. More than anything, I was glad to ride with Callie when we weren’t training.
We led Jack and Charm down the aisle and out in front of the stable. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground. Callie and I had coated the insides of our horses’ hooves with petroleum jelly to keep the snow from balling up inside their hooves—we didn’t want either horse to wrench an ankle. We mounted and I looked behind me. I’d draped a rug over Charm’s hindquarters and it was snug under the saddle.
The sky above us was the darkest gray I’d seen all winter. The sun, barely visible through thick clouds, didn’t provide any warmth for the four of us. We kept the horses to a walk as their hooves crunched the frozen grass. I shivered in my coat and pulled the collar up higher.
“Paige swears it’s going to snow,” I said, my breath visible.
“Nah,” Callie said. She shook her head as she guided Jack next to Charm. “It’s just gloomy. Did you talk to your parents about the clinic?”
“Not yet. I wanted to wait until after I got my bio homework back. If I’d gotten a bad grade, they would have wanted me home to study over break.” It had killed me not to blurt out the clinic invitation to Mom and Dad, but I’d known better. Now I had all the ammunition I needed to convince them to say yes.
“What’d you get?”
“A-minus.”
“All right!” Callie leaned over and high-fived me. “Call them now!”
“Okay!” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed. “Mom?”
“Sasha?” she said. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” I said. “I just have a favor to ask.”
“Uh-oh,” she said, her tone light.
“No—it’s good. It’s really good. Mr. Conner is teaching a midwinter break riding clinic and he asked if Charm and I could participate. I’d have to stay on campus over midwinter break.”
I held my breath.
“Hmm,” Mom said. “How are your grades?”
“As and Bs. Mr. Ramirez won’t screen my documentary until after break, but I’ll definitely get an A.”
Next to me, Callie crossed her fingers.
“It must be important if Mr. Conner wants you to stay.”
“It is!” I enthused.
Mom laughed. “Let me talk to your dad. I say yes and I’m sure he will, too.”
“Thanks, Mom!”
We said good-bye and hung up.
“It sounded like a yes to me,” Callie said.
“Mom said okay and Dad will definitely agree with her.” I patted Charm’s neck.
With sighs of relief, we settled back into our saddles and enjoyed the peace of the trail ride.
Charm and Black Jack walked quietly over the frozen ground. The trees were damp—a thin layer of ice coated even the skinniest branches.
“What do you think the clinic will be like?” I asked.
Callie pursed her lips. “I don’t know. The only one I attended was for the New England Saddle Club. We had different instructors for dressage and jumping. They each had their own style and you had to learn how to take criticism from a bunch of different people.”
“Sounds hard,” I said. “But good for training.”
“Plus, we’ll be working with new riders,” Callie said. “That’ll be different … for you.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I guess it’ll be weird.”
I tried to shake off the strange tone in Callie’s voice. I’d thought she’d just been anxious for regionals and that’s why she’d been acting so strangely. But now regionals were over, and things still felt off. Almost like … I tried to shut my brain down before it finished the thought, but I wasn’t fast enough:
Almost like she thinks she’s a better rider than me.
I let Charm move a half-stride ahead of Jack.
“You know we’ll have to try extra hard to stand out from the other students,” Callie said. She pushed a snow-covered branch out of her way.
“We’ll do great. We just have to stick together like we always do,” I said. But I wasn’t sure if she’d heard me—she was still looking straight ahead, like she was thinking about something else.
A light snow started to fall and the sky began to darken from a light grayish blue to a darker steel. I fought off a shiver and tried not to worry about Callie. She was probably just nervous about the clinic. I mean, she was still my BFF—nothing could change that. Could it?
By the time Callie and I turned back to the stables, the sky was even darker and a biting wind was blowing over campus. Even for February, it felt too cold.
Inside the stable, I untacked Charm and took Black Jack’s tack from Callie. I lugged both saddles and bridles to the tack room. Callie watched our horses until I got back.
“How about a massage?” I asked Charm. “You deserve one after last week.”
Charm nodded and tugged on the crossties.
“I’ve got to go,” Callie called from outside of Jack’s stall. “See you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I called. “See you …” But Callie was already gone.
The stable was quiet for a Tuesday afternoon. Most of the horses were tucked away in their stalls with light blankets. Mr. Conner had all of the doors shut, including the big door at the main entrance, and heat blew through the stable.
I pushed my fingertips into Charm’s back and he sighed. Horse massages were the hottest new trend according to Equestrian Journal.
Thinking about riding with Callie at the clinic made me nervous. What if I looked like a beginner next to all of the new riders?
Boots thudded down the aisle and I looked up and saw Eric, sporting jeans and a charcoal gray jacket.
“Hey,” he said, reaching out to touch Charm’s muzzle. “Congrats on the win. I heard you were amazing.”
“Thanks,” I raised my voice to a stage whisper. “But you better congratulate Charm, too. He gets offended easily.”
“Oh, right,” Eric said. He turned away from me and faced Charm. “You did great, sir.”
Charm snorted and accepted a cheek scratch.
“So, I wanted to tell you thanks for everything,” Eric said.
I looked at him. “Everything?”
Eric shrugged. “You know, I’m the new guy. It’s hard to start school in the middle of the year. You made it easy for me to be comfortable here.”
I nodded. “I know what that’s like. Not everyone was nice to me when I got here. But I’m glad we’re friends.”
“Right,” Eric said. “Friends.” He gave me a half-smile.
“Yeah.” I smiled.
Eric picked up the body brush from my tack box and flicked it over Charm’s shoulder.
Okay, that was weird. Had Callie been right? Did Eric think we could be more than friends? Immediately, I dismissed the idea. Man, I was really reading way too much into things lately. Eric didn’t like-like me, he just … liked me.
“So … are you going to the Sweetheart Soirée?” I asked. The Soirée was on Thursday. I’d thought this close to Valentine’s Day, everyone would be chatting nonstop about it and more flyers would appear. But that hadn’t happened. I hadn’t heard anyone talk about it for a couple of days, and no one had seen any new signs or flyers anywhere.
“Probably,” Eric said. “None of the Blackwell guys know anything about it, so I kind of want to go just to see what happens!”
I nodded. “Me too. My friends don’t really know anything about it either. And the one girl who probably knows everything is going out of her way not to tell me.”
Eric laughed. It was easy to talk to him. I looked at him and for a second, I thought about Jacob. I wished Jacob could stand next to Charm and talk to me about the party or the details about the show the way Eric could. I knew that wasn’t fair because he wasn’t a rider, but still. All I really wanted was to talk.
Eric placed the brush back in my tack box. “Well, then … I’ll see you at the party?”
“See you then,” I said.
The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books Page 28
