The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books

by Jessica Burkhart

  “Oh!” Julia said. She pulled off her crème colored beret—which she claimed her father got her on a business trip to Paris—and sat up straighter. “You’re the Belles.”

  Violet smiled at Julia. “Smart girl. If you haven’t heard of us by now, then you’re in the wrong circle.”

  Callie and I glanced at each other before looking back at Violet. I’d never heard of them and the look on Callie’s face made me think she hadn’t either.

  “Belles?” Callie asked. “Are you all from the South or something?”

  Brianna, a petite girl with short, choppy black hair, scrunched up her nose. “Violet—she’s from Nashville, Georgia’s from DC, and I’m from Virginia.”

  “Anyway,” Violet said, looking at her friends. “We asked you here because Canterwood needs the best riders showing on behalf of our school. Next fall, we’ll be in ninth grade, representing Canterwood in competitions for high school. You’ll be in our old slots—the faces of Canterwood’s younger team.”

  Violet picked a stalk of hay out of a bale next to her and twirled it in her fingers. She looked at Georgia.

  “We want Canterwood’s reputation to remain strong,” Georgia said. “We can’t have anyone on the advanced team who isn’t fully committed to being here.”

  “And that’s up to you?” Heather questioned.

  Julia and Alison’s eyes widened and they inched away from Heather.

  Violet laughed. “Of course not! Mr. Conner picked you for his seventh-grade team because he knows you’re good riders. We just want to make sure that Canterwood is number one.”

  “Meet us tomorrow under the stone arch at the far side of the courtyard at sundown,” Brianna said mysteriously.

  Before we could ask any questions, the Belles stood and climbed down the ladder. Something told me this was going to be interesting.

  “See you tomorrow!” Heather said in a fake cheery tone as she left the loft. Julia, Alison, Callie, and I followed Heather down the ladder.

  Callie stopped in the aisle when her phone beeped. Message from—that’s all I saw before Callie shifted, having caught me looking.

  “What?” she asked, clicking the phone shut.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  We split up and I went to Charm’s stall to get him ready for lessons with our fave instructor, Ms. Thorne.

  “Sasha, more leg! Keep your hands steady! Stop jerking on Charm’s mouth!”

  Ms. Thorne had been barking out commands like that for the past half hour. And I hadn’t been listening. Yes, I wanted to have steady hands and firmer leg signals, but my mind wouldn’t stay on the lesson. On top of the fact that I had to know whether or not Jacob had e-mailed me back, tomorrow’s meeting with the Belles sounded so totally suspicious.

  I looked ahead at the jump. Ms. Thorne had been making my group take turns. Jasmine had been perfect. Violet’s eyes had followed Jasmine—I wondered if she wished Jasmine went to Canterwood instead of me.

  Before I could even clear my head, Charm was already strides away from the vertical. His canter slowed, but there wasn’t enough time. He dug his heels into the arena dirt and slid to a halt, his muzzle just inches away from the rail. My feet came out of the stirrups and I slid up on his withers.

  “Charm!”

  He backed away, shaking his head and ignoring my voice.

  The last time Charm had refused a jump…I couldn’t even remember!

  “Bring Charm around, circle him a couple of times and take him over the jump again,” Ms. Thorne said. “You must pay attention, Sasha. You both could have been seriously hurt.”

  I nodded. This wasn’t supposed to happen! Show jumping was my thing—Charm and I were better than this.

  I took a couple of shaky breaths and let Charm canter in a wide circle.

  Charm eased out of the circle and I watched the vertical’s red and yellow rails get closer. I started counting strides early. Five, four, three, two, one, and now! I lifted out of the saddle, squeezed my legs against Charm’s sides and gave him rein. He rocketed into the air, cleared the rail and landed softly on the other side.

  “Good boy!” I said. I patted his neck and looked over at Ms. Thorne.

  “Much better,” Ms. Thorne said. “Cole, go ahead.”

  Charm and I headed to join our group, relieved. But the more I thought about Callie, Jacob, and the Belles, the worse Charm and I did. It had to stop. I closed my eyes for a second, blocking out all of the stuff from the past few days, and then opened them. Charm snorted and I rubbed his neck.

  “I’m with you, boy,” I whispered.

  Ms. Thorne turned to face all of us. “Good work, everyone,” she said. “That’s it for today. Please cool your horses and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I sat back in the saddle and slowed Charm to a walk.

  Jasmine rode Phoenix beside us and pushed her helmet back. “How did you even make the seventh-grade advanced team?”

  I kept my eyes forward. “How did you even get an invite to this clinic?”

  Jasmine let Phoenix drop behind Charm. We walked for fifteen minutes before he felt cool enough to go back to his stall. My legs wobbled and I couldn’t wait to get back into my dorm and curl up in bed with a book.

  “Tough lesson?”

  I looked up and saw Eric. I noticed that, even at the stable, he always looked nice. Today, he wore dark jeans and a long-sleeved red henley. I suddenly felt self-conscious about my dirty breeches and sawdust-covered boots.

  “The worst,” I said. “I was awful. Charm ran out on a jump and Ms. Thorne made us hold our jump seats for the longest time.”

  “Sorry.” Eric winced. He walked with me toward Charm’s stall. “Want me to untack Charm and put him away for you?”

  “No way, I couldn’t ask you to do that. It won’t take me long.”

  “No, really. I don’t mind,” Eric said. “No offense, but you look tired.”

  I put my free hand on my hip and pretended to look annoyed. “Okay, first you call me heavy and now you’re saying I look tired. Thanks a lot!”

  Eric laughed and I couldn’t hide my smile.

  “Okay,” I said. “I am tired. If you’re sure you don’t mind, I promise I’ll put Luna away for you sometime.”

  “No worries,” Eric said. He reached over and took Charm’s reins from my hands. “Now go.”

  “Going,” I said. “Thanks. I owe you.”

  I turned and walked down the aisle. I didn’t trust Charm with many people, but he’d be safe with Eric. I got a few feet down the aisle when I spotted Callie.

  “Yeah, Sash,” she said, looking up at me from her phone. “You’re really not with Eric. That’s so clear.”

  I shrugged. “You never believe me about Eric, so I’m not going to bother saying it again.”

  I’d explained enough. I left Callie behind and walked out the door without a second glance.

  After I showered, I checked my e-mail for the millionth time. Nothing from Jacob. Not a “Got your message” or “I’ll call you.” I’d even settle for a “I never want to talk to you again!!” at this point. Anything!

  I turned on iChat and crossed my fingers that Paige was online. She was!

  “Hey!” I said.

  “Sasha!” Paige squealed. Her red hair hung in pretty waves around her shoulders and she wore a cropped lavender cardigan that tied in the front.

  “Did you swipe those earrings from the Teen Cuisine set?” I teased.

  Paige touched the silver chandelier earrings. “Not exactly. I can borrow a few things if I sign them out and take them back the next day.”

  “That’s so cool! Maybe I’ll bail on the clinic and become your groupie.”

  “Bail? Why?”

  I groaned. “Callie hates me, Jacob won’t e-mail me back, this girl Violet is being super shady, and Jasmine wants me kicked out of the clinic.”

  “Wait, you e-mailed Jacob? When?”

  “Yesterday.” I checked my e-mail again. “Still nothing.”


  “Maybe he’s too busy to check e-mail,” Paige said. “He could be somewhere with his family or something.”

  “Maybe.”

  Paige leaned closer to the camera. “I’m sorry, Sash. You could call him or text him, you know. Or just give him space and let him come to you.”

  I played with a fuzzy blue pen from my desk. “I’ll wait. For now.”

  “If I were there, I’d so bake you a pie right now!” Paige said.

  “Like your chocolate mousse pie with whipped cream?”

  “And homemade crust,” Paige added.

  Mmmm.

  “Oh! Guess what? I made something today! Your culinary genius has rubbed off on me.”

  Paige clapped her hands together. “No! What did you make? Lemon meringue pie? Raspberry chocolate cake?”

  “Um, no,” I said, laughing. “I made hot bran mash!”

  Paige got still. “What?”

  “Hot bran mash for Charm. One of my instructors taught me.”

  Paige didn’t blink. “The first real meal you made was for…Charm?”

  I nodded.

  Paige burst into giggles. “I have not taught you well! It’s cooking lessons for you when I get back!”

  I grinned back at her and let her distract me with all of the recipes she was going to teach me. Paige talked about so many cake, torte, and pudding recipes that for a few minutes, I forgot all about my empty inbox.

  In fact, it was decided. I wasn’t going to be that girl who pined over a boy—starting now.

  11

  SPELL “EMBARRASSED”: S-A-S-H-A

  MR. CONNER’S CLINIC, DAY 4

  DAYS TILL DEMO: 9

  (NOTE THE TOTAL LACK OF MENTION OF THE J-WORD)

  THE SKY WAS STILL DARK WHEN I GOT TO THE stable on Thursday morning. Last night, it had taken forever to get to sleep. All I could think about was the mysterious meeting with the Belles.

  Right now, I didn’t even care about running into Callie. I just wanted tonight to hurry up and get here so I could meet Violet and her friends. I grabbed Charm’s tack box and walked to his stall, passing Heather who had Aristocrat tied to the iron bars on his stall.

  “Hi, rock star!” I said.

  He popped his head over the stall door and let me kiss his muzzle.

  “Today’s going to be better, boy. No distractions—I promise.”

  Charm eyed me with suspicion, but let me lead him out of the stall and down the aisle to a free set of crossties by Aristocrat’s stall.

  Aristocrat raised his head when he saw Charm. Charm lifted his muzzle higher into the air and snorted. Boys.

  “So…” I said to Heather. “Are you nervous about tonight?”

  She kept brushing Aristocrat’s flank.

  “Okay. Forget it.” I grabbed a hoof pick, leaned against Charm’s shoulder and started picking dirt out of his hoof.

  When I stood, Heather was beside me. I jumped.

  “Hello! Say something next time you decide to sneak up on someone,” I said. “What?”

  Heather looked over her shoulder and then back at me. “Nothing. Well, I’m only telling you this because you’re pathetic and I feel sorry for you but…the Belles have a reputation around here.”

  I decided to ignore the comment about me being pathetic. “Like what kind of reputation?”

  “If you stop interrupting, I’ll tell you!” Heather snapped.

  I closed my mouth.

  “Violet, Brianna, and Georgia are known for being risky riders. They’ll do whatever it takes to make sure other schools know they’re the best.”

  “Like Jasmine?”

  Heather gave me a withering look. “Not even close.” She walked back to Aristocrat. “You’ll see for yourself.”

  Please. Like I believed her. She was probably trying to freak me out so I didn’t go. Then there would be one less person competing for the Belles’ attention. Not. Gonna. Happen.

  I began brushing Charm and then looked up at the sound of my name.

  “Sasha,” Miss Cho said. She walked up to us and patted Charm’s shoulder. “Don’t tack up. Put a cavesson on Charm and come to the round pen.”

  “Okay,” I said, suspicious. “Think my group’s going to lunge?” I asked Heather. I hadn’t lunged Charm in months.

  “No, she’s making you get the cavesson for nothing, Silver,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Go grab it. I’ll watch Charm.”

  “Thanks.”

  I hurried to the tack room and came back with a cavesson, which was like a halter with extra rings across the noseband. The headpiece was lined so the horse didn’t get sores from the pressure. I buckled the cavesson on Charm and led him out to the round pen. Jasmine was already waiting. Violet, leading Hunter, stopped beside Charm and the three—wait, six—of us waited in silence for Cole, Aaron, and Miss Cho to arrive.

  Cole and Aaron, both in black breeches, led their horses up to the round pen. This pen was the biggest I’d ever seen. It was a sixty-foot pen with a dome top. Most of the round pens I’d used with Charm had metal rails with peeling orange or red paint. The pens had been less than half the size of this one and had no top. I loved standing in the center of the pen and watching Charm circle me—I got to see exactly how he moved.

  “Lunging?” Aaron guessed.

  “I think so,” I said. “It’ll be different.”

  “Yeah,” Cole added. “I’ve never lunged before.”

  Jasmine’s head twisted toward him. “You’ve never worked your horse from the ground on a lunge line before?”

  Cole shook his head. “Nope.”

  “Ugh, I am with a group of losers,” Jasmine said.

  Violet stepped forward, hand jutting out from her hip. “Excuse me?”

  “Sorry,” Jasmine muttered quickly.

  That was weird, I thought. What did Jasmine care what Violet thought? It wasn’t like Jasmine even went to Canterwood.

  “Hi, class,” Miss Cho said. She held a coiled lunge line in one hand and a lunge whip in the other. “Let’s get started. I asked you to leave your horses untacked because we’re going to lunge today. You’ll each take turns standing in the center of the round pen and lunging your horse.”

  “Why are we lunging today?” Cole asked.

  “Well,” Miss Cho said. “Because when you’re riding your horse, it’s impossible for you to see how the horse moves. Sure, you can feel it, but you can’t see it. You’ll get a new perspective from the ground today. I know this is a new practice for many of you—but don’t worry. I’ll show you how.”

  I looked over at Aaron and smiled. This would be fun!

  “Who has lunged before?” Miss Cho asked.

  I raised my hand. “I have.”

  Miss Cho nodded at me. “Okay, then you may go first. Bring Charm inside. The rest of you, lead your horses closer to the round pen and watch.”

  I led Charm forward and we stepped through the narrow gate and into the round pen. The metal rails were six feet high and the bottom four feet had a solid plastic shield so a horse couldn’t get caught up on the rail.

  Miss Cho closed the gate behind us and I stopped Charm beside her. She clipped the lunge line to a ring on Charm’s cavesson and handed it to me.

  “How do you hold the line and the whip?” she asked.

  “If we go to the left, I hold the line in my left hand and the whip in my right,” I said.

  “Correct. Good. Go ahead and give him line and ask him to walk.”

  Miss Cho stood by me as I fed Charm a bit of line and moved the whip behind his hindquarters. He started forward and walked out to the rail.

  I kept tension in the line and watched as Charm circled at a walk.

  “How does his stride look to you?” Miss Cho asked.

  “Good,” I said. “His walk looks fine to me.”

  “I agree. Ask him to trot.”

  “Charm,” I said, projecting my voice over the pen. “Trot!”

  I kept the whip lowered, but snapped it into the di
rt. Charm trotted. I watched his legs move and turned slowly when I passed Jasmine. She rolled her eyes.

  Charm trotted several laps around the pen. “Where could Charm improve with his trot?” Miss Cho asked.

  I studied his movements. “His stride looks a little short,” I said. “Maybe I should work with him on extension?”

  “Great idea, Sasha,” Miss Cho said. “Now, let’s ask him to canter.”

  “Charm, canter!” I called. Charm ignored me and continued to trot. “Canter.” I snapped the whip along the ground and Charm bolted forward.

  “Easy!” The line jerked on my hands and Charm tugged me forward. I stumbled and dug my heels into the dirt to keep Charm from pulling me along with him. “Charm, slow,” I said.

  But he didn’t listen. His stride quickened and his hooves pounded the dirt. I dropped the whip and started to wrap the line around my hand.

  “Don’t do that,” Miss Cho cautioned. “If he bolts again, he could drag you. Shorten the line and force him to make smaller circles. He can’t keep up that pace if the circle is smaller. He’ll lose his balance.”

  All I could do was nod. I watched Charm canter around me and I tugged six inches of line toward me. It pulled on Charm’s head and he slowed a fraction.

  “Take it in again,” Miss Cho said.

  I gathered more line and—thankfully—Charm’s canter finally eased away from a gallop.

  “Keep him at this pace for another lap and then bring him down to a trot,” Miss Cho said.

  Charm cantered smoothly around the pen. When he’d made a full circle, I called out, “Trot.”

  Within four strides, he slowed to a trot. My sharp breaths eased back to normal.

  “Ask him to walk,” Miss Cho said.

  I couldn’t look at her. I wasn’t even able to control Charm during an easy exercising like lunging!

  “Sasha, you did an excellent job handling him during that bolt,” Miss Cho said. “Remember, Charm does have Thoroughbred in him. He’s a sensitive horse and spooks happen. Half the battle is knowing how to control them. Good job.”

  I nodded my thanks and led Charm out of the pen. I walked him in small circles to cool him.

  “Aaron, come on in,” Miss Cho said.