The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books

by Jessica Burkhart

6

  ALMOST KISS AND TELL

  I LOVED SHOWING PAIGE AROUND THE STABLE. She’d been there before, but this time I explained what the important things were as we went along. Now Paige knew about mounting blocks, tie rings, and tack trunks. We stopped by the tack room to grab Charm’s gear, and then I took Paige to his stall.

  “I’m going to clip the lead line to his halter and bring him out,” I told Paige.

  She nodded and watched as I led Charm down the aisle and clipped him into the ties.

  “All right, fabulous assistant,” I said to Paige.

  She grinned and jokingly bowed. “Yes, wise teacher?”

  “I’m going to show you how to groom a horse. This”—I pointed—“is a tack box. It has all of Charm’s brushes and his hoof pick.”

  “Tack box.” Paige nodded. “Got it.”

  “So, we pick his hooves first. I’ll show you, then you can help me.”

  I grabbed the hoof pick, patted Charm’s shoulder, and ran my hand down his leg.

  “You squeeze here,” I said to Paige. My hand hovered above Charm’s fetlock. “Say, ‘hoof,’ and he’ll lift it.” On cue, Charm raised his hoof. I scraped the sole, and clods of dirt and sawdust fell to the aisle floor. Paige peered over my shoulder, watching carefully.

  “Does that hurt him?” Paige asked.

  “Nope,” I said. “If you jammed the pick in the frog, that V-shaped part, it would. But the rest of the hoof is pretty tough. Charm’s never had a hoof injury.”

  I lowered Charm’s hoof to the ground and walked around to his other foreleg.

  “Your turn,” I said.

  “It’s okay. I don’t want to mess up his hoof.” Paige stuck her hands in her coat pockets.

  “You won’t. I’ll help you.”

  Paige swallowed. “’Kay.”

  She stepped up to Charm’s side and rubbed his shoulder. “Remember, you like me,” she told Charm.

  Her fingers shook as she slid her hand down Charm’s leg. “Like this?” she asked.

  “Yep. Squeeze right there. He’ll lift his hoof and you’ll hold his leg.”

  Paige nodded. “Hoof,” she said, squeezing above Charm’s fetlock.

  Charm raised his hoof off the ground and Paige, totally ready, held up his leg.

  “Perfect!” I cheered. “Now face the pick away from you and scrape out the dirt.”

  Paige cleaned Charm’s hoof until it was free of debris, then set it gently on the ground.

  “Yay!” Paige said, high-fiving me. “I did it!”

  “That’s it,” I teased. “You’re coming with me every morning to do hooves.”

  Paige nodded. “I’m Charm’s new manicurist.”

  I grinned and tossed her a comb. “You’re about to become a hairstylist.”

  Once Paige had brushed Charm’s coat to a pretty gleam, I tossed a kelly green blanket over him.

  “Let’s go,” I said. Paige walked beside me as I led Charm down the aisle and out of the stable. He pointed his ears forward, his breath forming tiny clouds in the cold air.

  “Is it bad that it’s only Monday and we’re already avoiding homework by playing with horses?” Paige asked. I could tell she was already much more comfortable with Charm.

  I laughed. “Kinda. But—” I closed my mouth. Callie was walking toward us. She had on a black bomber jacket, jeans, and a deep purple scarf. The scarf I’d given her just days before the Sweetheart Soirée.

  Callie’s eyes darted back and forth—first looking at Paige and then at me. “Where are you guys going?” she asked.

  I shrugged. Paige, making an apologetic face at me, turned to Callie. “We’re taking Charm for a walk on the trails,” Paige said.

  “Oh, good idea,” Callie said. “Do you—”

  I pulled Charm forward before Callie could finish her sentence. Paige hurried after me and didn’t say anything, and we walked in silence until we reached the woods.

  The trees and rocks glistened with melting snow. It was different from the dirty, stepped-on campus snow. This snow was blinding white without a footprint anywhere. Birds twittered all around and I half expected to see a deer or fox around every bend in the trail. Callie and I had ridden up to several deer when we’d…I shook the memory out of my head.

  “It’s pretty out here,” Paige said softly. She walked beside me as I led Charm.

  “And safe,” I said. “No Jasmine. Or Trio. Or Callie.”

  “I’m sorry I talked to her, but it’s sort of weird for me,” Paige said.

  I sighed. “I know. It’s okay. Callie’s your friend.”

  Paige bumped my shoulder with hers. “But you’re my best friend.”

  “Was that ever a question?” I teased, smiling.

  I thought about what Paige had just said. She was my best friend, but Callie had been my best-best friend. Was Paige my BFF now?

  We walked down the dirt path that snaked past the creek. Clear water flowed over the pebble creek bed, and the sound of water rushing around the rocks made me feel more calm. It was like one of those relaxation CDs.

  “I know Callie hurt your feelings,” Paige said. “But she looks really sad. And so do you.”

  “I know, but what am I supposed to do? She started dating Jacob before we even officially broke up. How could she do that to me?”

  “Do you want Jacob back?” Paige asked.

  I led Charm forward a few more steps, thinking about this. “No,” I said honestly.

  “Sure?” Paige tilted her head and looked at me.

  I pointed to a few small boulders by the creek’s bank. “Let’s sit for a sec.”

  “Okay…but you’re making me nervous,” Paige said. We sat across from each other, and Charm stood beside me. The clear creek water flowed around the rocks. I made a mental note to bring Eric here—especially after a snowfall. The cold air gave me goose bumps as I perched on the edge of the icy rock, taking a breath.

  “I don’t want Jacob back because I like someone else,” I said.

  Paige smiled. “Thought so. Should I guess?”

  “I know, I know,” I said. “You know it’s Eric.”

  Paige squealed. “He’s always been there for you. He’s a really good guy. And cute!”

  “He really is and I just realized it on Saturday. And…” I paused for suspense. “He tried to kiss me!”

  Paige almost fell off her rock. “Omigod! What?!”

  “He was totally going to kiss me after the clinic, but Mr. Conner almost caught us.”

  “He really tried to kiss you?!” Paige jumped up and stared at me with her mouth open.

  I grinned. “Yes! But then he had to go help Mr. Conner and we haven’t had the moment again.”

  Paige sat down and rested her chin on her cupped hand. She sighed. “You almost kissed Eric. Oh. My. God. We have to prep you!”

  “I know. You have to help me find kissing gloss.” I loosened my scarf.

  “I totally will. Promise.” Paige caught my eye and we grinned.

  “We’re so going online shopping the second we get back to Winchester,” I said.

  We laughed and Charm stuck his head between us, eager not to miss a minute of our conversation.

  “That’s why I don’t want Jacob back,” I said. “Eric’s good for me, and I really like him. He’d never hurt me like Jacob did. And…I’m excited to see what happens. That’s why I want everything with Eric to be a secret for a while.”

  “What do you mean?” Paige shifted on the rock and wrapped her arms across her chest.

  “Everyone knew about Jacob and me too early. Heather started plotting against us the second she found out. We didn’t even have much time to get to know each other before everything got all messed up.”

  “She did make things hard, but it was Jacob’s fault too,” Paige said. “He didn’t do much to reassure you that he wasn’t with Heather. And he ignored you when you tried to apologize.”

  “I know.”

  Charm stepped closer to me a
nd shoved his muzzle into my hands. His whiskers tickled my palm.

  “He’s not pushy at all,” Paige said, laughing. “You know, I think keeping Eric to yourself for a little while might be a good idea.”

  “It’ll give me time to figure out what things are like with him,” I said. “It’s less pressure and I won’t have to worry about anyone sabotaging anything.”

  “My lips are sealed.”

  “I know.” I smiled at Paige. “I’m so glad I told you. And I’m serious about needing your help on my lip gloss search.”

  Paige shook her head. “So that’s why you told me!”

  “Of course. Kissing gloss is totally different than regular gloss.”

  We laughed and hunched down in our coats when a chilly wind started to blow.

  “If we don’t go back soon,” I said. “I’ll freeze before my first kiss!”

  “Now that”—Paige’s tone was mock-serious—“would be tragic.”

  7

  SWEET SHOPPE SHOWDOWN

  IT WAS OFFICIAL: NEXT THURSDAY—THE DAY I could ride again—was never going to come. There were still eight days left and I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it. But Charm was definitely benefitting—I’d channeled all my energy into grooming and walking him. He’d never looked so shiny.

  “Bye, Charm,” I said, waving to him as I left his stall.

  I passed the indoor arena and stopped to look inside. Mr. Conner had five of the intermediate riders, including Eric and Jasmine, trotting their horses around him. I smiled with pride when I watched Eric post on the correct lead and keep his hands down. His dark eyes were narrowed between Luna’s ears and he was completely focused.

  I shifted my gaze to Jasmine. As hard as it was to admit, she never belonged on the intermediate team. Everything about the way she rode screamed “advanced.” She could have taught the intermediate lesson. Her posture, her signals to Phoenix, and the way she moved with him made everyone else look as if they’d just started riding five minutes ago.

  Watching them made me ache to ride Charm. The second the riding ban was lifted, I had to start practicing. Every second I wasted while I couldn’t ride, Jasmine inched closer to becoming the best equestrian at Canterwood.

  Later that afternoon I stopped by the Sweet Shoppe for my midweek cookie break. I definitely needed a pick-me-up to get through the crazy week. Paige, swamped with homework, had asked me to bring her back a surprise.

  I chose four lemon-raspberry cookies and a mint hot chocolate. The Sweet Shoppe was packed, but I spotted a tiny table near the window that faced the courtyard and took a seat just as the Trio entered the shoppe.

  Heather whispered something to Julia and Alison, who nodded and got in line. Heather folded her coat over her arm, walked over to my table, and stared down at me.

  “You going to be here awhile, or what?” she asked.

  I took a sloooow sip of hot cocoa. “Why?”

  Heather rolled her eyes. “Because the tables are full. Can’t you eat in Winchester? Or the stable?”

  “Nooo. But you can go eat in Orchard. Or the stable.”

  Heather jutted out her chin. “Forget it, Silver. I’ll go make someone else move.”

  I watched as she walked over to a table of sixth graders. They all looked up at her with the same terrified expression. She leaned down, whispered something, and gave them a scary-sweet smile. Within seconds, the girls had gathered their stuff and left. Heather, looking at me from across the room, grinned. She was good.

  I turned back to the window and squinted at two people—a boy and a girl—at the edge of the courtyard. The girl skipped a few steps ahead, but she was holding the boy’s hand and tugged him with her. Oh, my God. I closed my eyes and reopened them. Callie and Jacob. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. Callie, laughing, pulled Jacob toward the Sweet Shoppe. As they started up the sidewalk, I looked around for another way out, but I was trapped. I ducked my head as they walked inside. Maybe they wouldn’t see me.

  As Callie and Jacob approached the counter to order, the bell on the door dinged again and Jasmine stepped inside. Maybe Heather had been right—I should have just taken my food and left!

  Jasmine started toward the counter, but then she looked around and her eyes settled on the Trio’s table.

  Jasmine weaved around the other tables and stopped in front of Heather, Julia, and Alison. I turned to watch, forgetting about Callie and Jacob for a minute. Hadn’t Jasmine gotten enough rejection from the Trio?

  The Trio—whose heads were bent together—stopped talking and looked up at Jasmine.

  “Can we help you?” Julia asked, rolling her eyes.

  Jasmine, not rattled by Julia, smiled. “Just saying hi. You guys hang out here much?”

  Alison, Julia, and Heather exchanged is-she-really-talking-to-us glances.

  “We’re only here now because we can’t ride,” Julia said. “But we’ll be able to soon. Then you’ll go back to looking like the loser rider you really are.”

  Jasmine’s head jerked back a fraction.

  I cringed. Harsh. Even for Julia. I watched Alison bite her lip—maybe she was thinking the same thing.

  “Julia,” Heather reprimanded. “Let Jasmine talk.”

  Julia and Alison looked at each other, then back at Heather. Julia started to open her mouth but stopped.

  Jasmine gave a slight smirk. “It’s totally unfair that you guys can’t ride. Maybe we could see a movie or something instead.”

  Heather smiled at Jas. Julia’s and Alison’s eyes widened and they both paled.

  I couldn’t believe it. Heather was going to invite Jasmine into the Trio and then I’d have four of them—all on the same side—to deal with. The Quartet. Shudder.

  “We’d love to see a movie with you,” Heather said. But we’re going to be busy tonight.”

  Jasmine nodded. “Sure, it was last minute anyway. Maybe tomorrow or something.”

  Heather pushed back her chair and stood. Behind her back, Julia and Alison froze. Alison looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. They looked the way I felt—terrified that Heather was about to become Jasmine’s friend.

  “‘Tomorrow or something’ doesn’t work for us,” Heather said. “Because even by tomorrow, we’ll still be busy talking about what a pathetic suck-up you are.”

  Julia and Alison grinned. The Sweet Shoppe—noisy with chatter seconds ago—went silent. Even Callie and Jacob watched. The Belles, who had been sitting at a booth in the back, lifted their heads to see what was going on.

  Jasmine’s casual posture went rigid.

  “Look,” Jasmine said. “I know none of us have ever been friends, but we’re all at Canterwood now. Don’t you think—”

  “Let’s clear something up, ’kay?” Heather asked in a loud, fake-sweet voice.

  “Heather—” Jas started.

  But Heather shook her head. “Um, I think I was talking. You’ve done nothing but try to suck up to everyone since you got here. What? Did you think that just because you go to our school now, we’d forget everything and be BFFs?”

  “But can’t we—” Jasmine started before Heather cut her off.

  “What? Start over? Please.” Heather stared for several long, uncomfortable seconds. “I know exactly what you’re doing. You want to be friends so we’ll forget about what you did and leave you alone. Well, guess what?”

  Jasmine swallowed. And so did I.

  “Not gonna happen,” Heather said. “You’ve done too many shady things to me, my friends, and…” Heather sighed and rolled her eyes. “Our team. You will never be our friend, so get a life and find someone else to bother. Got it?”

  Jasmine’s face turned Bubble Yum pink. She spun away from Heather and almost slammed into Callie and Jacob as she hurried for the door. They moved out of the way quickly to let Jas make her exit, and then followed her out. I slumped in my seat, feeling less happy than I thought I would to see Jas leveled like that. Everyone’s eyes were on Heather as she smiled a
nd took her seat. I half expected her to bow. She, Julia, and Alison went back to laughing and whispering as if nothing had happened.

  Uneasiness gripped my stomach as I watched the Trio laugh. Jasmine didn’t like them on a normal day, but now she had another reason to want to take them down.

  8

  S & S SPLIT

  FOR ONCE, I WASN’T LOOKING FORWARD TO film class. It used to be my favorite because I got to sit next to Jacob, but now it was my least favorite for the exact same reason. Assigned seats were the worst; it would be Jacob and me, right next to each other, every Friday.

  I took my time walking to the media center. Today, Mr. Ramirez was supposed to announce the team grades for our student films. Jacob and I had been partners. Of course. I’d been beyond excited when Mr. Ramirez put us together, and we’d had a lot of fun shooting the film. But now I couldn’t even talk to him.

  I walked through the lobby, entered the theater, and sank into my plush red seat. Class started in less than two minutes and Jacob still wasn’t there. Mr. Ramirez walked to the front of the room, shuffling through a stack of papers. Finally, Jacob walked in and took his seat next to me. He wore a blue striped shirt that I’d never seen before and his hair was pushed off to the side. I couldn’t help wondering if he wore it that way because Callie preferred it.

  I looked away before Jacob could notice me staring. He leaned forward, pulling out his notebook, and kept his eyes straight ahead.

  “Crazy that film’s back to Fridays,” he said finally.

  I shrugged. “Whatever. Better than Mondays.”

  Mr. Ramirez walked to the front of the room and smiled. He always started film class with a movie quote and it was like a class competition to get the right answer first.

  “‘There’s no place like home,’” Mr. Ramirez said.

  Easy!

  “The—” I started.

  “The Wizard of Oz,” Jacob said, cutting me off. He didn’t even give me a sorry-for-cutting-you-off glance. Rude.

  “Correct, Jacob,” Mr. Ramirez said. “Good job. Now, let’s discuss your films. You all submitted excellent, detailed work. I enjoyed viewing each film.”