Read Online Home Sweet Drama by Jessica Burkhart - Free Book Online Page A

me.
    â€œMr. Conner wants you to meet in the stable yard,” Mike said. Charm stretched his neck toward his favorite groom.
    â€œOkay, thanks,” I said. I led Charm past him. Just outside of the stable exit, Heather and Aristocrat were waiting.
    â€œHey,” Heather said, giving me a half smile.
    I mounted and rode Charm next to her. “Cross-country, maybe?” I asked.
    Heather shrugged. “Maybe. Either that or practicing in the arena. But we haven’t done cross-country in a while.”
    We grinned simultaneously when we saw Mr. Conner leaving the stable—on horseback. He trotted Lexington, a sweet gray gelding that he was training, in our direction. Mr. Conner didn’t have much time to ride and when he did, it was to train horses—not ride with us. He was carrying a stack of something, but I couldn’t see what they were. Then they came into focus.
    â€œCross-country vests!” I whispered.
    â€œHi, girls,” Mr. Conner said, drawing Lexington to a smooth halt. “We’re going to work on cross-country today. I thought we’d take a new course through the back woods and since it’s different, I’ll lead the way. Sound good?”
    â€œYes!” Heather and I said in unison.
    Mr. Conner smiled. “Good. We won’t be taking a ridiculous amount of jumps, but rather focusing on stamina. I chose the back woods because it’s hilly, so keep that in mind. Don’t let your horses burn out early since the we’ll cover over fifteen jumps and several miles.”
    I wanted to go
now.
I was so ready for this! Charm would almost rather do cross-country than eat, which was saying something.
    Mr. Conner handed us our black vests and we buckled them on. I tightened the chin strap on my helmet and was ready to go.
    â€œFollow me,” Mr. Conner said. He tapped his heels against Lexington’s sides and the gelding broke into a smooth trot.
    Heather and I followed on Aristocrat and Charm. The horses snorted and stretched as they trotted over the grass. I could feel Charm’s excitement over not going tothe arena. His ears pricked forward and he tugged on the reins, asking for more.
    A few strides ahead of us, Mr. Conner let Lexington into a canter. Heather and I shot smiles at each other, then let out our horses. Charm and Aristocrat charged after Lexington and the horses drew even with each other.
    I was beside Mr. Conner and Heather was on my right. Charm’s mane whipped back and the sunlight glinted off his shoulders. Mr. Conner drew ahead and Heather and I held our horses back so we could follow him. We cantered away from the stable and started up a gentle hill that led to the woods. I leaned forward so I’d keep my balance as Charm started up the climb. He shifted his weight and used his hindquarters to move us up the hill.
    When we reached level ground, Mr. Conner slowed Lexington a fraction to line up with Heather and me. “Let them into a
slow
gallop,” he said. “We’ll gallop until a few yards before the woods, then pull them up to a canter. From there, we’ll take the obstacles that cross our path. I’ve already ridden this way a few times to test it, so it’s safe.”
    Wind whooshed in my ears and when Mr. Conner nodded, we all let our horses out a notch. Charm racedforward, wanting to be in front of Aristocrat. But the darker chestnut wasn’t about to let Charm get away with it—he tugged on the reins and quickened his pace. Heather and I were ahead of Mr. Conner and Lexington in seconds and we glanced at each other. If we let the horses go faster, he’d make us go back to the arena.
    I sat deeper in the saddle and pulled lightly on the reins, asking Charm to slow. Charm’s muzzle dropped back by Aristocrat’s shoulder and he shook his head. I thought Heather wasn’t going to slow Aristocrat, but she pulled him to a hand gallop and our horses drew even.
    Their hooves