Read Online How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer by Taryn Souders - Free Book Online

tossed the satchel onto the top barrel and climbed down, almost landing on Victoria.
    â€œWatch what you’re doing!” she barked. She looked at the hay bales and barrels. “What were you doing up there?”
    I shrugged. “Nothing.”
    â€œFine. Don’t tell me. It’s not like I care about you or anything you do.” She shrugged and walked away.
    I waited until she went around the corner by the tack room and then headed outside to find Sunset.
    Doc stood holding the reins of a dark brown horse. “This handsome guy is Chester. For those of you who’ve never ridden before, Chester and I are going to show you how to get into the saddle.” He moved to the left side of his horse and transferred the reins to his left hand. “While still holding on to the reins, put your left foot into the stirrup, grab the saddle, and swing up and into the seat.”
    I’d never mounted a horse before and figured I was in for trouble. I was right. Despite the fact that Sunset stood perfectly still, it would’ve been easier to climb on top of a rampaging gorilla. It was a struggle getting my left foot into the stirrup, let alone getting my body to face the right direction in the saddle.
    Ten minutes later, we were all lined up and Doc did a final stirrup check to make sure they were at the right length for everyone. One horse, Daisy, stood patiently without her rider.
    â€œWhere’s Victoria?” Doc said, looking around.
    Victoria sauntered over from the barn. “Sorry, Doc,” she said. “I had to visit the bathroom first.”
    â€œMount up and we’ll get started.”
    Victoria was so graceful, she practically floated up to the saddle. She turned her head my way and smiled slyly. Show-off.
    It was taking all of my concentration to stay upright on Sunset—and we hadn’t even started the ride. I didn’t have the energy to put up with her high horse attitude.
    Doc quickly showed us how to steer with the reins and our legs. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride. These horses have the trail memorized and they stick to it,” Doc said, adding under his breath, “except for maybe Road Rage.”
    The trail ride took us about an hour to complete, which was about an hour too long. My rear end was sore and getting off my horse as quickly as possible was the only thing on my mind as we came within sight of the barn.
    I got Sunset back to her stall and went to brush her down when my heart lurched inside my chest.
    At the barn’s entrance, Mr. Snuffles swung back and forth like a wrecking ball as King Arthur gnawed away at him.
    â€œNo!” I picked up a stick and flung it at King Arthur. It smacked him on the rump, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from devouring the elephant. I sprinted, grabbing the closest thing to throw—a chicken. I wadded up the mass of feathers the best I could and hurled it with such ferocity that even JT Radamoskovich would have been impressed. King Arthur took one look at the ball of angry feathers speeding toward him, dropped Mr. Snuffles, and bolted down a path. The indignant chicken clucked and walked away.
    My precious elephant lay in the dirt. Part of his trunk and head, along with some of his torso, were gone. I held him close as tears pooled in my eyes. I felt foolish for crying over a stuffed animal, but I couldn’t help myself.
    Pogo knelt next to me and draped her arm over my shoulder. “Oh, Chloe, I’m so sorry. Maybe we can fix him?”
    â€œOr maybe you could put it out of its misery and toss it in the trash.” Victoria stood near the entrance, holding Daisy by the reins.
    â€œGo away,” Pogo said.
    â€œGuess that wasn’t the greatest hiding spot,” Victoria said, not even trying to hide her smirk. “Goats are so intelligent, you know. And they’re very good climbers.” She moseyed down the barn corridor and put Daisy back in her stall.
    Wednesday, June