Read Online Jealousy by Jessica Burkhart - Free Book Online

thirteenth birthday, and I hope all of your wishes come true.
    ~T
    I smiled, tucking the card back into the envelope. I couldn’t wait to gather all of the checks and send them to the retired-racehorse charity. I rifled through the pile, picking out cards from Becca, my parents, Ana, and Brielle. But I’d have to read them later. It was time to meet Taylor.

NOT INTERESTED
    THE FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER WAS COMFORTABLY cool. I zipped my coffee-colored wool jacket. The frisky horses definitely felt the drop in temperature. A herd of seven or eight horses played, nipping each other’s necks and darting up the hill at a full gallop.
    In the big arena, Mr. Conner was trotting a gray gelding in a large circle. The young horse had arrived a few days ago and was one of the horses that Mr. Conner was training. I knew the gelding’s name was Lexington and that he had been brought to Mr. Conner with only basic training. Lexa said she’d heard that the owner was trying to make the United States Equestrian Team and was too busy training his other, more seasoned horses to work with Lexington. It was Mr. Conner’s job to train the young horse and feel outhis potential. I crossed my fingers that I’d see Lexington competing at the Rolex Kentucky years from now when he was much older and competing in the top show circuit.
    I stopped, stepping off the sidewalk and onto the grass to watch Mr. Conner ride. Lexington showed how green he was from his uneven trot to his jerky transition to a canter, but he seemed willing to work. It seemed as though the pair had been at work for a while—Lexington’s coat was steely gray around his saddle pad, and bits of froth from his mouth working the bit flecked against his chest.
    Mr. Conner was a quiet rider—exactly what Lexington needed. The stillness of Mr. Conner’s hands and legs seemed to work with keeping Lexington calm. I watched them for minutes, even though I could have stood there all day. My eyes didn’t know where to look as I tried to follow Mr. Conner’s aids to Lexington. Mr. Conner was the kind of rider that I hoped to be someday.
    Reluctantly I left the pair to practice in private and walked into the stable. I walked down the aisle, oddly quiet for a late Saturday morning, and noted that most of the horses wore light blankets. Almost every horse had their finely sculpted head stuck over their stall door. Necks craned in my direction, and there was an occasional whinny or neigh as the horses talked back and forth.
    Near the end of the aisle, I spotted a bay and a gray with their heads together. It was as if they were using ESP to have a secret conversation.
    â€œDon’t let me interrupt,” I said, smiling at them.
    Ever, Khloe’s bay horse, swiveled her head toward me. In the stall next to her, Whisper, my gray mare, pricked her ears and let out a soft grunt.
    â€œHi, pretties,” I said. I didn’t want Ever to feel left out, so I stood between the two horses and scratched their cheeks.
    â€œI’m sure Khloe is going to come see you very soon, Ever-girl,” I told Khloe’s mare. “Take a nap—it’s the weekend!” I gave the mare a final pat and moved to Whisper’s stall. Her brass nameplate with her name etched into it had a fingerprint smudge on it. I used my sleeve to wipe it clean before unlatching the stall door.
    â€œHi, hi, hi,” I said to Whisper. I put my arms around her neck, hugging her. “You smell so good! I’m so happy to see you.”
    Whisper’s winter coat was starting to grow in. Her sleek gray body was filling out with fuzzy longer hair to keep her warm.
    I looked her over—from big brown eyes and long eyelashes to adorable pink-and-black snip. Each time I saw Whisper, it was almost as if I was seeing her for the firsttime. It was still hard to believe that she was mine. My parents had surprised me with the gift of my first horse when I’d been