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the world to her, and his happiness, whether it was in Cindy’s hands or her own, was very important. She would swallow her selfish desires and teach Cindy how to handle him properly.

Six
    Mr. Ellis had handed Jester’s reins to Katie, but as soon as he turned the corner of the barn, Cindy snatched them out of Katie’s hands and glared at her.
    â€œDon’t think that you can teach me anything, Katie Durham. You’re a kid, just like I am. I don’t have to do anything you say. I’m going along with this because my father is really mad, and I know he’ll be watching. You can’t ride any better than I can. The only reason you beat me at the shows is because the judges around here have a soft spot for underdogs.” She looked pointedly at Katie’s corrective shoe. “They don’t like me because my dad is rich.” She glanced at Katie’s clothing and curled her lips in distaste. “You don’t even dress like a proper horsewoman.”
    Katie flinched at the meanness in her tone. She looked down at her baggy sweatpants and old windbreaker. It was true, she wasn’t exactly a fashion genius. Not that she was sloppy. Her school clothes were always clean and pressed, and the riding jacket and breeches she used for shows were always in good repair. Her mother just didn’t have the money to buy the designer brands that Cindy wore. And a lot of good they did her. Cindy still couldn’t win in her classes.
    She looked at Cindy, noting the red splotches that stained her cheeks and the way she squinted her eyes. And to think that only a few days ago Cindy had been talking about what great friends they were going to be. But that was back when she was getting her way. Things weren’t going so smoothly now.
    Katie had heard the kids at school talk about Cindy’s temper tantrums. She’d even seen a few of the minor ones, but never had Katie been on the receiving end of such intense hostility. She didn’t like it one bit, but she was in a precarious position. She needed her job at Willow Run to help pay for King’s expenses. If she opened her mouth and told Cindy what she thought, it might jeopardize her job.
    Katie bit back the retort that was on her tongue. Clothes didn’t make a person. And she couldn’t help her handicap; that would be with her for life. But even with that small setback, she knew she was a better rider than Cindy—and so did the judges. The brat was just blowing off steam, and she didn’t care who got hurt in the process. As long as Katie knew the truth, she couldn’t worry about what was said by a nasty, spiteful, jealous girl.
    Cindy would get her comeuppance in the ring this summer. Jester was a great competitor, but he couldn’t do it all himself. If Cindy didn’t learn how to handle him, she was in for another ribbonless season.
    When Katie didn’t say a word, Cindy snorted disdainfully and turned on her heel, pulling hard on Jester’s reins. The horse’s head popped up at the sudden pressure on his mouth. He snorted in protest before following reluctantly behind her. “Let’s get this over with. I have better things to do with my time,” Cindy said. “There’s a dance next Saturday, and I want Jason to take me to it. I’ve got to find a new outfit to wear. I never see you at the dances. I guess it’s hard to find a partner when you’re clumsy.”
    That hurt. Katie stared furiously at the back of Cindy’s head. She wore her new breeches and an expensive pair of riding boots. She stomped away with her nose pointed toward the sky. How Jason Roberts ever got mixed up with the likes of her, Katie would never know. She couldn’t picture the two of them together. They said that love was blind, but in his case it was blind, deaf, and dumb.
    When they reached the arena, Katie followed Cindy inside and closed the gate. She wasn’t sure what to do. She