A Horse to Love Read online

  “Why did you do that?” someone yel ed from behind.

  “Yeah,” said someone else.

  At this point, everything Skye had learned and witnessed in I C dissolved into thin air. Skye the liar was also Skye the coward. Her pride was stil in control.

  “I hit her because she made me!” Now no one had trouble hearing her. Skye’s face flushed and her body stiffened with anger.

  “She made you?” the boy with the braids chimed.“Cop out!”

  “Woo, she made you. Aren’t you the big shot!” Pam yel ed.

  Mr. Scott stepped forward. “Al right, people, calm down.” He raised his hand toward the group. “Now, Skye, it’s time to come clean. Why did you hit her?”

  “Because she’s a snob and she deserved it!” Skye answered.

  “Unacceptable!” one kid yel ed.

  “Unacceptable!” added another.

  “Yeah. C’mon,” a thin boy in front of Skye said.“Don’t you wanna make your mother proud?”

  “Leave my mother out of this!” Skye demanded.

  Mr. Scott raised his hand again, sensing impending disaster. “Whoa. Slow down, everybody.

  Now, Skye, there’s no reason to get so upset about your mother. Tel us a little bit about her.”

  “Yeah,” yel ed an overweight girl with a shaved head. “We al have one — or were you hatched?” Skye’s head almost exploded when they started snickering at her.

  “Yeah,” they al repeated.

  That did it. “Shut your big mouth, sleazebal !” Skye screamed. Up went her fists, her face turned fiery red, and she exploded toward the overweight girl.

  The girl launched from her chair, which clanged across the floor, and braced herself for a boxing match that would have ended before it began. One half-hearted blow from the heavyweight girl would put Skye out for a week — something Skye didn’t think about.

  As though escaping from hot lava, the kids scrambled from their chairs, flinging them in al directions, bracing for the rumble of the week.

  Instantly, a kid on each side of Skye rushed toward her, grabbed her arms, and swooped her up in the air while she swung her fists and kicked viciously.

  “Let me at her!” she screamed.

  “Al right! That’s enough!” Mr. Scott exploded as he hurdled over the flying chairs into the middle of the group. He grabbed Skye and spun her behind him as he yel ed, “Sit down, everyone! And don’t move until I get back!”

  Like toddlers forced to come in from the rain, everyone grumbled while retrieving their chairs and slamming them in a disheveled circle, and they took their time to settle. Mr. Scott was stil in charge —

  but barely.

  He spun toward Skye and before her next breath, her arms were pul ed behind her, and she was ushered out of the room and down the hal way toward Mrs. Chambers’ office.

  “No!” she yel ed as she kicked and squirmed. “Let me go!”

  In front of the office, a powerful arm slipped around Skye’s waist as another arm reached toward the doorknob. Mr. Scott’s foot kicked open the door, and Skye felt herself pushed through the doorway and placed into the chair in front of Mrs. Chambers’

  desk. Mrs. Chambers shot up from her seat and waited for an explanation.

  Mr. Scott huffed from exertion as he backed out of the room. “I think you should sit down with Skye. She just exploded in group when someone asked about her mother, and then tried to get in a fistfight with one of the girls. I’d talk to her, but I gotta get back to the group before it gets any worse in there.”

  “Thanks, Fred,” Mrs. Chambers said quietly.

  “Please close the door.”

  As the door closed, the room was silent except for Skye’s loud huffing. Gripping the arms of the chair, she stared at the floor, her hair hanging down over her face. In one vicious swipe she ran her fingers through her hair, returned her arms to the chair, and slid down so low she almost fel in the floor. Mrs.

  Chambers stared at her in silence and went back to her reading.

  In her mind, Skye went over every miserable moment of I C. Stil Mrs. Chambers kept reading.

  Skye glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes had passed in total silence.

  Mrs. Chambers continued to read, ignoring Skye.Skye repeatedly checked her watch, watching another fifteen minutes crawl by.

  Strangely,

  Skye’s

  rage

  slowly

  dissipated,

  disappearing into an aura of gentle peace that seemed to flow from the woman behind the desk.

  The hatred that clouded Skye’s mind slowly dispersed like a morning fog, and like a breath of fresh air her common sense overtook her stubborn wil .

  Stupid! Skye thought. I am an expert at being stupid! Again, she glanced at Mrs. Chambers, this time connecting with the blue eyes that were staring back at her.

  “Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said as she leaned forward on the desk, “I love you very much.” Skye recoiled and lowered her head.

  “The trouble is you always want to be the one in control,” Mrs. Chambers scolded softly. “You need to let somebody else run your show, somebody like God. Give it up, honey.”

  Skye refused to respond.

  “Isn’t it about time for you to face al that bitterness eating away at you? You’l never change the facts about your mother or your father, wherever they are.

  This might surprise you, but I was a foster kid too. I never knew my parents either. I can’t change my past, and you can’t change yours. The only thing you can change is your heart. Skye, are you listening?” Mother! Father! Why did she have to bring them up? Skye thought angrily. She slapped her hands over her ears, banging her elbows on her knees, and focused on a stain in the worn carpet.

  “You can sit like that until the cows come home,” Mrs. Chambers said. “But we’re going nowhere until you face your problems. Stop running!” I don’t care if the cows ever come home. If she reaches for that Bible, I am outta here!

  As Skye glanced up , Mrs. Chambers reached over near the phone to where Skye knew the Bible always rested.

  Skye flew out of the chair. She spun, tumbling the chair backward with a loud thud, and bolted for the door.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Mrs.

  Chambers said calmly.

  “Somewhere you can’t find me!” Skye screamed as she reached for the doorknob.

  “Skye, stop running,” Mrs. Chambers said.

  Skye opened the door, rushed out of the office, and tore down the hal way toward the outside entrance. But just as she forced down the bar on the fire door, something stopped her.

  I was a foster kid too. The words echoed through Skye’s mind. Eileen Chambers? A foster kid?

  Stop running, she heard in her heart. Skye turned to see if she could spot Mrs. Chambers, but the hal way was empty. Skye stared at the door. Stop running. I love you.

  Skye’s eyes flooded with tears and her face turned red hot. Slowly, she turned and walked back to the office.

  chapter ten

  Lope your horse!

  “Right lead!

  “Dismount!

  “Mount!

  “Figure eight!”

  Morgan shouted orders to Skye, who was maneuvering Champ in the center of the field. In only six weeks Skye would be taking her first ride in a horse show, competing at the county fair.

  Skye finished a figure eight and then jogged Champ over to the fence, where Morgan was sitting on Blaze.

  “How’d I do?” Skye asked as she reined Champ to a halt. She patted him on the neck.

  “Great,” Morgan said. “It’s cool the way you’ve learned so quickly. I think Mrs. Chambers is right.

  You’re a natural-born rider.”

  “When you sit on a horse that’s trained like this one, riding is easy.” Skye wiped her forehead with her arm. “He’s perfect! There’s nothing he can’t do.

  Someday we’re going to tackle those jumps down there.” She pointed to the lower field.


  “Not so fast, Skye!” Morgan said sharply. “You might think you’re on wonder horse, but Champ’s never been trained to jump. You could break your neck — or his. Stay away from those wal s.”

  “Give me a break, Morgan,” Skye said. “It’s not that tough going over little wal s like those. He could do it.Did you ever try it?”

  “There’s more to jumping than meets the eye —

  balance, timing, and stuff like that. I’l never jump because I have no strength to launch myself forward over the horse’s withers at just the right time to make a successful jump. You’d better think twice about it. If you want to learn, ask Mr. or Mrs. C. They’d be glad to show you with Diamond or Ruby. But not Champ.

  “On the other hand,” Morgan said, changing the subject, “I think you’re just about ready for that Western Pleasure Class. Al you need are new boots and a big Stetson hat.”

  Skye laughed. “Can you see me in a cowboy hat?”

  “You’l look great,” Morgan said, laughing too.

  “Come on. Let’s ride down to the pond where it’s cooler.”

  The girls sauntered their horses under a gigantic weeping wil ow and positioned themselves in the breezy shade. Morgan leaned forward, resting one arm across the saddle as the other hand relaxed the reins on Blaze’s neck. Skye slid off her horse, dropping both reins to the ground, and stroked Champ’s soft dilating nose.

  “Man, is it hot today or what?” Skye said.

  “Yep.” Morgan ran her fingers through Blaze’s wavy black mane. “We’ve done enough riding.

  These hot June days can be hard on the horses.

  Look how they’re sweating, and it’s not even noon yet. They’l need a long cool down.”

  “Thanks for helping me,” Skye said in a tone that stirred surprise on Morgan’s face.

  “You’re real y different the last few weeks,” Morgan said. “I mean, what happened? You’ve been thrown out of school before so I figured that didn’t do it.

  What’s going on? You don’t seem so angry.”

  “Wel , I never thought I’d say this, but Mrs.

  Chambers is pretty cool. Did you know she was a foster kid too?”

  “Yeah. She told me when I first moved in,” Morgan said.

  “She tel s me I’l never straighten out until I learn to control my temper. That’s what gets me in trouble al the time — that and my stupid pride. Mrs. Chambers has been helping me deal with stuff.”

  “I’l tel you one thing, Skye. Mr. and Mrs. C.

  understand kids. I’m glad you’ve decided to listen.”

  “I’l listen to some things. But I’m not interested in al that Bible junk they throw out. I guess it’s okay for you, but I don’t need it right now.” A fly buzzed around Blaze’s ears, forcing her to sidestep out of the shade. Morgan maneuvered her next to Champ again and shooed the fly away.

  “I can’t begin to tel you how much the Lord has helped me through al my problems,” Morgan said.

  “He’s there whenever I need him. Someday you’l realize — ”

  “Tel me more about the horse show,” Skye interrupted, cutting off al the God talk that made her uncomfortable. “How many kids are usual y in my class?”

  “Between five and ten. It depends. The weather has a lot to do with it. People are funny with their horses. If there’s a heat wave or it’s raining, I’d only look for a handful. But it real y doesn’t matter. As wel as you’re riding, they’l have a hard time beating you

  — as long as you keep your cool. Know what I mean?”

  “Yeah. Got it.”

  “Hey,” Morgan said with enthusiasm, “this Friday Youth for Truth is going to meet in our basement for its monthly activity. Do you want to come? Al the kids are in high school, but you’re stil welcome.”

  “What’s Youth for Truth?”

  “It’s kind of a teen club from church that meets for Bible study and group activities. I’d love it if you’d come.That way you could meet some of the real y cool Madison High kids. What do you say?”

  “No way!” Skye snapped. “Those kids don’t want a lowly seventh grader crashing their party.”

  “These kids are different. Honest! Besides, this is your home too, so you can invite some of your friends and do your own thing. What do you say?”

  “I guess I could invite Robin and Sooze. Are you sure your friends won’t mind?”

  “I know they won’t,” Morgan said. “The more the merrier. Now don’t forget, seven o’clock on Friday.”

  “You persuaded me,” Skye said, smiling. “I’l cal them as soon as we cool down the horses. Thanks.”

  “No problem — Sis,” Morgan said, a victorious smile on her face.

  “Hey,” Skye said, changing gears again. “Let’s ride back to Piney Hol ow. That place is so-o-o cool.

  I love it there.”

  “Ah, better not. It’s too close to lunch. Let’s head back to the barn and cool down. That should get us to the chow trough right on time!”

  Friday night the Chambers’ basement buzzed with a dozen teens as contemporary Christian music blared in the background.

  Mr. Chambers and Skye had shown Robin and Sooze around the barn, al owing them to meet each horse personal y. The girls had then entered the basement and had found their way to the kitchen counter where Mrs. Chambers served barbecue and chips. The girls each grabbed a can of soda and settled on chairs in a corner near the pool table.

  They stayed out of everybody’s way, huddling like three lost sheep and eyeing every move the older teens made.

  “Hi,” Morgan said as she motored toward the corner. Another girl walked behind her. “Skye, you know Melissa Richards from Maranatha?”

  “Yeah.” Skye’s eyebrows raised. “Hi.” Morgan continued. “Melissa just joined Youth for Truth. I think you’l see her in teen class on Sundays too.”

  “Hi,” Melissa said, her pretty smile beaming in the light cast by the hanging pool table lamp.

  “And who are these guys?” Morgan asked as she pointed to Skye’s friends.

  “Robin Ward,” Skye said gesturing to her right and then to her left. “And Susan Bodmer.”

  “Hel o,” Robin said.

  “Cal me Sooze, okay?” Susan said. “I hate the name Sue.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Morgan said. “I hope you have a great time.”

  “Bye,” added Melissa as she headed toward the busy Ping-Pong table. “See you later.”

  “See ya,” Skye said.

  Morgan pivoted her wheelchair to fol ow Melissa.

  “Talk to you later. Okay?”

  “Later,” Skye and Robin answered.

  Sooze simply took a giant gulp of soda.

  “Hey, Skye,” Sooze whispered as her eyes shifted to two boys at the pool table, “who are those guys?”

  “Beats me,” Skye whispered back. “Morgan told me their names but — wait, I remember. The cute one with the blond hair is Chad Dressler.”

  “He’s way cute,” Sooze said. “What grade’s he in?”

  Skye stared at Chad as he took a shot and laughed when he miscued. “I think he’s a freshman, but I’m not sure.”

  Sooze sipped her soda and watched every move the boys made. “Hey!” she whispered. “He’s looking over this way.”

  Skye had just taken a bite of her barbecue sandwich when she glanced up. Her eyes connected with the brownest eyes she had ever seen on a boy

  — eyes surrounded with curly eyelashes radiating from a chipmunk smile. As he bent over the table, Chad’s wavy hair fel over his forehead, highlighting a dimple on each rosy cheek. As his eyes met Skye’s, he smiled before taking his next shot.

  “Wow,” Skye mumbled with her mouth ful . “He is too cute!”

  Her heart gave an odd little beat then took off like a racehorse headed for the finish line, and her face burned red-hot.

  “Man, I wish I lived here,” Sooze said.

  Oblivious to her surroundings, Skye studied every move Chad m
ade. She’d never felt like this around a boy. Her heart started to melt.

  chapter eleven

  Now remember,” Mrs. Chambers said as Skye stroked Champ’s neck. “Don’t push him too fast. His only weakness is taking his left lead. Just give him his head. You concentrate on your balance and posture. Okay?”

  “Got it.” Skye replied.

  “And stay away from the pack so the judge can see you,” Mr. Chambers added.

  “Stay away from the pack,” Skye repeated.

  As she sat on Champ outside the show ring at the fair, Skye chewed on her bottom lip. She was dressed in a suede cowboy hat leveled on her head to her eyebrows. She also wore a checkered shirt with a leather-fringed vest, a blue necktie, cowhide gloves, chaps, and brand-new leather-cut boots.

  Skye looked like the perfect match for her mount.

  Champ had on his polished bridle with the blue brow band and a leather-cut saddle that highlighted his glistening coat and silky mane and tail.

  Skye scanned the horse trailers parked around the outside of the ring, the grandstand packed with cheering fans, the announcer’s stand that blared incessant noise, and the judges who were busy comparing notes and looking at clipboards. At the long end of the large oval corral, she watched the other entries in her class. They were huddled on the outside of the gate, tightening cinch straps on their saddles, adjusting stirrups, checking bits in their horses’ mouths, and sliding their hat strings tighter to their chins.

  Skye’s heart pounded as she focused on the ring where in only a few minutes she would make her debut. She had to admit she was afraid, but not with the same fear that had chased her so many times in the past. That fear had come from doing wrong and not wanting to get caught.

  This fear was different. It was a fear of failing at something good. A fear of disappointing someone who cared about her.

  You’ve trained for this all summer, Skye Nicholson, she lectured herself . Keep your cool and let Champ do his thing.

  Morgan had just finished an Advanced Trail Class and was smiling from ear to ear as she jogged Blaze toward Skye and Mr. and Mrs. Chambers. In her left hand, she waved a red second-place ribbon.