A Hourse to Love (12 page)

“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.

L
ope 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 made. She’d never felt like this around a boy. Her heart started to melt.

N
ow 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.

“Way to go!” Mr. Chambers said as Morgan pul ed Blaze next to Champ. “Another one for your col ection.” He shook Morgan’s hand and patted Blaze on the neck.

“Great job,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Skye, as soon as they check the roster, they’l cal for your class. Let me see if your number is fastened tightly.” She ran her fingers along the large number 77 attached to the back of Skye’s vest.