At Top Speed (Quartz Creek Ranch) by Keyser Amber J. & Burkhart Kiersi

Author:Keyser, Amber J. & Burkhart, Kiersi [Keyser, Amber J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Anger Management, Barrel Racing, Quartz Creek Ranch, Horse, Animal, Ranches, Horses, Horse Trainers, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Farm, Horse Racing, Therapy, Quarter Horse, Humility, Friends, Social Issues, Animals, Amber J. Keyser, Animal Behavior, Ranch, Animal Stories, Rodeo, Friendship, Temper, Lifestyles, Quartz Creek, Farm & Ranch Life, Colorado, Barrel Race, Kiersi Burkhart, Patience, Anger
ISBN: 9781512434750
Publisher: Darby Creek Publishing
Published: 2017-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ma Etty kept her promise.

“Free time,” she said at breakfast. “All day.” She held up a finger. “But any bickering, any at all, and the day resumes as normal. Horse lessons and chores and you-name-it.”

The five of them nodded furiously.

“All right. Go forth, then, and have fun. There’s a list of things you can do posted on the wall over there.”

Ella scanned the list with the others—bean bag toss, Frisbee, music, and more. But the thing she was looking for wasn’t there.

Learn barrel racing on Figure Eight.

Even the television was teasing her. Fletch and Madison had put on the stock show in the living room, although they were sticking to the strict no–screen-time rule for campers. But the trainers kept dashing there and back to see riders they liked or livestock events that were interesting. From the dining room Ella could hear the announcer reeling off winning times in barrel racing.

As Ella stood in front of the list of activities, she wondered why even horseback riding wasn’t on it. That was all she thought about doing these days. Wasn’t it the same for everyone else?

She jumped when Madison tapped her shoulder.

“I want to talk to you.”

Uh-oh. It sounded so ominous—but what had she done? Ella followed Madison outside, wondering what this was about.

Then they started heading to the barn in silence, and Ella’s heart skipped a joyful beat.

Inside the barn, Madison stopped in front of Figure Eight’s stall. Ella took a breath. She could only hope.

“Mr. Bridle spoke with me after your lesson yesterday,” Madison said, leaning against the stall door.

“What . . . what did he say?” Ella asked, trying to keep her voice cool.

Finally, Madison grinned. “He said you were a natural. Working with Lacey has been good for you—but she’s too easy. He told me to bump you back up to the big leagues.” With that, she grabbed Figure Eight’s halter off the hook and opened the stall door.

“Think you can handle working with Eight again?” Madison asked.

Ella’s mouth fell open.

“Yes! Yes, please!” Ella wanted to bounce up and down, but she wasn’t going to pull a Drew and scare Eight, just as they were getting paired up again. “I mean,” Ella corrected herself, straightening up, “thanks, Madison.”

“Thank Mr. Bridle,” she said, handing Ella the halter. “Now show me what you can do.”

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“I wasn’t sure if a lesson was what you’d want to do with your day off, after the day you had yesterday,” Madison said as Ella led Figure Eight out of her stall and put her in cross-ties.

“Ha!” Ella had to laugh at that. Throwing a Frisbee around didn’t hold a candle to the possibility of riding Eight again—not to mention one-on-one instruction from Madison.

Out in the arena, climbing up on Eight was a completely different experience from getting on little Lacey. Ella could see everything with Eight’s extra two hands of height. And Figure Eight felt different underneath her. Maybe it was her imagination, but Ella thought she could feel the horse’s taut muscle through the seat of her saddle, could sense the power in her huge lungs.

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