Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka

talk.”
    â€œYeah.” Paige rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand. “Brooke’s right. We can’t just sit back and let this happen.”
    â€œTotally,” Livi agreed.
    This was the first chance they’d had to talk in private since Brooke’s return to the barn. Felicia had come along to ask for help dragging the ring right after that, and then Abby had turned up to take the girls to play golf. By the time they got back it was already time to feed the horses, and after dinner Robin had showed the whole group, youngers and olders alike, some training videos.
    â€œRight. So we need a plan,” Hannah said. “Brooke?”
    â€œHuh?” Brooke sat up too. Even in the dim moonlight filtering in through the windows, she could see that the other three girls were staring at her.
    â€œDo you have any ideas about what to do?” Paige asked.
    â€œMe? Um . . .” Brooke realized they were expecting her to take charge of this meeting. Had she just gone from being an outsider to being the group leader? It was a weird thought. “I guess we should just all come up with ideas and figure out the best ones.”
    â€œWhat kind of ideas?” Livi looked blank.
    Brooke shrugged. “Ways to change Robin’s mind.”
    â€œI have an idea,” Paige said tentatively. “We could talk to the olders and see what they think.”
    Hannah wrinkled her nose. “That’s not a plan. Brooke means something we can do, like convince Robin there’s a secret diamond mine in the back pasture so she won’t want to sell.”
    Paige laughed. “Or how about we hire a sorcerer to put an amnesia spell on Preston so he forgets all about his horrible deal?”
    â€œYeah, right.” Livi giggled. “If we’re going to hire a sorcerer, we should just have him poof up enough cash so Robin doesn’t need Preston’s friend’s money!”
    Brooke laughed, but Hannah sighed and rolled her eyes. “This is pointless,” she announced, swinging her long legs over the edge of her bunk. “I say we just go talk to Robin right now.”
    â€œNow? But we’re supposed to be sleeping,” Paige said.
    â€œSo what?” Hannah jammed her feet into her sandals and marched toward the door. “This is important. Robin will forgive us when she hears what we want to talk about.”
    Livi turned to Brooke. “What do you think?”
    Brooke thought for a second. It would be awkward telling Robin they knew about the deal, especially sinceBrooke would probably have to admit she’d accidentally eavesdropped on Robin and Preston. But maybe it would be worth it.
    â€œI guess Hannah’s right,” she said. “I mean, we know Preston wants Robin to sell, but we don’t really know if she’s seriously thinking about it. It’s probably better to find out so we don’t waste time coming up with plans we might not even need.”
    Livi brightened. “That’s true,” she said. “Robin’s probably just trying to figure out how to tell Preston no without making him mad.”
    â€œI hope so.” Paige didn’t sound quite as optimistic. “Okay, let’s go talk to her.”
    Soon all four of them were hurrying across the courtyard. The moon was almost full, and the farm looked magical and dreamlike under its silvery light. But Brooke was too nervous to enjoy the scene. As they neared the house, she heard voices up ahead.
    Hannah, who was in the lead, held up a hand. “Shh. Sounds like Robin’s with Preston,” she whispered.
    The girls crept toward the tall evergreen hedge thatseparated the courtyard from the back garden. “Let’s try to hear if they’re talking about the deal,” Livi said.
    â€œBut that’s eavesdropping!” Paige’s eyes widened.
    â€œJust come on.” Hannah yanked her forward.
    Soon the four of them were