Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka Page B

swam over to where Brooke was floating. “Let’s talk.”
    A few feet away, Livi was stretched out on an inflatable raft, working on her tan. She turned her head and squinted at Paige. “What’s to talk about? You heard Robin last night. She’s tired of running this place and being poor.”
    Brooke nodded. It was still hard to believe how completely discouraged Robin had sounded while talking to Preston. She’d seemed like a whole different person from the one she was most of the time. For instance, during the girls’ horsemanship lesson earlier, Robin had been the only one who’d seemed at all enthusiastic about wandering around that hot field, looking at plants. Was that all a big act? Was Robin secretly wishing the whole time that she was in New York with her daughter, with no feed bills to pay or stalls to clean or campers to teach?
    Hannah had been reading a magazine on a floating chair nearby, and paddled closer to join the conversation. “Seriously, guys. I mean, it’s one thing to help Robin if she still wants to be here. She shot a cautious look toward Abby, who had her back to the pool. “But if she’s not having fun, or even making enough money to live on . . .”
    Brooke sighed. “There’s not much we can do.”

    â€œMore bend, Brooke! Use your legs—good!” Robin called from the center of the ring.
    Brooke turned Foxy toward the first jump in the lineRobin had set up along one long side. The pony’s ears pricked toward it, and she surged forward.
    â€œEasy, girl,” Brooke murmured, half halting the way they’d practiced during flatwork. Foxy responded and slowed, meeting the jump just right and soaring over easily.
    The second obstacle in the line went just as well, and Brooke was grinning as she pulled up. She gave Foxy a pat and walked her toward the others.
    â€œExcellent,” Robin said with a smile. “Good riding, Brooke. Livi? You and Royal are up.”
    As Livi rode forward, Brooke stopped beside Paige and Hannah. “She’s actually a good little jumper,” Paige said. “You should try taking her in a show sometime.”
    â€œI’m not sure we’re quite ready for that,” Brooke said with a smile. “But maybe some—Oh!” She gasped as Livi’s horse, who had been trotting steadily toward the first fence in the line, suddenly ducked violently to one side.
    â€œHang on!” Hannah shouted.
    But Livi was already tumbling off the side of her horse. She landed on her rear end, and Royal took off for the far end of the ring, his tail flagging.
    Robin hurried toward Livi, who was already climbing to her feet. “I’m okay,” Livi called, leaning forward and resting her hands on her knees. “Knocked the breath out of me, that’s all.”
    Brooke realized she’d been holding her own breath. She let it out, then pushed her glasses up and glanced over at Paige and Hannah. “Wow, that was scary,” she said. “It must really hurt to fall off such a tall horse!”
    Hannah rolled her eyes. “Livi’s used to it. Royal used to run out all the time last summer, but I thought they’d fixed that.”
    Robin checked on Livi, then caught the big bay gelding, who was already losing interest in running around. “Why don’t I get on for a moment while you catch your breath,” Robin told Livi, already adjusting the stirrups on Royal’s saddle. “Royal’s been a little ornery today, and he could probably use some extra schooling.”
    â€œUh-oh, Royal, you’re in trouble now!” Paige called out with a grin.
    Robin swung into the saddle and sent Royal forward at a walk. “I’ve never seen Robin ride before,” Brookecommented to the girls, including Livi, who’d wandered over to stand by the other horses.
    â€œReally? She’s amazing,” Livi said. “She’s,