STILL REELING FROM MR. CONNER’S announcement and the grueling lesson we’d just had, I eased Charm toward the arena wall. We were behind Aristocrat and in front of Apollo.
Aristocrat, a chestnut darker than Charm, was Charm’s ex-archnemesis. Charm and Aristocrat had hated each other until Heather and I had become friends. The two horses had seemed to sense that the tension had dissipated between Heather and me. It had only helped our team that Heather, Brit, and I were all friends.
We all dismounted and the second Mr. Conner left the arena, we let out girly squeals—even the never-impressed-by-anything Heather.
“Omigod, omigod,” I said. “I can’t believe it! We actually might be traveling! This is really, really it. These shows are huge.”
We started to lead the horses in lazy circles around the arena to cool them down.
“Don’t think about the names of the shows, Silver,” Heather said. “Or you’ll probably faint.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please.”
“Guys, this is big,” Brit said. “But I think Mr. Conner’s right—we can’t focus on all of the shows at once. We have to take them one at a time. If we don’t, we’ll miss the excitement of one show because we’re already looking forward to the next.”
Surprisingly, Heather nodded. “You’re right.”
And that was a phrase I’d never heard Heather Fox utter. I almost wanted to mark the date and time that she told someone else they were right.
We walked the horses until they were cool and started to lead them in opposite directions. The three of us were silent as we walked the horses.
“But we do have one thing to keep in mind,” Heather called to Brit and me. We stopped and turned, looking at her.
“Jasmine.”
• • •
I blocked out Heather’s parting words as I groomed Charm, put a light blanket on him, and turned him out in the pasture. He deserved a break outside since the weather was nice and Mike had promised to bring him in before nightfall.
I walked past the outdoor arena, stopping as I watched Mr. Conner coach three riders in the arena.
Callie, Julia, and Alison were all cantering their horses around Mr. Conner. He was prepping them for Wednesday’s YENT testing.
Callie and Black Jack caught my attention first. The black gelding, always attentive to Callie, moved well under her. They crossed across the arena and he did a flying lead change without a second of hesitation.
Even from yards away, I could see the look of serious determination on Julia’s face. She’d pinned her blond hair back and her lips were pressed together. She thumped her heels into Trix’s sides and the bay mare leapt forward.
“Julia!” Mr. Conner called.
Julia eased Trix to a walk, then a halt. She ducked her head, already knowing she’d done the wrong thing.
“There’s no reason to use your heels that hard,” Mr. Conner said. “If you push Trix like that again, you’re sitting out the rest of the lesson. Understand?”
Julia’s face blushed Bubble Yum pink. “Yes, sir,” she said.
“Please try again,” Mr. Conner said. He folded his arms and his eyes followed Julia as she gently urged her compact mare into a trot, then a canter. This time, her movements were soft and when she reached the center of the arena, she signaled Trix to change leads. The mare seemed to freeze for a second, then did as Julia asked.
Julia cantered her to the other side of the arena. She patted Trix’s neck, but frowned. I’d seen this superintense side of Julia before. If she didn’t rein it in she’d get overstressed and mess up at YENT trials—I just knew it.
“Alison,” Mr. Conner called. “Go ahead.”
Out of all of the horses, I adored watching Alison’s palomino Arabian move. Sunstruck almost seemed to dance across the arena. His slender legs moved as if he was dancing. Alison, the quietest of the Trio, was the perfect match for her hot-blooded horse. She had the ability to almost predict his spooks and calm him when he became flighty. The seventeen-hand high gelding trusted Alison, and it showed. Not many riders at Canterwood would be able to keep him calm, much less ride him well.
Alison let Sunstruck into a floating trot that moved into a canter. His hoofbeats were barely audible as they hit the dirt arena. Sunstruck and Alison approached the center of the arena. And, just like the two riders before her, Alison pulled off a beautiful flying lead change.
I started away from the area before Callie, Julia, and Alison knew I’d been watching their lesson. There was no rule that I couldn’t, but I understood that they’d want privacy when doing such an important practice. I knew I would.
As I walked back toward Orchard, I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jacket. All three girls were amazing riders. But I had a gut feeling who would make the YENT. I just knew.