Chapter Five

Chloe’s New Boyfriend

We left the woods, rode down a dirt road, and turned into a field.

“Who wants lunch?” Mark asked, turning his horse around to face the group.

We were all starving. Chloe and I shot our arms into the air.

“The Chuck Wagon is parked on that farm,” Mr. Bristow told us. He pointed to a big red barn.

“Let’s go,” Owen said. “I’m starving.”

“I hope we’re not having bologna sandwiches,” Jennifer mumbled. She shuddered. “Bologna makes me gag.”

“Then don’t eat it,” Megan said. “Duh.”

Messages to MonicaLuvsHorses

	Horses4Chloe said: Megan is snotty, silly, and obsessed with Owen . . .
	MonicaLuvsHorses said: But sometimes she’s right!!!

We rode on the tractor track on the edge of the field. Chase Hogan, the Holly Hills riders, and some of the Rock Creek kids cantered ahead. I was in the back of the group, which was good since Joker didn’t feel like going fast.

“They must be really hungry,” I said.

“We don’t mind if you go ahead with your friends, Ethan,” Chloe said. “You’ll get to the food faster. You’re probably really hungry.”

“I can wait,” Ethan said.

Everyone slowed down to walk by the farm house. A dog ran out and barked at the horses.

Alice had told us that forests and farm country were full of loud noises, sudden movements, and strange objects. A good trail horse wouldn’t get nervous and jumpy.

Major reared and bucked. Ethan’s feet slipped out of his stirrups.

Blue Magic jumped sideways. Savannah almost fell off.

Rick-Rack snorted and pranced. He calmed down when Chloe patted his neck. “Easy, boy,” she said. “It’s just a silly dog.”

Joker didn’t even flinch. He just kept plodding along until we reached the barn. The Senior Center Cowboys were waiting there to serve lunch.

Messages to MonicaLuvsHorses, Horses4Chloe, Guitar_Rory, OwenIII, Pretty_Megan, JenniferHeartsShopping

	AliceAtTheStable said: Horses must always be taken care of first. Loosen girths, remove bridles, and put on halters.
	Guitar_Rory said: Don’t forget to feed and water them, too.

Grandpa and Wally handed out sodas and box lunches. They had a special box for Jennifer.

“No bologna for you,” Grandpa said, smiling. “Your sandwich is cheese only.”

“With mustard or mayo?” Jennifer wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like mustard. Did you cut the crusts off?”

“Next!” Grandpa yelled.

Chloe and I sat under a shady tree to eat. Ethan didn’t ask if he could join us. He just sat down and started talking.

To Chloe.

Not to me. Not that I cared.

“Do you go to Rock Creek football games?” Ethan asked.

“No. I’m not a big football fan. But I like baseball,” Chloe said.

I smiled. Ethan didn’t know what I knew: Cameron Fuller, Chloe’s maybe-secret-crush, played baseball for the Rock Creek Middle School team.

“I bet you’d like football if you knew more about it,” Ethan said.

Chloe frowned at him. “I know what I like,” she said.

“Do you like the band Bad Dog?” Ethan asked. “I went to their show last year. It was awesome.”

“That’s nice,” Chloe said.

Messages to MonicaLuvsHorses

	Horses4Chloe said: I want him to leave, but I don’t want to be rude!
	MonicaLuvsHorses said: I want to help, but I don’t know how!

Messages to MonicaLuvsHorses

	Guitar_Rory said: Can I come over and sit with you and Chloe?
	MonicaLuvsHorses said: YES!!!!!!!

Rory walked over and sat down. Ethan ignored him, too.

“What’s your favorite movie, Chloe?” Ethan asked. “I can’t wait to see Dragon Fliers. Do you want to go with me?”

“Well, I — uh —” Chloe stuttered.

Rory narrowed his eyes. “Chloe’s going to see that movie with me,” he told Ethan.

“Is she your girlfriend?” Ethan asked.

Chloe hesitated. She never lies. Neither do I, unless it’s an extreme emergency.

But Ethan was an extreme emergency. A fake Chloe-Rory romance was the only way to make him go away. I knew I had to jump in.

“Obviously she’s his girlfriend,” I said.

Ethan frowned at Chloe. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?” he asked.

“You never asked,” I told Ethan.

That was true. He’d been too busy being annoying and talking about himself.

Rory came to the rescue again. “Nobody knows about Chloe and me because I work at Rock Creek,” he explained.

“Whatever,” Ethan said. “You still could have told me before I wasted my entire day hanging out with you,” he told Chloe. Then he picked up his sandwich and left. He sat down with Savannah and the other Holly Hills kids.

“Thanks, Rory,” Chloe said, sighing with relief. “You totally saved the day.”

“You’re welcome,” Rory said. “Ethan was being a pest.”

“With a capital P and five exclamation points,” I said.

“Just let me know if he bothers you again,” Rory said. He winked. “I don’t mind being your fake boyfriend,” he added. “But right now I have to go help Alice.”

“Well, that was very interesting,” I said as Rory walked away.

“What do you mean?” Chloe asked.

“Rory doesn’t have a crush on me,” I explained.

Chloe laughed. “Of course he does,” she said.

“No, Chloe, he doesn’t,” I told her. “He likes you!”