Chapter Eight

Stuck Like Glue

Everyone scattered when the inspection ended.

Alice and some of the kids went swimming. Rory volunteered to be the lifeguard.

Owen, Megan, Savannah, and most of the other owners ran for the mess tent. They wanted to scarf snacks, guzzle sodas, and relax.

The Senior Center Cowboys had already stacked large logs for the bonfire. Grandpa looked at the pile of wood. “We need kindling,” he said. “Who will go gather some more wood?”

Chloe and I raised our hands. “We will, Grandpa,” I said.

Ethan walked over from the mess tent. “I’ll help too,” he said.

Messages to MonicaLuvsHorses

	Guitar_Rory said: Should I come with you guys so Ethan doesn’t bug you?
	MonicaLuvsHorses said: No, I think it’ll be okay. But thanks!

The three of us walked into the woods and started grabbing twigs and small branches. “Let’s make a big pile,” Chloe suggested. She dropped an armful of sticks.

Messages to GrandpaJones1945

	MonicaLuvsHorses said: How do we know what twigs and branches are best?
	GrandpaJones1945 said: Live wood doesn’t burn well. Look for kindling that’s been on the ground for a while and isn’t wet.

Ethan snapped a broken branch off a tree. He started to put it onto the pile.

“Not that one,” I said.

Ethan frowned. “What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

“It came off a live tree,” I explained. “It won’t burn as well.”

“What else should I know?” Ethan asked.

“Watch out for thorns,” Chloe said.

“And rotted wood with ants,” I added. “Ants are tiny, but they bite big.”

Chloe and I went in opposite directions. I guess Ethan didn’t want to be alone in the woods, because he followed me.

“Have you always liked horses?” Ethan asked.

“Yep,” I said.

“Do your Pine Tree friends ride?” Ethan asked.

“Nope,” I said. “I’m the only one who likes horses.”

“Oh. Does anyone in your family ride?” he asked.

“No,” I said. Ethan was starting to annoy me.

I turned to move away, and my foot snagged on a blackberry vine. I tripped.

“Be careful!” Ethan said.

He grabbed my arm and stopped my fall. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yes, thank you,” I told him.

Now I couldn’t ditch Ethan. He had saved me from a hundred bramble scratches.

“Let’s go find Chloe,” I said. I picked up a few more branches and started walking back.

Chloe was waiting by the pile. “I think we have enough wood,” she said. “Let’s carry it back and go for a swim.”

We delivered the wood in two trips. Then we got our backpacks from the truck.

In one of the sleeping tents, Chloe and I changed into our bathing suits.

Ethan was waiting when we came out. He had changed into his suit too. Chloe and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes.

Messages to Guitar_Rory

	MonicaLuvsHorses said: Ethan isn’t just stuck to us like glue. He is stuck like permanent-as-seen-on-TV-a-truck-can’t-pry-him-away glue. I’m really sick of this!
	Guitar_Rory said: Sorry, Monica. I wish I could help.

As we headed toward the pond, a shriek stopped us in our tracks. Jennifer was freaking out near the mess tent.

“Wasp!” Jennifer cried out. “Get it away! Get it away!” She waved her arms and spun in circles.

The horses freaked out. They pulled on the rope line, and it broke.

Suddenly, all the horses were loose.