Read Blue Ribbon Summer for Free Online

the barn felt shady and pleasant. A stout dapple-gray horse was cross-tied in the aisle while an olderand equally stout woman fussed over him with a currycomb.
    â€œâ€Šâ€™Scuse us,” Livi sang out, ducking under the tie on one side.
    â€œWhat was all the commotion out there?” the woman asked.
    â€œYou mean the whinnying? That’s Brooke’s pony.” Livi waved a hand at Brooke. “They’re both new campers this year.”
    â€œAh!” The woman smiled at Brooke. “Welcome to Pocomoke Stables—I mean Camp Pocomoke.” She tittered. “It’s always such fun for us boring old boarders to see the things you girls get up to!”
    â€œThanks.” Brooke smiled uncertainly, then followed Livi, who was already hurrying ahead, calling to two other girls halfway down the aisle. When Brooke reached them, they immediately gathered around, making Brooke feel surrounded even though there were only three of them.
    â€œSo Brooke, this is Paige and that’s Hannah.” Livi pointed to each of the other girls in turn. Paige was petite and pale, with bright red hair that hung in waves around her shoulders. Hannah was African-American and eventaller than Livi, with wide-set eyes and sleek dark hair pulled into a short ponytail.
    â€œHi,” Paige said, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. Her smile was big and friendly, and Brooke couldn’t help smiling back. “Brooke, right? We were wondering when you’d get here.”
    â€œAt least for the past hour, anyway. We actually didn’t know you were coming until we got here ourselves,” Livi put in with a giggle.
    â€œYeah.” Hannah was studying Brooke with a slightly puzzled look on her face. “I mean, of course Lauren texted us when she found out she had to cancel. But we didn’t think Robin would find anyone to take her place at the last minute.”
    â€œBut we’re glad you’re here,” Paige added quickly. “You’re going to have a blast. This place is the best!”
    Livi nodded vigorously. “Totally! Royal and I—that’s my horse, Royal—we went from doing the pre–children’s hunters to the children’s after camp last summer, all because of Robin. She’s an awesome trainer. Did you know she was long-listed for the Olympic team once?”
    â€œOf course she knows that.” Hannah rolled her eyes.“Everyone knows that. That’s probably why she wanted to come, right, Brooke?”
    Brooke wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want these girls to know how out of place she felt. Then again, they’d figure it out sooner or later. Probably sooner.
    â€œNot exactly,” she admitted, staring at Hannah’s crystal-studded belt to avoid meeting any of their eyes. “Um, I’m not really into showing and stuff.”
    â€œOh!” Livi’s eyes widened in surprise. “But then why—”
    Paige elbowed her. “Never mind,” she said. “You’ll have fun anyway. Robin teaches all kinds of people and horses. She’s amazing.”
    The other two nodded. Brooke smiled weakly. “Okay. Thanks.”
    To her relief, the others seemed to lose interest in her after that, turning their chatter to other topics, full of names she didn’t recognize and stuff she didn’t care about. Brooke stopped listening after a while, focusing instead on looking around the barn. The older woman finished her grooming session and led her gelding into a stall, then disappeared. A cat crept out of one empty stall and into another, tailtwitching. Several horses, all of them tall and sleek and gorgeous, hung their heads out over the stall doors.
    Finally a teenage girl who looked a couple of years older than the others wandered in. “Hey, whose stuff is that in the courtyard?” she called out. “We’re going to try to get a ride in before dark—Robin said