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it’s okay—and if you don’t want your suitcase stepped on . . .”
    â€œOops!” Livi said. “Oh, right. Robin said we’re supposed to help Brooke move in.”
    â€œChill out, Jess!” Hannah called to the older girl. “We’re moving it.”
    â€œWhatever.” The older girl let herself into a stall nearby.
    â€œThat’s one of the olders,” Livi told Brooke.
    At Brooke’s confused look, Paige giggled. “Older campers, she means,” she said. “We’re the youngers, they’re the olders—fourteen and up.”
    â€œYeah. Except Robin has to change the age rule next year so I can stay with you guys,” Hannah said. “No way do I want to be stuck with those losers!”
    They all laughed. Brooke smiled weakly. “Um, my stuff . . .”
    â€œYeah, we’re on it. Come on.” Paige dashed off down the aisle with the other two on her heels.
    By the time Brooke caught up, Hannah had already picked up Brooke’s saddle. “What brand is this?” she asked. “Is it a close contact?”
    â€œUm, I don’t know. The lady at the store said it was made in England, I think?” Brooke wasn’t about to explain how she’d saved up for almost a year to buy the saddle at the local consignment shop, or how it had been the only one in her price range that wasn’t actually coming apart at the seams.
    â€œMade in England is good,” Paige said quickly. “I mean, mine was made in France, but I also looked at some from England. Come on, the bunkhouse is this way.” She grabbed Brooke’s duffel and slung it over her shoulder, pulling her red hair out from under the strap in one smooth, practiced movement.
    Livi was already wandering off with Brooke’s suitcase and grooming bucket. Brooke picked up her sleeping bag and pillow and followed.
    The other girls led her to a cute clapboard cabin behind the barn. It had green trim and a lush rose vine clamberingup one side and over the roof, the soft flowery scent of the pink blossoms filling the air.
    â€œIsn’t this cool?” Livi said over her shoulder. “The olders are stuck in Bunkhouse A, which is bigger and has a bathtub, but it’s way over on the other side of the house.”
    â€œYeah, I’d much rather be near the horses,” Paige added, waving a hand at the barn just a few yards away, across a narrow strip of lawn.
    Hannah shrugged, patting her dark hair. “I don’t know—I wouldn’t mind having a bathtub.”
    â€œYou’d need the tub if you were in Bunk A,” Livi said with a giggle. “Because if you were that close to the house, your horrible off-key singing in the shower would totally wake Robin up!”
    That made all three of them laugh. Brooke forced a smile. It was pretty obvious that these girls were good friends. Where did that leave her?
    The cabin was basically one large room with four bunks. Suitcases, clothes, and other things were strewn across all four of the beds.
    â€œOops, guess we’d better move our stuff off Brooke’sbed.” Paige quickly grabbed a couple of shirts and tossed them onto one of the other bunks.
    Hannah picked up a pair of breeches. “Yeah, sorry,” she told Brooke. “Like we said, we didn’t know you were coming at first.”
    Livi giggled. “We were figuring we’d use Lauren’s bunk as our closet this year.”
    â€œBut there—now it’s all yours.” Paige grabbed one last handful of clothes, then kicked a pair of tall riding boots out of the way.
    â€œHey, those are my new customs!” Livi protested, swooping in to rescue the boots.
    Meanwhile Hannah dumped Brooke’s saddle on the bed. “You should probably unpack later,” she said. “Come show us your horse!”
    â€œIt’s a pony,” Livi informed the other two. “A Chincoteague pony.