Read Fearless for Free Online Page B

bright brown, and she was an easygoing horse who never did anything scary or unexpected when I rode her last year.
    When I first started riding, I wasn’t too scared about falling off, the way lots of people are. My biggest fear was that the horse would step on my foot. Every time I had to put a bridle on a horse and lead it into the ring, I’d be slightly terrified, and I’d jump if it shifted its weight a little or stamped its foot.
    Right now, though, I felt perfectly relaxed. Today’s lesson was going to be fun.
    â€œY’all want to just pet these horses, or anybody feel like having a lesson?” asked Wayward.
    â€œWe’re ready! Definitely!” said Molly.
    â€œLooks like I’m just in time,” I heard a familiar voicesay. I turned around to see a dark figure silhouetted in the open door.
    Even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew it was Madison. She stepped out of the sunlit doorway into the shadows of the stable. She was wearing riding pants and boots too, and her long dark hair was pulled back in a French braid. Everyone was always saying we looked alike, but Madison is brunette and I’m blond.
    â€œHey, what’s up?” said Wayward. “I guess you’re my assistant. Cool.”
    â€œYep. Did Molly and Jordan tell you they want to learn to jump this summer?” Madison looked directly at me. She probably thought I’d never tell Wayward myself.
    I pictured myself marching over to an already saddled horse and hopping on it. Then we’d go cantering across the pasture and jump over everything in sight—fallen logs, a stream, rail fences. That would wipe that skeptical look off Madison’s face.
    â€œJumping, huh? That’s cool. Sure, we can work up to that eventually. Not today, though.” Wayward smiled slightly at Molly and me.
    Wayward was the most laid-back person I’d ever met. She never wore riding breeches, just jeans, and she always had on this crazy plaid cloth hat with a little brimover her long, straight hair. She reminded me more of a skateboarder than a rider, but everyone said she’d been riding for years and that she was an amazing equestrian.
    â€œSo, Molly. I guess you’ll be riding Merlin.” She looked at me. “Jordan. . . .”
    â€œI always rode Daisy last year,” I reminded her.
    Wayward squinted a little as she looked up and down at all the horses in their stalls. “Yeah, the thing is, I don’t let Daisy jump anymore. She had an injury a few years ago.”
    She paused, still looking over all the horses. “Let’s put you on Odie.”
    â€œI have to get used to a new horse?” I asked. My voice rose up in a really high squeak, and everyone looked at me funny.
    â€œDon’t worry. It’ll be Zen,” Wayward assured me.
    But already my heart was pounding. A strange horse I’d never ridden before. A new skill I’d never tried before.
    And jumps were dangerous. I could fall. The horse could fall. We could even fall on each other! What was I getting myself into?

For a second I honestly felt like running to the open door at the far end of the stable and regurgitating in a pile of straw. Luckily, that feeling passed pretty quickly, but my heart wouldn’t stop doing jumping jacks against my rib cage.
    â€œOkay, y’all get your helmets on,” Wayward told us.
    We all went to the tack room. As soon as we stepped inside it, the rich smell of leather hit me. Saddles were lined up on several long wooden beams. Bridles, halters, bits, and other pieces of tack were hung up in neat rows all along the walls. On one side of the tack room, rows of shelves were filled with black riding helmets of different sizes.
    â€œI don’t want to switch horses! I’m used to Daisy!” I whispered to Molly.
    She frowned slightly as she fastened the chin strap of her helmet. “I know, I know! But maybe you’ll like Odie even better than