Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka Page A

have time for this right now, Preston.” Robin’s voice was clipped. “Maybe in a few weeks, after camp is over . . .”
    â€œWon’t you at least talk to the man before then?” Preston sounded frustrated, but his next words were gentler. “I know it’s hard to part with this place, but think about it, Robin. You’d clear more than enough to move anywhere you like. You could stop worrying about money. You wouldn’t even have to work if you didn’t want to, never mind running yourself ragged like you’ve been doing since your daughter moved out.”
    â€œI’m fine. I’m used to hard work.”
    â€œI know. But wouldn’t it be nice to take a break, try something different for a while? Maybe the two of us could move to New York City, near your daughter. Won’t you promise me you’ll at least consider this deal? Consider what it could mean for you—for us?”
    Robin didn’t answer for a moment. “Fine, okay. I’ll consider it. But not right now. I’m already late for the olders’ lesson.”
    The next thing Brooke heard was footsteps hurrying away. She sank onto her bed, not caring that she was dripping all over her sheets as she tried to take in what she’d just heard. Her eyes filled with tears as she imagined bulldozers knocking down the barn and backhoes digging up the lush pastures. This land, this whole part of the peninsula, was so special, so wild and beautiful and unspoiled. A bunch of condos would change that forever. Brooke couldn’t bear the thought. Robin wouldn’t actually sell Pocomoke Stables to Preston’s developer friend—would she?

    On Thursday morning Brooke awoke from restless, disturbing dreams in which skyscrapers kept sprouting up on Assateague Island until the ponies were all crowded out into the sea. She hadn’t said a word to anyone about what she’d overheard the day before, though she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Maybe she wasn’t having as much fun at Camp Pocomoke as she’d expected, but it was still horribleto think about a place like this being plowed under.
    She remained distracted as she tacked up for the morning lesson. “Hey, is that a new trend?” Hannah called from the next set of crossties.
    â€œHuh?” Brooke blinked at the other girl.
    Hannah grinned and waved a hand toward Foxy. “Foxy’s halter. You’re putting it on inside out.”
    â€œOops.” Brooke realized she was right. She quickly fixed the halter, frowning at it.
    Paige was walking by on her way to the tack room, but she stopped and stared at Brooke. “Are you okay? You seem kind of—I don’t know, bummed out today.”
    â€œYeah,” Livi said, coming up behind Paige. “You hardly said a word at breakfast.”
    Brooke wasn’t sure how Livi could tell, since she and the other two had spent the entire meal blabbing about shopping and haircuts and other boring topics. “I’m just a little tired, I guess.” Brooke reached for a bottle of fly spray and aimed it at Foxy’s side.
    â€œStop!” Paige cried, grabbing the bottle out of Brooke’s hand. “What are you doing?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Brooke said with a flash of irritation. “Robin said we should all share the fly spray, and I need it for Foxy—the blackflies ate her alive yesterday.”
    â€œYeah, but this isn’t fly spray.” Paige shook the bottle at her. “It’s Show Sheen. If you spray it all over her, your saddle will slide right off next time you ride!”
    â€œPlus, it won’t do a thing for the flies,” Livi put in.
    â€œOops,” Brooke said again, feeling flustered. “Sorry about that. I’m just distracted because of what Preston . . . um, I mean . . .” She stopped, realizing she’d almost blurted out what she’d