True Riders by Catherine Hapka Page B

U and Foxy have a connection, and that’s important. She trusts u, right?
    [BROOKE] Yah, true. I think that’s the only reason she’s not freaking out more over the twins’ cowboy rides!!!
    [NINA] Well, you trained her super well, don’t forget that. I know u will do great at that show, no matter how many times your lil sibs decide to ride between now & then. And hey, if u start to get nervous, try what I used to do when I got stage fright before my dance recitals—just breathe deeply and count backward from ten a few times.
    [BROOKE] Does that rly work?
    [NINA] Lol, I guess so! At least I never got that nervous after I started doing it. Worth a try?
    [BROOKE] Def! Thanks Nina!
    [NINA] Anytime! Gtg, but make sure to keep us posted on the show!
    [BROOKE] Promise. Nighty-night!
    Brooke signed off, still smiling at Nina’s pep talk. Maybe Nina was right. Brooke and Foxy had been through a lot together over the past few years. Their bond had to be strong enough to get them through the twins’ sudden interest in riding too—and through that show with flying colors!

CHAPTER
9
    ON WEDNESDAY, BROOKE was deep in thought as she emerged from the lunch line with her tray of chicken fingers. The show was only three days away now, and she was growing more nervous by the hour. Luckily, the twins hadn’t come home from their play date yesterday until it was almost dark, so she’d had Foxy all to herself. Foxy had been a little spooky at the beginning of the ride, but with Adam’s encouragement Brooke had ridden her through that and the pony had settled quickly.
    â€œOops,” Brooke blurted out, stopping short just in time to avoid running into Kiersten, who was standing looking around the crowded cafeteria.
    The new girl shot Brooke a brief smile. “Sorry,” she said, stepping aside.
    â€œIt’s okay. I wasn’t paying attention.” Brooke suddenly felt shy. “Um, do you need somewhere to sit? I mean, if you want—my friends and I are right over there. You know—it would be cool if you wanted to sit with us.”
    She pointed to the girls she usually sat with. Kiersten smiled shyly.
    â€œSure, if you don’t mind,” she said. “I mean, that would be great.”
    The other girls were discussing the latest social studies assignment when Brooke and Kiersten sat down. “Hey, guys,” Brooke said. “You all know Kiersten, right?”
    â€œSure, hi.” Her friend Jana sounded distracted as she shot Kiersten a quick but sincere smile. The other two girls added their own greetings. Then they all went back to their conversation.
    Brooke wasn’t particularly interested in talking about social studies, so she glanced at Kiersten as she opened her milk carton. “So I’ve been meaning to ask,” she said. “You said you used to ride. What kind of riding did you do? Like, English or Western, or what?”
    â€œActually, I was a jockey at the racetrack,” the new girl said. As Brooke’s eyes widened, Kiersten giggled. “Kidding! I rode English. Hunter jumper stuff, mostly, plus a little dressage.”
    â€œCool.” Brooke picked up a chicken finger and took a bite. “So did you ever do shows?”
    â€œUh-huh. My whole barn showed pretty often, mostly the local circuit up there in PA.”
    â€œWow. So did you have your own pony?”
    â€œYeah.” Kiersten’s face went gloomy. “We had to sell him when my parents got divorced, though.”
    â€œOh! Sorry.” Brooke blushed, feeling bad for bringing up a sad subject.
    Kiersten glanced at her with a small smile. “It’s okay. My trainer found him a really good home, and I’m friends with his new owner on Facebook so I can still see pictures of him, so it all worked out. Sort of.” She sighed. “Anyway, that’s why we moved here—my mom and me, that is. She wanted to be near her family after my dad