Elite Ambition (18 page)

Heather rode Aristocrat over, not even bothering to hide the cocky smirk on her face.

“That was a daring ride,” Mr. Conner said. “Aristocrat was moving so fast that he could have knocked one or all of the jumps. You took a huge risk, but it paid off. That's what jump-offs are about. Being safe is always a top priority, but racing against the clock while riding clean is what you need to win.”

Heather almost glowed from the compliment. She and Aristocrat were so in tune, she probably could have taken
him at a slow gallop over the course and he would have made it.

Mr. Conner looked at me. “Sasha, whenever you're ready.”

I trotted Charm away from the group, then let him in a fast canter. There was no way I'd let him even approach a gallop—not with the way he'd been rushing the last jump lately. We'd have to do our best at this pace.

We flew over the first and second verticals and Charm landed without a pause before he tore off for the third. For a second, I panicked, thinking he'd taken off too late and would drag the rail down with his back hooves. But he somehow managed to clear the rail. I slowed him a fraction before we reached the fourth vertical, and he listened to my cues. He jumped the final two jumps with ease before I turned him back around to take the course again.

We completed it with a clean ride and, grinning, I rode back to the group.

“I'm impressed, Sasha,” Mr. Conner said. “I know you probably felt pressure from the imaginary clock, but you know Charm and his habits. He would have rushed the jump and probably taken it down. You made the right call by keeping him a slower pace. I'm proud of your decision.”

“Thank you,” I said. I patted Charm's neck and he bowed it, proud of his performance.

“Let's run through a few flatwork exercises and then you can cool your horses,” Mr. Conner said. “Everyone please move out to the wall.”

And for the next half hour, Brit, Heather, and I worked as a team to sharpen our YENT skills.

 18 

CONFIDENT, NOT COCKY

“WHEEEW,” BRIT SAID. “THAT WAS INTENSE.”

“No kidding,” I agreed. We led two tired horses beside us. “Mr. Conner is always focused before a show, but that was a crazy practice session.”

“Are you taking tomorrow off?” Brit asked. “Or are you practicing?”

“I'm going to do a light workout with Charm, but nothing too stressful. He needs to be rested before the show.”

“I was thinking the same about Apollo,” Brit said, she smiled. “And, it sounds so wimpy, but I'm glad for the break too!”

“It's
not
wimpy!” We both laughed. “I'm going to need a break tomorrow too, trust me. You are definitely not the only one.”

We led the horses in slow circles along one of the quiet lanes by the side of the stable.

“How are things with Paige?” Brit asked.

I sighed. “Weird. There's definitely tension about Callie, and even though I told her I'm glad they're still friends, I still feel like she's going behind my back to see Callie. It's so unnecessary.” I blew out a breath—frustrated. “It's just hard. Paige and I used to be supertight, and we told each other everything. Things have really changed a lot this semester.”

Brit nodded. “I know what you mean. I had the same best friend from kindergarten until sixth grade. We could have been sisters—we were that close. Then, she fell in with the popular crowd in middle school and I didn't. I didn't care about being popular. But she did. She started ditching me to hang out with her new friend and after a while, she didn't even text me back.”

“Wow,” I said. “I'm sorry. That's awful.”

“It was,” Brit said. She rubbed Apollo's neck as we walked. “But it also showed me that I never wanted to be one of those girls who was in a clique or thought she was above everyone else.”

“Honestly?” I said. “When you first came here, I thought you were probably the most popular girl at your
school. I was sure you'd join Heather and her friends. Or act like Jasmine—this awful girl who transferred here and made everyone miserable.”

Brit burst into laughter. “Are you serious? You thought
I
was going to be a crazy popular girl who ran Canterwood?”

“Only until I got to know you,” I said. “Then I realized you're not cocky and you don't think you're better than everyone else. You're confident. I wish I had more of that.”

Brit and I walked in silence for a few seconds, listening to the even sound of our horses' hoofbeats over the grass.

Brit looked at me, her expression serious. “You don't give yourself enough credit for how good of a rider you are. If you saw yourself in the arena, you'd be walking around with what ‘confidence' you think I have. You're a great rider, Sash, and it doesn't matter if you're on the YENT, at Canterwood, Briar Creek, or any other stable—you'd still be just as good. I'd bet you that the talent was always there and it just needed to be drawn out.”

I kept walking, unsure what to say. “Thank you,” I finally managed. “That really means a lot, especially right before a show. I know we're on the same team, but you didn't have to say any of that.”

Brit shook her head, smiling. “I wasn't saying it as a teammate. I was saying it as your friend.”

We smiled at each other, turning the horses back toward the stable.

“And if you ever want to talk about the Paige sitch,” Brit said. “I'm here to listen. If things don't get better and you can't deal, it would be so much fun to be roommates.”

“Thanks so much,” I said. “For both offers. I'll definitely talk to you about Paige if things don't get better, but I know we're going to work it out. But you're supercool for offering to be my roommate.”

The horses' shoes clinked as they hit the aisle, and we walked them to crossties. We couldn't find a pair together and, just this once, I was glad. I untacked Charm and started grooming him on autopilot. I couldn't even believe it, but I was thinking about Brit's offer. I knew I'd never move out of Winchester and leave Paige, but right now, living with Brit sounded tempting.

 19 

GUEST STARRING AT LUNCH …

ON SATURDAY, I CROSSED THE COURTYARD, heading for the stable. I knew it was going to be packed today with everyone who was attending the show wanting to get in a last-minute practice session.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my jacket pocket.

Ur prob already @ stable but g luck w ur practice

Jacob's text made me smile.

Thx! Hope u have a fun Sat.

I put my phone back in my pocket took in a breath of fresh air. Two
major
things were happening tomorrow, but I could only focus on one at a time. And first up? The show. The weather was perfect today, and Brit and I had texted and agreed to meet in the big outdoor
arena at ten. We planned on having a light practice, then going for lunch. I still didn't know what class she was showing in. Mr. Conner had restricted us to one, since it was our first show of the season. I'd already decided on show jumping.

It didn't take long for me to groom and tack up Charm. I led him down the aisle, weaving around the other horses and students. We got outside and I mounted, letting him move at a springy walk toward the arena.

“Just an easy practice today, boy,” I said. “We both have to rest up for tomorrow.”

Charm snorted like he agreed, and we reached the arena. Brit was walking Apollo in slow circles.

“Hey!” she called, heading for us.

“Hey,” I said back. “Final chance before the show. You ready?”

Brit nodded and patted Apollo's shoulder. “So ready. I was planning on riding for about forty-five minutes—that seems long enough.”

“Agreed,” I said. “I'm not pushing Charm either. I'm just going to run him through a bunch of flatwork exercises to loosen him up.”

“Same.”

Brit and I moved our horses to opposite ends of the
arena. I hid a smile when I watched an intermediate rider move his horse far out of the way from Charm and me.
That used to be you,
I thought. It had taken me forever to adjust to saying I was on Canterwood Crest's advanced riding team. Now, I had to almost force out the words “I'm a rider for the YENT.” It seemed surreal.

I started Charm with figure eights at a walk, then a trot. I let the pattern get bigger and moved him into a canter. With each completion of the exercise, I felt his muscles loosen. After a few more rounds of figure eights, we did serpentines. Looking down at the opposite end of the arena, I watched Brit work Apollo at a collected trot. The gray gelding had his head down and his legs moved with precision. I squinted, focusing on his left foreleg. For a second I thought he'd favored it. I kept watching, waiting for any warning signs, but he didn't take a misstep or act at all like his hoof was sore.

Satisfied, I focused my attention back on Charm and asked him to halt. My lower back felt tight, so I did a few twists in the saddle, then reached down to touch my toes. Charm stood still as I worked out my body.

After a few more stretches I asked Charm for an extended walk around the length of the arena. I let him trot, relaxed, and noticed the arena was starting to fill up
with other horses and riders. I slowed Charm to a walk, reaching down to feel his neck and shoulders. He felt warm and loose.

I looked over at Brit, waiting for her to look in my direction. She did, and I pointed to the exit. Nodding, she trotted Apollo over, and we left the arena together.

“That was perfect,” she said. “Just enough.”

“I agree,” I said. “There's nothing else we can improve between now and tomorrow morning. We're as ready as we're going to be.”

We cooled and groomed the horses, then mucked their stalls and gave them fresh hay and water.

I kept Charm on the crossties and pulled out the clippers from his tack trunk. He wasn't spooked by the seminoisy clippers, so I didn't need help holding him. Loosening his halter, I slid it down his neck so his bridle path was clear. I plugged in the red clippers and turned them on. They whirred as I ran them up and down Charm's bridle path until it was smooth and neat.