Blue Ribbon Summer Read Online Free PDF Page B

around. Brooke stepped back, pushing her glasses up her nose. Even though Robin was being nice about it, Brooke couldn’t help being embarrassed that Foxy was acting so nutty.
    â€œGood, looks like everything’s under control,” Brooke’s stepfather said. “Let’s get your bags and stuff out, and then we’ve got to get back on the road.” He turned and smiled apologetically at Robin. “My wife has an appointment this evening, so I’m afraid we can’t hang around for the grand tour.”
    â€œYes, that’s right.” Brooke’s mother peered in throughthe truck window at the twins, who had been sound asleep in the backseat for the past hour. “Besides, we don’t want to wake up our younger kids.”
    â€œNo worries,” Robin replied. “Go ahead and grab your things, Brooke. The other girls are in the barn—they can show you to the bunkhouse once we get Foxy settled in.”
    The other girls. Brooke swallowed hard, not sure whether to be excited or nervous. Somehow she couldn’t imagine girls like her Pony Post friends hanging around a fancy stable like this! “Um, okay,” she said.
    Before she knew it, the truck and trailer were disappearing down the long drive and Brooke was on her own. Well, except for Foxy, who still wasn’t acting at all like her usual placid, unflappable self.
    â€œShe really isn’t spooky, normally,” Brooke told Robin as the pony jumped and stared bug-eyed at a leaf blowing across the courtyard.
    Robin smiled, which made the corners of her bright blue eyes crinkle in a nice way. “I understand. This is all new for her. I’m sure she’ll adjust.”
    She sounded very sympathetic, which made Brookefeel a little better. Just then a girl appeared at the open end of the barn.
    â€œOh, is the new camper here?” she asked Robin, staring curiously at Brooke. “Hi, I’m Livi.”
    â€œHi. Brooke.” Brooke felt self-conscious. Livi looked just as fancy as the rest of this place. She was Brooke’s age or maybe a little older, tall and pretty, with sleek blond hair and wide hazel eyes. Her spotless breeches and sleeveless lavender polo made Brooke feel as if she should tuck her T-shirt into her shorts and rub the dried mud off her sneakers, though she resisted the urge.
    â€œCool. Nice to meet you, Brooke. Is that your horse?” Livi sounded surprised as she turned her gaze to Foxy. “She’s cute. Is she a pony?”
    â€œYes. A Chincoteague pony, actually.”
    â€œOh, like in that movie or whatever, right? Shouldn’t she have spots, though?”
    Foxy whinnied loudly again, saving Brooke from having to answer. “We’d better get this girl settled in,” Robin said. “It looks like Foxy’s worked up a bit of a sweat. How about if I walk her a bit, let her check things out and eata few bites of grass and settle down? In the meantime, Livi can introduce you to the others and they can help you move your things in.” She nodded toward Brooke’s pile of belongings, including her English saddle, which was perched precariously atop her suitcase, where her stepfather had set it.
    â€œAre you sure?” Brooke blurted out, feeling a flash of panic at being separated from Foxy. Even though the pony was acting kind of nutty, Foxy felt like Brooke’s only lifeline to normal right now. “I mean, I could walk her if you don’t have time.”
    Robin smiled. “No, go on. It’s fine. I’d like to get to know her, anyway. We’ll meet you inside in a few minutes.” With a cluck to Foxy, she started off across the courtyard, heading for the grassy, tree-dotted lawn beyond.
    â€œCome on, the others are inside,” Livi said. Tossing her blond hair over her shoulder, she spun on one polished paddock boot and headed back into the barn.
    Brooke followed. Compared to the bright, hot summer day outside,