On the Victory Trail Read Online Free PDF Page A

door in one swift move and charged out. “Sooze, don’t get on that horse!”
    â€œShe’ll kill herself!” Mrs. Chambers said.
    Skye ran toward the field with Morgan motoring along behind her.
    As Mr. Chambers raced across the lawn, Stormy pranced in tight circles with Sooze already on his back.
    â€œWatch me now!” she yelled. “I’ll show you I can ride!”
    Mr. Chambers took one courageous leap toward the fence. “Sooze, stop!”
    Stormy wheeled, and Sooze grabbed the horn with one hand and the reins with the other. She shoved her heels into the unsuspecting horse’s belly. Hard.
    â€œYou idiot!” Skye screamed, running to the fence. “That’s no play pony!”
    â€œSooze! Sooze!” Mrs. Chambers, out of breath at the fence, could not utter another word.
    â€œSooze!” Morgan yelled. “Stop!”
    â€œLet’s go, Stormy!” Sooze whooped. “Let’s show ’em how it’s done!”

chapter four
    E very muscle in Stormy’s powerful body tensed with the excitement of running like the wind. A kick that hard in such well-trained ribs meant only one thing: Go fast!
    In a split second, Stormy broke into a fast gallop and tore along the fence with Sooze hanging on for dear life. Like a rag doll tied to the saddle, she bounced with every hoof beat that pounded the ground. Pulling back hard on the reins, she screamed, “Whoa! Whoa!”
    As Sooze flew by, Mr. Chambers, balancing on the fence railings, reached out for her but just missed her. “Turn him in a circle!” he yelled as he cleared the fence and ran after Stormy.
    â€œSooze!” Skye and Morgan yelled together, eyes wide with alarm. “Turn him in a circle!”
    Stormy rounded the corner, charging toward the bottom of the field. As he scraped against the fence on the turn, Sooze leaned over to her right and managed to wrap her arms around a fence post. Stormy continued racing down the field at full speed, leaving his rider dangling. Sooze dropped to the ground, badly shaken but unharmed.
    Mr. Chambers joined Sooze, steadying her shoulders before looking into her eyes. “Are you all right?”
    â€œWhat on earth were you trying to do?” Mrs. Chambers puffed as she and Skye approached.
    â€œThat was dumb!” Skye panted. “You could’ve killed yourself!” And who else pulled a stupid stunt like that on a horse not too long ago? immediately popped into in Skye’s mind.
    â€œStupid horse!” Sooze complained as she glared at Stormy, who was now munching grass down near the pond. “It wasn’t my fault. Something spooked him.”
    â€œYeah, right,” Skye retorted. “I think the spook was on his back.”

    For the rest of the afternoon at Keystone Stables, the mood was somber and tense. Sooze’s disobedience put pleasure on the back burner, but the business of running a ranch took over. While Mr. Chambers cut hay on the lower fields, Mrs. Chambers and the girls blanched twenty dozen ears of corn, bagged them, and stored them in one of the basement freezers.
    While Sooze sulked and complained about the work, Skye and Morgan tried to eat as much corn as they bagged. They told silly jokes, determined to change Mrs. Chambers’ disgruntled mood.
    â€œMan, is Mrs. C. ticked.” Skye whispered to Sooze over a boiling pot of corn. “You are going to get it. Big time!”
    â€œWatch me!” was Sooze’s smart reply.
    The mood at supper was somewhat lighter, however. (If they had been practicing to eat politely before the Queen of England, everyone would have passed with flying colors.) Mr. Chambers reviewed the next week’s activities, and Mrs. Chambers talked about a shopping trip. After supper, the family met in the living room for devotions and a family discussion.
    â€œJust remember, girls,” Mr. Chambers said as he glanced up from his Bible, “you can’t