Rival Revenge Read Online Free PDF

But it hadn’t mattered. Everything had shattered around me. I couldn’t take another week of crazy-intense drama.
    I finished grooming Charm and tacked him up. He lowered his head, making it easy for me to bridle him, and I slid the reins over his neck. I put on my helmet and walked him to the indoor arena. Heather and Jasmine were inside, both girls just mounting their horses and starting their warm-ups.
    I stopped for a second—saddened by the first thought that popped into my brain: Callie wasn’t in my class— and I was glad.
    When I’d first started YENT lessons without her, I’d been devastated. She was on the advanced team and I wason the YENT and I’d felt alone without one friend in the arena. We both hated not being able to ride together every day. But now, I was glad. If Callie and I had to practice together every day it would be beyond uncomfortable. Practices weren’t going to be about boys or best friends—they were going to be about riding. And I was going to make up for my ridiculous last couple of lessons by wowing Mr. Conner from now on.
    I mounted Charm and guided him to the wall. He settled behind Phoenix, Jasmine’s gray gelding. Ahead of us, Heather and her darker chestnut, Aristocrat, trotted forward at an even pace. Aristocrat was a top-notch horse, but Heather also knew how to bring out the best in him. Heather’s black boots gleamed, her fawn-colored breeches were spotless and, like always, her white polo shirt was horse hair free. It was still a mystery to me how she managed that.
    I let Charm walk for a couple of strides before easing him into a trot. His movements were smooth and he followed behind Phoenix, but didn’t tailgate. We made several laps around the arena, every one of us focused on her horse. Jasmine’s gaze, intense as always, was narrowed between Phoenix’s ears. She kept a tight grip on the reins and didn’t give him any room to move freely.
    Mr. Conner walked inside and stopped in the arena’s
center. He had a thick notebook in one hand and a Canterwood Crest travel mug in the other. Steam rose from the top and he took a sip.
    â€œHi, girls,” Mr. Conner said. “Before we get started, I want to let you know that next week I will be taping a lesson to share with Mr. Nicholson.”
    Mr. Nicholson was the YENT’s head scout—he’d chosen all of us for the team.
    â€œIt will be a regular class and there’s no reason to think you need to schedule extra practice sessions or to worry,” Mr. Conner continued. “You’re all doing fantastic and I’m sure Mr. Nicholson will agree.”
    But my brain was barely able to process the last sentence. Jasmine and Heather were doing fantastic—Charm and I weren’t! We needed to work harder before Mr. Conner filmed the lesson. Otherwise I’d look ridiculous next to my teammates. I’d have to make room in my schedule to ride more. I started making a mental list of things I could cut out of my schedule.
    â€œI don’t want the camera to throw off anyone during the taping, so I’m going to start bringing it to classes,” Mr. Conner said. “I’ll set it up but leave it off so that you and your horses get used to seeing it.”
    We all nodded.
    â€œLet’s get started, then,” Mr. Conner said. “I want to work on flying lead changes today. You were all asked to perform them during your test for the advanced team, but we haven’t practiced them for quite a while.”
    My stomach dropped. Charm and I could do flying lead changes—most of the time. But it had been forever since we’d done them.
    â€œFlying lead changes are a natural movement for horses,” Mr. Conner said. “But sometimes, a horse gets lazy and forgets how to pay attention to signals for a flying lead change.”
    Jasmine covered a yawn as if this conversation bored her.
    â€œWe’re going to work