The a Circuit Read Online Free PDF Page A

shove herself back into the saddle as the mare bolted away from the fallen jump, snorting with annoyance.
    Tommi finally let out the breath she’d been holding, relieved that nobody was hurt. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen someone miss that badly over a jump that size—especially someone like Kate.
    It was only then, as she became aware of murmurs and gasps from behind her, that Tommi realized Jamie had arrived at the ring. A bunch of people were with him, including a familiar-looking girl with curly black hair, flawless dark skin, and full, pouty lips. She was around Tommi’s age or a little younger, pretty in an offbeat way. Her curvy body was encased in a too-tight polo shirt and flashy custom fringed full chaps. The latest trendy helmet—the one all the big-time jumper riders were wearing these days—was tucked under one arm.
    “Is that Eleganz?” the girl asked, stepping to the rail beside Tommi. “Not much of a jumper, is she?”
    Before Tommi could figure out a response to that, she noticed that another member of the party was Zac Trask. As soon as she recognized the singer, she also belatedly remembered where she’d seen the girl before—she was Zac’s daughter Zara, a top junior rider out on the West Coast. Tommi had never ridden against her or even met her before, but she’d seen her picture here and there.
    So Zara was the potential buyer. Tommi couldn’t help a flash of disappointment that Ellie might be going so far away. She wasn’t the type to get overly attached to the sales horses, but this mare was something special.
    “What’s going on here?” Jamie asked, staring at Tommi. “I thought I asked you to ride Ellie.”
    “Sorry, Jamie,” Tommi said. “We just thought …”
    She didn’t bother to finish. Jamie’s tone was mild-mannered and his facial expression neutral, but she knew him well enough to tell that he was annoyed. And she couldn’t really blame him. It was pretty obvious now why he’d asked her to ride Ellie today instead of Kate. Kate was a great rider, but a little too easily flustered. Having an international superstar watch her ride was likely to throw her off her game. Obviously.
    Tommi, on the other hand, was well known for her nerves of steel. Besides, she’d met more rock stars, actors, and other celebrities than she could count, and she’d figured out when she was still pretty young that people were all about the same anyway.
    “Sorry about this, folks.” Jamie was instantly jovial again as he turned to face Zac, Zara, and the others, who Tommi guessed to be bodyguards and managers and such. “Let me get my rider up, and then you can see what this horse can really do.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Zac said with an easy smile. “Right, Little Z?”
    Zara shrugged. “Whatever. But somebody should probably be taping it for the next thrills and spills video.”
    “This will only take a sec.” Jamie gestured to Tommi, then ducked through the fence and strode out toward Kate and Ellie.
    Tommi snapped her helmet’s chin strap and scurried after him. By the time she caught up, Kate was on the ground staring at her feet and Jamie was holding Ellie, who was dancing nervously, her eyes rolling in her head.
    “You okay?” Tommi whispered as she passed Kate.
    Kate shrugged, not meeting her eye. Tommi felt bad for her, but there was no time to worry about hurt feelings right now. Jamie was already checking the girth and adjusting the stirrups.
    “Ready?” he asked Tommi.
    She nodded and stepped forward, already assessing the mare’s mood—freaked out—and planning what she’d need to do to fix it. Time to salvage this situation if she could.

    Kate watched out of the corner of her eye as Tommi mounted, gathered up the reins, and sent Ellie into a smooth trot. She’d forgotten about her jacket and was riding in just her show shirt with the collar undone, but even so she looked cool, capable, and professional. In other words, the total