Blue Ribbon Champ Read Free

said, “since you went through all the beginner’s lessons last year, you’re going to learn a whole lot of brand-new things, such as how to canter on a lunging line, how to square up a horse, how to shave a horse’s whiskers—”
    “Ooh,” Joey’s voice bubbled with excitement and he clapped his hands. “I saw Mr. C. do that last year. That makes the horsies look so-o-o pretty. You mean, I get to do that?”
    “Yep,” Mrs. Chambers answered. “But the first thing you’re going to do today is take your first trail ride with Skye.” She untied Bucky from the fence and handed the reins to Joey. “Here’s your horse. You remember Bucky from last year, don’t you?”
    Joey pushed the reins back into Mrs. Chambers’ hands, shuffled to Champ’s side, and grabbed the saddle’s horn. “But I don’t wanna ride Bucky. I wanna ride Cloud’s horsey. I wanna ride Champ!”
    Like a lightning bolt, Skye pushed herself between Champ and Joey, forcing the boy back. She glared pitchforks at him and made a declaration that left no question of her intent. “Nobody but me rides my horse!”

Chapter three
    S kye…” Mrs. Chambers whispered a soft reprimand. Folding her arms, Skye stood like a fortress. A brick wall couldn’t have said it better. “I’m going nowhere without Champ!”
    Joey’s eyes watered, and he was ready to cry. “Don’tcha want me to—to ride your horsey, Cloud?” he stammered. “I—I won’t hurt him.”
    “Young lady, we’ll discuss this later,” Mrs. Chambers said in no uncertain terms. She touched Joey’s shoulder and directed him gently toward the buckskin. “Aw, Joey, I think Bucky’s feelings would really be hurt if you didn’t ride him.”
    The horse glanced back and nickered.
    “See?” Mrs. Chambers said. “I think he remembers you. He wants to take you on a nice ride through the woods. What do you say?”
    “Okay!” Joey’s face brightened as he wiped his watery eyes. “He sure is a pretty horsey, ain’t he?”
    “He sure is. Now let me help you mount,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Grab the horn while I hold Bucky steady for you.”
    “Okay, Mrs. C.!” Joey beamed and then climbed onto the horse.
    Skye wasted no time grabbing Champ’s reins and mounting.
    Mrs. Chambers turned toward Skye and gently stroked Champ’s neck. “Joey probably would love to see Piney Hollow again. That will take less than an hour to ride out there and back. Now, what do you say, Skye?”
    As usual, when a tough challenge wound her into a tight knot, Skye chewed her lower lip. Her glance shifted from Mrs. Chambers to the bottom of the field, zeroing in on the trail through the woods that led to the campsite. Even with Joey that’ll be cool, she reasoned. Without a word, she stared at Mrs. Chambers.
    “Skye?” Mrs. Chambers said.
    “Okay.” Skye let out a stingy smile as she reined Champ. “No problem. Let’s go, Joey.”
    “Have a great time!” Mrs. Chambers said, swinging open the paddock gate.
    Back to lip chewing, Skye took the lead down through the field and focused on the task that lay before her. As Joey rambled on and on about his lovely queen, Skye stroked Champ’s neck and did her best to fulfill the promise she’d made to Mrs. Chambers. “Champ,” she said under her breath, “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Then she smiled all the way into the woods.
    Weeks passed, and Skye was at war with herself. It had been months since she’d felt so confused about anything.
    Since she had accepted Christ, Skye and her feelings had been getting along quite well, she reasoned. But where was God in her life lately? He had always been there forher, and with her. But now, with the way she felt about Joey, God seemed so far away. She absolutely hated the way she felt, but she just couldn’t help it.
    Without success, Skye tried to remember the last time she had made a point to pray—about Joey or anything. And how about reading the Bible? Right now, she wasn’t even