largest in Westchester County, but even so, with that many riders it could feel awfully cramped.
“We’d better get inside.” Tommi checked her watch. They’d gotten stuck behind an accident on the Triborough Bridge, which had delayed them for almost forty-five minutes. “Everyone else is probably here already.”
They headed into the big main barn, which was brightly lit and full of activity. Max, one of the grooms, was hustling by with a wheelbarrow full of fresh shavings. An adult rider was buckling her helmet while talking on her cell phone. Analert-looking Jack Russell terrier trotted past with a leather jumping boot in his mouth.
A second later Joy, the barn’s assistant trainer, raced into view. “Whiskey, get back here!” she exclaimed.
Tommi darted forward and grabbed the dog’s pink rhinestone-studded collar. “Stop, thief,” she said with a grin.
“Thanks, Tommi.” Joy wrestled the boot out of the dog’s mouth, then straightened up and smiled. “Hi, Zara. You guys better get ready—Jamie’s in a hurry tonight.”
Tommi released Whiskey’s collar. The rowdy little dog belonged to Summer Campbell, another junior rider, and Tommi knew it was pointless to try to find her and convince her to keep him on a leash like she was supposed to. Somehow, Summer never seemed to believe the barn rules applied to her.
“Of course Jamie is frantic,” Tommi told Joy with a smile. “We leave for the show tomorrow.”
Joy chuckled. “You know him so well.” Suddenly her smile faded. “Excuse me—I just remembered something.”
She raced off down the main aisle toward the center section of the barn, where the office, tack room, restrooms, and various storage spaces were located. “Does she ever stop moving?” Zara wondered, watching her go.
Tommi shrugged. “Maybe when she’s asleep. Come on, I’ll walk you to Keeper’s stall—it’s right on my way.”
As they headed deeper into the barn, another junior rider, Marissa, rounded the corner of the aisle. She was leading a kind-eyed bay gelding decked out in a Baker stable sheet.
“Zara!” Marissa exclaimed. “Oh wow, I wasn’t sure you’d show tonight. You know—because of the news?”
For a second Tommi wasn’t sure what she was talking about.Then she remembered that odd encounter at school earlier that day. “Oh right. Did you ever figure out what the latest gossip is all about?” she asked Zara.
“No. I was rushing to meet you after school and forgot to get my phone back from the office.” Zara raised an eyebrow at Marissa. “Care to fill me in?”
Marissa’s already-round brown eyes widened. “You mean you haven’t heard?” She pulled an iPhone out of the pocket of her Tailored Sportsmans and worked it with one hand while her horse nosed at her pocket, looking for treats. “Here,” she said after a moment, shoving the phone toward Zara.
Tommi didn’t really care about the latest stupid rumor and was about to move on to her horse’s stall. But Zara’s quick intake of breath stopped her.
“What?” Tommi asked.
Zara’s full lips had all but disappeared into a thin, grim line. “See for yourself,” she said, tossing Marissa’s phone in Tommi’s direction.
Tommi caught it and scanned the blog entry.
Can it be? Pelham Lane junior Zara Trask has become a fixture at the East Coast shows since her famous father, Zac Trask, moved the family from LA to NYC. Now rumor has it that Zac might be getting more involved with Zara’s riding … and maybe even with one of her fellow juniors!
“So is it true?” Marissa tugged on the reins to stop her horse from wandering past her to check out the hay flakes stacked in a wheelbarrow nearby. “Because everyone is already trying to figure out who it could be.” She giggled. “It’s not me, I swear!”
Tommi almost rolled her eyes. Marissa was cute enough, with her dimpled smile and curly dark hair, but somehow Tommi couldn’t see an international superstar like Zac Trask
Michelle Pace, Andrea Randall