Free Summer Camp Adventure by Marsha Hubler Page B

major source of irritation, Skye focused on helping the Problem Child of Camp Oneega.
    Every morning, she met Jonathan at the riding corral where he was learning how to saddle and bridle Buddy, how to clean his hooves, and how to apply bug juice. The boy had advanced in his riding lessons to where he was now ready to learn how to trot Buddy in the corral. Today it was time for another lesson. Skye and Champ stood next to Jonathan and Buddy, ready to begin.
    “Okay, Jonathan,” Skye signed, “mount Buddy. I want you to walk him around the corral one time in each direc tion. Then come back here, and we’ll work on trotting.”
    Jonathan smiled, pulled his helmet strap tighter under his chin, and nudged Buddy forward. Flawlessly, he walked Buddy as he had been instructed. Then he came back to Skye.
    “Very good,” Skye signed. “Now we’re going to learn to trot. I’m going to trot Champ around the corral. You sit here and watch. Okay?”
    “Okay,” Jonathan signed.
    Skye mounted Champ and rode him around the corral one time, stopping in front of her watchful student. “I’ll doit once more,” she signed. “You watch my balance and my feet. Also, look at how little I pull on the reins. Okay?”
    “Okay,” he signed.
    Again Skye trotted around and stopped in front of Jonathan.
    “Now, you try it. Remember, don’t pull back hard on the reins. And don’t kick him. Just rub his belly with your heels. Buddy will respond.”
    “Okay.” Jonathan smiled. He started, first in a walk, then in a proper trot. But halfway around the corral, he started pushing his weight forward in the stirrups and lifting himself out of the saddle every other beat of Buddy’s trot.
    “He’s posting!” Skye said with no one listening. “Jonathan!” she screamed.
    Shifting his weight forward, Jonathan sent Buddy into a full canter. The boy yanked the reins to the side, turn ing the horse into the center of the corral. Buddy came to an abrupt and confused stop.
    Skye raced Champ into the center of the corral, coming to a sliding stop next to Buddy. Panic filled Buddy’s eyes as he sidestepped, fighting the tight hold Jonathan had on the bit. Skye reached down and grabbed the horse’s bridle, attempting to settle him down.
    “Jonathan, relax the reins!” she signed. “You don’t post when you ride Western style. Buddy has no clue what you’re doing.”
    “I always ride like that!” Jonathan signed.
    “Only because you learned English style on an English-trained horse. Now listen! All these horses at the camp are trained Western .”
    “No,” Jonathan chopped the air. “I don’t like this way.” He started pulling Buddy to the side.
    Skye grabbed Buddy’s bridle again and calmed him down. “Jonathan, you will not post with Buddy. Your lesson is done!”
    Jonathan pouted for several seconds and stared at Skye. Then, dropping the reins on the saddle’s horn, he started to cry. He ripped off his riding helmet, threw it on the ground, and jumped off his horse. Wailing like someone had just given him a black eye, Jonathan fled into the barn.
    Now what! Skye said to herself. She reached over to Buddy’s saddle, grabbed his reins, and led him back toward the barn. Tying both horses’ reins to the corral posts, Skye ran into the barn after Jonathan. Over in a dark corner filled with hay bales, Jonathan sat, crying his eyes out.
    Skye hurried to kneel in front of Jonathan.
    Venturing one nasty look at Skye, the boy lowered his head onto his folded arms. He sobbed and sobbed.
    Skye touched him, and Jonathan pulled away fiercely. He pivoted his body a half turn, completely ignoring Skye. The battle of the wills had begun again.
    “More trouble?” Skye heard Mr. Wheaten’s voice coming from the open barn door.
    “Yes,” she answered. “He wouldn’t listen during his riding lesson again.”
    “Need any help?” Mr. Wheaten asked.
    “I think I can handle this one,” she said. “Thanks anyway.”
    “I’ll be in the