Free A Hourse to Love by Marsha Hubler Page B

occurred to Skye until that very moment that Robin was different because she was like the Chambers. She was one of them. A religious nut. A Christian! “Where you been, girl?” Robin asked, pushing her hair behind her ears.
    “In prison,” Skye grumbled.
    “Prison!”
    “Almost. I was placed again. This time in the ultimate torture chamber. Speaking of chamber, their names are Tom and Eileen Chambers. Do you know them? They own Keystone Stables about three miles west of town.”
    “Nope. Never heard of them. Is it real y that bad?”
    “It has one good thing, and only one,” Skye said, raising her index finger. “They have horses and I’m learning to ride. That’s the only good part, believe me.”
    “Horses?” Robin exclaimed. “Sweet! I’ve always wanted to ride horses but never had the chance. So now you’re a dude-ette. You go, girl!” Skye’s face shriveled. “Dude-ette?”
    “Yeah, you know. They cal cowboys ‘dudes.’ Wel , you’re a girl, so you’re a dude-ette.”
    “Not cool,” Skye said, throwing her gym bag into the locker. Her voice grew serious. “Hey, have you seen Sooze and Kenny?”
    “No, I don’t see them much,” Robin answered, her tone quickly changing. “You know we don’t have any classes together.”
    Robin was stil talking, but Skye was too busy searching the faces in the hal way to listen.
    “Skye!”

    “Huh?”
    “Softbal practice started last week. The team’s looking for a manager. Do you want to do it? It’s after school every day until five.”
    “Can’t,” Skye said as her attention shifted back to Robin. “I have counseling at Maranatha.”
    “What’s Maranatha?”
    “It’s a place over on Fifth and Broad that tortures kids like me. I have to go there every weekday for at least a year. They’re trying to help me,” she said sarcastical y as she grabbed a book from her locker.
    “Oh,” Robin said.
    “Gotta go. I have to report to Bubba. I mean Mr.
    Bubbosco.” Skye glanced at her watch as she walked away. “If you see Sooze and Kenny, tel them where I am. Okay?”
    “Probably won’t see them. Our rotation is completely different,” Robin said as she turned to walk in the opposite direction. “See you later in gym class.”
    Skye slipped into the principal’s office and sheepishly approached the high counter that kept kids separated from the staff. To her right, four students slouched in chairs lined up against the wal , each face reflecting the thought, Get me out of here!
    Skye scanned them, hoping in vain that one would be familiar. No such luck.
    As she waited impatiently for the secretary, Skye planned her new strategy, one that would keep Bubba off her back — at least for a few days.
    “Good morning, Miss Nicholson,” the secretary bubbled as she approached the counter. “We haven’t seen you for a while. Been watching your step, I guess.”
    Skye gave her a sheepish grin.
    “Now you don’t need to tel me why you’re here,” the secretary continued. “You are top priority. Go right in.” Poking the button on an intercom, she gestured to a door that was slightly ajar. “Skye Nicholson is here.”
    As Skye slipped inside the principal’s office, she set her latest plan into motion. C’mon tears. Work for me.
    “Have a seat, Miss Nicholson,” Mr. Bubbosco said from behind his humongous fancy desk. He was not smiling.
    Skye slid onto one of three chairs lined up in front of the cherry wood fortress. Unsure of her archenemy’s mood, she studied the principal’s gray eyes which glared back, his thin frame and balding head, and reading specs riveted to the end of his nose. She waited, wondering what he possibly could say to make her feel any worse.
    Mr. Bubbosco, fifty-something going on eighty, was enemy to al students and friend to none. Skye could tel he thoroughly hated his job, but retirement was just around the corner. Hotshot Bubbosco, better known as “Bubba”behind his back, had seen his better days. Ignoring