Free Willow King by Chris Platt Page B

much pressure to make Jester turn.” She grabbed the section of rein between Cindy’s hands and the bit. “This is all the tension you need,” she said as she pulled the reins gently so that Cindy could get the feel. “At the same time I want you to give him a little squeeze behind the girth with your outside leg, and give him some support at the girth with your inside leg. That will move him into the circle.” She stepped back. “Now circle him around the arena and try it again.”
    Cindy gritted her teeth and pasted on a smile for her father. This time when she reached the corner, her cues were much gentler and Jester made a nice circle. “I did it!” Cindy smiled triumphantly. “I want to do another one.”
    She rode to the next corner of the arena and made another circle. Jester behaved perfectly. When they finished, Katie called it a day.
    â€œYou’re looking better already,” Mr. Ellis said. “Katie, how would you like to continue this for a while? I’ll add a little extra to your paycheck.”
    She groaned inwardly. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was spend more time with Cindy. She didn’t dare look back at the girl, but she could feel Cindy’s eyes shooting daggers. She opened her mouth to speak. “Well—”
    â€œGood, then it’s all settled.” Mr. Ellis slapped his hand on the fence post and turned to leave.
    Katie looked around at Cindy. Her face was puckered into a frown, but she didn’t seem to be too angry. Katie shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry. I guess we’ll just have to make the best of it. At least we got you back on a horse today.” She turned to leave before Cindy vented any more of her wrath.
    â€œKatie, wait.” Cindy dismounted and walked Jester up to stand beside her. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking down at the ground. “Sometimes I can be kind of a jerk.” She lifted her eyes to Katie’s.
    Katie knew this was the only kind of apology she was going to get. Cindy never apologized to anyone. Katie nodded her head. “It’s okay.” She smiled and opened the gate to leave. “I’ll see you Monday after school.”
    School. Katie’s stomach tightened at the thought. By Monday it would be all over school that she liked Jason. What would Cindy think of that? If she was this difficult to work with now, how bad would she be when she found out Katie had a crush on her boyfriend?
    Katie finished raking the straw from the shed row, then she headed home. Monday was going to be a long day.

Seven
    On Monday morning Katie woke with a stomachache. she dreaded going to class. She shuffled out of bed and went to feed the horses. King raised his head and nickered when she entered the barn.
    â€œI wish I could stay here with you all day,” she told King as she threw some grass hay into the feeder. Grey Dancer munched happily while King nursed. “I might say I’m sick and come home early. Don’t be surprised if you see me at lunchtime.”
    An hour later, Katie entered the school building with her head hanging low, hoping that no one would recognize her and taunt her about Jason. By third period, not even so much as a word had been said about him. Nobody gave her funny looks or sly smiles. She was beginning to think that maybe he had stayed home sick.
    By last period, she had her confidence back and walked purposefully down the hall to her locker.
    â€œHi, Katie.”
    She whirled at the sound of Jason’s voice. Hugging her textbooks tightly to her chest, she hoped they would muffle the sound of her galloping heart. He was standing by his locker with several of his friends. Katie peered into each of their faces, searching for hints that they knew of her affection for Jason. They just smiled back at her in an unassuming sort of way.
    â€œNeed any help with that colt today?”
    She relaxed a little and