Free Comeback by Jessica Burkhart Page B

on.
    â€œOkay,” Drew said. “Everybody stand in your stirrups. No
     holding onto manes or anything. You sit, you’re out.”
    I felt my competitive juices kick in. We all stood and I glanced at Drew,
     a cool, this-is-so-easy look on my face.
    â€œGuys! Look at the deer!” Khloe said.
    I swiveled my head and immediately lost my balance. Not wanting to pull on
     Whisper’s mouth, I sat down.
    Everyone else was standing.
    Shoot. Going out the first round wasn’t
     fun.
    â€œAw, Khloe! No fair!” Lexa said. “LT’s never
     played with us. That was a dirty trick!”
    I looked over at her, confused. “Where are the deer?” I looked
     at both sides of the trail, not seeing any wildlife.
    â€œThere are no deer,” Clare said.
     “Khloe just said it to try and make some of us fall.”
    I mock-gasped. “Khloe!”
    Khloe gave me a guilty grin. “I’m sorry! I didn’t even
     think about it.”
    â€œNone of us looked, because we’ve played games with Khloe
     before and she does it all the time,” Lexa said. “Clare, Drew, and I totally
     spaced—we should have warned you about her diabolical tricks.”
    I laughed. “It’s okay, you guys. I fell for it. Now I get to
     watch.”
    â€œYou should get a redo,” Khloe said. “You guys want to
     call that a practice round?”
    Everyone nodded, but I shook my head. “No way. Fair is fair.
     It’ll be just as fun to relax”—I kicked my feet out of the
     stirrups—“and watch you guys play.”
    â€œYou call the commands,” Clare said.
    â€œLove that,” I said. “Okay. Everyone sit, then let go of
     your reins, drop your stirrups, and keep your horse moving with nothing other than vocal
     commands. If your horse stops, starts to run into another horse, or generally stops
     moving forward—you’re out.”
    As much as I wanted to play, this was fun too. Everyone followed my
     commands.
    â€œHey, Lex,” Clare called.
    â€œNot listening,” Lexa sang. “Can’t hear
     you.”
    â€œOkay, but Honor might,” Clare said, her voice syrupy sweet.
     “Honor!” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
     “C’mere, girl!”
    â€œOoh, you guys really play !” I
     said.
    â€œHonor,” Lexa said, her voice firm. “Walk. Don’t
     listen to Clare.”
    The strawberry roan mare’s ears flicked back at Lexa and then
     swiveled toward Clare’s voice.
    â€œHonor,” Lexa said again.
    Drew and Khloe were oblivious to Clare’s tricks. Both had their
     horses walking, and neither showed signs of wobbling.
    Lexa kept talking to Honor, trying to keep the mare from listening to
     Clare’s I-have-a-treat-for-you voice. But Honor took a
     step sideways, veering in front of Whisper and starting in Clare’s direction.
    â€œSorry, Lex,” I said.
    Lexa shot Clare an evil eye, then winked. “We’ll get you next
     time.”
    Lexa dropped back beside me.
    â€œYou make the next call,” I said. “Everyone else,
     relax.”
    Lex thought for a minute. Then she called a new task.
    I sat back, enjoying the battle. Whisper seemed to be
     watching too. This was one of the best things we’d done together in a long
     time.
    Khloe was the next to drop out.
    Clare and Drew were the only two left.
    â€œWe’re about to reach the field,” Khloe said, since it
     was her turn to decide on a command. “Last task. If no one fails in a few strides,
     you both win.”
    â€œYou’re going down, Bryant,” Drew said to Clare.
    â€œWhatever,” she scoffed. “You’re done and you know
     it.”
    â€œSwing around in the saddle to look at us,” Khloe said.
     “And keep your horses in a straight line.”
    â€œGood one,” I said.
    Drew and Clare immediately dropped their reins,