Free No Time for Horses by Shannon Kennedy

mother-in-law and
ask her for help with the kids.”
    “I didn’t think of that.” I moved to the left
side and checked the girth, tightening it so the saddle wouldn’t
slip when I rode. “I was just so pissed when she told me that she
couldn’t pay for Lincoln High and Rick wouldn’t. I mean she works
all the time and he pays child support, so where does the money
go?”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Sierra said, starting to
sound impatient. “She doesn’t have forty horses to feed, water, buy
shavings for, pay vet bills on, shoe every six weeks. She only has
six kids that need clothes and shoes, a mortgage, utility bills,
groceries to buy, gas for her car, insurance. Have you thought
about asking her?”
    “No, I was too busy getting mad at her.” I
slid the stirrups down the leathers. “Now, I feel like an absolute
fool. We’re the same age. Why do you know this stuff when I
don’t?”
    “It’s one of Ingrid’s life lessons,” Sierra
said. “She always wants us to ‘walk in the other person’s shoes
before we accuse,’ and it’s helped me. I’ve been majorly mad at my
mom for months because she won’t pay tuition for me to go to
Lincoln High. It’s a great school, and I’d be totally set for
college if I got to go there. Ingrid pointed out that my mom and I
should talk about how to make it happen. Once I learned that we’d
have to sell three or four horses a year, I decided the cost was
just too high.”
    “Your horses are born and raised here,” I
said.
    “Yeah and they know their mommas, sisters,
and brothers,” Sierra agreed. “I’d feel awful if we sold Prince
Charming away from Lady and something bad happened to either of
them. It’s all about choices, Vicky. I made mine, and I’m learning
to be okay with them.”
    “All right.” I nodded and rubbed Aladdin’s
neck. “I guess I’ll look forward to getting some strategies on
Tuesday, and I’ll try talking to my mom for a change.”
    “Wonderful. Ready to ride?” Sierra stepped
around to the left side of the horse where I waited. “You’ll
belly-flop into the saddle and then I’ll guide your foot into the
stirrup. Sit up slowly so he doesn’t spook. Okay?”
    “Yes.” I knuckled Aladdin’s withers. “Let’s
do it.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Saturday,
November 16th, 9:00 a.m.
     
    We arrived early at Kincaid High, the school
hosting the cheer competition, but we weren’t the first squad to
get there. That honor went to Mount Pilchuck. They were still
carting in their stuff when we got off our bus. Evie, our captain,
looked at them and then turned toward us with a smile. “Don’t worry
about them. We’re in a different division because they have more
cheerleaders than we do. This is different than when we face them
in football or basketball.”
    Fiona, a freshman from Junior Varsity eyed
her warily. “What if I mess up? This is the first time I’ve ever
gone up in front of so many people.”
    Evie managed a shrug, blonde hair bouncing.
“What if you do? We’ll survive.”
    “Really?” Fiona took a deep breath. “Okay,
then. I think I’m ready.”
    “I know you are,” I told her. “Otherwise, you
wouldn’t be here.”
    With a big smile, she hurried off to join the
rest of the squad. I walked over to Evie. “Well, that was nice of
you.”
    “If I told her that I’d kill her if she
fumbled during the toss today, she’d be freaking now, and we have
hours to go.” Evie hooked her arm through mine. “The practices are
going to get harder and longer for the rest of the season. We need
you. What’s it going to take to get your family off your back?”
    “The counselor says my parents are supposed
to step up.”
    “Hey, we’ve been cheering together for the
last six years, girl. Don’t fool with me. I haven’t forgotten how
many times your mom has been pregnant and how tough she had it when
she was always working forty hours a week at the same time. Your
stepdad went totally berserk when she had to be on