Free Lizabeth's Story by Thomas Kinkade Page B

dully.
    â€œThere’s always next year,” Amanda said. “You can enter next year.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to it,” Rose said.
    â€œI don’t care,” Lizabeth said, and realized that she honestly didn’t anymore. Not from the moment she had seen Tracy.
    â€œYou don’t?” Kat’s voice was sharp. “As of last night, it was the most important thing in the world! More important than anyone !”
    Lizabeth matched her tone. “I said I don’t care ! Is that so hard to understand?”
    Amanda looked from one to the other. “What’s going on with the two of you?”
    Lizabeth hoped Kat wouldn’t explain. There wasn’t much she could say in her own defense. Amanda and Rose would surely side with Kat.
    Lizabeth had never thought much about it before, but Amanda had been Kat’s friend first. Kat’s family practically adopted her in those terrible months after her mother died. Lizabeth hadn’t exactly avoided her, but Amanda’s grief had made Lizabeth feel too uncomfortable. Well, she’d only been seven then.
    And Rose and Kat became especially close when Kat helped her care for her horse. Lizabeth had gone to Clayton Stables a few times, but she’d really done…nothing. Except pose in her scarlet riding jacket, she remembered now with embarrassment.
    â€œWhat is it?” Rose asked. “What happened?”
    â€œWe had a disagreement,” Kat said stiffly.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it,” Lizabeth muttered.
    â€œWell, if it was just a little disagreement…” Rose started.
    â€œIt wasn’t little . Things were said that can’t be unsaid,” Kat told them. “It’s too late.”
    Amanda looked distressed. “Come on, you’ve been best friends since…since you were born!”
    â€œWe were forced on each other,” Kat said. “By our mothers.”
    â€œWe’re cousins, not friends,” Lizabeth said. “We have nothing in common.”
    â€œDon’t do this, please,” Amanda pleaded.
    â€œNothing could be that serious,” Rose added.
    â€œIt’s supposed to be the four of us together, remember?” Amanda said.
    â€œFour best friends, forever,” Rose said. “Don’t spoil it!”
    â€œI don’t care what happened. You’ve got to apologize to each other right now.” Amanda was almost in tears. “You’ve got to!”
    Kat looked out the window. Lizabeth studied her feet. “When I came to Cape Light,” Rose said, “I thought the three of you had the best friendship I’d ever seen. I was so happy to be included. You can’t stay mad. Not here, not in our special place.”
    Kat and Lizabeth exchanged guarded looks.
    â€œKat,” Amanda said. “Lizabeth. Please!”
    After a long pause, Kat spoke. “I don’t think I was wrong but I guess I’m sorry about some of the things I said. Though not all.”
    â€œI’m not saying you’re wrong—you’re not—but I did what I had to do. You could have tried to understand. I couldn’t be there and not see…” Lizabeth took a breath. “I guess I’m sorry for what I said, too. I suppose I do like you. Some of the time, anyway.”
    â€œI worry about Tracy, too,” Kat said softly. “I do understand.”
    â€œYou were mean,” Lizabeth said. “You have a terrible temper.”
    â€œWell, so do you. And I’m not heartless!” Kat paused. “Lizabeth, I want you to know—I wasn’t upset only because of my brothers. I was mad at you for risking yourself .”
    Amanda and Rose looked at each other in confusion. “All right, good enough,” Rose said.
    Amanda took the other three girls’ hands and clasped them together. “Four of us, together,” she said.
    â€œFour, together,” Rose