Blue Ribbon Summer by Catherine Hapka Read Free Book Online Page A

Brooke was starting to wish she’d kept the thought to herself. “I think it was Foxy. She has this really deep nicker, even though she’s so small.”
    â€œOh. That’s cute,” Paige said with a smile. “Snow pretty much sounds like every other horse when she nickers.”
    â€œHmm.” Brooke smiled back, but she was glad when the other three returned to their conversation. She could tell they were trying to be nice to her, but it was pretty obvious she didn’t fit in, and neither did Foxy. Had coming here been a mistake?

CHAPTER
5
    â€œRISE AND SHINE!” ROBIN POKED her head into the bunkhouse. “Breakfast starts in twenty minutes.”
    Brooke was already dressed. She’d slept fitfully and woken early. After creeping into the tiny bathroom to pull on jeans and a T-shirt, she’d been tempted to sneak over to the barn to check on Foxy. But she wasn’t sure what the rules were here, and she was tired of sounding clueless to the others. Besides, Livi and Paige were still asleep, Livi snoring softly from beneath her pillow. Hannah was awake but still in bed. She’d mumbled a greeting to Brooke, then immediately pulled out her cell phone and started scrolling through her messages. Her dark hair was loose andsticking out around her head in soft curls that Brooke thought looked nicer than Hannah’s usual sleek but severe ponytail, though she never would have dared to say so.
    At Robin’s voice, Livi’s eyes opened and she rolled over. “Wha time is it?” she mumbled, spitting a stray strand of blond hair out of her mouth.
    â€œTime to get up,” Hannah replied. “Dibs on first shower.”
    â€œNo!” Paige sat up too, suddenly wide-awake. She shoved a strand of tangled red hair out of her face. “Don’t let Hans in the shower first, or she’ll use all the hot water!”
    Livi gasped. “Oh no, you’re right!”
    She leaped out of bed, tripping over her own slippers. Hannah was laughing as she grabbed a towel from the cubby at the foot of her bed and dashed toward the bathroom. Livi and Paige lunged after her. There was a brief tussle, which Livi won, slamming the door shut behind her as she disappeared inside.
    â€œCheater!” Hannah complained. “I called dibs.”
    Paige laughed and collapsed on the foot of Brooke’s bed, which was nearest the bathroom door. “You had the right idea,” she commented. “There’s always a fight for thebathroom in the mornings. I just can’t stand getting up any earlier than I have to.”
    â€œI usually like sleeping in too,” Brooke said. “I guess I had a little trouble sleeping in a strange place.”
    Paige smiled sympathetically. “I was the same way when I first came here. Don’t worry, before long Camp Pocomoke will feel like your home away from home.”
    Brooke returned the smile, but it felt a bit forced. So far, she couldn’t imagine ever feeling at home in this place. But who knew? Maybe Paige was right. Maybe Brooke and Foxy would settle in sooner or later. Brooke hoped so, anyway.
    Fifteen minutes later, all the girls were dressed. Brooke followed the others out of the cabin, expecting them to turn left toward the house. Instead, they headed across the narrow patch of grass between the bunkhouse and the barn.
    â€œAren’t we going to breakfast?” Brooke asked.
    â€œYeah.” Livi ran her fingers through her damp blond hair. “The horses ’ breakfast.”
    â€œOh, right, we didn’t tell you about that part, did we?” Paige said. “See, at Camp Pocomoke we’re supposed to take care of our horses ourselves.”
    She, Livi, and Hannah gazed at Brooke as if expecting her to react somehow. “Okay,” Brooke said cautiously.
    Hannah rolled her eyes. “I know, right?” she said. “I mean, this place is great and all. But I could do without