A month and a half away from him was starting to sound like the best vacation of Ella’s life Yes Bridle is our real last name said Mr Bridle He took Ella’s bags out of the car and set them down We’ll take it from here Mr Pierson said Ma Etty Dinner’s almost on the table and the kids were doing introductions Actually said a boy on the porch with a blond bowl cut we just finished em For once Ella’s dad looked relieved Ella was not She knew first impressions were important and now she’d made hers by showing up late Great Thanks Dad said Ella Her dad wiped his forehead and stood back not bothering to respond to her jab He gave Ella a quick hug and said Remember to keep your fists in your pockets No hitting Why did he have to talk to her like she was seven Ella jammed her hands in her front pockets and pulled away from the hug Then she took her hands back out again and dropped them by her sides shooting her dad a spiteful look But Dad hadn’t noticed and was already walk ing back to his car as he said I’ll leave her in your 7
capable hands Mr Bridle Mrs Bridle He opened the door and climbed in So much for taking a look around Ella thought See you in six weeks Ell he called out the open window Then he peeled out of the driveway with a roar of the engine The tires kicked up so much dust that everyone in front of the house burst into a coughing fit One of the two older teenagers standing on the porch a girl with long brown hair and a kind face approached Ella Hey Ella she said extending a hand I’m Mad ison one of your riding instructors Ella shook her hand and glanced at the other teenager a tall black guy now suddenly occupied with breaking up the boy campers who were prodding and poking one another He looked like he was probably the other instructor Come on said Madison heading past Ella Let’s drop off your stuff real fast at the girls bunk house and then we can eat As Ella followed Madison across a patchy yard of grass toward two weathered old bunkhouses she sized up the ranch 8
Chickens clucked and croaked in the nearby coop and the whole place smelled like grass and sky and earth The faint odor of cow manure reminded her that this place was chock-full of living things Impressive Now that she was here in person it really lived up to the brochure When her dad had laid out all the options for summer rehab camp this feeling was what had endeared Ella to Quartz Creek Ranch ranch life was supposed to be simple and beautiful even if a little dirty Remember that camp isn’t for fun he’d said trying hard to play the role of Dad by using his stern voice It’s punishment You’re supposed to learn something Maybe to him it was punishment but to Ella it was a six-week vacation Horses check Ella adored horses Beautiful graceful fast And no Dad Check She could start fresh here without his oppressive presence weighing her down But more importantly this place was the real deal The original article An authentic working cattle ranch out in Somewhereville Colorado Big sky Gigantic mountains Check Ella thought looking around This was 9
just the place for escaping Petaluma for a while and the strange distant way her friends treated her After Bianca But so what if they were afraid of her now Nobody should get away with talking to Ella like that especially about her pigtail braids Mom had showed Ella how to make them connect in the back like that when she was little It was hard to do by herself holding up a hand mirror while she braided so she could see what she was doing but she’d managed So of course Ella popped that trash-talking brat Bianca in the mouth when she insulted Ella’s braids Friend or not Bianca got what she deserved as Dad would say He didn’t tolerate insults either Madison didn’t chatter as she led Ella to the girls bunkhouse They ascended a short creaky set of stairs and ducked inside The place was clearly built to house more than just two girls there was room for at least five probably more if the table were scooted aside for another cot Ella wondered if by chance the Bridles ever ended up with all girls and zero boys That would be a big mess Ella thought Top bunks were always the most fun so Ella headed for the one nearest the window I’ve got 10
