Chapter 1 New Friends Can I ride her Please I asked Chestnut thoroughbreds are my favorite I stroked Sapphire’s mane Layla smiled She’s my camp counselor Pleeease let me ride her Sorry she said She’s too big The Pony Girls need smaller horses Ugh I like big horses But she’s right I’m a Pony Girl 4
I stamped my foot Then I don’t wanna be a Pony Girl Layla frowned Don’t stamp your feet Carly You’ll spook her Sorry I whispered Aren’t ya eight years old she asked Eight and a half I said And isn’t this your first year at Storm Cliff Stables Layla asked I nodded Then you’re a Pony Girl said Aunt Jane as she walked over to us She’s not my real aunt But everyone 5
calls her Aunt Jane She owns Storm Cliff Stables It’s the best horse camp I gave her my puppy dog pout Pleeease let me ride her Pretty please with a cherry on top She shook her head Rules are rules You can ride Sapphire when you’re older I pressed my face against Sapphire’s Not fair I whispered Her ears turned forward She was listening Aunt Jane tugged on one of my curls You just got here You’ll fall 6
in love with at least a dozen other horses this summer Layla grabbed my suitcase She plopped it into a wagon Besides we already have a horse for you Really What’s her name You’ll know soon enough said Aunt Jane Go unpack Unpack That’s boring I said I wanna meet Layla’s nostrils flared Rules are rules Ya know what happens if you break one I folded my arms What 7
