Chapter Big The Announcement think Aunt What do you Jane’s big announcement is asked Ryleigh as she skipped along the pebble path that led to the stables She pointed her flashlight toward the stable’s doors Maybe she’s planning an overnight trip for us Aunt Jane is the owner of Storm Cliff Stables It’s a camp for girls who are crazy about horses Everyone calls her Aunt Jane She says if horses talked they’d call her Aunt Jane too Ainsley shook her head and flashed her beam at Ryleigh We went on an overnight trail ride last week Why would she schedule another one so soon Cassidy crossed her fingers What do you think Khadija 4
I tucked a piece of hair under my hijab She made the announcement to all campers Most of them aren’t allowed on overnighters yet But it must be something special because the horses are invited Cassidy’s shoulders drooped Bummer I’d love to camp out under the stars Cassidy is a new camper Don’t be disappointed I said You’ll get to one day But I doubted Aunt Jane would let Cassidy go with us She just started riding I still wondered why a twelve-year-old who had never ridden a horse before would sign up for horse camp I bit down on my cheek and thought of my ammi’s words Worry only about yourself Khadija We stepped into the stable and pushed through the crowd of girls Most of them were finishing grooming their horses for the campfire The smell of leather and hay filled the air and 5
tickled my twitchy nose Saddles and bridles lined the walls waiting for morning lessons I walked toward the back and ducked into Silver Moon’s stall Hiya girl I said as I rubbed her nose Then I got a good look and whiff of the stall It was a mess You were out in the paddock most of the day I mucked out this place two times already Why so messy Ainsley peeked through the grilles in the wall You and Silver Moon are perfect for each other You’re both slobs Cassidy flared her nostrils Be nice Ainsley shrugged Just keeping it real Cas Khadija does have the messiest bunk It’s a fact Do you think that’s true Silver Moon I rubbed my cheek against hers Are we slobs She bobbed her neck up and down She agrees with me said Ainsley Score one for me 6
We all laughed Ainsley Cassidy Ryleigh and I are bunk mates Although this is Cassidy’s first summer here the rest of us have bunked together for four years We call ourselves the Three Horseketeers because we’re BFFs I’ve been riding Silver Moon for the last three years She’s a flea-bitten gray Thoroughbred mare Her light gray body is covered with little specks of black dots I ran my hand along her belly and started to connect the dots with my finger Are you ready to make s’mores tonight Cassidy’s eyes grew wide Seriously Horses like s’mores I giggled as I adjusted my hijab No Just joking Cassidy pointed to my head scarf Do you have to wear your hijab every day I’m Muslim I said I was born in Pakistan If there’s a chance that I’ll see a boy then I cover 7
