Chapter New The Girl The cabin door swung open and Khadija rushed inside She flapped a piece of paper in front of my face Guess what this is I shrugged No clue Ryleigh She planted her hands on her hips It’s no fun if you don’t guess She tucked a loose strand of hair under her lilac-colored hijab It’s a head scarf that covers her hair and neck It’s a Muslim tradition Okay I said Maybe info about Movie Night I crossed my fingers With the horses Nope She turned to Ainsley Your turn Ainsley scratched her head A flyer about the Horse Parade I’m braiding Minka’s mane this year 4
Khadija smirked Wrong again She tacked the paper to the bulletin board and read it Aunt Jane isn’t my real aunt She’s the owner of Storm Cliff Stables She says we’re like family here so we should call her Aunt Jane Ainsley yawned and rolled her eyes Who’d want to work with the Pony Girls They’re whiney babies The Pony Girls are the eight-year-old campers It’s their first year at Storm Cliff Stables 5
I think the job’s perfect for you Ryleigh said Khadija I thought it over The Pony Girls are like my little sisters and horses are my life And Bree is a good friend She lives next door with Avery Esha and Jaelyn We used to ride together but she hasn’t ridden since she took a bad fall So now she helps Aunt Jane take care of the animals My stomach fluttered as I opened my journal In big block letters I wrote YES I CAN and added some hearts Hearts always make me feel better I wonder who else wants the job I said If Jaelyn or Avery applies they’ll get it Khadija poked my shoulder Be confident in yourself Ainsley cocked her head You want to own a camp like this one day right The job would be good practice Ainsley’s right said Khadija And don’t forget the Pony Girls love you the most She 6
touched my wrist Those friendship bracelets prove it I ran my fingers over my rainbow-colored arm I have tons of bracelets from the girls at camp Khadija suddenly jumped around like a kangaroo Guess what Guess what Guess what Ainsley moaned Not again Khadija pointed outside She’s heeeere She was the new girl Aunt Jane told us we were getting a new bunkmate today I crossed my the Three Horseketeers will become the Four Horseketeers fingers Maybe Khadija rewrapped her hijab around her head and secured the pin a little tighter Maybe But why is she coming to camp two weeks late The door swung open Layla our counselor and a girl were standing in the doorway 7
