You’ll get the job no problem Kami had assured her earnestly Jack had agreed They’d be crazy not to want you and Diabolo for that movie Let’s hope she said out loud as she came back into the present She started walking across the yard to join the others at the cookout She smelled barbecued steak and heard people laughing and having fun But first let’s eat Slabs of meat sizzled on the grill under Tom’s careful watch Zak came around with a bowl of fruit punch More he said to Hayley Hayley quickly gulped down the remaining contents of her cup Then she nodded and held it out Sooo thirsty after all those saddle falls
she croaked I got dust in my throat up my nose and you don’t even want to know where else Yuck Alisa said putting her hands over her ears So how come you don’t eat dirt like the rest of us Hayley asked Alisa She put her cup down and untied her long braids shaking out her hair I do Alisa protested You don’t look like you do Hayley said Although only thirteen she’d been a junior stunt rider at Stardust for the last couple of years She’s right Kellie agreed as she sat down beside them Kellie Hayley and Alisa were the some of the most successful riders on the team Now Kami was more than happy to join them Alisa you could fall from your saddle roll on the ground and still jump up looking like you just stepped out of the Wrangler store all crisp and shiny
Look at me Hayley wailed as she scrubbed at dark patches of mud on her pale blue shirt She beat dust from her jeans and swatted her Stetson against a tree trunk I take one fall from Cool Kid’s saddle and look what happens That’s because Diabolo’s so smart she knows not to dump me in the mud Alisa laughed She’s real gentle with me Anyone want more rib eye Kellie’s brother Tom yelled from his station behind the barbecue Alisa noticed that Kami was first in line and smiled at her roommate’s eagerness Kellie saw it too I know she muttered raising her eyebrows Ever since they got back from the Moonlight Dream job in California my brother and Kami have been joined at the hip
It’s cute Hayley insisted But she’s so tiny and skinny I have no clue how she can eat so much food The three girls sat cross-legged in the long grass enjoying the cool evening They watched the last of the sun as it sank behind Clearwater Peak So do you know yet did you get the Wildfire job Kami asked Alisa as she joined the gang She sat on a fallen tree and stretched out her legs We still haven't heard I’ve got my fingers crossed though You’ll get it Kami and Hayley chorused Keep the faith Kellie added All the stunt riders at Stardust knew that Jack and Lizzie Jones were really hoping to get a yes from Diamond Studios Contracts were like gold these days Although the owners never discussed it openly everyone knew that the
