On the Victory Trail (9 page)

Skye sighed and shook her head in agreement as she studied the contestants leading their horses single file into the show ring.

Pintos, grays, blacks, and browns, each one prettier than the next, filed in, accompanied by contestants in a rainbow of Western attire. But no horse showed off its muscular perfection better than Keystone Stables' blue-ribbon mare. Unfortunately, Pepsi appeared to be led by a kid who staggered into the ring like her boots were stuck in mud.

“Something tells me this is
not
going to be fun to watch.” Skye frowned deeply.

Intermingled with a barrage of whinnies and billows of dust, the seven entries paraded single file into the ring. They walked, jogged, backed their horses, and finally squared them up in the center of the corral. By this time, Sooze had lost the center position to others who cleverly maneuvered their horses in front of her as she struggled to circle the ring. Now she found herself next to last as the judge started his close inspection at the other end of the line. As she had been trained to do, Sooze tugged on Pepsi's lead chain, prompting the horse to stand at attention. But ignoring the next step in her training, Sooze failed to check Pepsi's four legs. The front two lined up perfectly. The back two legs stood in a half stretch, the left one far ahead of the right. The horse's stance and perfect confirmation were thrown completely off.

“Sooze, check her back legs!” Skye yelled.

“Don't bother,” Mrs. Chambers said. “We're too far away. I don't think she'd listen if she were standing right by this post. Sooze is in her own little world.”

“Maybe before the judge gets to that end, she'll wake up and check the legs,” Mr. Chambers said hopefully.

Morgan's despair rivaled the others in their tightly knit group. “She's going to blow it.”

Slowly the judge worked his way down the line, checking each horse's shape, eyeing it from the front, back, and sides, checking its teeth. In front of Pepsi, he raised his clipboard and pen just as Sooze yanked the lead chain. The sudden jerk sent Pepsi into a panic. She pranced in circles with Sooze frantically attempting to quiet her down. The judge stepped back in apparent frustration, and Skye could tell he was not at all amused.

“Uh, oh,” Skye moaned. “Look at the judge's face.”

Mr. Chambers raised his hat in frustration, scratched his head, and then squared his hat across his eyes. “Yep, she blew it all right. I know that judge, and he does not like to wait until you decide to square up your horse.”

In minutes, the judge finished his tally. The loud-speaker announced the winners, the exit gate opened, and Sooze led Pepsi out and around the corral, returning empty-handed to the Chambers.

“That stupid judge!” Sooze yelled as she tied Pepsi to the fence. “He doesn't know good horseflesh when he sees it. He must be blind!”

Skye rolled her eyes. “Pepsi had every horse beaten without even blinking.
You
blew it — big time! You have to keep your horse still when the judge is standing right in front of you. Duh!”

“All right, you two,” Mrs. Chambers interrupted. “It's over. No use crying over it. But Sooze, we hope you have learned something important today. If you don't have your head screwed on right, even the simplest of tasks can defeat you. I think you know what I mean, don't you?”

“I didn't do anything!” Sooze remarked. “It was all that stupid judge's fault!”

“Sooze, I think your day at the fair is over,” Mrs. Chambers said sternly. “Tom and I are going to load the horses, and you'll be going home with me.”

“Why?” Sooze questioned.

“You not only need to rest, but you also need to clear your head,” Mrs. Chambers added. “But the first thing you need is some food in your system.”

“I'm not hungry!”

“Sooze,” her foster mother said more emphatically, “you need something in your stomach. Now, while Tom and I load the horses, I'd like you to go get something to eat. We'll give you a half hour. Then come back here, and you'll ride home with me.”

Skye dismounted her horse and handed the reins to Mr. Chambers. “Thanks, Dad,” she said. “I could use a burger or something. What do you say, Morgan?”

“Yeah, I could use something to eat too.” Morgan glanced at the grandstand. “But I'm planning to meet some of the kids from church. They were sitting on the top row a while ago. They must be on their way over here now.”

Mr. Chambers retrieved Morgan's wheelchair from the truck and set it on the dirt-packed walkway that led from the show ring to the rest of the fairgrounds. Morgan handed Blaze's reins to Mrs. Chambers while Mr. Chambers loosened Morgan's legs from the Velcro safety strips on her saddle, gently slid her off into his arms, and placed her onto her chair.

“Thanks,” Morgan said, glancing at Skye and Sooze. “Hey, you two, come with me. Skye and I don't have to be back in a half hour, do we, Mrs. C?”

“No, you have the rest of the afternoon,” Mrs. Chambers said as she tied Blaze to the back of their hauling trailer. “Sooze is the only one who needs to go home.”

“That's
so
not fair,” Sooze whined.

“Duh. Life's not fair!” Skye said sarcastically. Then she asked casually, “Hey, Morgan, is Chad here?”

“He was supposed to be, but I haven't seen him yet,” Morgan replied with a smile. “Come with me, and maybe he'll join us along the way.”

Sooze crowded herself next to Skye. “No, we'll do our own thing. Thank you.”

An artificial smile masked Skye's regret at not getting to see Chad. “Sooze and I can grab something to eat and then we'll meet you back here.”

“Sounds good. Then we can do the fair thing with all the kids later, okay? Hey, here they come now.” Morgan pointed across the field.

Sooze folded her arms angrily. “This stinks! You guys always get to have all the fun.”

Mrs. Chambers walked from the back of the trailer like she was stomping ants. “Sooze, it's time you learned that there are consequences for unwise decisions and actions. That's the way it's going to be,” she said emphatically.

“Come on,” Skye said to Sooze, tugging her arm, “you only have a half hour. Don't waste it arguing.”

Mr. Chambers pulled a wallet from his back pocket. “Do you girls have enough money?”

“I do,” Morgan answered. She moved ahead slowly. “Where else can I spend that megabucks allowance you give me?”

“I've got money,” said Sooze.

“Me too,” Skye answered. “So I guess we're out of here.”

Morgan stopped in front of Skye, her troubled eyes reaching beyond her smiling face. “Skye,” she pleaded, “don't you think you should go with us?”

chapter ten

W
ell — ” Skye hesitated.
I would like to see Chad
, she thought.

“Morgan, we don't need bodyguards,” Sooze huffed. “Right, Skye?”

“Skye — ” Mrs. Chambers' voice oozed with caution.

Mr. Chambers glanced back as he led Blaze to the trailer. “Remember, girls, you're on the honor system. We'll trust you as long as you don't give us any reason not to. And Sooze, you're already up to your neck in quicksand.”

Morgan looked down the walkway. “Here come the guys now.”

Sooze grabbed Skye's arm, abruptly pulling her away. “Come on. Let's go!”

“Later.” Skye said to Morgan.
I'd rather be going
with you
, she thought. She glanced back at the three approaching friends. Each yelled hello and waved.

“Come on!” Sooze tugged Skye's sleeve harder. “We're history.”

“All right! All right!” Skye yanked free. “Give me a break. I'm coming. See you later!” she yelled warmly to the group.

The two girls soon blended into the bustling crowd, losing themselves among the buildings packed with antiques, arts and crafts, and farm gear. In the livestock section, pens and open barns overflowed with the com-motion of prize calves, sheep, and pigs. Branching from the fair's core were narrow alleys blasting with music and hucksters yelling at passersby, “Win a prize every time!”

Food stands, squeezed into every plot, satisfied the whims of an endless parade of empty stomachs. Sour barn smells faded into those of barbecued chicken, pizza, and funnel cakes. Skye's mouth watered as she peered down every lane for a stand that sold burgers and fries.

“Over there!” Skye zeroed in on the Bill's Buffalo Burgers stand. “I love those, and they have great curly fries.”

“I've got better things to do than eat,” Sooze said, her dog-tired words sliding out from under her blue hat. “I've got a surprise for you.”

“If it takes longer than twenty minutes, I'm not into it. Don't be any dumber than you've already been today. I'm getting a bison burger. What do you want?”

“Hey, I said I'm not hungry, and I mean it. Get what you want. Then we'll head over to the midway.”

“Why? What's over there?” Skye asked as they walked toward the stand.

“Just wait and see.” A silly smile flashed across Sooze's face.

“Don't tell me you want to get on some rides! You already get sick to your stomach from the chemo. Besides, we don't have enough time.”

“Just hurry up.”

Skye ordered a burger, fries, and chocolate shake. While they headed for the midway, Sooze carried the box holding the fries and shake. Skye scarfed down her food and gulped her creamy shake.

“This is too good.” Her milky mustache confirmed her pleasure. “Want some?”

“Nope,” Sooze said, balancing the cardboard tray while they weaved past a string of sideshows toward the Ferris wheel.

“Not that thing!” Skye griped through the last mouthful of food. She tossed the garbage in a trash can, and then her eyes followed rotating buckets on the humongous light-flickering wheel. “I can't believe you want — ” Skye glanced at her watch. “Sooze, we only have ten minutes to get back! I don't even have time to see the motorbikes!”

“Just cool it!” Sooze demanded. She took the lead on a walkway behind the wheel. “Come on down here behind the restrooms.”

“What are you doing?”

“I see them. They're here!”

“Who?”

“Come on. You'll see.”

Skye trailed after Sooze, who puffed her way past the cinder-block bathroom building to a cluster of shady maples.

“Sooze!”
I am getting bad vibes
, Skye thought. Her panic now had nothing to do with the time.

“Hey, Sooze! Skye!” a voice bubbled from the shade of the trees. “Look at you two. Ride 'em cowboy! Where'd you get those rags?”

“Kenny, my man!” Sooze yelled, forcing her tired body toward the voice.

Skye squinted from the shade of her hat. She strained to focus on a ­couple of teenagers, one she didn't know. Beside the stranger stood a lanky boy who wore a green baseball cap flipped backward, a black T-shirt, and baggy jeans.

Kenny Hartzell!
Skye remembered him all too well.
What's he doing here?

As Sooze approached Kenny, his tattooed arms stretched to greet her with a high-five. Skye stepped for-ward and offered her own palms reluctantly.

“Hey, what's happening?” Sooze asked.

“This is awesome seeing you guys again,” Kenny said.

“You better believe it,” Sooze said, her thumbs already up. She looked behind her as if she were hiding something.

Skye squared her hat smartly over her eyebrows and stared at Kenny. “How did you get out of Chesterfield? Weren't you supposed to be there for eighteen months?”

“Hey, I know how to buck the system.” Kenny pointed to himself with his thumb. “I walked the line, and they let me out early. Simple as pie.” His braces displayed a deceptive smile, and then he looked to the girl standing to his left.

“This is Tanya Bell,” Kenny said. “She's from Philly.”

Skye studied the girl who stood half a head taller than Kenny. Her smooth face boasted two rows of per-fect teeth and dimples that exploded when she smiled. A red-and-white tank top and jean shorts hugged her shapely body, and her gazelle legs stood posed in high-heeled sandals. She easily could have passed for a model. She cradled an orange and white teddy bear at least half her size in one arm.

“Hey, what's up?” Sooze said to the girl.

“Tanya? Cool,” Skye said. “What brings you to Snyder County? I mean, this is horse country — a long way from the big city. The closest we get to excitement is watching the sun go down.”

“This is my sixth summer at the fair,” Tanya said. “When I was younger, I visited some cousins who lived near here. I don't know,” she said resting her free hand on her hip, “I just like it here. Things slow down just enough to let me think. I met Kenny last summer, and we've been friends ever since.”

“Yeah,” Kenny added, “real good friends. She stays with some ­people that live a few doors down from us.

“Awesome,” Sooze said.

“Yeah,” Skye said, looking at her watch. “Sooze, we've gotta go
now
.”

“What's up?” Kenny asked. “Hey, that's right! You two are foster kids now. And you're hanging out at the same house. Does ‘mommy' want you home?” he teased.

“You guys aren't serious,” Tanya laughed. “You actually have rules that you have to follow?”

“They aren't that bad,” Skye said.

Sooze interrupted. “Kenny, did you know I have a brain tumor?”

“You're joking. For real?” he answered.

“Yeah, I've had chemo and everything,” Sooze started to explain. “This is a wig I'm — ”

“Do you two want a smoke?” Kenny interrupted.

“Sure,” Sooze said. “I'm dying for one. It's been
forever
.”

“Skye?” he asked.

“Ah — ” Skye folded her arms.