Hopes in Hiding

Hopes in Hiding — page 7 — and zoomed in on the bathroom door And maybe draw me a bath so I can freshen up Layla stiffened Fetch you some iced tea Draw a bath She narrowed her eyes Um Maybe you misunderstood I’m Aunt Jane’s assistant But She paused for a second I don’t fetch things Even for her Cassidy slapped her forehead OMG I’m sooooooo embarrassed I’m sorry It was just a joke And I suppose not a very funny one Ainsley snorted Good one I’m Ainsley She pointed to me That’s Ryleigh and Khadija is the one who hasn’t learned how to whisper yet Khadija blew raspberries I pointed to her bunk That’s yours We can help you put your sheets on We make our own beds Cassidy asked Layla patted her on the back This is Storm Cliff Stables Not the Four Seasons Hotel And FYI we don’t have a single bathtub at camp 10

Hopes in Hiding — page 8 — Sorry She slammed the door behind her Cassidy poked her head into the bathroom Well who needs a tub anyway Right It was obvious the new girl had a lot of money Ainsley thought so too So you’re rich huh Nice rich or spoiled rich I tried to cover her mouth Ainsley Khadija glared at Ainsley So rude Cassidy shrugged Nah I’m not rich She didn’t sound too convincing So this is it huh I nodded Yep Home sweet home We’ve lived here for four years Until this year it just had one bunk and a single bed She lowered her eyes Sorry Oh don’t be sorry The Three Horseketeers love having a fourth bunkmate I opened my desk drawer and pulled out a box And this is for you The second I’d heard a new girl was coming I 11

Hopes in Hiding — page 9 — made her a bracelet It was purple and hot pink My favorite colors It had three silver beads in the middle that said SCS Cassidy scooped up the bracelet and stuffed it in her pocket It’s a friendship bracelet I said as I held out my own colorful arm You wear it I know she answered But I’m waiting until we’re actually friends My face felt like I had a bad case of sunburn She burnt you like toast whispered Ainsley Rich and rude Cassidy ignored her and swiped my journal off the desk That’s private I screeched It’s mine Sorry she said I wasn’t peeking Honest She changed the subject So what do you do around here for fun Ride horses I said She frowned Obviously But what else 12

Hopes in Hiding — page 10 — Khadija spoke up We have movie nights with our horses Go on trail rides Spa days with our horses Besides horse stuff said Cassidy The brochure said you have archery arts crafts campfires kayaks Things like that We do said Khadija But if it were up to us we’d just be with the horses all day long Ainsley and I agreed What kind of horse do you ride I asked I don’t ride she said at last To be honest I’m not sure if I even like horses I winced Khadija covered her ears Ainsley stood there her mouth wide open I wasn’t sure what to think of the new girl but I knew one thing for sure The Three Horseketeers would never become the Four Horseketeers 13

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