A Hourse to Love Read Online Free

as her T-shirt and her fists stuffed into her pockets. The wooden deck outside led them down a long wooden ramp onto a sidewalk.
    The parade made its way down a gentle slope through the lawn to a white fence enclosing a red barn and spacious pasture.
    The afternoon sun had already given way to evening shadows, and the air now felt crisp and damp. Everything had a pinkish cast to it that made the scene look like a Saturday morning cartoon. A strong “Flanagan’s barn” smel permeated the air.
    Skye felt like screaming as she brought up the rear. She hated fol owing directions, and she real y hated being last. It didn’t matter how nice this place was. She had to get out of this trap. But how? Dark thoughts pul ed her face into hateful contortions.
    “This is ridiculous!” she yel ed. Her words fel on deaf ears as everyone focused on the large meadow on the other side of the fence.

    Skye scanned the field before her as she slowly approached the fence. In the distance, near a pond and under a clump of trees, stood a smal herd of horses.
    Mr. Chambers leaned on the fence with his elbows, stuck his fingers in his mouth, and released a shril whistle.
    Skye stepped back, glaring intently as the horses lifted their heads and started running toward the fence. They came up the gentle slope, manes and tails flying in the breeze. One , two , three , four , five , six! Skye counted as she backed farther away. As they charged toward the barn, Skye focused on the horse in the lead, smal er than the rest but fast as the wind.
    The rumble of their hooves on the ground took Skye back to when she was younger, alone in bed during a terrible thunderstorm, and she backed onto the sidewalk . “Just what I need to make my day perfect,” she yel ed.“Stinking horses!” Mr. Chambers crawled onto the top of the fence just as the herd came to a sliding halt in front of him.
    “I’l get their oats,” Mrs. Chambers said, unlatching a chain around the gate. “Stay!” she ordered Tip and Ty as she squeezed through the opening and hurried into the barn. Both dogs retreated, lying down next to Morgan.
    Mr. Chambers jumped into the pasture and singled out the lead horse from the cluster now shuffling in front of the barn. Snapping a rope into the halter, he maneuvered it outside the fence and closed the gate.

    From inside the barn, Mrs. Chambers slid open a big steel door and, single file, the other five horses hurried in.
    Morgan backed up, pivoting her chair to watch what would happen next.
    “Skye, this is Champ, our registered Sorrel Quarter Horse. We cal him Champ because he is one. The big bay mare is his mother, Pepsi,” Tom said, pointing toward the open barn door.
    “Champ, meet Skye.”
    The horse nodded three times, then let out a whinny that edged Skye back a few more feet.
    You only fear things you don’t understand. Mr.
    Chambers’ words echoed in Skye’s mind. But Skye wa s afraid. She had always hated and avoided animals, especial y big ones. And this thing was so
    — big! Now there was no escape. Skye scanned the creature from head to tail as she stood glued to the ground.
    Slowly, Mr. Chambers led the horse closer to where Skye stood. Champ inched forward and reached his head toward Skye.
    Skye stiffened, ready to back away again.
    “Don’t move. He’s sniffing you,” the man said. “He won’t hurt you. Champ is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever known.”
    Hanging on the man’s words, Skye tried to relax but felt her knees starting to shake. Brave? Put hotshot juvenile delinquent Skye Nicholson up against any human, male or female, and she’d throw the last punch. But animals? Horses? She was a bowl of Jel -O. “Does he bite?” she asked sheepishly.
    “Only apples, and I think he can tel you aren’t wearing one.”
    Gently, the horse inspected Skye’s bare arms, snorting, and then he licked her with his warm, sticky tongue. It felt clean and moist.
    “Let him smel your hands,” Mr. Chambers said.
    He