Summer Camp Adventure Read Online Free Page B

Okay?”
    Jonathan’s look of disgust barely allowed a skimpy nod.
    Skye led the way, firmly holding Buddy’s bridle as they went around the corral.
    “Looks good, Skye!” Tim yelled as he walked his team on the other side of the corral. “You must be doing somethin’ right!”
    “I sure hope so!” Skye said. “This kid is too much.”
    Skye and her team completed one large circle. Stopping Buddy, she turned toward the boy. Jonathan had the look of a cardboard cowpoke, one hand on the reins, the other hand stuffed in his jeans pocket.
    “Relax, Jonathan,” Skye signed. “If you know how to ride, you also know the horse can sense when you’re nervous.”
    “This is too different. I don’t like it.”
    “It will take time, but you’ll learn. I’ll help you. Now we’re gonna go around one more time. Ready? Here we go.”
    They pivoted and started in the opposite direction. As Skye led her team around the corner, Tim yelled from the other side of the corral, “Don’t look now, Annie, but your rider has kicked into an English mode.”
    Skye stopped Buddy abruptly and spun toward the boy. Like a starched shirt, Jonathan sat with both hands on the reins and his tongue out at Skye.
    “Jonathan! That’s not the way I showed you!” she signed fiercely and then reached for the reins.
    Before Skye knew what had happened, Jonathan yanked the reins, spinning Buddy around and knocking Skye flat on her back. The boy leaned forward in the saddle and kicked his heels sharply into Buddy’s ribs. The horse let out a loud whinny, reared up, and in a flash, raced full speed ahead toward the barn.
    “Jonathan!” Skye screamed as she scrambled to her feet. “Come back here!”

chapter five
    M r. Wheaten! Stop him!” Skye screamed at the top of her lungs. Leading his team around the corner, Mr. Wheaten heard Skye and looked up to see Buddy tearing across the center of the corral like a racehorse heading for his “finish line.”
    “Stop him, somebody!” Skye started to run after Jonathan. If Buddy runs into the barn, Jonathan will wipe out on that door frame .
    Mr. Wheaten stood firm, not taking so much as one step forward. He grabbed a whistle hanging around his neck and blew it in two short spurts. Tweet-tweet-tweet! Tweet-tweet-tweet!
    “What’s he doing?” Skye yelled, racing after the horse.
    At the sound of the whistle, Buddy’s ears perked forward. Immediately, he took a sharp turn, slowed to a trot, and shuffled into a lazy walk. As though led by some phantom cowboy, the horse strolled right to the corral fence and placed his chin on the top railing. There he stood, his belly puffing and the rest of him planning to go no farther until Mr. Wheaten said so. As hard as Jonathan tried to turn him, the horse would not move.
    That’s right! Skye remembered. These horses have been trained in a special way!
    She charged toward Buddy and grabbed his bridle, her desperate breaths equal to his. Her face flushed hot, and sweat oozed out all over her body, more from frazzled nerves and embarrassment than from the summer sun. Worse than that, her temper boiled like a cauldron. She was ready to rip this Jonathan kid to shreds.
    You little monster! Skye fumed, staring daggers at the boy.
    Jonathan relaxed back into the saddle, both hands on the reins, with a new Cheshire grin plastered all over his smug face. Already Skye knew that could mean only one thing: “I won. Ha-ha!”
    “Your lesson is over!” Skye signed. There was no doubt that her hands meant business!
    Picnic and field day at Camp Oneega!
    Skye looked up at the clear blue canopy and filled her lungs with fresh mountain air. A perfect day for food, fun, and games! Thank you, God , she said silently, blocking out her disastrous morning with Jonathan. At the end of an asphalt track on a large grass field, she stood holding a black-and-white-checkered flag. Mr. Wheaten prepared to blow his whistle at the starting line to send eight wheelchair racers on their