The Long Ride Home Read Online Free Page A

when you are all grown up. The next thing you need to learn is how to take off the saddle and bridle and how to groom him. Horses love to be brushed. Are you ready to do that?”
    “Oh, yes,” Sally said. “Where do we do that? Can we do that now, Skye?”
    “We sure can,” Skye said. She grabbed Champ’s cheek strap and turned him toward the barn. “Sally, we’ll walk Champ to the door. There I’ll help you dismount, and then we’ll take off his tack and you can groom him.”
    “Oh, this is so cool,” Sally bubbled. “I’ve never even been on a horse before, and now I get to brush one and everything!”
    “I’ll show you how to comb his mane and tail, too. Let’s go.”
    Just as Skye led Champ to a hitching post in front of the barn, she spotted her foster mother coming toward her from the direction of the administration office. Dressed in her tan and red western riding clothes, Mrs. Chambers made a stunning appearance. Even in the shade of her tan Stetson, her blue eyes sparkled.
    “Hi, Mom,” Skye said, “What’s up? I thought our trail ride didn’t start until after lunch.”
    Mrs. Chambers folded her arms on the top rail of the fence. “It doesn’t,” she said. “But I—”
    “Ooh, a trail ride,” Sally blurted out. “Can I go on that, Skye, can I, huh?”
    “I’m afraid not,” Skye said. “That’s for the older kids. But you’ll get to ride here tomorrow morning in the corral again.”
    “Oh, okay,” Sally said. “Can I get down now?”
    “Sure you can,” Skye said and then turned. “One moment, Mom.” Skye held her index finger up toward Mrs. Chambers and then tied Champ to the post.
    Skye reached up and slid Sally out of the saddle. “Now just wait one second until this nice lady and I talk about something, okay?”
    “Okay,” Sally said.
    “Now stand here in front of Champ and pet him on the nose.” Skye reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out three sugar cubes. “Give him these. And hold one ata time with your hand flat like this. Then he’ll be able to nibble it without biting you.”
    “Okay.” Sally started to follow Skye’s instructions.
    Watching Sally carefully, Skye stepped to the fence where Mrs. Chambers waited. “What’s happening?” Skye asked.
    “Well, I just had a phone call from Millie, and I’m wondering if you’d like to skip the trail ride. Millie and Emma don’t have to work this afternoon, and they want to come here to see you.” Mrs. Chambers pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “The office said they can have one of their hired help cover for you, if you’d like. I’m on my way to the barn to groom the horses and get them ready for the ride.”
    For the first time in Skye’s life since she had met Champ, she had to decide whether she wanted to do something else rather than be with her beloved horse. But, as she had correctly assumed when she met Millie, things in her life would probably change, and the changes had already begun.
    Skye glanced back at Champ and quickly analyzed the situation. In the blink of an eye, she had acquired “family,” not that the Chambers and Morgan weren’t, but Millie and her two kids were “real family,” the one she longed to know. She simply had to find out more.
    “What time can they be here?” Skye said with a racing heart.

Chapter five
    A t one o’clock, Skye sat at a center table in the empty mess hall waiting for Millie and Emma. From behind the serving counter busy voices, rattling glasses, and clanging pots echoed throughout the entire hall. A heavy garlic smell from a lasagna lunch still saturated the spacious room, but Skye was so focused on Millie’s arrival, the commotion and smells seemed miles away.
    Skye sat so that she could observe both entrance doors on opposite sides of the cafeteria. The door to her left swung open, and Skye stared in that direction, her heart taking a funny beat. Two teen boys wearing white aprons hurried inside and then headed into the