Willow King Read Online Free

the barnyard, his long-legged stride carrying him past the squawking chickens and unmanageable colts. At first she couldn’t believe her eyes, but no one else had that same shade of strawberry blond hair and that winning smile.
    â€œYoo-hoo,” Cindy called. “Over here!” She waved frantically in his direction.
    â€œYou mean you know him?” Katie’s heart hammered in her chest. There wasn’t a girl in her school who didn’t dream of Jason Roberts. He was president of the ninth-grade class, captain of the basketball team, and he was actually nice . She had admired him for many years but never had the nerve to say more than “hello” or “excuse me” when she passed him in the hall.
    She was glad she had put the lift in her shoe this morning. The last thing she wanted was to have that awkward limp around Jason.
    Katie wished she could just stay on Jester’s back. She was as graceful as anyone up there. At least she hadn’t worn her special shoe this morning. It was more obvious than the lift. The lift just slipped inside her ordinary shoe, but her special footgear had a built-up sole.
    Normally, a person used either a lift or an orthopedic shoe, but her leg fell on the borderline of being too short for the lift to work well. So she also had the shoe, which she really hated. She wondered if Jason had ever heard any of the kids at school tease her.
    Jason’s family owned a large spread, part of which bordered the back of the Durhams’ property. Occasionally, she would see him riding in the fields, but she always turned and went the other way, afraid that he might think her stupid if she tried to speak and became tongue-tied.
    Katie’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly snapped it shut when Jason stopped beside them, smiling up at her as he patted Jester’s neck.
    â€œHello, Katie.”
    â€œSo you two do know each other?” Cindy looked inquiringly at Jason.
    Katie was shocked that Jason knew her by name. She couldn’t seem to find her voice, so she just sat on her horse and tried for a nice smile, hoping that she didn’t look like a total dweeb.
    â€œSure, I know Katie,” Jason said. “Our properties border each other, and I see her riding through the fields every now and then.” He turned his gaze back to Katie. “I’ve waved to you a couple of times, but I guess you never see me.”
    Katie opened her mouth to speak, praying that her voice wouldn’t come out as a little squeak. “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t notice. I’ll pay more attention next time.” She hoped God wouldn’t punish her for that little white lie. Of course she had seen him. She had just assumed that he’d been swatting mosquitoes. She couldn’t believe that he had been waving at her.
    â€œI told Jason about our little secret. I’m sure my father wouldn’t mind. Jason is sworn to secrecy.”
    â€œOn my honor.” He crossed his heart and raised his right hand. “So what are you going to do now that you don’t have a horse to ride?” He grabbed Jester’s bit and waited for her to dismount. “It’ll be another couple of years before that colt will be old enough to break—that is, if his legs straighten enough for him to be rideable.”
    Katie slid her hand over Jester’s neck and patted him lovingly. “Oh, his legs will be straight enough. You’ll see him win the Futurity race at Portland Downs. And even if they don’t straighten, bad legs won’t make him useless.” She punctuated her point by making a graceful dismount.
    Jason looked at her and smiled. “You’re right about that.”
    Katie had the feeling that he was talking about her as well as the horse. Her heart brightened, and she liked him all the more for it. Funny, but she wasn’t so nervous talking horses to him. “In the meantime, I guess I’ll just have to