Willow King Read Online Free Page B

today.” He looked over at Katie and gave her a reassuring smile. “I think the two of you should go riding together a few times so Katie can give you some pointers on how Jester likes things done.”
    Cindy puckered up her face and started to protest, but Jason stopped her. “Don’t be stubborn, Cin. All horses are different. You want to win some ribbons, don’t you? You’ve got to learn this horse’s temperament and how to handle him if you want to do that.”
    â€œI guess you’re right. This is going to be my best year in the show ring. I know Jester can carry me to highpoint champion. I was just a little upset because I thought you were telling me I didn’t know how to ride.”
    Katie finally found her tongue and stepped forward to speak. “I’d be glad to give you a few lessons.”
    Cindy gave her that look again, and Katie knew she’d said the wrong thing.
    â€œN-not that you need lessons,” she stuttered, trying to recover from her blunder. “You ride perfectly fine.” She hoped God wasn’t keeping track of her white lies. “It’s just that Jester and I have been together for so long, he’s used to my cues. It’ll help if I can show you what I do with him.”
    Cindy seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned to call for a groom to take the horse away. Katie quickly reached out and loosened Jester’s girth. She always let it out a couple of notches when she’d finished her ride.
    â€œJohn will deliver King and his mother to your farm tomorrow. Remember, there’s no trading back early, even if that colt’s legs don’t straighten up.”
    Cindy grabbed Jason’s hand, dragging him toward the house. From the corner of the barn he looked back over his shoulder and waved. Katie’s heart cantered in her chest. Jason Roberts had actually talked to her! Wait until she told her best friend, Jan.

Three
    â€œThey’re here!” her mother yelled as Katie emerged from the barn. She had gotten up at daybreak to prepare the stall for King and his mother.
    The night before, old John had driven over to help Katie take down the partition in Jester’s stall to make it double the size for the new arrivals. It was now bedded deep with straw and had plenty of fresh water and sweet-smelling hay. It truly was a stall fit for a king.
    John maneuvered the horse trailer down the narrow driveway and parked in front of the barn that was to be King’s new home. Katie hurried to help him unload the pair.
    â€œWell, Katie girl, this is it. There’s no turning back from here.” John nodded hello to her mother and opened the trailer’s rear doors. “Easy, easy,” he crooned as the mare slowly backed out of the trailer. The colt’s legs were too weak to make the twelve-inch drop to the ground, so John lifted him out.
    King touched ground and surveyed his surroundings. His eyes were alert, and his ears swiveled back and forth, trying to pick up all the new sounds that surrounded him.
    It was a pleasant day for the middle of February in Salem, Oregon. The wind was cool, but the sun shone, illuminating King’s brown coat and his fuzzy black mane and tail. He had just a touch of black showing on his legs now, but Katie knew that once he lost his baby hair, he would take on the true bay coloring of his father. He would be a beautiful bay with black points on his ears, muzzle, and legs.
    King raised his head and whinnied, then struggled along after his mother, his gait slow and awkward. Katie felt as if she were watching an animal version of herself. Her heart ached with the kinship she felt with King. Come on, boy , she said to herself. It’s an uphill battle, but you can do it .
    â€œWell, Mom, what do you think?” She could tell by the skeptical look on her mother’s face that she was full of doubt.
    â€œI don’t quite know what to think, dear. The poor