Fearless by Katy Grant Page B

really sensitive. A nervous rider equals a nervous horse.”
    â€œYeah, that was one of my problems,” I said, wriggling free of her arms at last.
    â€œOh, you mean
I
was your problem? I’m just trying to help you. I want you to do your best.”
    I was secretly glad that Madison had seen me during my lesson. I did look good today. I really could ride well under the right conditions.
    â€œI know! Now can we leave? We’re late for . . . tennis.” Actually, we had no plans to go to tennis. I just wanted to get away before Madison did anything else to me—called me another nickname, started giving me tennis advice, or crushed me in a sumo hold.
    â€œI just wanted to say you did a good job today. Keep it up and you’ll definitely be ready for crossrails by the end of the summer.”
    â€œThanks for the vote of confidence,” I said, in what was only a slightly snotty voice.
    The four of us walked down the long dirt road away from the stables. When we were far enough away, Mollypoked me in the side with her elbow. “You’re so mean to Madison. She’s just trying to look out for you.”
    â€œI am not!” I protested. “I can’t believe you called me mean.” I crossed my arms and walked ahead of her along the shady road.
    â€œOkay, not mean, I guess. It’s just so obvious you want her to leave you alone.”
    â€œThat’s because I do want her to leave me alone!”
    â€œJust be glad you have a sister. You could be an only child like me,” said Whitney. “I would
love
to have Madison for a big sister. She’s so pretty, and she’s popular and outgoing. Don’t you just love her?”
    â€œYeah, all the CATs are cool, but Madison’s, like, everybody’s favorite,” Amber gushed. “You’re lucky, Jordan. I bet my older brother hasn’t even noticed I’m at camp right now. Madison’s really nice.”
    â€œYes, you’re all right. Let’s see—Madison’s nice, pretty, popular, outgoing . . .” I counted off all her many qualities on my fingers. “Next time I see her, I’ll crown her Princess Perfect.”
    Molly and Amber laughed out loud over that, but Whitney just shook her head and frowned at how ungrateful I was to have such an amazing sister.
    Of course I loved Madison. She was my sister. It’s practically a law that you have to love the people inyour family. But didn’t they all see how much pressure she’d put me under the other day? Sure, she was trying to help me. She would love it if I turned out to be a Madison clone.
    I’d be so happy if I could learn to jump this summer. But was that enough?
    Even if I did jump, I could already hear what people would say.
Oh, look at Maddy Junior! She’s just like her big sister!
    But Madison and I weren’t anything alike. Maybe we looked alike, but the similarities stopped there. I could never be like Madison—confident, adventurous, daring. That just wasn’t me.
    No matter how good I got at riding, I’d just be Madison’s little sister. What would it be like if I did something that was all my own—just me?

Friday, June 20
    â€œI’m glad the rain finally stopped,” said Maggie, a girl from Cabin 4. “I hate rainy days at camp.”
    We had just walked into the lodge for evening program, and the noise of all the Middlers crammed into one space was a little deafening. The lodge was one big room with high ceilings and wooden rafters overhead, and tonight there was a fire going in the fireplace, since the rain this afternoon had made everything damp and chilly.
    â€œReally? I happen to like rainy days.” We found a spot on the floor where we could sit down near Melissa, Brittany, and Erin.
    â€œWell, at least we didn’t miss our riding lesson because of the rain,” Molly said.
    I thought the rainy afternoon had been a lot of fun.After lunch,