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The Horse of the River
A Camp
Adventure
The Horse of the River
Sari Cooper
Copyright © 2019 Sari Cooper
1 2 3 4 5 — 23 22 21 20 19
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the publisher or, in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from Access Copyright, www.accesscopyright.ca, 1-800-893-5777, [email protected].
Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.
P.O. Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, V0N 2H0
Edited by Brianna Cerkiewicz
Map by Nicola Goshulak
Cover design by Anna Comfort O’Keeffe
Printed and bound in Canada
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Harbour Publishing acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.
We also gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Government of Canada and from the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: The horse of the river / Sari Cooper.
Names: Cooper, Sari, author.
Description: “A Camp Canyon Falls adventure.”
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190094834 | Canadiana (ebook) 20190094842 | ISBN 9781550178777
(softcover) | ISBN 9781550178784 (HTML)
Classification: LCC PS8605.O67235 H67 2019 | DDC jC813/.6—dc23
To my girls, Alicia and Marley. Without the two of you this story would have had no heart.
Chapter 1
Gillian stared out the window of her parents’ car at the groups of girls gathered around the bus. She didn’t know any of them. They were talking and laughing. A tall brown-haired girl got out of a car and ran to a group of three. She was greeted with hugs and squeals. Gillian’s heart pounded as she watched. She felt a bit dizzy. She looked around the car for a way to escape. The little voice in her head said, Why did we think this was a good idea?
“I don’t think I can do this,” Gillian said. “Take me back home.”
Her parents both watched her from the front seat, her mom concerned and her dad grinning slyly.
Her dad opened his mouth to speak but her mom cut him off.
“Okay,” her mom said.
Gillian was caught off guard. “What?”
Her mom said, “You’re probably right. They all look mean. You wouldn’t have any fun.”
Gillian sighed and said, “I know what you’re trying to do.”
Her mom said, “You’ve been excited about this camp for years. The brochure in your nightstand is falling apart. You love horses and riding more than any kid I know.”
Gillian knew she was being stubborn but couldn’t help herself. “What if I’m not ready? You’re the one who signed me up. You didn’t even ask me.”
“I’ve known riding was your thing since we came to watch you in that first horse show at Sunny Acres. Remember? Chico bit, um... Mango...?”
“Rico bit Peach.” Gillian sighed.
“Whatever,” her mom said. “Watching that horse take off running with you was terrifying but you didn’t even flinch. You hung on, regained control and finished the course. You flew over that little jump. No fear! Riding is where your heart is. Go. Commune with the horses and live in the woods. It’s going to be great.”
Gillian looked at her dad, hoping she might get more sympathy from him.
He looked at her mom as if asking for permission.
Her mom sighed and shook her head wearily. “Fine, go ahead,” she said.
Gillian’s dad turned back to Gillian and said, “I don’t really see what the problem is. Your excitement up to this point has been unbridled.”
Gillian’s eyes widened. She groaned. “Oh no.”
“Hoof you developed a sudden case of nerves?” her dad went on. “You’ve seemed pretty stable up to this point.”
Gillian put her hands over her face. “Mom, help.”
Her mom shrugged and gave her an apologetic half smile.
“I hope you brought your jacket,” her dad continued. “I’ve heard it can get pretty colt up there when it’s time to hit the hay. Especially when it reins.”
“Stop! Please! You win. I’m getting out of the car.”
Gillian raced to unbuckle her seatbelt and jump out of the back seat before her dad could torture her with another terrible pun.
But he threw in one more. “Glad to hear it. If we went home now you’d be saddled with regret.”
She threw herself
