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Authors: Jessica Burkhart

Chosen

BOOK: Chosen
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CHOSEN

Other books in the

CANTERWOOD CREST SERIES:

TAKE THE REINS

CHASING BLUE

BEHIND THE BIT

TRIPLE FAULT

BEST ENEMIES

LITTLE WHITE LIES

RIVAL REVENGE

HOME SWEET DRAMA

C
ITY
S
ECRETS

E
LITE
A
MBITION

S
CANDALS
, R
UMORS
, L
IES

U
NFRIENDLY
C
OMPETITION

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN M!X

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Aladdin M!X edition May 2011

Copyright © 2011 by Jessica Burkhart

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction

in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo

is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

ALADDIN M!X and related logo are registered trademarks

of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event.

For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers

Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at
www.simonspeakers.com
.

Designed by Mike Rosamilia

The text of this book was set in Venetian 301 BT.

Library of Congress Control Number 2010940033

ISBN 978-1-4424-1946-9

ISBN 978-1-4424-1947-6 (eBook)

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  1. SCHOOL DAZE

  2. FROM THE TOP

  3. DESIGNER BOOTS TO FILL

  4. LAUREN TOWERS KNOWS STYLE

  5. GROOM AND GOSSIP

  6. WHAT IF . . . ?

  7. LAUREN'S ADDICTION

  8. MY BOYFRIEND THE LIAR

  9. CRYSTAL BALL, ANYONE?

  10. WELCOME TO MY WORLD

11. TRAUMA-SLASH-DRAMA

12. SCANDAL OUTBREAK

13. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING?

14. POKER FACE

15. I'VE GOT MAIL

16. IN

17. SOME PEOPLE WILL BEG FOR FASHION TIPS

18. THE DRESS

19. JUST DANCE

20. JUST ANOTHER ORDINARY SATURDAY

21. STAYING BUSY ISN'T EASY

22. ZERO CHEMISTRY

23. WHAT IF . . .

24. A WELL-KEPT SECRET

25. PRETTY PERFECT

26. FINALLY READY

To May 2011 being the complete opposite of May 2010.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There wouldn't be a super special without the super team at Simon & Schuster, including Bethany Buck, Fiona Simpson, Mara Anastas, Liesa Abrams, Jessica Handelman, Lucille Rettino, Venessa Williams, Alyson Heller, Russell Gordon, Katherine Devendorf, Karin Paprocki, Ellen Chan, Dayna Evans, and the super all-star Kate Angelella.

Kate the editor, if there's anyone who got lucky to be “chosen,” I am. Your edits and countless hours of work on this book made it as shiny as the gold on the cover. Lauren's favorite color, her obsession with PINK, and her admiration of classic style icons are all influenced by you.

Kate the best friend, you define strength, bravery, and grace. During ten months of unimaginable darkness that would have crippled anyone else, you never wavered. Few people call their best friend their hero, but I do. There's not a second of our friendship that I take for granted. I can't wait to watch more
Pretty Little Liars
, shop
for sparkly accessories, and eat Ben & Jerry's with you. LYSSM.

Ross, thank you for all the support and for being excited about this new chapter in Canterwood.

Thank you to the stunning new Canterwood models and to Monica Stevenson for taking such gorgeous photographs.

Writing would be lonely without friends, especially Lauren Barnholdt (Barnhart forever!), Rebecca Leach, Mandy Morgan, and Brianna Ahern.

Sparkles to everyone on Team Canterwood for being so awesome! I'm so grateful to all of you for reading the series and for cheering me on while I work. I read and appreciate every Facebook note, Tweet, e-mail, letter, message board post, and blog comment from you.

Finally, saying thank you to the people, both expected and not, who stuck by my best friend in a crisis isn't enough. Those of you who did are forever changed in my eyes.

W
EDNESDAY
, N
ovember
2
ND

R
ED
O
AK
T
RIALS

W
ASHINGTON
, D.C.

THE THRILL AT THE CHANCE OF BEING OVER-
all champion at Red Oaks Trials gripped me. Sure, my team Double Aces seemed to already have cinched the win for our stable.

But I wanted that individual blue ribbon.

Before cross-country, which was the very last round, I said as much to my coach.

“I'm going for it,” I announced.

“Lauren, I know how driven you are to win,” Mr. Wells said. “But you need to take your time this round. You're exhausted. If you push it too hard, you're bound to make a mistake.”

“I won't,” I insisted. “I studied every jump in this course when I walked it earlier.”

I was cocky—sure I knew better than Mr. Wells. I knew that if I just pushed myself a
tiny
bit further, I could do it. I could.

I mounted Skyblue, the school horse I rode at Aces. Skyblue, a dapple gray gelding, was an experienced competitor. I loved riding him from the day Mr. Wells had paired us together. Skyblue was everything I loved about horses—he was affectionate, calm but fiery when he needed to be, and he listened to his rider.

When the announcer called my name, I entered the starting box. The bell sounded; Skyblue and I were off.

I kept him to a hand gallop as we made our way across the lawn and toward the first jump—a log pile.

On the cross-country course, Skyblue and I raced over several jumps. When I checked my watch, I saw how great our time was. We were so far ahead I could even slow him to a canter, and as long as we stayed on course and didn't have any refusals or problems, we'd win the class.

But I only slowed Skyblue a notch—barely to a canter. He flew down a creek bank, raced though the knee-high water, and his shoes scraped against the creek bed. He scrambled up the embankment and leaped over a fallen tree.

Skyblue didn't question me once.

By the time we reached the end of the woods and hit
the field, I could see them; only two jumps stood between us and the finish line.

Exhilarated, I let Skyblue back into a near gallop as we headed across the meadow toward a brush fence. Wind whooshed in my ears. The chilly air felt good on my face. Skyblue, sweaty but by no means overheated, took fast but even breaths. I looked past the brush at the final jump—a vertical.

Our time is perfect—we've got this!
The crowd began cheering as we closed in on the finish line. I never tired of hearing that sound.

Skyblue and I were mere strides away from the brush.

I counted down in my head, preparing to lift out of the saddle and take as much weight off his back as possible.

Almost there. In five, four, three, two—

I never got to one.

Skyblue dug his heels into the grass and skidded to a halt just before the greenery. He was probably close enough that his muzzle brushed the scratchy branches and leaves.

I never saw for sure—I'd flown over the jump without him.

BOOK: Chosen
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