Chosen
Authors: Jessica Burkhart
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
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.
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)
  4. LAUREN TOWERS KNOWS STYLE
13. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING?
17. SOME PEOPLE WILL BEG FOR FASHION TIPS
20. JUST ANOTHER ORDINARY SATURDAY
To May 2011 being the complete opposite of May 2010.
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 cockyâsure 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 horsesâhe 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 jumpâa 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 notchâbarely 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 jumpâa vertical.
Our time is perfectâwe'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, twoâ
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 sureâI'd flown over the jump without him.
