After the horses were saddled and the girls started down the narrow trail, Karen's horse stopped, dead still.
No matter what she did, the horse would not move.
The girls behind her had to rein in their horses and wait for her.
"Get out of our way," they yelled.
"He won't move," said Karen.
"Well then get off and pull him to the side so we can get by you," yelled Sarah.
"Maybe you're too small to ride a horse!"
Karen slid off the saddle and tugged and pulled on the reins until her horse finally moved to the side of the trail.
"Why don't you just stay in the back" Stay out of our way and bring up the rear," said Sarah as the girls rode by.
Karen couldn't get back up into the saddle, so she had to lead her horse the rest of the way back to the stable.
She plodded along in a dust cloud left by the other horses.
Sweat dripped off her forehead and ran into her eyes, making them sting.
Tears ran down her cheeks, making wet trails in the dust on her face.
"I'm not having fun," she said as she kicked a rock out of her way and felt it bruise her toe through her sneaker.