#1 Call Me Just Plain Chris
Chris’ lifelong best friend, Drew, suddenly wants to spend more time with the guys—and not her. She finds life on a dude ranch can turn a bit lonely, until she meets Serena, who just moved in down the mountain. Serena isn’t one of those girlie-girls who only talks about hair or clothes, or which boy is cutest. But there is a major problem: Serena is afraid of horses, believe it or not. How can a girl live on a Colorado ranch and not love to ride? Chris immediately hatches a plan to chip away at Serena’s fear but her friend has yet another secret...
#2 The Wrangler’s Secret
The new wrangler is handsome, can sing every country-western song ever written, and has a great way of handling horses and ranch guests. But why do things go wrong every time he’s around? Plus, Chris’ friend Drew is aching to have a very special puppy but his father says absolutely not. It’s up to Chris to figure out the wrangler’s secret and solve the puppy problem.
#3 Prize-Winning Horse - Maybe
Belle’s vet bills are adding up and it’s Chris’ fault her mare is pregnant with an unwanted foal--unwanted by everyone but Chris, that is. The only way to come up with enough $$$ to pay those bills is to win the county fair horse race. But Chris has another big worry: her father, long-divorced from her mother, seems to like a lady guest a little too much and Chris feels torn up about it. Meanwhile, as the race comes closer Chris checks out the other horses and they’re looking awfully fast. Chris just has to win that prize money.
#4 The Perfect Horse
Chris’ friend, Serena, is ready to buy her own horse. She’s willing to accept any horse Chris and her father think right for her--as long it has a golden yellow coat and silver mane and tail. The only possible palomino at the auction seems just perfect, if a little expensive. But what is the horse’s wily owner not telling them about this horse who is maybe a little too perfect?
#5 Me, My Mare, and the Movie
Chris is thrilled when she learns that a movie is about to be filmed on the ranch, starring her idol, Chance Richmond! Plus, she is asked to ride as the child star’s stunt double. Chris Bradley, movie star! Then she learns her face will never be seen on the screen. Well, that’s one little problem she’s just going to have find a way to solve.
#6 Rodeo!
One of rodeo’s most exciting and difficult events, barrel racing, is Chris’ favorite competition and this year she desperately wants to beat the snobbiest girl she’s ever had the displeasure to meet. But Belle is too pregnant to race and the only other horse fast enough is the half-wild palomino, Dandy. Can Chris train him--and stay on him long enough to win?
#7 Home for Christmas
Terrific news! Chris’ mother, who travels the country seeking to make it big as a country western singer, is coming home for Christmas! But Chris discovers her father’s new friend, Amanda, will also be staying at the ranch. What will happen when the two ladies meet? Then a blizzard hits. The ranch is deep in snow and deep in trouble.
#8 Belle’s Foal
At last, finally, Belle is ready to give birth to her foal and Chris is so anxious she moves into the barn to keep an eye on her beloved mare. But she’s also lonely because her two best friends spend so much time together and she feels left out. Then a storm sweeps in and her father is lost somewhere out in the mountains. When there’s trouble, Chris finds out the real value of friends.
An excerpt from Call Me Just Plain Chris, Chapter 1:
I sat down beside Drew, who’d arrived before me. He was digging into Red Wing’s famous stew, sopping up the gravy with fresh-baked bread.
“You riding out this afternoon?” he asked.
“Yup.” I helped myself to the stew. “You too, I hear.”
“Everyone’s going fishing over at Pinkham’s pond,” Drew muttered. “All the guys but me.”
“That’s okay, I’ll go fishing with you in Cold Creek after we back from the ride.”
“Nah, it wouldn’t be the same," he said.
That hurt but I tried not to show it. “Fishing’s fishing,” I said, shrugging.
“It’s not the fishing I’m talking about.”
Enough was enough. “Look here, Andrew-John-Diamond-the-Fourth, I’ve been a good friend to you. We’ve gone through chicken pox and blizzards and even a cattle stampede together. How come all of a sudden you treat me like a dog that’s been rolling in the manure pile?”
“I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just that, well...you’re a girl.”
“Now what the heck am I supposed to do about that?” I demanded.
His ears turned pink. “Nothing, I guess.”
Great. Just terrific. How can a little thing like sex ruin a lifelong friendship?
