Read Online Cutting Horse by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online Page B

suitable mood for teaching a lesson. Then she joined them in the corral. She waved Skye over for a quick briefing. “First of all, you’re in charge, Skye, and Prize does what you want. No ifs, ands, or buts—no ignoring your aids or pretending he doesn’t understand. This isn’t a horse you have to baby. This is a horse that needs a firm hand. He’s used to getting his way. Despite the fact that he’s a movie star, I get the feeling he’s never had to perform in his life. He probablyjust gets trotted around from place to place with little kids on his back. He’s used to taking advantage of his rider. We’re not going to let him. Got it?”
    “Got it,” Skye said, looking impressed.
    When Carole went into her riding-instructor mode, she was a formidable presence. At Pony Club, where the more experienced riders taught the less experienced, she was a favorite with the younger kids. She always knew her stuff, and she explained it in a way they could understand. She wasn’t like some instructors who got so caught up in little details that they couldn’t see the big picture. Carole always saw the big picture and strived toward the ultimate goal: a horse and rider working together in harmony. Sometimes that took coaxing and quieting; sometimes it took firm discipline. But it always took patience, sensitivity, and a clear head.
    And some days, Carole knew, an instructor had to be satisfied with progress in very small increments. Unfortunately, even though they all needed Sir Prize to transform himself instantly into the perfect cutting horse, today was one of those days. They had to start at the beginning, teaching Prize to neck-rein so that Skye could turn him on command. In spite of Stevie’s pep talk, Skye’s efforts, and her own enthusiasm, Carole found herself getting more and more doubtful.
    Skye wasn’t riding very well, either. Now that he’d had a chance to try a real cutting horse like Stewball, he was obviously frustrated by Prize’s problems. “He’s not listening to me, Carole, no matter what I do!” he complained after a particularly trying reining exercise. “He’ll never be ready for tomorrow!”
    “Take him out to the rail and start again,” Carole said quietly. “This time I’ll walk you through all the aids.”
    Stevie and Lisa had been hanging back, watching. Figuring she needed all the input she could get, Carole turned to beckon them to join her. She was surprised to see a third person leaning on the rail a few yards away from them. The blond, curly hair; the tall, slim build … “Of all the nerve!” Carole cried. Skye’s stuntman had come to watch Skye ride. Too late, Carole realized that she shouldn’t have said anything: Skye turned in the saddle and recognized his double at once.
    “Don’t pay any attention to him,” Carole said, knowing that it would be next to impossible for Skye to follow her advice.
    Skye squared his shoulders determinedly. “I won’t, darn it. He can’t get rid of me yet. I’ve still got today left to ride.”
    Out at the rail, Stevie and Lisa saw Skye notice the stuntman. They, of course, had seen him immediately buthad kept quiet, hoping the double would go away. “I’m going to get rid of him,” Stevie declared suddenly. “That’s the least we can do for Skye.” She walked over and greeted the man, making sure she didn’t sound at all welcoming.
    “Hello. How are you today?” the man asked politely.
    “I’d be a whole lot better if you’d leave,” Stevie said frankly, surprising even herself with how rude she could be.
    “Would you now? Well, I’m sorry, I can’t do that. Director’s orders. I’m supposed to watch Skye like a hawk so’s I can look like him as much as possible tomorrow,” said the man.
    “Look, I really think that if you left now, we’d all be—” Stevie stopped, thinking madly. Something had just occurred to her. Something very important. There was absolutely no reason on earth why the stuntman should