Read Online High Hurdles Collection Two by Lauraine Snelling - Free Book Online Page A

office.
    â€œDJ, I am so glad you are here.” Bridget pushed her chair back and stood. “You are well now?”
    â€œNo, she isn’t. She should be home.” Amy stopped next to DJ. “She’s weak as a newborn kitten.”
    Some friend , DJ thought. If only she wasn’t so right on .

Chapter • 7
    DJ poked Amy with her elbow. “The ‘weak’ kitten still has claws.”
    â€œAll right, you two.” Bridget shook her head, the glasses she had pushed up on her forehead slipping down with the motion. “DJ, Mrs. Johnson insists she is ready to start training on Patches with your coaching.”
    DJ groaned. “No, she isn’t. Or he isn’t.”
    â€œI do not think so, either, but she insists and she could be right. She should know herself better than we do.”
    â€œTrue, but I know Patches. And half the time Mrs. Johnson rushes and doesn’t take time to put him on the hot walker, so he’s just busting with energy when he starts out.”
    â€œI’ve seen DJ on his neck,” Amy chimed in.
    â€œAnd in the dirt.” DJ made a face. She pantomimed spitting out dirt.
    â€œMrs. Johnson will be here in a half hour. You want to put Patches on the hot walker now?”
    â€œRight.” DJ kept the groan inside. Bridget frowned on grumbling and forbid excuses.
    Bridget studied her notes. “Your three girls are doing very well. You can be proud of them.”
    â€œThanks.” A compliment from Bridget ranked up there with purple Grand Champion rosettes. “Anything else?”
    â€œYes, I might have another green broke horse coming in. She is about the same level as Patches was when you began with him. Would you be interested in taking her on?”
    â€œSure.” Even as she agreed, her mind went into speed mode. That sure would help with the money situation . But the cautious side of her mind responded, Yeah, right, with all the extra time you have already .
    After they’d entered the tack room, Amy said, “That new horse is going to need an hour a day, at least in the beginning.” She swung her grooming bucket with one hand.
    â€œI know.” DJ rubbed her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. “But I need the money. I’m about broke again. Major needs shoes, and he’s due for worming pretty soon.”
    â€œDoesn’t the Academy pay you next week?”
    â€œYeah, but it’s never enough.”
    DJ led a dancing Patches out to the hot walker and clipped him on. “See if you can behave today. Or I swear, I’ll pound you into the ground.” Patches snorted, spraying her with bits of the horse cookie she had given him. “Yuck.”
    Major sent her a big-time welcome, nickering and tossing his head. In the next stall, Ranger joined the party. Major leaned as far over the blue web gate as he could, his nostrils fluttering in a soundless nicker. When DJ wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, he rested his cheek against hers. “Hi, big guy.” Major sighed, a big sigh, and leaned on her shoulder. She rubbed up behind his ears and down his neck.
    â€œI sure missed you.” She patted his shoulder and stepped back so she could dig his carrots out of the front pocket of her sweat shirt. While he munched, she retrieved the brushes from her bucket and set about grooming him. “I see your old dad’s been here and cleaned out the stalls, huh?”
    Major looked over his shoulder as if to agree.
    â€œSure wish we could ride now, but I have to give a lesson first. Probably should have ridden Patches before Mrs. Johnson gets him, but the hot walker will have to do.”
    The thought bothered her. Maybe DJ should ride him first. If he got his training lesson, then he would be more willing—right? Against her personal desires, she dropped the brushes back in the bucket and, giving Major a last pat, headed for Patches’ stall. She left the grooming