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

bucket there and retrieved the horse from the hot walker.
    â€œYou better behave.”
    Patches nosed her pockets for the treats he knew lived there.
    She’d given him a half hour of drills by the time Mrs. Johnson arrived.
    â€œSorry I’m late,” she called from the railing around the covered ring. “You want me now?”
    â€œYes.” DJ stopped Patches in front of her. “We’ll keep to the far end of the ring.” She watched Mrs. Johnson mount and settle herself in the Western saddle. “Now, remember, with Patches, you have to watch him every minute. He will test you every chance he gets.”
    â€œI know. Boy, do I know.”
    â€œOkay, let’s see you walk, keeping fairly close to the rail. Walk on.”
    To DJ’s relief, Patches obeyed the entire lesson. He laid his ears back when ordered to back up, but other than that, the lesson was all DJ could have asked for.
    â€œI have a favor to ask. Since I have an appointment on Thursday, is there any chance you could fit me in tomorrow afternoon? I’ll try to get things straightened out by next week.”
    DJ thought a moment. While it meant no riding time for her, other than her own lesson, she agreed. “Make sure you rub him down good. He works up a sweat trying to behave.” She gave the horse a pat on the neck. “Good going.”
    Riding Major was like all good dreams rolled into one any time, but especially compared to Patches. DJ warmed her horse up slowly, still concerned about the leg he had injured in the landslide. But Major showed no sign of a limp and did all she asked with such willingness, she could have sent up skyrockets.
    When she finished with him, her three girl students were lined up at the railing, waiting for her.
    â€œHe sure is smooth on the changes,” Samantha called, flipping her long red braid back over her shoulder. “You’ve been working hard.”
    â€œWe missed you,” Krissie said when DJ stopped in front of them. “You okay now?”
    â€œPretty much.” DJ ignored the twinges in her legs. How could muscles go so soft in only a week? “Sure hope you don’t get the bug, Angie.”
    â€œMe too,” the slender girl with big brown eyes replied. “Flu bugs and asthma don’t mix too good.”
    DJ swung open the gate, Major backing up so smoothly she got a wink from Sam.
    â€œThe day Soda here does that, I’ll bring chocolate chip cookies for everybody.”
    â€œHorses too?” Krissie nudged her horse through the gate.
    â€œYep.”
    The three gigglers moved off together, sitting relaxed at the walk but with their horses alert and ready to work.
    The memory of Bridget’s compliment regarding this class gave DJ the boost of energy she needed all of a sudden. If she’d been walking, her knees might have melted down. Instead, she slumped in the saddle, then rotated her shoulders. Sucking in a deep breath, she called, “Okay, move into a jog, slow and easy. Keep the pace around the corners.”
    She rode up by Angie. “More leg on the inside. Keep him on the rail. Krissie! What’s with your shoulders?” The blonde straightened her back immediately. “Good, Sam. Can you feel his mouth?
    â€œCome on, all of you, deeper in the saddle. Just because you’re riding Western doesn’t mean you don’t use your seat as an aid, too.” All three had improved their backing skills since the last lesson. “Hey, did you know Bridget said you did really well?”
    â€œReally?” The three girls exchanged surprised looks.
    â€œShe was tough,” Krissie said with a wrinkled nose.
    â€œIt’s good for you.”
    But as they filed out the open gate at the end of the lesson, Angie whispered, “We like you better.”

    By the time Joe dropped her and her bicycle at home, even DJ’s teeth hurt.
    The house smelled good, like pasta for dinner.
    â€œHurry