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

her stall was barely mussed. She stood by the door, her ears pricked and straining.
    “You belong out there, don’t you, girl?” Carole murmured.
    “How is she doing?” said a voice down the aisle.
    Her heart pounding, Carole spun around to see Frank. She hadn’t counted on his being there. But, of course, after a day away from the horses, Frank would want to givethe place a once-over to make sure everything was ship-shape. Carole didn’t know why, but she felt as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Her hands felt sweaty.
    Aloud she said, “I don’t know. She still seems kind of nervous.”
    Frank joined her at the stall and looked in. “Hmmm … You’re right. Today was pretty exciting for her.” He glanced thoughtfully at Carole. “Maybe we ought to assign you to the black mare as a special project. She seems to trust you more than anyone. If you could work with her, help her settle in, I’d be grateful. How would you feel about that, Carole?”
    “I’d feel … fine!” Carole said, an understatement if there ever was one.
    “Great. Wonderful. I want to try her under saddle just as soon as you think she’s ready. And keep me informed of her progress.” Frank turned to go.
    “Um, Frank …,” Carole started. She had no idea what she was going to say. But whatever it was, this might be her only chance.
    “Yes?”
    Carole took a deep breath. “I—I know this might sound crazy, but to be honest, I think the mare would be happier”—she steeled herself—“where we found her today.” Now that she had said it, she felt sick with apprehension about how Frank would react. Who was she to tell him how to run his stable?
    “Go on,” said Frank. To Carole’s relief, he leaned against the stall door, indicating that he would listen to what she had to say.
    Carole started to talk. She had nothing prepared. She just went with her gut. Everything came out in a rush. “It’s just—I—I have a strong feeling that this horse belongs in the wild. She doesn’t seem comfortable with people. And the way she ran away to find the herd—Maybe
she
was one of those wild horses, too. Maybe she got rounded up from a herd somewhere, for one of the government sales, and—and didn’t adjust to life in captivity.” Carole paused to catch her breath. “Maybe she never will.” She hadn’t intended to say all that. She hadn’t even formulated that specific theory until then. But everything she had noticed seemed to fall into place.
    Frank waited a moment, his lips pursed in thought. When he spoke, his tone was matter-of-fact. “I hear what you’re saying, Carole. And you could be right. You could very well be right. But that doesn’t change one simple fact. This mare is an investment. I bought her to use on the ranch. And that’s what I’m going to do with her.”
    At Frank’s words, Carole felt tears spring to her eyes. She clenched her fists so that she wouldn’t cry.
    “Now, we haven’t tried her under saddle yet. But the dealer assured me that all the horses were broken.”
    “But—” Carole began.
    Frank held up a finger. Carole swallowed. She wanted to say that the horse might be broken all right, butthat didn’t necessarily mean she was rideable. Anybody could slap a bridle and saddle on a horse and call it trained.
    “I know it may sound harsh to you to think of a horse as money spent or money to be earned,” Frank continued. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve had this conversation with Kate many a time. Unfortunately, that’s how you run a ranch. I have no doubt this mare will come around. Especially with you to help. We’ve just got to think positively. You’ll still work with her, won’t you?”
    Carole nodded miserably. “Yes, of course,” she said, her voice threatening to crack. “I’d love to.” She made an effort to smile. She didn’t want to be a baby about this! But at the back of her mind, the barest hint of a plan was forming …
    T HE NEXT MORNING dawned