Read Online Midnight Mystery: 4 (Winnie the Horse Gentler) by Dandi Daley Mackall - Free Book Online Page B

but he was too hypnotized by the lion act to even notice me. During the next few acts, I did my best to keep my eye on Dinglehopper.
    “Give it a rest. Dinglehopper didn’t do it,” Catman said, as Gabrielle’s family finished their act with the star elephant.
    “Catman, I ran an Internet search on that man. Dinglehopper doesn’t exist!”
    “That’s because James D. Hopkins is an ex-con.”
    I gasped. “We have to tell the Colonel!”
    “He knows. Hopkins has been clowning with the Colonel for 15 years. He hates kids, and he doesn’t groove on Barker. But the dude’s solid.”
    I had to admit that Catman is a good judge of character. Still, he’s no detective. Ramon’s big chance was only four days away. No way would I stop watching my number one suspect just because Catman liked him.
    Ramon and Midnight’s first act went okay, but they skipped a couple of tricks, probably because Midnight was so jumpy. I had to figure out why.
    Something was nagging me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Was it something I’d seen? something I’d heard? something—
    “I got it!” I cried.
    Catman shot me a what-is-it-this-time look.
    I dragged him to the exit and waited for Ramon to finish. “The Pet Help Line, Catman!” I whispered. “That’s what I’ve been trying to think of! I had an e-mail from a girl whose horse sounded just like Midnight—jumpy and hyper.”
    Ramon cantered up and hopped off Midnight. “I give up!” He sounded more frustrated than ever. “It was all I could do to control Midnight in there! What made me think I could make it in a bigger circus? I’m lucky the Colonel doesn’t fire me!”
    “Ramon!” I shouted. “What have you been feeding Midnight?”
    “Huh?” He looked at Catman, who shrugged. “I don’t know. The Colonel buys it. I give it to Midnight.”
    “Show me where the feed’s stored!” I demanded.
    We followed Ramon to the menagerie tent, and he tied up Midnight next to Nickers. Then he led us to a row of bins in the back. They looked like plastic trash cans. Ramon pointed to the one marked Coolidge. “That’s Midnight’s.”
    I lifted the lid, dipped out a handful of mixed, moist grain, and sniffed. “Molasses, sugar beet, and barley, with rolled oats!”
    “Far out!” Catman commented.
    Ramon paced, shaking his head. “I thought it looked different than usual! Is something wrong with it?”
    “Not if you’re a racehorse or an old horse who needs extra energy,” I explained. “But for Midnight, yeah! It’s too rich! No wonder he’s jumpy!”
    “But why would the Colonel buy it?” Ramon asked.
    “Maybe he didn’t.” I reached my arm deep into the can and came out with a handful of regular oats. Moving to the other bins, I lifted the lids, one by one. The three bins next to Midnight’s held regular oats.
    Only one bin remained, the one marked LeBlond. I pulled off the lid.
    Nothing but oats.
    “I was so sure I’d find the energy feed!” I replaced the lid. The bin scooted, and I caught a glimpse of something behind it, a half-empty feed sack. I pulled it out and read the label: Senior Feed—High-Energy Mix.
    “There’s your answer!” I shouted. “Someone dumped this high-octane feed on top of Midnight’s regular oats! And no way was it an accident!”

Catman inspected the sack while I smelled a handful of the grain. “It’s the same feed as Midnight’s!” I exclaimed.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” Gabrielle LeBlond stormed down the stalls toward us.
    I stood up and braced myself. “We’re solving a mystery. Does this feed belong to you?”
    Her pale face looked sunburned with rage. “Yes! Get away from there!” She started for me, but Ramon stepped between us.
    “Gabrielle?” He sounded hurt, not angry. “Why did you buy it?”
    “For Chaparral—not that it’s any of your business!” She glared at us.
    Catman whispered to me, “Old horse.”
    “Chaparral’s the only horse around here who needs special