Read Online Secret Horse by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bonnie Bryant
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gritted her teeth. To herself she said,
I won’t be disappointed—not when I give my spot on the van to Carole and Starlight and they make you wish you’d rented out all four stalls for your stuff!
Stevie was so focused on The Saddle Club’s day of victory that she hardly heard it when Veronica invited her to come over to her house. “Huh? What did you say?” she asked absently.
“I said, it’s silly for our Olympic-sized pool to go to waste with just little ol’ me swimming in it. And I know you never have plans”—Veronica smirked—“other than hanging out
here.
So if you want to come over tomorrow,I could rearrange my schedule and plan to be home in the morning.”
The condescending tone in Veronica’s voice made Stevie want to strangle her. But every good spy had to sacrifice for the cause. Now was the crucial time to keep Part B of Project Secret Horse going full force. Clearly, Veronica adored the idea of Stevie as a pathetic hanger-on, desperate for a handout. And Stevie was more than happy to lay it on—thick as honey. “Really, Veronica?” she said, her voice meek. “Do you mean it? Swimming in the diAngelo pool would be the thrill of my entire summer!”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Veronica said. “Mother will be so pleased. She does a lot of charity work herself, and she’s always on my case to ‘share the wealth.’ ”
Stevie nearly lost it then and there. Surely it couldn’t have been this hard for James Bond. “Wow,” she said in her most fawning voice, “I sure feel lucky.”
“W HO ’ S GOING TO ride this bundle of energy?” Mr. Grover asked.
For a second Lisa thought he was talking about the Macrae. She stole a glance at Carole.
Carole was holding Samson’s reins, and Samson, excited by the new setting, was dancing at the end of them. “I’ll hop on,” she volunteered. “Or you go first if you want, Lisa.”
Lisa perked up visibly. “Really?”
“Sure. Let me give you a leg up.”
Carole boosted Lisa into the saddle. Pleased as punch, Lisa walked Samson toward the ring where Mr. Grover’s jumps were set up. Carole’s eyes followed the pair speculatively. She had seen it again: that strange, un-Lisa-like expression. What did it mean?
Carole hadn’t taken two steps when the most glaring truth hit her. “Of course!” she said aloud. It was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t picked up on it sooner. Lisa wanted to ride Samson in the Macrae! It was the only explanation that made sense—the reason Lisa’s mood seemed to rise and fall every time Samson and the Macrae were mentioned. But then why hadn’t
she
mentioned it? Frowning, Carole leaned on the rail. The only conclusion she could come to was that Lisa hadn’t wanted to step on anyone’s toes. Lisa was very sensitive to other people’s feelings. And she hated conflicts. If she thought either Stevie or Carole was hoping to ride Samson, too, she probably wouldn’t mention her own desire to do so. Max would decide in the end, of course—if and when he agreed to Samson’s going at all—but it was important that The Saddle Club present a united front.
Carole looked out to where Lisa had the horse moving at a brisk but collected trot. Samson’s ears were pricked up, and he trotted along smartly. Lisa looked happy and confident. “They sure look like a winning pair,” Carole said aloud, relaxing against the fence.
L ISA FELT THE breeze on her face and the sun on her back. She sat straight in the saddle, heels down, elbows close to her sides. “This is the day I’ve been waiting for,” shetold Samson. “It’s my chance to prove I can ride you in the Macrae.”
Samson seemed to understand. The moment Lisa slid her outside heel back and sat down in the saddle, Samson picked up a rhythmic canter. A few minutes later, when Lisa asked for a trot again, Samson came back to her right away. More than satisfied with her warm-up, Lisa waved to Carole and Mr. Grover that she was ready
I won’t be disappointed—not when I give my spot on the van to Carole and Starlight and they make you wish you’d rented out all four stalls for your stuff!
Stevie was so focused on The Saddle Club’s day of victory that she hardly heard it when Veronica invited her to come over to her house. “Huh? What did you say?” she asked absently.
“I said, it’s silly for our Olympic-sized pool to go to waste with just little ol’ me swimming in it. And I know you never have plans”—Veronica smirked—“other than hanging out
here.
So if you want to come over tomorrow,I could rearrange my schedule and plan to be home in the morning.”
The condescending tone in Veronica’s voice made Stevie want to strangle her. But every good spy had to sacrifice for the cause. Now was the crucial time to keep Part B of Project Secret Horse going full force. Clearly, Veronica adored the idea of Stevie as a pathetic hanger-on, desperate for a handout. And Stevie was more than happy to lay it on—thick as honey. “Really, Veronica?” she said, her voice meek. “Do you mean it? Swimming in the diAngelo pool would be the thrill of my entire summer!”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Veronica said. “Mother will be so pleased. She does a lot of charity work herself, and she’s always on my case to ‘share the wealth.’ ”
Stevie nearly lost it then and there. Surely it couldn’t have been this hard for James Bond. “Wow,” she said in her most fawning voice, “I sure feel lucky.”
“W HO ’ S GOING TO ride this bundle of energy?” Mr. Grover asked.
For a second Lisa thought he was talking about the Macrae. She stole a glance at Carole.
Carole was holding Samson’s reins, and Samson, excited by the new setting, was dancing at the end of them. “I’ll hop on,” she volunteered. “Or you go first if you want, Lisa.”
Lisa perked up visibly. “Really?”
“Sure. Let me give you a leg up.”
Carole boosted Lisa into the saddle. Pleased as punch, Lisa walked Samson toward the ring where Mr. Grover’s jumps were set up. Carole’s eyes followed the pair speculatively. She had seen it again: that strange, un-Lisa-like expression. What did it mean?
Carole hadn’t taken two steps when the most glaring truth hit her. “Of course!” she said aloud. It was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t picked up on it sooner. Lisa wanted to ride Samson in the Macrae! It was the only explanation that made sense—the reason Lisa’s mood seemed to rise and fall every time Samson and the Macrae were mentioned. But then why hadn’t
she
mentioned it? Frowning, Carole leaned on the rail. The only conclusion she could come to was that Lisa hadn’t wanted to step on anyone’s toes. Lisa was very sensitive to other people’s feelings. And she hated conflicts. If she thought either Stevie or Carole was hoping to ride Samson, too, she probably wouldn’t mention her own desire to do so. Max would decide in the end, of course—if and when he agreed to Samson’s going at all—but it was important that The Saddle Club present a united front.
Carole looked out to where Lisa had the horse moving at a brisk but collected trot. Samson’s ears were pricked up, and he trotted along smartly. Lisa looked happy and confident. “They sure look like a winning pair,” Carole said aloud, relaxing against the fence.
L ISA FELT THE breeze on her face and the sun on her back. She sat straight in the saddle, heels down, elbows close to her sides. “This is the day I’ve been waiting for,” shetold Samson. “It’s my chance to prove I can ride you in the Macrae.”
Samson seemed to understand. The moment Lisa slid her outside heel back and sat down in the saddle, Samson picked up a rhythmic canter. A few minutes later, when Lisa asked for a trot again, Samson came back to her right away. More than satisfied with her warm-up, Lisa waved to Carole and Mr. Grover that she was ready
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