Read Online Secret of the Stallion by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online

think I’m trying to sabotage Pip so that my team can win?” he asked, teasing her.
    “I think it would, perhaps, be all right,” she said.
    In a few minutes, she’d gotten permission from Max. He told her to be back at the hotel by nine-thirty. Enrico looked at his watch and nodded solemnly.
    “I promise,” he said.
    Lisa told Stevie and Carole where she was going.
    “Check Pip’s feed,” Carole said.
    “And his hooves. Maybe he’s picked up a stone.”
    “Take his pulse,” Henrik said. “And his temperature—there’s a medical kit next to my horse’s stall if you need it. It has a stethoscope in it.”
    “Thanks,” Lisa said. She hoped she wouldn’t need those things, but she was grateful for the offer.
    “And if there’s a problem, our team has an extra horse you could ride,” said Ashley.
    “He’s a good mount, too,” Thim added.
    “Thank you,” Lisa repeated. “I appreciate it. I’ll let you all know what we find. Good night!”
    With that, they went downstairs. Veronica was just hanging up the phone when they reached the hallway.
    “Can you believe it? I can’t get through,” she said to Enrico, practically gushing to him. Then she turned toLisa. “Say, did you notice if there’s a fax machine at our hotel?” she asked.
    Veronica
was
desperate, but Lisa couldn’t help her. “No, I didn’t,” Lisa said. “But I’m sure if there is you’ll find it,” she added.
    “You bet I will,” Veronica assured her.

A BRIGHT SUMMER moon seemed to sparkle through the tree branches, casting long shadows on the streets of Cummington. It was a cool night. Enrico took Lisa’s hand and they walked together to the tented stables at the castle.
    “I don’t think I understand your friend, Veronica,” Enrico said.
    Lisa wasn’t inclined to be generous toward Veronica, but the image of her practically throwing herself at Enrico on the way out of the restaurant was more pathetic than annoying. Veronica was obviously jealous of Lisa, and that was so outrageous that it brought out some sympathy in Lisa. “I’m not sure anyone understands her,” Lisa said kindly. “She can be very difficult to be around, but sometimesthere are moments when she’s almost normal. And then, just when you get to like her, she does something laughable, like having her maid send her an evening dress and jewelry.”
    “I think she will look quite lovely,” Enrico said.
    “Count on it,” Lisa assured him. “She wears nothing but the best. But it’s not her clothes that are really important to anyone but her.”
    “What, then?” Enrico asked.
    “She’s a good rider. She’s been doing it for a long time. She’s had a lot of lessons and, in spite of herself, she’s learned. She’ll do well for the team.”
    “Then that is what counts,” Enrico said. “Horses, always horses.” He squeezed her hand affectionately.
    “You’ve got that right,” Lisa said, squeezing back. It was nice to be walking through a picturesque village with a handsome boy. One of the nicest parts was knowing that they shared an interest in horses. Something glinted in the moonlight from the sidewalk and caught Lisa’s eye. She stopped and looked. Then she reached down for the shiny object.
    “What’s that?” Enrico asked.
    “I think it’s a button,” said Lisa. She picked it up. It was, in fact, a button with a rhinestone stud in it.
    “Imagine how annoyed your friend Veronica would be if it were her button.”
    “Oh, she’d never wear something as plain as a rhinestone!”Lisa teased. “For her, it would have to be a real diamond button!”
    Enrico laughed. Lisa dropped the button in her pocket, thinking, as she did, about the difference between fakes and the real thing. Veronica would consider herself the real thing, but her teammates knew she was a fake.
    “I think we turn here to go to the castle,” Enrico said. It was a welcome interruption to her thoughts. They left the streets and began the pleasant walk along