Read Online Stable Hearts by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online

horse project have they dragged you into this time?”
    Mr. Stowe swept his hat off. He seemed a little confused by the tone of Mrs. Reg’s voice. “Good afternoon, Elizabeth,” he said politely.
    “He’s very interested in horses, Mrs. Reg,” Stevie said, rushing to his defense. How could Mrs. Reg be rude to him? Suddenly Stevie wanted Mr. Stowe to keep coming to Pine Hollow so that he could help them with the dance. He was saving her chance with Phil! “He’s learned a lot in the last week.”
    “I see.” Mrs. Reg sounded oddly skeptical.
    To Stevie’s and Lisa’s surprise, Mr. Stowe blushed. “I’ve found a lot around Pine Hollow to be interested in,” he said softly. Mrs. Reg gave him another slightly disgruntled look and walked away.
    “Why, Mr. Stowe,” Carole said, coming back from the tack room with the stethoscope in her hands, “what’s wrong?”
    “Mrs. Reg is in a bad mood,” Stevie said hotly.
    “Don’t worry about her,” Carole said gently. “She never minds it when we hang around the stable, as long as we’re doing something useful. Now, here’s the stable stethoscope. Let’s go see Dime.”
    “I guess I might as well,” Mr. Stowe said. Hefollowed them down the aisle. Carole led the way, worried about Dime. Stevie walked after her, worried about Phil. Lisa trailed Stevie. She was worried about Mrs. Reg and why the sad look was back in her eyes.

L ISA LEANED BACK against the pillows she’d thrown on the floor of her bedroom. “What a week,” she said. “I’m glad it’s Friday.”
    “Me too,” agreed Carole, reaching for a handful of popcorn from the bowl sitting next to Lisa. The Saddle Club was staying at Lisa’s house the whole weekend. “I feel like we haven’t solved any of the problems we’ve had this week!”
    “Problems?” asked Stevie, pulling the popcorn bowl a little closer to her side. “You mean
problem
. Phil—”
    “Don’t forget Dime,” Carole said quickly. She didn’t want to get Stevie started on the subject of Phil, and as far as Carole was concerned, Dimewas the biggest problem of the week. The little pony was still miserable and cranky, and now it was obvious that he had started to lose weight. Something was clearly wrong, but no one knew what.
    “Poor Dime,” Lisa said softly. “Max called the vet about him this afternoon.”
    “His vital signs are still all normal, though,” Carole said. “I just don’t know what it could be.” Her face clouded with worry.
    “Judy’ll figure it out,” Stevie said comfortingly. She was awfully upset about Phil, but she had enough worry left over to spend on Dime. Still, Judy was a very good vet, and she had always been able to cure all the Pine Hollow horses so far, except for Pepper, who had had to be put to sleep because of extreme old age. “How old is Dime?” Stevie asked.
    Lisa’s eyes widened when she realized what Stevie was thinking. She had loved Pepper, and his death had been very hard on her.
    “Not that old,” Carole said, putting a comforting hand on Lisa’s arm. “I think he’s in his early twenties, but ponies live a long time, longer than horses, usually.”
    “Good,” Lisa said. “We can’t lose Dime.”
    “Of course not!” Carole said quickly. Up until that point she’d only worried about Dime being in pain from some unknown injury. She’d never thought of Dime’s dying.
    “Of course not,” Stevie echoed. “He doesn’t look that bad. But he’ll have to shape up soon, or I don’t know what Max will do with him. He hasn’t been able to be used in lessons all week.” The girls sighed. Dime’s behavior hadn’t improved at all. He’d even nipped Red.
    “Penny’s been a little out of sorts, too,” Carole said. “I hope whatever Dime has isn’t contagious.”
    Someone knocked on Lisa’s bedroom door. It was Lisa’s mother. “Look, dear!” she said, coming into the room. “I saw this at the store this evening, so I bought it for you to wear to your