Read Online Starting Gate by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online Page A

call.”
    “Would you like a little more help with Mabel before you start shooting?” asked Carole.
    “Sure.” Skye grinned. “That would be great, if you’ve got the time to do it.”
    “How about we do Knott’s Berry Farm some other time, Max?” Stevie asked. “Skye really needs our help.”
    “Not a problem,” Max replied. “Just keep us posted where you’re going to be, and we’ll see you later.”
    He lifted Maxi into her carrier as The Saddle Club followed Skye out to the parking lot. At the very back of the lot stood Stephan, patiently waiting beside the black limo.
    “Everything go well, sir?” Stephan asked, holding the door open for Skye and the girls.
    “Everything went great, Stephan,” Skye replied happily, gesturing toward the four blue ribbons in Stevie’s hand. “For a couple of hours, I was actually having fun riding a horse.”
    “And doing it well, I see,” said Stephan, grinning at the sea of blue.
    “Oh, let’s hurry back to the stable,” said Lisa. “Maybe if we work hard with Mabel, you can start having fun riding her.”
    “I don’t know.” Skye gave a defeated sigh. “But I’m sure willing to try.”
    After just a few moments, Stephan had dropped them at the entrance of the stable. The whole placewas deserted, except for the movie horses, calmly munching hay in their stalls. Slowly, the group made their way down to Mabel’s stall. As soon as they got to within ten feet of her door, her head poked out and she stared at them, the whites of her eyes showing nervously.
    “Oh boy,” said Skye. “Looks like the old Mabel is back.”
    “Hang on,” Carole whispered. “Give her a chance to get used to us again.”
    The others stood back while Carole approached Mabel using the Monty Roberts way, not looking at the mare and keeping her fingers curled close to her palms. At first Mabel looked frightened; then, as Carole drew closer, her ears began to twitch forward with interest and her eyes showed less alarm.
    “Good girl,” Carole said softly, still not looking directly into Mabel’s face. “How about some nice apple?”
    She held out a tiny bit of apple on her palm. At first Mabel acted as if she were going to lunge forward and grab the snack along with a few of Carole’s fingers, but suddenly she seemed to remember her previous lesson. Gently, she reached forward and took the apple, her lips barely brushing against Carole’s hand.
    “Good girl!” Carole reached up and rubbed Mabel’s soft nose. “You remembered!”
    “Wow!” said Skye, amazed at the suddenly calm and docile horse. “That’s terrific!”
    “Why don’t you come feed her some apple, Skye?” suggested Carole. “That way you two can become friends.”
    Stevie and Lisa watched as Skye stepped forward and gave Mabel some apple in the same way Carole had. After a few minutes Mabel was eating out of his hand, and just a little while later she’d allowed him to clip a line to her halter and lead her out of the stall.
    “Oh, Skye,” Lisa whispered as he led Mabel past her, “this is so wonderful! She’s like a totally different animal!”
    Skye smiled, but the expression froze on his face as angry words rang out behind them.
    “What in the world is going on here?”
    Everyone turned. George Gamble stood there, his face red with rage.
    “Who are you?” he demanded, staring straight at Skye. “And how dare you touch that horse! Do you have any idea how much that animal is worth?”
    Stevie glanced at Lisa. Skye hadn’t bothered to remove his wig or his pizza delivery shirt. George didn’t seem to recognize him!
    “Uh, I’m j-just a f-friend of theirs.” Skye pretended to stutter nervously at George’s rampage.
    “Yes, and I know exactly who they are,” Georgesnarled, turning toward the girls. “They are the so-called friends of the great Skye Ransom, that incompetent who thinks he can invite total strangers into my stable and meddle with my horses!”
    “We were j-just petting