Read Online The Mystery of the Masked Rider by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

don’t think we’re quite ready to tackle cows yet.”
    â€œHey, sorry about that.” Minx’s owner came up to them, his now-docile horse walking beside him. He gave Nancy a concerned look. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded and smiled to show him she was fine.
    â€œThis is my horse’s first show in an indoor arena,” he explained. “The truck pulling the cows spooked him.”
    â€œDon’t worry, we understand,” Scott said. “It’s happened to all of us at least once.”
    The cowboy tipped his hat and walked off.
    â€œI’d better be going, too,” Scott said. “The Stanleys will be nervous if I’m not ready for my class an hour early.”
    â€œGood luck,” Nancy and Colleen both called to him.
    â€œWhat’s he competing in tonight?” Nancy asked Colleen when Scott had left.
    â€œThe National Open Jumper class,” Colleen replied.
    â€œWhy aren’t you entered in that?”
    â€œNightingale’s still young, so I don’t want to push her,” Colleen told her. “Two jumping classes is enough for us to handle.”
    Colleen dismounted and pulled the reins over Nightingale’s head. As they walked back to the stable area, Nancy told her friend about her conversation with Scott.
    â€œBess didn’t mean to blurt out about your thinking of selling Nightingale,” Nancy explained.
    Colleen shrugged. “Well, everybody will have to know sometime. If I do decide to sell, the San Marcoses won’t be the only ones who’ll be interested.”
    â€œSpeaking of the San Marcoses . . .” Nancy began. She told Colleen about Marisa’s costume.
    â€œYou mean the mask in the aisle was Marisa’s?” Colleen asked in a shocked voice.
    â€œI’m not positive, but I think so,” Nancy said. “Did you know that Marisa was riding in the Worthington Cup?”
    Colleen shook her head. “No. It’ll be her first grand prix event.”
    â€œIt also gives her a reason to want Nightingale out of the class.”
    Colleen stopped walking and stared at Nancy in disbelief. “No way. Marisa’s one of the most talented young riders on the East Coast. Not onlywouldn’t she jeopardize her career doing something stupid like sabotaging Nightingale, but she doesn’t need to. She’s good enough to win on her own.”
    â€œMaybe she’s good enough, but what about her horses?”
    â€œOkay, so they’re not as good as Nightingale,” Colleen conceded. “But she still wouldn’t resort to sabotage. She loves Nightingale too much.”
    â€œDo you think all that cooing over your horse could be an act?”
    â€œNo!” Colleen said firmly. Clucking to Nightingale, she led the mare into the stable area.
    Nancy caught up to them, and they walked down the aisle in silence. Colleen was having a hard time believing that anyone she knew could be a possible suspect, and Nancy understood that. Still, her job was to find out who was guilty, even if it did upset her friend.
    â€œWhat about Diego?” Nancy asked finally. “Even Scott said that Diego would do anything to win.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Colleen said. She sounded angry. Then her shoulders slumped. “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, Nancy. But you’re asking me to accuse people I’ve known for years. People who I’ve always thought were honest.”
    Nancy reached over and squeezed Colleen’s arm. “I know it’s hard,” she said. “But—”
    â€œSo there you are,” Phil called, walking toward them. He had a plastic dry-cleaner’s bag drapedover one arm. “Are you ready to head back to the motel and dress for the party?” he asked Colleen.
    â€œOh, I don’t know,” Colleen said halfheartedly. “I really shouldn’t leave Nightingale alone. I think I’ll just