Horse Guest Read Online Free Page A

trained, and Lisa understood immediately why Carole had chosen him. Coconut was talented and spunky enough to challenge a good intermediate rider like Britt, but his temperament was sunny and even, which would keep him from intimidating the shy girl.
    “Wouldn’t he be great for cheering her up?” Carole prompted. “He’s got such a nice personality. And she always seems so solemn and worried. Coconut is just what she needs to help her laugh a little and relax.”
    Lisa twirled the phone cord around her finger. “I guess so,” she said. “But Applesauce has a good personality, too. And she always seems so steady and confident, like she knows exactly what she’s doing. Maybe some of that would rub off on Britt and make her more confident, too.”
    There was a moment of silence as each girl thought about the other’s choice. Finally Carole spoke up. “Well, Ithink either one of those horses could be the one. I’m still voting for Coconut.”
    “And I’m still voting for Applesauce,” Lisa said.
    Carole laughed. “Uh-oh. I guess Stevie will have to be the tiebreaker.”
    Lisa laughed, too. She knew as well as Carole did that the only one who could make the final decision was Britt herself. Only she would know which horse really suited her—whether it was Applesauce, Coconut, or another horse entirely.
    “Maybe we can figure out a way to get Britt to try both horses,” she said. “If she seems to like one or both of them, we can talk to her mom and see what she wants to do.”
    “Okay,” Carole agreed. “I’ll see if I can subtly convince Max that Britt should try riding Coconut tomorrow.”
    “I’ll invite Britt to come with me to Hedgerow sometime soon and visit Applesauce.” Lisa smiled. “And may the best horse win.”
    W HILE HER FRIENDS were talking on the phone, Stevie was sitting in a hard plastic chair at the airport. The plane from Arizona was more than forty-five minutes late, and the entire family was watching for it out the big, glass windows of the waiting room.
    Finally they saw a plane taxiing up to the gate.
    “Is that it?” Michael asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes sleepily.
    “I think so,” Mr. Lake said. He peered at the plane as it sidled up to the building. “Let’s go wait by the gate.”
    Moments later, the entire family watched as people began to spill through the door of the jetway that had been hooked to the plane. Stevie scanned each face as it emerged. Most looked nothing like the way she remembered her grandmother. There were old faces, young faces, male and female faces.… Finally one face appeared that matched Stevie’s memories.
    “Is that her?” she whispered to her mother.
    Before Mrs. Lake could respond, Mr. Lake had rushed forward to greet the white-haired woman. “Mom!” he exclaimed. “Let me help you with those bags.”
    Grandma Lake relinquished them gratefully. “Thanks, son,” she said, turning up her wrinkled cheek for a kiss from Mr. Lake, then coming forward to greet the rest of the family.
    Stevie gave her grandmother a critical look as the old woman hugged her daughter-in-law. In some ways Grandma Lake looked a lot like Stevie remembered her. She still had bright blue eyes and a thick mop of curly white hair cropped short around her ears. But had her face always been so deeply lined? Had the grid of wrinkles been as extensive? Had there been such large dark circles under her eyes before? Stevie struggled to recall earlier days, but it seemed so far in the past.
    Grandma Lake turned and saw her. “Stevie!” she exclaimed.“Look at you. I think you’ve grown at least a foot since the last picture your father sent me.” She stepped forward and took Stevie by the shoulders, kissing her soundly on both cheeks.
    Stevie couldn’t help feeling how her grandmother’s hands trembled as they grasped her. And she couldn’t help noticing how dry and paper-thin the skin of the elderly woman’s cheeks felt as they brushed her own. “Hi,