Horse Thief Read Online Free

tell me what to bring.”
    “Uh, no thanks, Stevie,” Phil answered quickly. “Not to knock your cooking or anything, but I really think we want something … er … more ordinary than your usual meals.”
    “What’s wrong with my usual meals?” Stevie demanded indignantly, though she had an idea of what was on his mind. She liked to think of her kitchen failures as
interesting
, though that wasn’t the word her friends chose to describe her dishes.
    “I’ve seen those awful sundaes you eat at TD’s,” Phil replied. “And something lurks in my memory about green hamburgers. I think we’ll do better if you just sit back and let me take care of you this time. One can’t live on romance alone—and my stomach will certainly confirm that fact.”
    Stevie giggled. “I’m sure you’ll be getting more than a little help from your mother, but I appreciate thethought,” she said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. And Phil,” she added softly, “you’re the greatest.”
    After they hung up, Stevie wandered over to her closet. If she had been excited about the dressage rally before, now she could hardly wait for Saturday. First she would compete in the rally itself, and then she would have a romantic picnic dinner with Phil. She looked over her riding clothes and picked out her best jacket, her best pair of breeches, and her white stock tie. No cowboy boots for Saturday, no jeans with patches on them. She and her horse had to look their best, and she planned to put in some extra time grooming Belle that week.
    Thinking about the dressage bridle, Stevie became glum again. The chance of her getting one before the rally was looking pretty slim. But she had ridden in plenty of dressage exhibitions and rallies with her old bridle, and she figured that she would just do it again.
    She stuck her head out her bedroom door. “Mom!” she yelled. “Can you please help me iron my tie for Saturday?” With or without a new bridle, Stevie planned to be prepared.
    T HE NEXT DAY , Carole, Lisa, and Stevie all gathered after school for another dressage practice.
    After practicing for two hours, The Saddle Club walked their horses to cool them down. As usual, they talked as they walked. The horses seemed to listen, too,twitching their ears back at different parts of the conversation. “How’s Prancer doing? Is she still acting funny?” Carole asked Lisa.
    Lisa frowned. “Judy came and took a look at her on Monday,” she said. “She couldn’t find anything wrong with her, so she told me to keep a close eye on her and call if anything specific happens.”
    Carole nodded. “Like not finishing her food or nipping at her flanks?” she guessed.
    “Exactly,” Lisa said glumly.
    “Why are you frowning, then?” Stevie asked. “Prancer’s fine.”
    Shaking her head, Lisa said, “No, she’s not. I know that medically she’s okay, and I’m relieved. But she’s not acting like her usual self. She’s just been in a weird mood lately.”
    Carole and Stevie didn’t doubt Lisa for a second. She might be the least experienced rider out of the three of them, but she was also the most sensible and logical and wasn’t given to paranoid hunches. Plus, she rode Prancer more than any other rider at Pine Hollow. If anyone could sense a change in the mare, Lisa could.
    After their horses were cooled and groomed, the girls gathered in the tack room. Cleaning tack seemed a never-ending task, since it had to be done after each use. While they rubbed their saddles with saddle soap, theytalked about what they were going to wear for the dressage rally and speculated on the competition. Then Stevie talked about Phil’s idea for their anniversary celebration.
    “You are one lucky girlfriend,” Carole said admiringly. Even though she was usually more interested in horses than boys, she was impressed by Phil’s romantic idea.
    “I know,” Stevie said. “I can hardly wait for Saturday. Even if I won’t have a new dressage bridle, I’m