Horse Thief Read Online Free Page B

around.
    “Just a second,” Stevie answered. She finished sewing the seventh section of Belle’s mane and then realized with dismay that she was out of yarn. Although dressage riders sometimes used colored yarn, colors tended to accentuate any unevenness in braiding. Stevie was using black yarn—the same color as Belle’s mane. “Help!” she said to Lisa. “I’m out of yarn!”
    “No problem,” replied Lisa. “I brought extra.” She came out of Prancer’s stall and tossed a ball over the stall door.
    “I have some more, too,” Carole called, tossing her ball lightly over her horse’s back.
    “Thanks,” said Stevie, deftly catching both balls of yarn as they came sailing her way. Since Prancer and Starlight were bays, like Belle, Carole and Lisa were also using black yarn. “You guys are lifesavers.”
    “Well, don’t think we don’t expect something in return,” said Lisa.
    “Like braiding lessons,” declared Carole.
    “At your service,” said Stevie. “As soon as I finish up with Belle.”
    Stevie finished braiding Belle’s mane and then neatly braided her forelock and along the length of the dock of her tail. She stepped back and admired her work. “Youlook gorgeous!” she told Belle. The mare nickered in response.
    Then Stevie helped Carole and Lisa finish their braiding. The three horses looked beautiful; they tossed their heads as if they had just dressed up for a special occasion. “Sometimes I think Belle is one vain horse,” confided Stevie to her friends, who laughed and agreed.
    Since the rally was still a couple of hours away, the girls didn’t tack up the horses just yet. Instead, they wandered outside into the brilliant morning sunshine. Riders and horses from other stables were beginning to arrive, and the scene was one of increasing confusion. Stevie recognized the Marstens’ van as it pulled into Pine Hollow’s driveway, and she and Carole and Lisa walked over to greet Phil.
    Phil jumped out of the van and waved hello. He pulled a large picnic hamper out of the backseat and turned to give Stevie a hug. “I can’t wait for our picnic dinner tonight,” he told her. “When I woke up this morning and saw what a beautiful day it was, I gave a yell that woke my whole house up. My sisters still aren’t speaking to me.”
    Stevie hugged Phil back, but she couldn’t help frowning just a little. She was excited about their picnic, too—she loved doing things like that with Phil. And the hamper certainly looked inviting. She wondered what Phil had managed to squeeze in there. But they had a dressagerally to compete in before getting to the picnic, and Stevie, for one, was still determined to win a ribbon.
    Nevertheless, she was flattered. “I’m excited, too,” she said. “Let’s go stow the hamper at Max’s.”
    Just then A.J., another rider from Cross County and a good friend of Phil’s, joined them. He had driven over with the Marstens, and his horse was also in the trailer. “Uh, Phil, can I have a second?” he inquired.
    Phil still had his arm around Stevie. “Yeah?” he answered distractedly.
    “Remember what we brought with us? You know, those four-legged animals that we plan on riding today? Do you think maybe you could give me a hand with unloading?” A.J. asked, grinning.
    The girls laughed, and Phil did, too, after blushing a little. “Sorry, A.J.,” he said.
    “We’ll help,” offered Carole. “Our horses are groomed and almost ready to go.”
    As they were unbolting the trailer door, Denise and Red hurried past them toward the stable. “What’s the rush, Denise?” called Carole. “Can we help?”
    Denise skidded to a stop. She still looked worried and tired, but she smiled at the group. “Those are the sweetest words I know!” she said. “And the answer is yes. I have to go to the stable with Red and take care of something. If you could help unload the trailers of the arriving Pony Clubs, and then show them where to puttheir horses before