Pony Rebellion Read Online Free

leaned over and nuzzled Bambi’s neck. “Mmmmm,” I heard him murmur, “there is that to it!”
    Bambi giggled. I know. Giggled!
    I let out a sigh. Looking up, I could see Cat giving me an evil look from Bambi’s saddle. I looked away again. How on earth were we going to get through this activity ride if we had to continue riding as a pair? It wasn’t possible.
    As if she could read my mind, I heard Sophie start talking about how our ride would be helping everyone at Taversham. Well, I thought, if that wasn’t an incentive to knuckle down and get on with the ride, I didn’t know what was. I could do this! Hostilities could be put aside for this one ride, surely?
    The problem was, I didn’t know whether Cat felt the same way.

Something is going on,” I told Bean.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWell, usually I can’t get Mom to shut up whenever she gets a new boyfriend—or boyfriends, plural,” I said. “But this time she’s being very secretive.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œJust sort of quiet when she reads texts, and not reading her emails when I’m around and not jabbering on about her new boyfriend—or boyfriends—being this and that and Mr. Wonderful, like they all are when they start out and, oh, I don’t know, sort of weird.”
    â€œCan you have a talk with Tiff before I tackle this line of jumps?” Bean asked me.
    We were in the outdoor school, trying to get Tiffany used to the jumps for the activity ride—as promised. I explained to Bean’s palomino mare all about it—how she needed to take the jumps steadily, not running out. “They’re only tiny jumps, Tiff,” I said, “hardly worth getting all worked up for.”
    â€œYou want me to go over them like everyone else does?” Tiffany asked.
    â€œYes, that’s it. Just for the ride. Can you?”
    â€œI’ll try.”
    I told Bean. “You could have told her that. She can hear you,” I said.
    â€œYes, but it’s just a one-way thing when I do it,” she pointed out. “No opportunity for feedback.”
    Bean headed for the jumps and Tiffany did her best. It was better. It wasn’t fantastic but an improvement.
    â€œHow’s that?” Tiffany asked.
    â€œFantastic!” I lied. “Can you do it even better than that?”
    She could, it turned out. Bean was ecstatic and gave her pony a hug.
    â€œYou are the smartest pony ever !” she told her, wrapping her arms around her golden neck and planting a kiss on her pony’s nose where the noseband would have been if it hadn’t been taken off due to Tiffany’s noseband phobia.
    â€œThat’s sorted that out, then,” I said. “Job done—way to go, Tiff!”
    â€œMaybe he’s married,” suggested Bean.
    â€œWho?” I said, used to Bean’s way of starting a conversation in the middle. As it happens, she wasn’t starting a new one but continuing an old one.
    â€œYour mom’s new boyfriend.”
    â€œThat,” I declared gloomily, “would be just the end.”
    â€œOr he could be hideously disfigured—like in Beauty and the Beast or Phantom of the Opera .”
    â€œEr, do you think?” I asked, frowning.
    â€œOr, maybe he’s famous!” Bean was off on one now, totally going for it. “He could be a film star or a singer or royalty! Or a politician—his relationship with your mom could bring down the government! Or, or…”
    â€œStop!” I said.
    â€œBut it is a possibility, isn’t it?”
    â€œNo. Stop right now. Maybe my mom’s realized that there are better ways of handling her relationships. Maybe she’s decided to stop embarrassing her only daughter and lie low. I hope so, anyway.”
    I did too. With all my heart. How wonderful would that be? My mom being all grown-up and sensible and discreet instead of conducting her