Gift Horse (7 page)

“A Ford?” the three girls exclaimed in one voice. They all tried to picture snobbish, stylish Mrs. diAngelo behind the wheel of such an inexpensive car. They couldn’t do it.

“That’s right,” Mrs. Reg said. “Veronica was careful to explain that after the snow we had this winter, her parents thought a Ford would be able to handle the roads better.”

“Yeah, right,” Stevie said skeptically.

“We’ve heard all kinds of rumors about Mr. diAngelo’s losing his job,” Carole told Mrs. Reg. “Do you know what the real story is?”

Mrs. Reg scratched her chin thoughtfully. “Well, girls, I probably shouldn’t be talking to you about this, but I know you and Veronica have been spending quite a bit of time together, so you might as well know. She might be needing some friends pretty soon.”

“What is it, Mrs. Reg?” Lisa asked.

“Well, I don’t know all the details,” Mrs. Reg said, “but it seems that some important papers are missing down at Mr. diAngelo’s bank.”

“What kind of papers?” Carole asked.

“That I couldn’t tell you,” Mrs. Reg said with a shrug. “But apparently they’re important enough to mean that the bank might have to shut down if they’re not found soon. And if that happens, Mr. diAngelo will surely be bankrupt. Most of his assets are tied up in that bank.”

The girls exchanged glances.

“That’s terrible,” Carole said, speaking for all of them. Even though they had joked about it before, the girls knew that it would be a serious thing if Mr. diAngelo really did lose his job.

“Yes, it is,” Mrs. Reg agreed. “The family would have to sell whatever they could to raise cash. They might even have to sell their home. And Mr. diAngelo has already spoken to Max about trying to find a buyer for Garnet.”

Stevie, Carole, and Lisa exchanged another glance.

“So we were right. That’s why she was so upset the other day at TD’s,” Lisa said.

“But do you think they’ll really have to sell Garnet?” Carole asked Mrs. Reg.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I also don’t know if Max and I will be able to help find a buyer. We’re not really used to dealing with horses as valuable as Garnet. But Max knows a few people farther downstate who might be interested.”

Carole shook her head. It was too horrible to think about. Now not only Stevie, but Veronica, too, might actually lose her horse to a stranger! “How awful,” was all she could manage to say.

“As I said, Veronica is going to need some friends to support her if the worst does happen,” Mrs. Reg told them. “I know you girls haven’t always gotten along in the past, but that seems to be changing. I hope you’ll be there for her the way you always are for one another.”

“We will,” Carole assured her earnestly. “After all, she’s been really supportive of Stevie this past week.” Lisa and Stevie nodded.

“Oh, yes, that reminds me,” Mrs. Reg said, turning to Stevie. “We received a copy of that restraining order yesterday. I’m very sorry, but we’re going to have to enforce it strictly. Otherwise Max and I could get into a lot of legal trouble.”

Stevie felt the blood rush to her face. “I understand,” she said softly. “Does that mean I can’t go anywhere near No-Name while I’m here?”

“Not at all,” Mrs. Reg said. “In fact, we’re counting on you to continue taking good care of the horse. The only things you’re prohibited from doing are riding her and removing her from Pine Hollow.”

“Oh,” Stevie said, feeling a little better. It wasn’t the same as riding, but she was glad to know that she’d at least be able to spend time with No-Name, talking to her and taking care of her and reminding her how much she loved her. And that was definitely better than nothing.

“Until this matter is settled, you’re welcome to go back to riding Topside,” Mrs. Reg said.

“Oh, thanks,” Stevie said. “I was just going to ask about that.”

The girls split up and Stevie decided a visit to No-Name would have to wait until after practice. She headed for Topside’s stall with his tack. The big bay gelding greeted her affectionately. She gave him a hug and then quickly got him ready to go.

Her friends were waiting for her in the outdoor ring
when she arrived. Stevie led Topside into the ring and then mounted, giving herself a leg up on the fence.

It felt strange to be back in Topside’s saddle again. Even in a few short weeks she had grown accustomed to No-Name—the way she moved, her height, and most of all, her distinctive personality.

Topside stood quietly, awaiting Stevie’s signal. She was reminded of what a well-trained, intelligent horse he was. She sighed. Even if she couldn’t ride No-Name in the rally on Saturday, maybe she’d at least still be able to beat Phil on Topside. She touched the horse lightly behind the girth with her heel, and he stepped off instantly. Stevie rode over to Carole and Lisa, who were in the midst of arguing about the best strategy for musical chairs.

“We’re ready,” Stevie announced as she joined them. “What should we do first?”

“Hmm.” Carole thought for a second. “Why don’t we work on the on-and-off obstacle race? Mr. Baker loves that one—he’s sure to put it on the program on Saturday.”

“Good idea,” Lisa said.

The girls quickly readied a makeshift course. They arranged some empty barrels, sacks of grain, and other objects in the ring. They even dragged out a bale of hay, which they placed in the center. In this race, the judge laid out a complicated course over and through and around the various objects, which each rider had to follow carefully. The winner was the rider who was the most exact in following
instructions. In the case of a tie, the prize went to the competitor with the fastest time.

“Okay,” Carole said, dusting off her hands and surveying their handiwork. She quickly came up with a course and described it to her friends. “Now let’s get started. Who wants to go first?”

“I will,” Lisa volunteered. She mounted and signaled to Prancer. She moved off obediently at a walk. They completed the course easily, except when Prancer refused to step over the bale of hay. Finally Lisa had to give up and lead her around it instead.

When she returned to her friends at the end, she was frowning. “We’d lose a lot of points for that refusal,” she said. “She’s never done that before. What do you think is wrong?”

Carole shrugged. “You were doing everything right,” she told Lisa. “Prancer must just be having a bad day. It happens. You have to remember, she’s pretty new to this.” Prancer had been bred and raised to be a racehorse, and she still wasn’t completely used to everything Lisa asked her to do.

“I know,” Lisa replied. “She’s such a dream to ride most of the time that it’s easy to forget that sometimes. Anyway, I hope she’s better by Saturday.” She scratched the horse behind the ears to show that she wasn’t angry with her.

“Okay, my turn,” Stevie announced. She started the course. Topside was alert and responsive as she directed
him around the first barrel. He didn’t take a wrong step weaving in and out down a row of buckets.

She dismounted and led him toward the hay bale. His ears pricked forward when he saw it, and he started to turn aside to go around it. Stevie corrected him quickly, and he responded just as quickly, stepping forward straight toward the hay bale. Stevie hopped up onto it, urging Topside to step up. He looked a little puzzled, but obeyed, moving slowly and cautiously, lifting first one foreleg and then the other. Stevie praised him and hopped down on the other side. Topside shook his head a little, but then his years of careful training won out and he did as Stevie asked.

However, it was obvious that he hadn’t liked it. When all four feet were safely on solid ground on the far side of the bale, Topside shook his head again and snorted, moving a few steps away from the hay bale. Stevie moved with him, speaking to him soothingly. When she was sure he was calm, she started to mount.

Unfortunately, she misjudged the location of the stirrup, and her foot missed its mark. Blushing furiously, she tried again and swung up easily into the saddle, mentally scolding herself. That was a beginner’s mistake, and she shouldn’t have made it. But she had been distracted by Topside’s skittishness and had aimed for the stirrup without looking. Being used to No-Name, who was at least a hand shorter than Topside, she had missed.

The next few obstacles were relatively uneventful, although
Topside hesitated a little before stepping over some bags of grain, obviously confused once again about what he was being asked to do.

The part of the course that Stevie was most worried about was the last part, which involved picking up a flag that Carole had set on a bucket, carrying it across the finish line, and planting it in the dirt. One reason Topside was at Pine Hollow now instead of still competing in the show ring was that he’d shied badly at a national horse show when someone in the crowd had waved a cape as he approached a jump. Stevie was afraid that a fluttering flag might spook him just as much.

When Stevie reached the barrel, she reached over and picked up the flag slowly and carefully, letting Topside see her do it. He watched calmly as it fluttered a little in the breeze, and she let out the breath she’d been holding. She urged him forward and finished the course, dismounting and jabbing the flagpole deep into the dusty ground.

Stevie was disappointed with the performance. She knew her time had been a lot slower than Lisa’s. And even though Topside hadn’t actually refused any of the obstacles, he had clearly been a little perplexed about the whole thing. He was a wonderful, spirited, talented horse, but he just didn’t seem to understand this kind of game. He was a show horse, not a games horse. If only Stevie could be riding No-Name right now! The mischievous mare always
seemed to be enjoying mounted games just as much as her mischievous rider—if not more.

Stevie sighed with frustration, hoping the rest of the games would go better.

B
Y THE END
of the practice session, Stevie’s mood had gone from bad to worse. Topside had done his best, but it was clear to all of them that he just wasn’t as good at the games as No-Name was.

Stevie gave him a good grooming and a few extra treats. “Sorry about that, Topside,” she said, scratching him in his favorite spot. “You know and I know that you’re tops when it comes to jumping and dressage. But I can tell you weren’t having any fun out there just now. You were a good sport to put up with it.”

She sighed as she let herself out of his stall. This was one more thing she could blame on Chelsea Webber. If Horse Wise suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Cross County on Saturday, it would be all her fault.

Stevie dropped Topside’s tack in the tack room, making a mental promise to clean it later, and headed for No-Name’s stall. At least now she would get to spend some time with her horse. Maybe that would cheer her up.

She found Lisa waiting outside the stall to help her, holding No-Name’s grooming bucket. Carole was still working on Starlight’s grooming in the stall next door.

“Here you go.” Lisa handed the bucket to Stevie. “I’ll go
help Carole finish up so you can have a few minutes alone. Then we’ll come over and help.”

“Thanks,” Stevie said, grateful as always to have such understanding best friends. She entered the stall and greeted No-Name with a big hug. The mare seemed happy to see her, moving forward as if she expected to leave the stall.

“No, sorry, girl,” Stevie told her, closing the half door behind her. “We can’t go riding today.” She set the grooming bucket in a corner of the stall and started to pick out the horse’s hooves. No-Name turned her head and snuffled at Stevie’s hair, then lowered her head to examine the grooming bucket. Stevie smiled at the mare’s endless curiosity.

“I know you’re bored and restless in here,” she said. She put down the hoof pick and grabbed a dandy brush, running it down the mare’s back and sides with brisk strokes. “I would be, too. It must be just like being grounded.” She frowned at the thought.

Stevie could hear her friends chatting in the next stall, discussing ways to improve their performance on Saturday. But Stevie paid no attention. She knew that if she couldn’t ride No-Name on Saturday, all the strategy in the world wouldn’t help. Strategy and practice couldn’t replace the innate ability that some horses had for mounted games. No-Name had that ability. Topside didn’t. Even if they had a lot more time to practice, which they didn’t, they
wouldn’t be able to make up for that—any more than spending more time grooming No-Name was going to be able to make up for not being able to ride her.

Stevie sighed. No-Name looked at her and snorted. A second later, the mare suddenly moved to the front of the stall and stuck her head out over the half door.

“We’ll be right back, Stevie,” Carole called. “We’re just going to the tack room to drop off Starlight’s stuff.” Stevie heard two sets of footsteps moving off down the aisle. No-Name continued to look out the stall door for a moment, apparently watching them go. Then she stamped her feet and shifted her weight, swinging her head from side to side. She backed away from the door for a minute, then quickly moved back and looked out again.

“Just hold still for another second, okay?” Stevie said to No-Name, who seemed to be getting more and more restless. She ran a soft cloth over No-Name’s body, then dropped it back in the bucket. No-Name looked perfect. Since she hadn’t been out that day, grooming her hadn’t taken very long. Stevie was trying to think of something else she could do to prolong their time together when she heard the mare snort loudly.

Stevie looked up. No-Name still had her head out the door, and now she seemed to be staring down the aisle at something. Stevie moved to the door next to the mare and looked out, expecting to see Carole and Lisa returning.

She gasped in shock when she saw who was walking
down the stable aisle toward her. It was Chelsea Webber! Two men were with her, and Mrs. Reg was walking behind them. The older of the two men was wearing a business suit and had his arm slung protectively around the girl’s shoulder. Stevie figured he must be Mr. Webber. The younger man was dressed more casually and carrying an equipment bag. Immediately Stevie guessed why they were here. This was the vet who was going to try to determine No-Name’s true identity.