Gift Horse Read Free Page A

change of heart have anything to do with the rumors about her father’s bank?
    Before she could think about that any further, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Stevie and Lisa approaching. Lisa was leading Prancer, the lovely Thoroughbred mare she usually rode, and Stevie was carrying Prancer’s grooming bucket. The grooming bucket contained all the grooming tools Lisa would need, including brushes and combs, sponges, rags, a hoof pick and oil, and an extra lead line. Each horse at Pine Hollow had a groomingbucket, and the riders were supposed to make sure the buckets remained clean and fully stocked. Having everything in one place was especially helpful during trips like this, but it also made things easier back at Pine Hollow.
    “What’s the big idea?” Stevie demanded with mock seriousness. “How can you stand around here daydreaming while the rest of us are working?” She put her hands on her hips in imitation of one of Max’s favorite poses.
    Carole giggled. “If you think that’s weird, just listen.” She nodded toward the stall where Veronica, still oblivious to their presence, was giving Jessica tips on watching a horse’s ears to figure out his mood.
    Lisa’s eyes widened. “This is almost spooky!” she whispered.
    “I know,” Carole agreed. “I was just wondering whether Mr. diAngelo’s money troubles have anything to do with this new and improved Veronica.”
    Stevie shrugged. “Well, whatever the reason is, let’s not mention anything to Veronica. After all, we don’t want to make her self-conscious about how nice and helpful she’s being these days. You know what they say about never looking a gift horse in the mouth. She might stop!”
    The others laughed and agreed. Just then Stevie spotted Phil approaching and smiled. “Hi,” she called to him happily. “You’re just in time. We were just going to get No-Name and load her up for the trip back.”
    “We were?” Lisa said, but Stevie and Phil didn’t hearher. The two of them were already heading down the aisle toward No-Name’s temporary stall, chatting enthusiastically. Lisa and Carole exchanged smiles and shrugged.
    “I guess when she said ‘we,’ she meant herself and Phil,” Carole said with a laugh. “Come on, I’ll give you a hand with Prancer.” The two of them headed in the opposite direction.
    When Stevie and Phil arrived at No-Name’s stall, Stevie opened the door and started to go inside. “Hi there, you big beautiful hor …”
    Her voice trailed off, and she backed quickly out of the stall. “Hey, what are you doing in there?” she demanded, her voice hard and suspicious.
    “What’s wrong, Stevie?” Phil immediately stepped to her side and peered over the stall’s half door. The blond girl from the crowd was standing in the stall, staring at No-Name. No-Name was staring back calmly. “Who are you?” Phil asked, puzzled.
    Stevie crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the stranger. “What are you doing in there?” she snapped before the girl could answer Phil’s question. “That’s my horse, you know.” Stevie didn’t like the look on the other girl’s face. She looked happy to see No-Name. No, more than happy—she looked
relieved.
Stevie couldn’t imagine why, and she didn’t really want to know.
    “Where did you get this horse?” the blond girl demanded.She held out her hand and No-Name reached forward to nuzzle it, obviously hoping for a treat.
    “If you must know, my parents bought her for me,” Stevie replied curtly. “As I said, she’s my horse, and I’ll thank you to leave her alone. You’d better get out of her stall before she hurts you.”
    “She won’t hurt me,” the girl replied confidently. “She knows me. Because she’s
my
horse.” To Stevie’s astonishment, the stranger stepped forward and gave No-Name a big hug. No-Name lowered her head to snuffle at the girl’s hair, as if the mare were returning the hug as best she could.
    Stevie