Horse Games Read Free Page A

funny at all. She certainly hadn’t meant to be funny. “How’s that?” she asked.
    “Well, you’re the second person to ask me that in just a few minutes. The therapist upstairs wanted to know, too.”
    “And what’s the answer?” Carole asked expectantly.
    “I guess it’s yes. I used to ride before the accident. Not much, just a little,” she said.
    “Did you like it?” Carole asked, though even as she asked it, she thought it was a strange question. She, herself, could not imagine not liking horseback riding.
    “Sure,” Marie said. “You like it a lot, don’t you?”
    “Yes,” Carole said. She was inspired by the question. “It’s about the most important thing in the world to me. I love horseback riding. I love horses. I even have my own horse. My dad gave him to me for Christmas. His name is Starlight. He’s a bay and he’s got this beautiful star right on his face. He’s pretty young and I’ve been working on finishing his training. I think he’s going to be wonderful. Someday, I hope I’ll be able to ride him in shows. I know he’ll win—though I don’t know about me, of course. Anyway, he’s terrific. You should meet him sometime. Would you like to?”
    “What do you like better? Riding or talking about it?” Marie asked.
    Carole smiled. “I know. My friends tell me that when I get started talking about horses and riding, there’s no stopping me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be boring. It’s just that I think riding is wonderful. Everything about horses is wonderful. I mean, I even like it when I have to groom Starlight or take care of him in any way. I suppose that sounds weird, but, when you think about it, having a horse is a lot of responsibility as well as fun and the responsibility sort of makes the fun all the more—” She stopped abruptly. “Am I doing it again?”
    “Yes,” Marie said, now almost laughing. It wasn’t a mean laugh, though. It was more like a friendly laugh.
    “I think I’m incorrigible,” Carole said. “But I don’t mind. I like myself that way.”
    “It’s okay,” Marie said. “I don’t mind, either.”
    Just then a woman waved to Marie. The girl waved back. “My mother,” she said, though it wasn’t necessary. Marie looked just like her. Mrs. Dana was tall and slender. Her dark eyes were wide-set and bright. When she smiled the greeting to her daughter, Carole realized how pretty Marie would be if she ever smiled as broadly as her mother did.
    “Done already? Did it go okay? What did the therapist say?” Mrs. Dana shot questions at her daughter faster than Marie could have answered them if she’d wanted to.
    “Everything’s fine, Mom,” Marie said. “Let’s go.” Then, with some effort, the girl stood up using her crutches to help and followed her mother through the hospital lobby and out the doorway.
    Carole waved and called good-bye to the Danas. Marie acknowledged it with a nod.
    “See you,” Carole called.
    Marie nodded again, this time more faintly.
    Carole went out to her father’s car, opened the door, and got in. She expected him to be annoyed at how long it had taken her to return Crystal’s teddy bear, but found instead that he was curious about who she’d been with.
    “Oh, that’s a girl I met at the festival thing. She’s not staying in the hospital anymore. She was just there for some therapy.”
    “And what about the woman with her?” her father persisted.
    “That’s Marie’s mother, Dad,” Carole said.
    “Oh,” he said, a little disappointed.
    It took Carole a few seconds to figure out why her father sighed after he said “Oh.” Then it struck her.
    “She’s a widow, Dad,” Carole explained.
    “Oh,” he said more brightly.
    “Her husband was killed in an automobile accident at the same time Marie got hurt.”
    “Hmmmmm,” he said.
    “Were you annoyed that I took so long?” she asked.
    “No,” he said. “I was just concerned that you might have gotten sick and decided to stay