Horse Shy Read Free Page B

carry them to the start of the mountain trail.Carole stood at the door of the bus. As the riders climbed aboard one by one, Carole asked them all—even Max—if they’d remembered their bedrolls and packs. As they promised they had, Carole put checks by their names on her list.
    Then it was time for Carole to climb on board. “Okay, Hanson, did you remember
your
bedroll and backpack?” Stevie teased, trying to sound like a Marine drill instructor.
    Carole blushed. She knew then that she’d been impossibly bossy, but there were so many things to do, and Max was really counting on her to help.
    “Of course!” she answered. She could envision the two bundles clearly. Right by her front door. Ready to be picked up and put in the car. She gasped. She knew suddenly that they were still there, right by her front door. If she didn’t have her pack and bedroll, there was no way she could go on the trip! Max would probably agree to take a detour past her house to pick them up, but could she ever live it down?
    She stood, frozen, on the steps of the bus. Then she heard the sound of a car horn. Startled, she turned around. Her father! He pulled up in front of the bus, then threw open the door and dragged out the two bundles Carole most wanted to see.
    “Didn’t think you’d want to go without these, honey,” he said, handing them to Carole. She slung them into the luggage compartment and slammed its door shut.
    “Thanks, Daddy,” she said. And then, while everybodywatched and waited, she gave him the great big hug he deserved. “You’re the best.”
    “Yeah, I know,” he told her. “You have a good time, hear?” She smiled at him.
    “Hey, Colonel Hanson!” Stevie hollered out the bus window. The colonel waved a greeting to her. They were great friends, constantly trading old jokes with each other. “What has four legs and a trunk?” Stevie asked.
    “An elephant going on a trip,” he shot back.
    “And what do you call Carole when
she
goes on a trip?” Stevie asked.
    “Forgetful!” he said. When everybody was done laughing, Carole boarded the bus.
    And they were off!

C AROLE COULDN’T BELIEVE it, but getting everything
un
loaded at the start of the trail was almost as much trouble as getting it loaded.
    Delilah was unusually docile coming off the trailer, but it turned out that Barq hated getting off as much as he hated getting on. Red O’Malley got a nasty kick on his shin. He grimaced, but said it was okay. Carole thought it would be swollen and black-and-blue for a long time. Horses were big animals, and strong. If you were going to spend a lot of time with them, you had to be prepared to get hurt some of the time. Red didn’t complain; he knew that, too.
    Finally, the horses were unloaded, and the camping and picnic gear was loaded onto a van that would meet them at the rendezvous for lunch and then the overnight campsite.
    “I hope the truck doesn’t get lost,” Carole joked with Lisa and Stevie.
    When their horses were all off the van, the riders each fetched tack and began saddling.
    “I always hate tacking up—especially when Comanche’s in a bad mood,” Stevie said. “But Comanche’s standing still today. I think he’s as eager to get going as I am!”
    “I think you’re right,” Lisa said. “Look at Pepper. He’s so busy sniffing the fresh mountain air that he didn’t even notice when I tightened the girth!” Pepper had a way of taking in a big breath of air when his rider drew the girth tight. Then, after it had been fastened, he’d let out his breath and his saddle would be nice and loose, the way he liked it. From his rider’s point of view, though, it was dangerous. Lisa always had to tighten the girth twice. This time, though, it wasn’t necessary.
    “Mount up!” Max called, and the trail ride really began.
    M AX HAD TOLD the riders that their first day would be relatively easy. They would ride for an hour or so to their picnic lunch rendezvous. Then, after lunch, they