Mystery of the Midnight Rider Read Free Page A

thought she just put herself into first place! You’d never know it listening to the Dana of Doom.”
    Finally Dana’s cell phone chimed, interrupting her monologue. “I’ve got to go,” she said abruptly, glancing at the screen. "They need me over at the pony ring. I’ll meet you later to talk about your next class.” She tossed the horse’s reins at Payton and rushed off without waiting for a reply.
    My friends and I caught up to Payton. "So when do you find out if you won?” Ned asked her.
    "Will there be a jump-off if someone else goes clear?” George added. "Those are fun to watch on TV.”
    "There’s no jump-off in this particular class.” Payton unbuckled the chin strap of her riding helmet as she led the horse along the path leading to the barns. “So I just have to wait until everyone goes to find out the final placings.”
    George looked disappointed. “No jump-off?”
    “Nope, sorry.” Payton smiled. "But don’t worry, there will probably be one in the Grand Prix if you come to watch that. And some of the other jumper classes too.”
    "Cool.” George immediately looked happier.
    "Anyway, like I was saying before, we’re all really impressed with how you did just now.” I gave George a sidelong look. "Jump- off or no jump-off.”
    "Yeah,” Bess said. “Especially considering that upsetting news you got right before you started.”
    Payton shrugged. "I learned back when I was still riding ponies that I can’t let anything distract me when I’m in the ring. I just need to focus and get the job done, no matter what.” She cracked a wry smile. "My dad calls it the Evans Edge.”
    "The Evans Edge?” George grinned. “Love it! But now I need a motto like that of my own.” She thought for a second. "How about the Fayne Fierceness?” She struck a pose like an action hero.
    “More like the Fayne Fail,” Bess said.
    Ned and I laughed while George shot her cousin a disgruntled look. "That’s still better than the Marvin Misery.”
    We spent the rest of the walk inventing insulting names for one another. As soon as we arrived at the barn, though, we forgot all about that. There was too much to see. Horses were hanging their heads out over their stalls doors. Riders hurried here and there. Farther down the aisle, a farrier was tapping nails into the shoe of a patient horse.
    As we headed down the aisle the opposite way, a young woman appeared. She was dressed in jeans and short boots, with a rag tucked into one back pocket and a hoof pick sticking out of the other. Her hair was a mess, and there was a big greenish smudge on the front of her T-shirt.
    “Sorry I didn’t get up to the ring to meet you, Payton,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll take him now.”
    “Thanks, Jen.” Payton handed the reins to the woman, who cooed at the horse as she led him away.
    “Who’s that?” George asked as Jen and the horse disappeared around a comer. "Your personal servant? Must be nice.”
    Payton laughed. “Not mine—the horse’s,” she said. “Jen is a groom. It’s her job to help take care of the horses. A big, busy barn like Dana’s couldn’t survive without a team of great grooms.” She patted a horse that was sticking its nose out over the nearest stall. “So would you guys like to meet my horses?”
    “Sure, we’d love to!” Bess said. “How many do you have?” “Nine, but only four are at this show.” Payton headed down the aisle, with the rest of us following. “The rest are either youngsters or taking a break.”
    “Nine horses? Wow.” George whistled. “And here I thought it was hard work taking care of my family’s dog!”
    Payton laughed. "Luckily, I don’t have to take care of them all myself. Most of my horses live at Dana’s barn, where her amazing staff does all the hard work. All I need to do is show up and ride.” She stopped in front of a stall where a copper-colored chestnut with a blaze was nosing at a pile of hay. "Here’s one of my guys now...
    She went on