Free Horse Race by Bonnie Bryant

about what she had overheard the previous evening. That left just one question: Exactly what
had
she overheard? Carole still had no idea what the trainer was up to, althoughthis morning’s events had convinced her that it had to be at least illicit, if not downright illegal. That meant she had to do something to try to stop him. But how could she do that if she didn’t know what he was planning to do?
    Carole sighed, then did her best to smile as Josh turned to give her another admiring look. It was time to call a Saddle Club meeting—and fast!

C AROLE MANAGED TO get rid of Josh by pretending that she was heading for the bathroom. As soon as he was out of sight, she turned and hurried to the Maskee shed row.
    Peering inside, she saw that Stevie and Lisa had returned from their walk. They were in the process of cross-tying Cookie Cutter in the aisle. One of the grooms was at the other end of the row, grooming the bay colt.
    Carole hurried over to her friends, glancing around cautiously for the trainer. “Hi,” she said. “Where’s Garvey?”
    Lisa looked up. “Oh, there you are,” she said. “We were just wondering what happened to you. Garvey just left with that horse Storm Chaser. He and Toby are taking him out to the track to work.”
    Carole winced at the mention of the colt’s name. “I guesshe doesn’t have a loose shoe after all,” she muttered. “I should have known he wouldn’t be working if he did.”
    “What?” Stevie glanced at her friend, puzzled, then reached into a grooming bucket for a hoof pick.
    After checking to make sure the groom couldn’t hear her, Carole quickly told her friends what had happened.
    Lisa’s eyes widened more and more with every word. “He actually said all that stuff?” she asked when Carole had finished.
    Carole nodded. “Don’t even try to tell me it’s all a misunderstanding this time,” she said. “Garvey all but came out and threatened me.”
    “Don’t worry,” Lisa said, switching the currycomb she was using to her other hand. “I’m convinced.” She shook her head, looking angry. “I can’t believe Garvey put you on that horse intentionally, knowing you’d be thrown. You could have been badly hurt!”
    Stevie glanced at her friends across the filly’s back. “And don’t forget, he did it all in a totally out-of-the-way place,” she said. “That way nobody would be likely to see and warn her.”
    “I know,” Carole said. “I’m just lucky Josh happened along when he did, or who knows what might have happened.”
    “Josh?” Stevie said quickly. Carole hadn’t mentioned his role in the story. “Which one?”
    “Win,” Carole said, blushing slightly. “I was just going tomention him. He saw me and came running over, and that’s when Garvey took off.”
    “I see,” Lisa said, smiling a little. Then her face grew serious again. “You
are
lucky he came by. Garvey sounds dangerous. I think we need to talk to somebody about this right away. Like maybe the police or the track officials.”
    “I don’t know about that.” Carole had started combing out Cookie Cutter’s silky mane while her friends worked on the filly’s coat. Cookie Cutter was relaxed and seemed to be enjoying all the attention. “If you think about it, Garvey hasn’t really said anything very specific. If we talked to someone official, it would be our word against his.”
    Stevie nodded. “And he’s got a good reputation, remember? That’s why Deborah’s writing about him. Why would anyone believe us?”
    “Especially when we don’t even know what we’re accusing him of,” Lisa finished reluctantly. “I see what you mean. Still, we need to do something. Next time Carole might not be so lucky.”
    Stevie grinned. “I don’t know about that. If all she needs is to have a Josh turn up to save the day, I’d say her odds are pretty good.”
    Carole stuck out her tongue at Stevie, then giggled in spite of herself. Talking to her friends was making her feel