Free Starting Gate by Bonnie Bryant Page B

pair.”
    “I know,” said Lisa. “They’re so far ahead in points they could do this course at a walk and still win.”
    “I’m hot,” grumbled Stevie, digging in her backpack for a bottle of water. “I’m glad this is the last event.”
    Lisa turned and frowned. “Haven’t you enjoyed this, Stevie? I feel like I’ve learned tons of stuff just from watching all the different horses and riders.”
    “Oh, sure I have,” answered Stevie, taking a long drink of water. “It’s been great, but I can’t help thinking that if Carole had been able to ride Starlight in these events, we’d be cheering for her instead of that girl from Texas.”
    “Well, that’s true,” Lisa agreed sadly.
    Suddenly the stadium erupted in shouts. The Texas rider had ridden the course perfectly, her horse bounding over the jumps as lightly as a feather. The Saddle Club stood up and cheered as well. They knew when someone had done an exquisite job of riding and had earned a round of applause. As they watched, the horse and rider from Texas rode to the center of the ring and collected a blue ribbon and silver tray from the judge. Waving to the crowd, the girl rode a victory lap around the arena, a big grin on her face.
    “She did a wonderful job!” exclaimed Carole. “I’m going to try a few of her tricks on Starlight the next time I ride him.”
    “Wonder when that will be?” said Stevie as they jumped from bleacher to bleacher, heading for the ground.
    “Oh, maybe by next Christmas,” Carole sighed. “If I’m lucky.”
    They joined the crowd that was slowly moving toward the gate. “Gee,” said Lisa. “It’s only two o’clock in the afternoon, and everything’s over.”
    “That’s right.” Stevie shouldered her backpack and sighed, too. “No horses to look after, and no events to practice for. There’s absolutely no point in staying here at Ashford Farms. What shall we do?”
    “Knott’s Berry Farm?” suggested Lisa. “Disneyland?”
    Carole shook her head. “Since we’ve already been watching horses all day, why don’t we go over and see how things are going for Skye?”
    “How will we get there?” asked Stevie.
    “I don’t know,” said Carole. “It’s a two-mile walk, which is too long to do in riding boots. I guess we could call a cab.”
    “I don’t think we’re going to have to,” said Lisa, peering into the parking lot just beyond the gate. “Isn’t that Stephan, standing beside that big black limo? And isn’t he motioning to us?”
    “It sure is!” cried Stevie, waving back. “Looks like Skye had exactly the same idea we did.”
    Stephan drove them to the set, where Jess was waiting for them, their guest passes in hand.
    “Hi, girls,” he said worriedly. “I’m really glad Stephan found you.”
    “Stephan said Skye needed us.” Carole frowned with concern. “What’s going on?”
    “You’ve been on a movie set before, haven’t you?” Jess asked as he led them over to the barn.
    “Yes,” Stevie replied.
    “Then you know that often we shoot out of sequence—sometimes scenes that are at the end of the movie are shot the first day of production.”
    “And?” Lisa asked, hurrying along behind Jess.
    “And today Skye’s shooting one of the final scenes—where his character, C.G., and Mabel have created a really close bond. The same close bond that will enable them to win the big race, which is being shot tomorrow.”
    “Is it a difficult scene?” asked Carole.
    “It shouldn’t be,” replied Jess. “All Skye has to do is put her on a lead, take her to a place where he can put on her tack, and then tack her up. With all the stagehands we have handing him stuff off-camera, the whole thing should take about five minutes.”
    Jess stopped as they neared the big lights and cameras. “The only problem is Mabel. She’s been nuts all day. Nothing Skye does seems to help, and George, the trainer, just makes it worse.”
    “Quiet on the set!” a loud voice called in their