Free Beach Ride by Bonnie Bryant

Carole shortened the reins and held a little more tightly with her legs. The horse was reassured by her strength, and relaxed.
    “Ready to try trotting?” Sheila asked.
    Carole was ready and said so. Maverick started his easy, smooth trot, and it took little work to convince Brandy to follow suit. Carole rose and sat with the beat of his gait, posting naturally. She always enjoyed trotting, and Brandy seemed to agree that it was a nice way to go. Although Carole had been warned that Brandy could be lazy, he kept his gait and didn’t give Carole a minute of concern.
    “Canter?”
    “Yes!” Carole called back to her cousin.
    Brandy heard the word and was ready. The instant Maverick began cantering, Brandy began as well.
    Brandy was a full-sized horse, and though Maverick had quick gaits for a pony, he was just a pony, and hislegs were shorter than Brandy’s. Within a few strides, Brandy was ready to pass Maverick. Carole held Brandy back. Sheila was in the lead and should stay that way. Brandy obeyed, though Carole thought she could sense his disappointment. He shortened his stride and remained in place behind Maverick.
    Cantering on Brandy was just as much fun as trotting. The palm trees to their right seemed to whiz by them. A few swimmers and sunbathers stood up from their towels to watch the girls ride by. Some waved. Carole waved back. It was almost like being in a parade!
    Sheila drew Maverick back down to a walk.
    “Dad was going to drop off our picnic up here a bit,” she said. She rose in the saddle to see if she could spot her father. There was Uncle Willie, standing in the shade of a palm tree, next to a large picnic cooler and some buckets for the horses. He was waving at his daughter.
    At first the girls had wanted to carry the picnic themselves, but when Aunt Joanna kept adding goodies for them to eat and drink, it became apparent that they were going to have trouble carrying all that on their horses. Then, when Sheila and Carole began adding things of their own, suntan lotion, towels, snorkels and masks, flutterboards, they just had to askUncle Willie to help. He was glad to do so, and the girls suspected that was, in part, because it would allow him to give them one more warning about being careful.
    “Now watch out for the surf,” he said as they approached him at a walk. “There are other swimmers around today, but I don’t see a lifeguard.…” He pointed to the empty tower nearby.
    “She’s probably just on her lunch break,” Sheila said.
    “I hope so,” said Uncle Willie. “And don’t go in swimming right after you eat, and—”
    “All right, all right,” said Sheila. “We know what we’re doing. Trust us.”
    Uncle Willie smiled. “It’s just because I love you, you know.”
    “I know,” Sheila said. And she gave him a hug. “We’ll see you in a couple of hours. We’ll wait for you to pick this stuff up before we ride back, okay?”
    “Deal,” he said. But then he lingered.
    “Good-bye,” Sheila said pointedly. He waved and then left.
    Sheila and Carole untacked the horses and put lead ropes on their halters so they could be secured to a palm tree in the shade. Carole took the two buckets Uncle Willie had brought and filled them with waterfrom the nearby freshwater fountain. The horses seemed grateful for the drink after the brisk ride on the beach. Carole refilled the buckets and left them where the horses could reach them if they needed more.
    While Carole took care of the horses, Sheila took care of herself and Carole. By the time Carole was done, Sheila had stripped down to her bathing suit and laid out a fabulous spread for their picnic. Aunt Joanna had managed to put in some things that they hadn’t even known about.
    “Deviled eggs!” Sheila declared.
    “And look at those fresh veggies,” said Carole, taking off her riding clothes as well. The warm sun felt wonderful.
    The deviled eggs and fresh vegetables were just the appetizers. There was cold fried