Free Stable Farewell by Bonnie Bryant Page B

to
buy
her?” Carole asked. “You mean, like, to
ride
?”
    “No, I want to buy her to put in the garden and grow,” the woman snapped. Having made a fool of herself, she had now turned rude. “Of course to ride. What did you think?”
    “I—I—,” Carole sputtered, unable to come up with a response.
    “We just thought that with all the high-level, different kinds of riding you do, you might need a more advanced horse than Garnet. She’s just a good, low-key Pony Club mount,” Stevie said, coming to Carole’s aide. It never hurt to try reverse psychology.
    “Nope. I’m sure she’ll do fine.” There was a pause as the woman gave The Saddle Club a fake smile—and The Saddle Club continued to stare back in utter shock.
    “So, you’re saying you want to pay for her now?” Lisa questioned.
    “That’s usually what a check is for, isn’t it?”
    “Yes—oh, yes,” Lisa replied. Then, trying to sound as innocent as possible, she added, “I guess you don’t, ah, know about vet checks, then?”
    The woman frowned at her. “Vet checks?” she said.
    “Oh, it’s nothing—just a silly little habit some people have of making their veterinarian check a horse before they buy it,” Lisa said hurriedly.
    “Oh yeah?” the woman said. “Maybe I’d like to hear more about this silly little habit.”
    “It’s nothing—really. Garnet is fine, absolutely fine,” Lisa said, looking up at the ceiling and then down at her feet.
    “Fine? You’re sure?” the woman demanded.
    Lisa nodded. “Definitely. One hundred percent fine. No problems at all. No medical problems.”
    The woman stepped back and narrowed her eyes at Lisa. “Maybe I should have a vet check if—”
    “It’s really not necessary. Forget I even mentioned it. Look, why don’t you just write that check out, and Garnet will be yours before you can say—”
    The woman put her hands on her hips. “Wait just a minute here, young lady. I’m not an idiot, you know. I see perfectly well what’s going on.”
    “You do?” Lisa asked nervously.
    “Of course. You’re trying to pull the wool over my eyes. You know, you may feel that just because you and your little friends ride in the Pony Club that you can take advantage of people. Think that’s pretty funny, huh? Well, let me tell you something, I never even
wanted
to be in thePony Club! I despise the Pony Club! For all I care, the Pony Club could drop off the face of the earth, okay?”
    “Okay,” Lisa said meekly.
    “So, you can just keep your Pony Club and your vet checks and your stupid horse, too, okay? Okay? I know when I’m being duped!”
    Lisa nodded. She, Carole, and Stevie watched the now red-faced woman stalk out of the ring. At the gate, the woman turned. “Did I mention I go foxhunting in Ireland every year?” she yelled.
    S EVERAL MINUTES AFTER she had gone, The Saddle Club was still standing silently, staring at one another in disbelief. “What exactly went on here?” Carole finally asked.
    “I can’t say that I know,” Lisa replied.
    “Basically, another one just bit the dust,” said Stevie. “And it’s back to the drawing board.”
    “Right,” said Carole. “Thank goodness Garnet survived.”
    “Well, naturally: She is one hundred percent fine. No medical problems at all,” Lisa joked, raising her hands to high-five Carole and Stevie.
    E VEN THOUGH L ISA had saved the day at the last minute, the girls were frustrated. It didn’t help that while they untackedGarnet and put her away, they could hear Veronica driving the farrier nuts with her overly detailed instructions about Danny.
    “Are you sure you’re not using the rasp too much?” Veronica asked, anxiously examining Danny’s off-fore foot.
    The farrier took a deep breath. It was obvious that he was trying to keep his temper in check. “Yes, I’m sure,” he said testily.
    “Remember he needs pads on all four feet, not just the front,” Veronica whined.
    “You’ve told me that three times