Free Stable Hearts by Bonnie Bryant

“We want to create a cozy atmosphere.”
    “Who died and made you director of operations?” Betsy asked. She pushed her bales flat against the wall.
    “It’s a much cozier atmosphere,” Stevie said cheerily, adjusting Betsy’s bales for her. Betsy walked away without saying anything.
    “Don’t let Betsy bug you,” Meg whispered to Stevie and Lisa. “Adam hasn’t asked her to the dance yet, and she’s a little upset.”
    Stevie patted Meg’s arm conspiratorially. “When we got here I saw something red fall outof Adam’s pocket. He picked it back up, but it looked like a heart. Like an invitation. Tell Betsy not to worry.”
    Meg brightened. “Thanks.”
    Stevie waved her hand. “Don’t mention it.” To Lisa she added, “Love is in the air today. Love is everywhere today.”
    “Don’t mention it,” Lisa said. Since the moment Stevie had talked to Phil the night before, she’d been awash with romance. Lisa was afraid she and Carole would drown in Stevie’s sentiment before the night was over.
    When the hay bales were set up to Stevie’s satisfaction, the younger kids swept the loose hay from the floor. The Saddle Club brought out the string of lights and showed everyone how to hang the paper lanterns over the bare bulbs. Max brought in his CD player and speakers, and Lisa helped him set the automatic changer he’d borrowed so that the first hour’s worth of music would play continuously.
    “Make the first song ‘Just As Long As We’re Together,’ ” Stevie said, coming over from where she was telling Simon and Polly exactly how to hang the lights. “It’s our song—Phil’s and mine.”
    This was news to Lisa, but she put the song onfirst anyway. At
least one member of The Saddle Club is going to have a perfect evening
, she thought.
    “Here, Veronica,” said Stevie, “why don’t you blow up these balloons? You’ve got plenty of hot air.”
    Veronica took the balloons from Stevie without comment. “Simon? Oh, Simon? Could you help me with these balloons?” Simon came down from the ladder and walked across the room to her. Lisa couldn’t help noticing how cool his walk was. Simon had been such a geek. How could anyone change so much in such a short time?
    “Sure,” he said to Veronica.
    “Oh, thanks. It takes such strong lungs to blow up balloons.”
    “Oh, barf,” Lisa whispered to Stevie.
    “You are coming to the dance tonight, aren’t you?” Veronica continued.
    “Of course,” Simon said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
    “I didn’t think so,” Veronica said sweetly.
    Lisa smiled to herself. So Simon hadn’t asked Veronica! Maybe she and Carole wouldn’t be the only people their age without dates for the dance.
    Carole was hanging white and pink twisted streamers near the door when she saw Mr. Stowe pull up outside. She waved to him. He came tothe door and looked inside, rubbing his hands together happily. “This looks great,” he said. “Don’t worry, I brought my surprise. But I’m not telling you yet—it might get back to Elizabeth. You kids let me know when you’re all the way done.”
    “Okay,” Carole said, amused by his interest. Not too many old men would be so interested in a young persons’ dance.
    T HEY HAD JUST finished when Phil’s mother pulled up and Phil hopped out of the car. Stevie rushed out to greet him.
    “We’ll go check on Dime,” Carole said, pulling Lisa along with her.
    “Thanks,” Stevie called back gratefully. She wanted this special moment alone with Phil—this special moment when he told her how important she was to him.
    “Look,” she said as they walked into the barn holding hands, “isn’t this romantic?” She showed him the lights and the balloons and the streamers. She told him which song would play first on the stereo. She pointed out the hay bales artfully arranged in the corners.
    Phil seemed interested in everything. “It reallylooks super,” he said. “You guys have done a great job. I wish we’d thought