Free Silver Stirrups by Bonnie Bryant

“judging from the trouble he gave Red yesterday.”
    “If only there were another Starlight in the barn,” Lisa said wistfully.
    “Well, there isn’t,” Carole said flatly.
    Lisa looked hard at Carole. Did Carole think she’d been hinting? She would never even have mentioned Starlight if she’d thought twice. She knew how important Briarwood was to Carole. “Carole, I wasn’t suggesting—”
    “Good,” Carole said. She folded her arms across her chest. “Then don’t. Because even one extra class could jeopardize Starlight’s performance.”
    After a pause, Lisa said, her voice cold, “I know that.”
    Carole wasn’t so sure she did. What did Lisa expect—that she would sit back and let Andrea win the trophy? Because that was exactly what would happen if Starlight got strung out from being shuffled back and forth between riders.
    “Guys?” Stevie said with a wan smile. “Don’t you think we ought to get started on these lists? We’ve got a lot to do before Saturday.”
    Stevie’s attempt to change the subject didn’t fool anyone, but both Carole and Lisa were glad to take her suggestion. They worked quietly for fifteen or twenty minutes, checking things off the first list, such as
Find horse show saddle pads
and
Mix fly spray and fill spray bottles.
Things almost seemed back to normal. Then Andrea Barry appeared.
    Lisa greeted her warmly, praying that Carole would follow suit. “Do you want to help us get organized for the show?” she asked. That would be a perfect way for Andrea to get to know Stevie and Carole in a non-competitive environment.
    But Andrea looked uncertain. “Are you going to be here in an hour? No, wait—in two hours?”
    “I don’t know. It’s hard to say how long it will take us,” Lisa replied. She was very conscious that Carole was listening. She wished Andrea would agree to help, even for half an hour. Otherwise, Lisa knew, she would come off sounding like a spoiled brat.
    “Well, I’d love to help, but I have a lesson in fifteen minutes,” Andrea explained.
    “A lesson?” Lisa said, not comprehending.
    “Yes—a lesson with Max,” Andrea said.
    Stevie jumped in to help sort things out. “We have lessons on Wednesdays,” she informed Andrea. “Unless you’re talking about Horse Wise—Pony Club, I mean. Those lessons are on Saturdays.”
    Now Andrea looked truly uncomfortable. “I—I know. This is a—a private lesson.”
    “Wow! You’re taking a private lesson with Max?” Stevie said enthusiastically. “That’s great!”
    Sounding relieved, Andrea explained that she was used to having private lessons at home. “I thought I might as well try to keep to the same schedule as much as possible—at least until Briarwood,” she added.
    “Good idea,” Stevie said generously. It was rare, but not unheard of, for young riders to take an occasional private lesson at Pine Hollow. More often than not, it was to work on a specific problem. But if Andrea came from a fancy show barn, Stevie knew, she was probably used to private lessons all the time.
    Lisa glanced at Carole to see how she was taking the news, but Carole’s back was turned. She seemed intent on her tack.
    “Have a great ride,” Lisa said, “and maybe you can help us later on this week.”
    Andrea frowned. “I hope so, but I’m pretty busy just getting myself ready.”
    Lisa pursed her lips. That wasn’t the response she’d been hoping for. Then she remembered Andrea’s situation at home. That could make it hard for her to hang out the way the rest of them did. “All right. Well, bye,” she said awkwardly.
    “Bye.”
    After Andrea had left, Carole turned around.
    Lisa waited for her to say something negative.
    “What?” Carole said. “If you’re expecting me to be jealous of her, I’m not. She can have ten private lessons a day, for all I care.”
    Lisa noticed that there was a steely edge to Carole’s voice.
    “I’ll still beat her next weekend. Her life may be perfect, and