Free HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) by Bev Pettersen

However, Lydia was already a hundred feet away, beelining toward the building that housed the classroom, cafeteria and fitness center.
    A stout lady with a pug nose snickered. “I know where she’s going. Catch her trashy makeup. Garrett has totally lost her affections.”
    “Garrett doesn’t care,” Peter said. “And do you guys realize we only had a twenty-minute lesson? Waste of time to even tack up.”
    “At least you’ll be riding with the big boys tomorrow. Well done, Peter,” a gray-haired woman said. “Now I’m going back to the barn to practice my bandaging.”
    The rest of the riders lingered, confused by Lydia’s sudden departure. No doubt about it, she was gone. Riders turned and straggled away, but Barney stretched his neck and rested a hind leg, pleased with this chance to nap.
    “At least I won’t have to put up with Lydia anymore, other than in the classroom. Don’t know why she has it in for you girls.” Peter circled his restless gray around Megan’s dozing horse. “It’s impossible for anyone to look good on Barney.”
    Megan gave Barney a rueful pat. Everyone else had ridden at least two horses, but so far, she’d only been assigned one mount. Maybe Peter was right and she would be able to two-point on a different horse.
    “Would you switch?” she asked impulsively. “We still have an hour before lunch. And Lydia didn’t give us any instructions.”
    “That’s because we already know it’s taboo to switch horses.” Peter peered over his shoulder as though afraid Lydia might reappear.
    “But she’s gone. No one will know. Besides she likes you. She even lets you carry a stick.”
    Peter flipped his reins and looked smug.
    “I’ll give you two chocolate bars,” Megan added, watching his face. She could tell he was almost swayed. “Plus I’ll groom both your horse and Barney after the ride.”
    “All right.” He sighed and reluctantly dismounted. “But make sure you’re back before the jockeys return. I don’t think Ramon talks to Lydia much, but she seems to hear everything.” His voice lowered. “I would have switched without the chocolate. You know I’m glad to help.”
    She dismounted, pretending not to hear. Peter was helpful to all the girls, especially to her and Tami, but he was too nice to lead on. Giving him something in exchange made it okay.
    “Look at Barney,” she joked, hoping to lighten the conversation. The horse’s lower lip was slack, his eyes drooping. He seemed oblivious to the rider change, and when she legged Peter up, the horse still didn’t move.
    However, Peter’s gray circled and pulled at the reins, confused by this unusual procedure. He called to his receding line of stablemates, his shrill neighs blasting her eardrums.
    “Maybe we shouldn’t have switched. He looks upset.” Peter’s eyes widened with alarm. “And how the heck are you going to mount?”
    “Like this.” She grabbed mane, hopped once and vaulted into the saddle, ignoring the gray’s crow hop.
    “Damn, Megan. You really can ride.” Peter gave a relieved smile. “You’ll be fine then. Want me stick around?”
    “No, go on back to the barn. I’m going to trot and practice standing in the stirrups. No problem.”
    But two minutes later, it was a problem. The gray—Megan didn’t even know his name—was panicky at being deserted, and his half-hearted crow hops had turned into aggressive bucks.
    She pulled her feet from the short stirrups, clamped her legs around his barrel and pushed him forward, trying to keep his head up. Clearly he wasn’t used to being without his buddies, and even more clearly, she wasn’t going to be able to practice her two-pointing. It took most of her skill just to stay on.
    His ears flicked, tracking movement to the right, and he briefly settled. Ah, another horse, a confident-striding bay. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping the new horse and rider would remain in the field. The gray obviously lost his mind when separated from