Free Trail Ride by Bonnie Bryant Page B

Stables; her horse, Belle; and, of course, her Saddle Club friends.
    Somewhere during the conversation, Will invited her to sit on one of the horses. “We’ll be more comfortable.”
    Stevie didn’t need to be asked twice, and with barely a pause in her story, she slipped onto Honey’s back. It was pure heaven. It almost felt like coming home. She had a sudden rush of emotion, and for a moment she was afraid she’d burst into tears in front of her new friend. She had been so miserable and lonely for the last few days, Will’s simple act of kindness almost overwhelmed her.
    Will talked, too, telling Stevie about life on the farmand his friends and school, but mostly they talked about horses.
    The two of them circled the field, never breaking out of a slow walk, but it was enough.
    Finally Stevie knew she had to get back to her family; sooner or later she would be missed. “Thanks, Will. I think you saved my life,” she said earnestly. “Or at least my sanity.”
    Will looked embarrassed. “Any time. If you get trapped at your cousin’s house again, feel free to come over.”
    Stevie hurried back to the party, which was in full swing. The first person she bumped into was Dava, who was chatting with Alex.
    “Well, well, Cinderella returns to the ball,” snickered Dava, looking down her nose. “Except it looks like the clock has already tolled midnight.”
    Stevie thought about how disheveled she must look. The humidity had caused her hair to curl riotously, her sleeves were rolled back, her clothes were covered with little hairs, and she was certain she smelled of horses. She smiled blissfully.
    “What’s with her?” Dava demanded of Alex when Stevie didn’t respond to her taunt.
    Alex took one look at his sister and knew. “She’s found a horse,” he said. “You been riding, Stevie?”
    “Uh-huh.” Stevie couldn’t wipe the contented smile off her face.
    “Not a chance,” Dava declared. “The only horses around here belong to …” She frowned and sniffed the air. “You
have
been riding!” she accused Stevie. “Wait until I tell the owners. You are going to be in major trouble!”
    The smile left Alex’s face. “Cut it out, Dava. Stevie wouldn’t ride someone’s horse without permission. And what are you, anyway, some kind of professional tattletale?”
    Stevie felt a surge of affection for her twin. “It’s okay, Alex. As a matter of fact”—she allowed herself a slight smile—“I did have the owner’s permission.” She turned her back on Dava. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an e-mail to write.”
    Stevie left them with her head held high and a spring in her step. She had taken a bareback moonlit ride on a horse in the company of a handsome stranger. Lisa and Carole were going to have to work hard to top that!

“C OME ON , YOU lazy thing,” Lisa called to Chocolate. “An early morning ride will do you good.”
    “We’re not even going to saddle you,” Carole told Berry as she led him through the gate.
    The two girls had decided on a prebreakfast bareback ride to watch the sunrise.
    Lisa managed to get a hold of her horse. “I wonder how Kate is? It feels kind of strange doing this without her.”
    Carole slipped the bridle over Berry’s head and offered him the bit. “We can do it again tomorrow if she’s feeling better.”
    “You know we hang horse thieves around here,”Paula said. She was standing in the opening of the barn holding a grooming kit.
    Lisa felt herself flush as though she had been caught doing something wrong. “We thought we’d take a ride.”
    Paula shook her head.
    “We can’t take a ride?” Carole asked.
    “You can do whatever you want,” Paula assured them. “But you’ve picked the wrong time to do it.”
    Lisa was puzzled. It looked like a beautiful morning to her. “We have?”
    “You ought to be going tonight. We’re expecting a meteor shower.” Paula delivered the news with all the enthusiasm of someone announcing a garbage