Free Hobbyhorse by Bonnie Bryant Page B

way: It’ll build up your arm muscles, and that’s great for riding.”
    “It’s hard,” Amelia said.
    “Well,” Carole said, “it is hard, but you’re doing a super job. Delilah will be much happier with a clean stall.”
    Amelia straightened and put her hands on her hips. “I hope so. Is this really part of camp, or is this part of my punishment? Because it seems like punishment. It even smells like punishment.”
    Stevie snorted and Lisa rolled her eyes.
    “It’s really part of camp,” Carole said mildly. “Not only that, it’s part of life. Every rider needs to know how to take care of her horse, and keeping its stall clean is the first step. I cleaned Starlight’s before you got here this morning—and I know that when you get a horse of your own, you’ll want to take really good care of it. Besides, if you don’t do stable management here at camp, you don’t ride.”
    Carole smiled, even though she didn’t feel like it. She hadn’t expected Amelia to be thrilled about cleaning Delilah’s stall, but she had hoped that maybe she would be able to work a little faster. Now that Carole was back to being Max’s assistant, she had a lot to do, and she still had to soak Starlight’s sore foot. She looked at her watch worriedly.
    Stevie saw and immediately understood. “Hey, Assistant Instructor,” she said. “What if Lisa and I become assistant’s assistants? We’ll help Amelia here while you go take care of Starlight.”
    “Thanks,” Carole said. “It’s only for fifteen minutes—Amelia won’t be done with the stall yet …” She hurried off.
    “I’m glad you thought of that,” Lisa told Stevie, as they took up Carole’s position by the stall door. “I know Carole’s worried, but I’ve been so”—she glanced at Amelia—“preoccupied lately, I haven’t been much help.”
    “She still thinks it’s navicular,” Stevie said in an undertone. “I hope Judy can come today.”
    “We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” Lisa said. “Poor Starlight!”
    “Out of my way, please.” Amelia had filled the wheelbarrow three-quarters full and pushed it to the door of the stall. Lisa scooted to one side, and Stevie held the door open. Amelia struggled to steer the barrow without overturning it.
    “Hey, that’s pretty full,” Lisa said. “I bet it’s heavy, and your arms are short. Why don’t you let me take it outside?”
    “I can do it,” Amelia said. “I’m strong enough.” She made a tremendous effort and got the wheelbarrow rolling down the aisle.
    Lisa shook her head.
    “She’s tough enough, anyway,” Stevie remarked. “I’d liketo see her take on my brother Chad. I bet she’d win.” When Amelia came back with the empty wheelbarrow, a scowl still on her face, Stevie added, “You know, Amelia, this honestly isn’t punishment. Everyone works at Pine Hollow.”
    Amelia wielded the pitchfork with vigor. “I don’t mind working, but I’m behind everybody else,” she said. “The Pony Tails are already finished with their stalls. They’re in the tack room. They’re telling jokes.”
    “They’re cleaning their saddles,” Lisa told her. “That’s what you’ll be doing as soon as you’re done here.”
    “By then they’ll probably be riding,” Amelia said.
    “Probably,” said Stevie.
    Lisa shot Stevie a look. “They won’t start the lesson without you,” she assured her cousin. Amelia looked relieved.
    After Amelia’s third wheelbarrow load, Stevie and Lisa declared the stall clean enough. “Good,” said Amelia, dusting her hands on the seat of her jodhpurs and heading for the tack room.
    “Not so fast,” Stevie said, grabbing her shoulder. “You took three loads of dirty sawdust out, so you’ve got to put three loads of clean sawdust back in.” She pointed down the aisle. “The sawdust pile is next to the grain room. Use a shovel instead of a pitchfork. It’ll go faster.”
    Amelia grunted as she grabbed the empty wheelbarrow. Lisa and Stevie