Dream Horse by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page B

must to you,” Deborah said.
    “It sure does, Mom,” Lisa said. It didn’t sound any better the second time. “Say, Mom, would you buy me a horse, please, please, please?”
    “Much better,” Deborah said. “Now you sound authentic.”
    Lisa thought it would be a good idea to call Deborah Mom all the way to Rock Ridge. At the same time,Carole practiced calling her Mrs. Hale. She’d never called her anything but Deborah before, but they’d all decided Mrs. Hale sounded more authentic.
    “Oh, look, Mrs. Hale,” said Carole, trying out her role, “isn’t that Dunstable Field? That’s where Phil Marsten’s uncle Michael keeps his glider.”
    “Oh, really? I guess it is a small world, because I happen to know that that’s where Veronica’s father keeps the bank’s airplane.”
    “The bank has an
airplane
?” Lisa said. Then, to be safe, she added, “Mom?”
    “Yes, it does. I learned that when I was doing some research on local companies and the perks that their top executives get. Mr. diAngelo claims that he keeps the plane for company business, and every time he has a business trip, he does use it. But he also uses it when he goes to play golf or if he and Mrs. diAngelo want to go to New York for the weekend. He’s very careful, though. When he goes to play golf, he goes with customers. When he and Mrs. diAngelo go to New York, he does business there. It’s not unethical, exactly.”
    “Funny that Veronica never mentioned it to us, Mrs. Hale,” Carole said. “She rarely misses an opportunity to boast about something.”
    “I guess she doesn’t get to ride in it much,” said Deborah.
    Carole realized that was true. She remembered the time Mr. and Mrs. diAngelo had gone for a long golfing trip over Thanksgiving and had left Veronica to celebrate the holiday with the servants. Perhaps Veronica didn’t talk about the plane because she resented the fact that she couldn’t take advantage of it.
    “Poor little rich girl,” Carole said.
    “Right, like my heart breaks for her,” Lisa added.
    “It’s time to stop thinking about Veronica,” said Deborah.
    “What’s more important than that?” Lisa teased.
    “Well, my little sweetie pie, we’re about to arrive at Mickey Denver’s farm.”
    “Oh, right, Mom,” said Lisa. “And I want a horse, any horse.”
    “And I’m here to help you buy a really
pretty
one,” said Carole. “Right, Mrs. Hale?”
    “Right, Carole,” said Deborah. She flipped on her turn signal and drove up a long driveway to a lovely horse farm. The farm was in a valley with mountains at the far end, including the famous outcropping of rocks known as Rock Ridge. The barn was near the neat farmhouse. It was surrounded by paddocks and schoolingrings. In each paddock were horses, some grazing lazily, some playing and frolicking.
    “Perfect,” Carole said. “If I decide to have a horse farm, I want it to look exactly like this, Mrs. Hale.”
    “But let’s hope you have a better reputation as a horse trader than I suspect we’ll find Mr. Denver has earned.”
    “Oh, Mommy! Mommy! Look at the horsie!” Lisa said.
    “Too young,” said Deborah.
    “Wow, Mom! Look at all the horses!” Lisa tried a second time.
    “Much better,” said Deborah. She pulled the car to a stop at the barn and opened the door.
    A middle-aged man wearing jeans and riding boots was right by the entrance to the barn. He walked up to the car.
    “Ah, you must be Mrs. Hale!” he said, greeting Deborah warmly as they got out of the car.
    “I am,” said Deborah. “And this is my daughter, Lisa, and her friend, Carole. I should remind you that we’ve just started looking for a horse for Lisa, and we’re not likely to buy one today. It’s just that you were recommended to us—”
    “You don’t have to say another word,” said Mr. Denver. “I’m no hard-pitch salesman. My job is to match the horse to the rider, and if there’s any doubt in your mind,then I haven’t done my job right and