For Sale Or Swap by Alyssa Brugman Read Free Book Online Page B

Brat's rug on.'
    'That's OK. I'll take it off,' Erin said.
    There wasn't any way of getting around it. Erin
was determined to see Brat tomorrow.
    Shelby sighed. 'All right. I'll see you in the
morning.'
    After she'd hung up the phone, Shelby covered her
face with her hands. What was she going to do?
How would she explain it? She needed more time to
think. In the meantime, there was only one thing she
could do.
    She tipped the contents of her piggy bank on to
the floor. Thirty dollars. She had been saving up for
Christmas presents for her family, but that would have
to wait.
    Shelby ran down the road to the chemist. Once
inside, she let her eyes wander over all the packets of
hair dyes available. Down the bottom a brand name
almost leapt off the shelves. She snatched up the
packet and read the label again – Maxshine Celtic
Copper . 'I'm so stupid!' she groaned.

9 Hayley's Verdict
    Hayley inspected Brat from every angle. She ran her
hands down the pony's shins just like Miss Anita had.
Shelby held her breath waiting for the verdict.
    It had taken three packets of Maxshine Celtic
Copper and half a bottle of shoe polish to return Brat
to a brown. Shelby felt mean rubbing the polish across
the delicate skin around her eyes and nose, but it
couldn't be helped. Besides, it was only for a few
hours. As soon as Hayley and Erin left she would
wash her off again and have a good long think about
what to do.
    'It's a shame she's so small,' Hayley said.
    Shelby let out her breath in a whoosh. She had half
expected an experienced horse person like Hayley to
find her out as quickly as Clint had – but then he had
the advantage of seeing Brat all washed out.
    'She's the perfect size for Shelby,' Erin said.
    'Yes, but for how long? You'll be too big for her
next year. If I were you I would have gone for something
bigger.'
    'Beggars can't be choosers,' commented Erin. 'No
offence, Shel. She looks more chestnut than she did
the other day.'
    Shelby blushed, wondering if she should have used
four packets of hair dye.
    'I washed her . . . but then she rolled in the dirt.
And the light's not the same today. Maybe you just
remember her different?'
    'I guess so,' said Erin. 'Are you going to give her a
workout today?'
    'Later,' said Shelby. She had decided not to ride
Brat any more. If something were to happen to Brat
then she would have to give her back to the owners
damaged, and that would be terrible. More importantly,
though, she didn't want to call a vet out unless
she absolutely had to.
    'Why not now? If I had a horse like yours, I'd ride
it all the time,' Erin said. 'You should see her, Hayley,
she goes like a dream.'
    'You can see her tomorrow at Pony Club,' Shelby
said. She had already decided not to go to Pony Club.
If anyone asked she'd say she hadn't been feeling
well – not that she thought anyone would. Nobody
would miss her.
    Hayley folded her arms and ran her eyes over Brat
again. 'Are you going to put bandages on her legs?'
she asked.
    'I wasn't going to,' Shelby replied. How could she?
She didn't own any.
    'There are a few marks on them already. You
should protect them. I wouldn't ride her without
bandages. It's not worth it.'
    'Yes, I'll do that,' Shelby lied.
    'It should be an excellent day tomorrow,' said Erin.
    'Why?' asked Shelby.
    'Haven't you heard? Calvin Protheroe is the guest
instructor. Can you believe it? He's only the best
dressage instructor in the whole country.'
    Erin's mum, who had been waiting in the car,
wound down the window and called out. 'Come on,
girls, I haven't got all day.'
    'We've got to go,' said Erin. 'See you tomorrow.'
    Shelby nodded.
    Erin and Hayley walked towards the car. Hayley
turned around at the gate and smiled at Shelby. 'She's
a great little horse. Don't forget McLeod's Daughters at my place next week.'
    Shelby grinned. 'I wouldn't miss it.'
    After they had gone Shelby started to unravel the
hose. Halfway through she stopped. Brat was turning
out to be a lucky charm. So far she'd caught