Hayride by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online

party I’ve ever heard,” he said when she had finished.
    “So you can come?”
    “I can hardly wait.”
    With the matter of the party aside, Carole and Cam turned to their favorite subject: horses. Without mentioning her ankle—she didn’t want to worry him either—Carole told Cam about Starlight acting up on the trail. She knew she could count on Cam to give her thoughtful advice.
    “There’s a really good book on the subject,” Cam said. “It’s called
Training the Young Horse for Pleasure and Show
, and it’s by Gordon Morse.”
    “Gordon Morse? He’s an expert,” Carole commented.
    “Exactly. Two-time member of the United States team, et cetera. My instructor recommended the book. Anyway, Morse says that you have to remember that your horse is still young,” Cam said. “Going on a trail ride and seeing all those strange things like water and birds can be upsetting for a horse Starlight’s age. But the more you expose him to new things, the more used to them he’ll get.”
    Carole agreed. “I think sometimes I forget that he’s not an experienced old school horse. He’s so good most of the time.”
    “Well, he should be—he’s got a good trainer,” Cam said.
    Carole smiled into the receiver. Since Cam was a skilled rider and knew as much as she did about horses, a compliment from him meant a lot to her.
    “Speaking of experienced horses, how’s Duffy?” Carole asked. Duffy was Cam’s horse, a handsome chestnut gelding. They had competed successfully in many horse shows together.
    “The old boy is doing well,” Cam said. “I went for a trail ride yesterday, too, to give him a break from all the drilling we’ve been doing in our lessons.”
    Carole suggested a couple of ways that Cam could keep Duffy fresh and interested in flat work. “Try schooling him in a different place from where you usually practice.You know, you can even work on some things on the trail, like making him halt, making him bend around the corners—stuff like that.”
    They talked for a while longer, comparing notes on riding and training. After a few minutes Carole looked at her watch. She really had to go if she wanted to call Lisa and Stevie and update them about the party.
    “So I’ll see you Saturday, birthday girl,” Cam said enthusiastically. “It’ll be nice to meet some more of your friends.”
    “Friends plus Veronica diAngelo,” Carole told him. She quickly explained that she hadn’t wanted to leave anyone out—even Veronica.
    Cam remembered her from an unmounted Pony Club competition called a know-down. “Friends plus Veronica, then,” he said. “No matter who’s there, I know we’ll have a great time.”
    Carole felt the same way. As soon as she hung up with Cam, she dialed Stevie’s number. She heard Stevie yell, “Five minutes, Mom! I promise!”
    “Homework?” Carole asked when Stevie picked up.
    “Lab report,” Stevie groaned. “But forget that. Who’s coming?”
    Carole read off the “definitely coming” list. “That just leaves a space for whoever Lisa wants.”
    “Then I have to inform you right away that ProjectDate for Lisa Atwood had been successfully completed,” Stevie said triumphantly.
    “Already?” Carole asked incredulously. “Who?”
    Stevie summed up their trip to the mall and their encounter with Bob Harris, leaving out the shopping for Carole’s present and inventing some errands she had had to run for her mother.
    “So he’s really cute?” Carole wanted to know.
    “
Really
cute—and
perfect
for Lisa—friendly but not loud, good grades, and he has a job baby-sitting,” Stevie summed up. “Wait till you meet him.” They decided to three-way call Lisa so that they could all discuss the party.
    Lisa picked up after one ring. “I was hoping it was you guys. What’s the news on the party?”
    Carole read over the list one more time. “And last, but not least, Robert Harris, date of Lisa Atwood,” she concluded.
    “Oh, he’s not
really
my date.