Horse Magic by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page B

greeted him and sat down next to Carole, who was making name tags for the Pine Hollow people. Lisa took the one with Red O’Malley’s name on it and started sketching a spooky ghost on it.
    Dinah was asking Phil about Black Magic. She was disappointed that the mare was out on the trail again—she was dying to meet her.
    Phil nodded seriously. “She’s one great horse, all right,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like her.” Lisa took that to mean that Stevie had called him and let him in on the joke. She almost felt sorry for Dinah. The girl seemed so eager to see the wonderful horse everyone kept talking about, she was sure to be disappointed when she found out it didn’t exist, not to mention embarrassed that she’d been taken in by Stevie’s prank.
    A few minutes later the talk turned from horses to costumes. Phil described the magician’s outfit he had put together, then turned to Dinah. “What are you going to be?” he asked.
    “I’m going as Paul Revere,” she replied. “Stevie offered me her brother’s old costume, and I guess it’s better than cutting a couple of eyeholes in an old sheet like I was planning.”
    Lisa’s eyes widened, and she dropped the marker she was holding. Paul Revere? But Stevie had already offered that costume to Lisa! Lisa had decided not to take it—she had come up with a better idea the day before. But she hadn’t had a chance to tell Stevie that yet.
    “I hope you don’t mind, Lisa,” Stevie said offhandedly, as if guessing what her friend was thinking. “You didn’t seem too excited about it, and Dinah really needed something to wear.”
    Lisa clenched her teeth. “Of course not, Stevie,” she replied carefully. “Anyway, I need to have a costume I can ride in, for when I help Max with the lessons. That’s more important than dressing up, you know.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized they sounded a little mean. Dinah was sure to know that Lisa was thinking that her own role in Saturday’s events was much more important than Dinah’s, especially since it was obvious to all of them that Lisa could ride just as easily in a Paul Revere costume as in anything else.
    Dinah frowned, and there was a moment of awkwardsilence. Finally Phil cleared his throat, “You know, Dinah, I was just thinking,” he said. “I could really use an assistant for my act. I’d ask Stevie, but she’s already volunteered to set up this treasure hunt instead. And besides, I don’t want to give away the tricks of the trade to just anybody. How about it? Do you want the job?”
    Dinah’s eyes lit up and she grinned at him. “Hey, that sounds like fun,” she exclaimed. “I’ve always loved magic shows. Now I’ll get to be in one!”
    Stevie stuck out her tongue at Phil, but then she smiled at him. Lisa knew Stevie was grateful to Phil for making Dinah feel included. Then Stevie turned and gave Lisa a surprised look, as if wondering what had gotten into her. Lisa didn’t meet her friend’s eye.
    “Say, Stevie, speaking of my magic show,” Phil said. “I’ve been looking all over for a red stable blanket to use in my act. Do you think Max has any?”
    Stevie shrugged. “There are probably some in the tack room,” she said. “In that big trunk against the far wall.”
    Phil gave her a sheepish look. “Would you mind looking?” he pleaded. “I can never find a thing in that tack room.”
    Stevie rolled her eyes and got up. “Yeah, sure,” she said skeptically. “If that’s your excuse for being lazy, who am I to question it?” She headed for the door.

S TEVIE WALKED SLOWLY toward the tack room, deep in thought. The scene between Lisa and Dinah had upset her, and she needed time to think things through. For one thing, she could tell that Lisa was upset about the Paul Revere costume. Stevie had been sure Lisa hadn’t wanted to wear it, otherwise she would never have offered it to Dinah. She had expected Lisa to know that.
    She sighed. The night