Horse-Sitters by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

in the paddock and went inside to look for Stevie. They walked by Belle’s stall, but Stevie wasn’t there. She wasn’t with Romeo, either.
    “Let’s check the tack room,” Lisa suggested.
    Carole nodded. “I can’t wait to see Stevie’s face when she meets Mr. Munch,” she said.
    “Well, I can’t wait to see Max’s face when Stevie asks him if we can keep Mr. Munch here,” Lisa said. She crossed her fingers and headed for the tack room.
    As the two girls rounded the corner, they heard angry voicesahead. It was Max and Veronica, and they were facing off in front of the tack room door.
    “I can’t believe you’d do something so stupid,” Max yelled, his hands on his hips.
    Veronica pouted. “I tried to tell you,” she cried. “You just haven’t been around much lately. Besides, I was sure you’d say yes. I mean, who could say no to Winston Haverford-Smythe?”
    “I’ll tell you who,” Max replied grimly. “Me, that’s who. There’s no way I can take on six extra horses right now. Especially expensive polo ponies.”
    Carole and Lisa traded quick glances. Now
this
sounded interesting. They both knew that polo ponies usually weren’t really ponies at all. A true pony was a horse 14.2 hands or under. A polo pony was simply a quick, strong, agile horse trained to play polo. There were many owners of polo strings in the area around Willow Creek.
    “Come on, Max,” Veronica whined. “Mr. Haverford-Smythe is a very important man. If you get on his good side, you’ll have it made in the social scene around here. Anyway, I already told him you said yes. And he really needs a place for his horses while their stable is being fumigated.”
    “Then you’ll just have to tell him you made a mistake,” Max said sternly. “I have no interest in making the social scene, and even less in taking care of half a dozen polo ponies right now.”
    “But Mr. Haverford-Smythe already gave his grooms the weekoff,” Veronica wheedled. “And the fumigators are scheduled to come. You have to do it. I told him Pine Hollow was the best full-service stable in the area.”
    “That’s very nice, Veronica, but the answer is still no,” Max said, folding his arms across his chest.
    “Please, Max? I’ll help,” Veronica said. “In fact, I’ll do most of the work myself.”
    “Wow,” Carole whispered. “She must really be desperate to impress this Haverford-Smythe guy.”
    Lisa nodded.
    “Hey, what’s going on?” Stevie said, walking up behind them. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you guys.”
    “Shhh,” Carole cautioned. “We’re just watching the free entertainment. As far as I can tell, Veronica has volunteered Pine Hollow as the temporary home for a string of six polo ponies whose stable is being fumigated and whose grooms are going on vacation. The only problem is, she forgot to mention it to Max beforehand.”
    Stevie’s eyes widened. “Cool,” she whispered.
    “You haven’t even heard the best part,” Lisa added. “Veronica just offered to take care of the horses herself.”
    “Wow. She must really be desperate,” Stevie said.
    Carole nodded. “That’s what I said.” But despite the fact that she was enjoying seeing Veronica put in her place, Carole couldn’t help feeling a little worried. She hoped this incident wouldn’t put Max in such a foul mood that he would say no to their own strange request.
    “You’ll have to call the man back and tell him to find another stable,” Max told Veronica in his best no-nonsense tone. “I might be able to recommend some alternatives.”
    “Umm,” Veronica said, turning her head to listen to something outside.
    Max heard it, too. It was the sound of a vehicle—a very large vehicle—moving into the driveway. “What’s that?” he muttered. “The grain delivery isn’t due until next week.”
    Veronica looked panicked for a moment. But then, as The Saddle Club watched, her face relaxed and the look of anxiety was replaced by a sly smile.