Silver Stirrups by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page B

Reg, who read the results over the PA system. As if it were a real horse show, Mrs. Reg read the full names of both horses and riders.
    “In sixth place, Ms. Lisa Atwood riding Pine Hollow’s own Prancer.”
    Lisa trotted into the ring, grinning widely. Sixth was better than she’d expected. She’d had trouble at two fences and had been on the wrong lead for a couple of strides. Max came forward and pinned a green ribbon on Prancer’s bridle. That made Lisa’s grin even bigger. “I didn’t know you got ribbons, Max!”
    “Naturally,” said Max, flashing her a smile. “I can’t have my winners going home empty-handed.”
    Fifth was taken by a boy who lived on a farm adjacent to Pine Hollow.
    Polly Giacomin got fourth. Lisa clapped loudly and gave Polly the thumbs-up sign. On her brown gelding, Polly looked pleased as she joined the growing line of winners.
    “In third place, Ms. Stephanie Lake aboard Belle!” Mrs. Reg announced.
    “Yippee!” Stevie cried. She stuffed the candy bar she had been eating into her pocket and rode into the ring, patting Belle extravagantly.
    Max came forward with the yellow ribbon. “You see? Equitation won’t kill you,” he murmured, his eyes twinkling.
    Stevie smiled sheepishly. Although she wouldn’t have admitted it, she was proud of herself. She had ridden well, following Andrea’s (and Carole’s) advice to prepare early for every fence.
    Lisa was delighted at Stevie’s third. She knew Carole would win or get second, so that meant The Saddle Club would each take home at least one ribbon apiece.
    “In second place—” Mrs. Reg continued.
    No, no, no,
Carole prayed, waiting outside the ring.
Don’t let me get second. First or—or nothing!
Her hands tensed on the reins.
    “Ms. Carole Hanson riding Starlight!”
    Stevie and Lisa burst into applause. The other riders clapped loudly. “What happened?” Polly joked to Stevie. “Did Carole fall off?”
    The girls laughed. Carole’s equitation was so good that for her to get second was rare.
    “We’ve got to kid her about this one,” Stevie said.
    But Lisa shook her head wordlessly. One look at her friend and she knew that the second was no laughing matter to Carole.
    Stone-faced, Carole rode into the ring.
    “Nice job except for the vertical,” Max murmured. “But you know that.”
    Carole forced herself to turn her lips up politely. But she wasn’t smiling. She couldn’t. The red ribbon fluttering on Starlight’s bridle made her face burn with shame. She glanced at the crowd. She was sure everyone was laughing at her. Her friends, Max, Mrs. Reg, the stable hands, the other local junior riders—didn’t they see it? This wasn’t just one class at a schooling show. It was much, much more. Carole’s worst fear had come true: In front of everyone, she had lost her edge. She had gone from being the best to being second best. And she had been beaten by someone a yearyounger! How would she ever prove that she was better
now?
    “And in first place, winner of the junior equitation over fences, a newcomer to Pine Hollow, Ms. Andrea Barry riding Country Doctor!”
    Carole couldn’t watch. She kept her eyes on the ground.
    “Hey, congratulations! Carole, right?”
    “Yeah,” said Carole. She couldn’t look Andrea Barry in the face. “Congratulations to you, too.” Her voice came out in a croak.
    “That turn to the vertical was a bear!” Andrea said.
    “I’ll say!” Stevie chimed in. “I felt Belle’s eyes pop when she realized she actually had to jump it.”
    Carole stared at Starlight’s mane. She stared at the pommel of her saddle. She felt her throat tighten. It couldn’t be, but it was: She was going to cry! She was not only a loser, but a poor loser as well! She was a bad sport!
    “Your advice really helped,” Stevie was saying. “What do you think I should do in the flat class if Belle falls into the circle?”
    Carole could stand it no longer. “I—I have to go,” she whispered. Her eyes