The Long Ride by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online

Marine.”
    â€œCan’t be any harder to argue with than a man who makes his living as a politician.”
    â€œI think you’ve got me there,” Carole said. “But when he says ‘Ten- shun!’ … Well, enough about that.” She stood up from her desk. “I was about to go look in on Fez, so if you want to come with me, you’re welcome, or you can stay here.”
    Scott stood up. “Oh, sure,” he said. “I’ll come along. I guess I might as well have a face to put with this superhorse after all.”
    He followed Carole down the wide aisle that separated the horses’ stalls. Fez’s stall was on the other side of the stable. Carole took the opportunity to introduce Scott to a lot of horses as they went, including her own, Starlight, and Stevie’s horse, Belle. If Scott didn’t like horses—and he certainly hadn’t given Carole the impression that he did—he was pretty good at feigning interest. He patted them warmly and asked good questions. He asked Carole why it was so important to his sister that her horse was an Arab.
    â€œI mean, your horse—um, Starlight?” he said. Carole nodded. “You said he’s part Thoroughbred. I thought they were the best. Why wouldn’t she want a Thoroughbred, then? I mean, if there’s one thing you can count on about Callie, it’s that she wants the best when it comes to horses.”
    â€œMe too,” Carole said. “But best is a relative term. I wanted a horse I could ride for pleasure and competition. Starlight is fine in a ring and a great jumper, but he’s no match for most Arabs on an endurance ride. Thoroughbreds were developed for their speed. Where they’re ‘best’ is at the racetrack. Arabs were bred for desert life. They’re surefooted and powerful, and they can go for long periods without water. They have stamina and a lot of heart. That’s why they tend to stand out in endurance competitions. Now, quarter horses, for instance, are faster than Thoroughbreds—for short distances. They’re like sprinters.”
    â€œI think I’m getting this,” Scott said. “An Arab is like a marathon runner; you want a Thoroughbred in the four-forty, but a quarter horse in the hundred-meter dash.”
    â€œYou’re a quick study,” Carole said.
    â€œAnd you’re a good teacher,” Scott countered.
    Carole blushed. She actually blushed. And she felt more than a little dumb about it. She hoped he didn’t notice. Scott was friendly and really cute. He was easy to talk to, he was interested in what she had to say—or at least very good at pretending he was—and he seemed like a good listener, too. It made her all the more pleased that Callie was going to be riding with them. If Scott was so nice, then Callie was bound to be, too. That was something to look forward to.
    Ben was still working with Fez when they got to his stall. The horse seemed only marginally happier to be there than he had when he’d arrived, and Carole suspected that all of the improvement was due to Ben’s presence. He was holding Fez gently but firmly by a lead line and currying his neck when they approached. Horses liked to be groomed. The coat on Fez’s neck was already shiny and clean. Clearly, it didn’t need one more second of attention, but Fez needed a lot more attention to calm him down. Ben understood that and was doing what was necessary.
    â€œScott, I’d like you to meet Ben Marlow …”
    â€œPleased to meet you,” Scott said, offering Ben his hand.
    Ben regarded it quickly and then nodded instead. He had his hands full with Fez and wasn’t about to let go. Carole thought it wouldn’t have hurt for him to say as much. Scott pulled back his hand.
    â€œI guess this must be the fabled Fez,” Scott said.
    Ben nodded again.
    â€œUm, he’s been fussy since he got here,”