The Mystery of the Masked Rider by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page A

professional riders, so he was pretty upset. Fortunately, he’s doing great now. All the owners want him to ride for them, so he gets his pick of the top horses.”
    â€œListen, we’d better get the rest of the gear in,” Phil said abruptly. He seemed to be tired of hearing about Scott. “And we need to pick up the exhibitor badges.”
    â€œWhy don’t you guys get the badges, and Bess and I will finish unloading and watch Nightingale?” Nancy suggested to Colleen.
    â€œGood idea. Thanks.” Colleen tossed Nancy the truck keys. “We’ll stop by on our way back and park the truck.” She waved, then walked hand in hand with Phil toward the arena entrance on the other end of the stable.
    Bess slid the hay bale in front of Nightingale’s stall, then sat down and leaned back against the door.
    Nancy laughed. “I take it that means I’m unloading and you’re guarding.”
    â€œYou got it.” With a grin, Bess pulled a granola bar out of her jacket pocket. Nancy declined her offer of a bite, then headed back out to the truck.
    On the way she saw Diego San Marcos striding down the aisle. Curious, Nancy followed him.Marisa had known what stall Nightingale was in. Had she told her father so he could plant the nails before Colleen led Nightingale in?
    He would have had time, Nancy thought. But why would he want to? If Diego and Marisa were that interested in buying Nightingale, they certainly wouldn’t want to injure her.
    Then an idea struck Nancy. Maybe they weren’t really interested in buying the mare. Maybe they were just pretending to be. That was a possibility, Nancy told herself with a sigh, but it still didn’t explain what the San Marcoses’ motive would be.
    Diego turned and went into a stall. When Nancy got closer, she saw a series of three wooden signs hanging on each stall door. Each sign had a horse’s name engraved on it in blue letters, then the words M & M Farms and The San Marcoses underneath. A big banner was strung at the top of one of the stalls. It said, Champion Jumper—Miami, Florida. Several ribbons hung off the banner. It was easy to see that Diego San Marcos and his daughter were into showing—big time.
    As Nancy approached the last stall, she heard two people arguing. She could hear Diego’s deep voice with its Spanish accent. The other voice sounded like Marisa’s.
    â€œI’m going, Father, whether you like it or not.” Marisa’s voice sounded shrill.
    â€œNo, you aren’t,” Diego said firmly. “You arehere to ride horses. I am doing everything possible to ensure that you will win. Now you must do your part. And no more arguing!” Then he spun from the stall, practically running into Nancy.
    â€œHello, Mr. San Marcos,” Nancy said quickly, trying to cover up the fact that she had been eavesdropping. “Remember me? Nancy Drew, Colleen Healey’s friend,” she added when Diego looked momentarily confused.
    â€œAh, yes. The young lady who only rides for fun. And what are you doing at the show, Ms. Drew?”
    â€œOh, just helping Colleen. And learning more about show jumping. It’s quite exciting.”
    â€œHi, Nancy!” Marisa called from the stall. Nancy peered inside. The young girl was standing on an overturned bucket, braiding a horse’s mane. The horse wore a blue and white blanket, and Marisa was weaving blue and white yarn into the horse’s mane. “Sorry I can’t stop. Mr. Sunshine here rubbed out some of his braids, and I need to get them in before his class.”
    â€œMr. Sunshine?” Nancy queried. “I thought you said your horse’s name was Topflight.”
    Diego laughed. “You have a lot to learn about the horse world, Ms. Drew. M and M Farms has many horses. Some are young and green like Mr. Sunshine, so Marisa rides him in Green Hunter classes. Maybe he’ll be talented enough to go into