Horse Capades (13 page)

Carole and Lisa caught their breath, looked at each other, grinned, and broke into loud, enthusiastic applause.

“I have to admit it, Stevie. You’re a cinematic genius!” Lisa said.

Stevie stood up and took a bow. “Thank you.
Thank you,” she said. “I promise never to forget the little people who helped me when I’m the toast of Hollywood.” She sat down again and smiled. “The best part is, my teacher agreed with you,” she said. “She said this film was truly clever. And she realized how much work I put into it. After all, it’s not easy being director, scriptwriter, special effects specialist, choreographer, prop person, costume designer, and film editor all rolled into one. Not to mention star, of course. It’s more than even Cinderella herself ever had to do. So Ms. Vogel is forgiving my last film completely. I got an A-plus on the project.”

“That’s great!” Lisa exclaimed. “So your riding career is safe again.”

“Until the next big project is due, at least,” Carole added with a grin, reaching for her soda.

“No way,” Stevie said, leaning back on the couch and propping her feet up on the coffee table. “I’m not letting myself get in that situation again. From now on I’m going to be more careful.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Does this mean you’re sticking with your no-practical-jokes vow?”

“Well, maybe not completely,” Stevie admitted. “They’re too much fun to give up for good. And they can come in pretty handy sometimes, like when it’s time to give Veronica a taste of her own medicine. But
I
am
going to cut back a little. This whole thing has taught me that there’s a time and a place for everything, including practical jokes. I just have to think more before I act, and decide before each prank if the rewards are worth the risks.”

“Don’t tell me all those lectures from your parents and teachers have finally sunk in,” Carole teased.

Stevie shrugged. “Nah. What really got me was the way you guys didn’t believe me about my movie.”

“We said we were sorry about that,” Lisa reminded her.

“I know, and I said I forgave you,” Stevie said. “But I was thinking about it, and I realized that I hadn’t given you much reason to trust me about stuff like that.”

The girls munched their popcorn silently for a moment, thinking about what Stevie had said.

“Well, I guess we’ve all learned something about trust lately,” Lisa said at last. “After all, it was only when I learned to trust Prancer that she got over her jumping problem.”

“You know, I’d almost forgotten about that already,” Carole said. “Prancer did so well in lessons this week.”

Lisa nodded. “She has been great, hasn’t she?” she said. “She’s an awfully smart horse. And brave, too.
Once she realized I was leaving everything up to her, she just went for it. She sensed how much I was trusting her and decided to go ahead and trust me back.”

“You’re awfully smart, too,” Stevie said. “I’m not sure I would have figured that out.” The tape had finished rewinding, and she hopped up to eject it.

“Stevie’s right,” Carole said, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of popcorn. “You did great, Lisa. It just goes to show how far you’ve come since the first time Veronica spooked your horse.”

“Thanks,” Lisa said. She smiled. “And I almost met my goal for the show this time. Prancer’s pace was pretty steady after that first jump, right?”

“Right,” Carole said. “I guess I did okay on my goal, too. Starlight only jumped a little when everyone applauded him this time.” She turned to Stevie. “Hey, that reminds me. You never did tell us what your goal for the show was.”

Stevie shrugged. “Isn’t it obvious?” she said. “My goal for the show was to survive it. And it was looking iffy for a while there.” Her friends laughed, and Stevie smiled. “Actually, I did have one other goal,” she added. “And that was to place better than Veronica if I possibly could.”

“Hmm,” Carole said. “I’m not sure Max would approve
of that goal. But I guess you did it!” She picked up her glass and saluted Stevie with it.

Stevie picked up her glass, too. “I sure did,” she said. “Thanks to The Saddle Club!” She clinked her glass against Carole’s. Lisa quickly picked up her glass, too, and clinked it with both of her friends.

“You did even better than that,” Carole said, setting her glass back on the table. “You not only managed to keep Veronica out of the show, you managed to get her kicked out of Horse Wise again, too.”

“Not really,” Lisa pointed out. “Veronica did that herself.”

“True,” Stevie agreed. She grinned at the memory. Max had been so angry when Red had told him about Veronica’s accidental confession that he had ordered her off the property immediately. He had also revoked her Pony Club membership indefinitely.

“By the way, what did Veronica think when she saw her movie debut at the assembly today?” Lisa asked.

Carole gasped. “Oh, I forgot all about that! She must have been livid!”

“Oh, she was,” Stevie assured them, crossing her arms behind her head and leaning back against the couch with a self-satisfied grin. “Luckily, Ms. Vogel is convinced Veronica is just right for the role of Cleopatra.” She quickly told her friends about what had happened
after that morning’s screening. “So I’m not sure whether to expect horrible revenge from Veronica or not. But if she wants to try anything, I’ll be ready.”

Lisa shook her head with a rueful smile. “Uh-oh. Here we go again.”

“Don’t worry,” Stevie said. “If Veronica does try anything, I’ll just have to carefully balance the rewards of getting her back against the risks, and then consider if and how I’m going to respond. It might not even be worth it, you know.”

“That’s very mature of you, Stevie,” Carole commented.

Stevie shrugged. “It’s the new me,” she said. “Calm, cool, collected, and mature.” She stood up. “This popcorn is good, but I’m still hungry,” she said. “How about some cookies? My mom just made them today. Oatmeal raisin.”

“Great!” Carole said, and Lisa nodded eagerly. Mrs. Lake’s oatmeal raisin cookies were famous throughout the neighborhood.

Stevie hurried out to the kitchen and returned a moment later with a plate piled high with delicious-looking cookies. Carole and Lisa each grabbed one and bit into it immediately.

Stevie picked up a cookie, too, but she didn’t take a
bite. Instead, she watched her friends, a mischievous grin on her face.

Carole chewed for a second. Then a very strange expression crossed her face. She started chewing more frantically, reaching for her soda glass at the same time. She glanced at Lisa, who had a similar horrified expression on her face. Both girls quickly took huge gulps of soda, washing down their mouthfuls of cookie.

Then, in one breath, they gasped, “Stevie!”

Stevie grinned. “Oops,” she said. “My mistake. I must have given you my own secret-recipe jalapeño eggplant cookies instead.”

Lisa groaned. “I guess this means the real Stevie is back.”

Carole nodded. “And you know what that means.” She grabbed a sofa pillow. Lisa did the same.

“Ready?” Lisa said.

“Ready,” Carole said. “Aim, and fire at will. Pillow fight!” With that, they began pummeling Stevie with the soft cushions.

Stevie grinned as she grabbed another pillow and tried to defend herself from her best friends. The rewards of this particular practical joke had definitely been worth the risks. Definitely. It felt good to be back.

B
ONNIE
B
RYANT
is the author of many books for young readers, including novelizations of movie hits such as
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
and
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
, written under her married name, B. B. Hiller.

Ms. Bryant began writing The Saddle Club in 1986. Although she had done some riding before that, she intensified her studies then and found herself learning right along with her characters Stevie, Carole, and Lisa. She claims that they are all much better riders than she is.

Ms. Bryant was born and raised in New York City. She still lives there, in Greenwich Village, with her two sons.

Don’t miss Bonnie Bryant’s next exciting Saddle Club adventure …

SILVER STIRRUPS

The Saddle Club #65

Carole Hanson is used to being the best junior rider at Pine Hollow Stables. She’s taken it for granted in a quiet, nice way. She doesn’t need to brag about something that she’s good at, that she loves with all her heart, and that she plans to make her life’s work. Then a new rider starts taking lessons at the stable. She’s younger than Carole, and she’s a better rider. Carole is jealous, and this new feeling is ruining the place she loves best. Maybe being number one means more to her than she thought!

Carole soon realizes that the new student excels in the saddle, but on the ground she’s got a lot to work out. With dread, Carole also realizes that she is the best person to help this motherless young girl with her problems. But can she forge a friendship with someone she envies? Carole is fighting a battle with jealousy—and it looks like the green-eyed monster is winning!