Horse-Sitters (15 page)

“Really?” Stevie said. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Veronica had just appeared from somewhere and was skulking around nearby. Stevie hoped she’d heard Mick’s comment—especially since Stevie suspected Veronica had been the one to give Mr. Haverford-Smythe that information.

“That’s not all,” Mick continued. “Mr. Haverford-Smythe was so impressed that he wants to meet you. I’m supposed to invite you to the next polo match he and his ponies play in. He wants you to be his special guests at a tailgate picnic lunch.”

“Wow!” Carole exclaimed. “That would be fantastic. Tell him thanks, and we’d love to come.”

Lisa and Stevie agreed heartily. Stevie snuck a glance at Veronica. Whether or not Veronica had heard Mick before, she had definitely heard him now. Her face turned bright red. Stevie nudged her friends, and they saw her, too.

“Anyway, thanks again,” Mick said. “I’ll see you soon at the polo grounds.” He got in his car and drove away, and Max went back inside. The Saddle Club turned to follow just in time to see Veronica storm away, her face now beet purple. They had never seen her so angry.

And The Saddle Club horse-sitters couldn’t help agreeing that
that
was the best payment they could ever ask for.

Bonnie Bryant is the author of nearly a hundred books about horses, including The Saddle Club series, Saddle Club Super Editions, and the Pony Tails series. She has also written novels and movie novelizations 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.