Cowboy Colt by Dandi Daley Mackall

Author:Dandi Daley Mackall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian
ISBN: 9781414366302
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2011-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

8

Horsemanship

As soon as I see the fairgrounds, I take off at a jog. Dream trots easily beside me. I don’t know what I’m more excited about—the possibility of riding my horse for the first time or the thought of surprising Colt with a horse for his birthday. I just hope I can keep it a secret.

I’m not stupid. I know horses cost money. And I know I don’t have much of it. But I do have some. And maybe I could borrow the rest from my parents and pay them back a little at a time.

“Ellie!” Rashawn shouts across the field. She looks tiny sitting on Dusty. We’re not sure what breed Dusty is, but she’s a dapple-gray plow horse. Or at least her parents were plow horses.

“Rashawn!” I wave at her. Next to Rashawn, Cassandra is on her little black pony, Misty. They’re both riding bareback. “Cassie!” I holler.

Dream and I keep jogging until we meet Cassie and Rashawn at the arena. “I can’t believe you guys are here already.”

“We couldn’t wait to see you and Dream,” Rashawn says.

That makes me feel pretty good. They’re terrific friends, even if I am the third wheel. “I hope Mr. Harper says it’s okay to ride Dream.” I look at my horse and stroke her jawline with my finger.

“I bet he will,” Cassie says. She nudges her pony to come closer. It takes a couple of squeezes with her knees. Misty can be stubborn sometimes. “She looks great, Ellie. She’s really put on a lot of weight. In a good way,” she adds quickly.

“Is Mr. Harper here yet?” I can’t wait to get the okay to ride.

Rashawn shakes her head. “Just us. Nobody else yet.”

“Except Colt, right?” I look around. “Where is he?”

“Colt?” Cassie frowns at Rashawn. “I haven’t seen him. Have you?”

“He’s not here yet,” Rashawn says.

“Are you sure? I stopped by his house. He wasn’t home.”

“There he is!” Cassie shouts. She urges her pony forward, a step at a time.

I turn, expecting to see Colt. But it’s Mr. Harper. He’s driving his truck with the four-horse trailer hitched behind it. I sure hope I won’t be needing one of his riding horses. I want to ride my Dream.

The second Mr. Harper and Ashley step out of the truck, I’m waiting for them. “So? What do you think, Mr. Harper? Is Dream ready yet?”

He takes one look at her. “Ellie, it’s hard to believe this is the scraggly mare that had us running all over town trying to catch her. You’ve done a good job fattening her up. I’d say you’re good to go.”

“Yes!” I hug my horse.

He tosses me a safety helmet and asks if I want to borrow a saddle. But I decide to ride bareback, like my buddies.

The other 4-H riders start showing up, about a dozen kids riding in from all directions. Mr. Harper saddles Hancock’s Warrior, a bay jumper, for Ashley. Two girls don’t have horses of their own. So one takes a gentle saddle horse

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