Horse Whispers by Bonnie Bryant

Author:Bonnie Bryant [Bryant, Bonnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-82575-9
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2013-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

“I SEE THEM!” Stevie shrieked. She had been staring out the kitchen window for so long she could hardly believe it when the riders came into view.

“Yay,” said Christine.

“Are you sure?” Kate asked, running to join her.

“Look! There’s Stewball and Carole in front, and they’ve got the mare! Bet you anything that crazy pinto found her!” Stevie boasted. She was as proud of Stewball as if she’d owned and trained him herself.

The girls yanked on jackets and ran out to greet Carole, Frank, and John. “Don’t you want to come?” Lisa called to Phyllis.

“I can’t!” Phyllis replied. “Somebody’s got to watch the pies!”

The girls had put off baking two of the pies, hoping that the roundup posse would make it back in time to try some hot. Pie would be just the thing for a late-afternoon snack.

Lisa shook her head ruefully. “Boy, I sure don’t have a cook’s instincts. I would have forgotten all about them,” she said, sprinting for the door.

Outside the barn, the three were dismounting wearily. Stevie, Lisa, Christine, and Kate walked toward the black mare to welcome her home.

As they approached, the mare wheeled around. She laid her ears back and bared her teeth. Carole didn’t notice right away. She was loosening Stewball’s cinch with her free hand. The mare strained at the end of her lead shank. All at once she pulled free. Her eyes rolling wildly, she reared, then shied away.

“Grab her!” Frank called.

Stevie lunged for the lead shank but missed.

“No! Let me,” Carole ordered. Instinct took over. She walked slowly toward the mare. She breathed in and out, in and out, willing the mare to sense the calming rhythm. She whispered nonsense words. Everyone watched as the mare stopped and listened to Carole. Carole inched closer. She reached out and stroked the mare’s shoulder. Then she unclipped the lead line. She put it into her pocket. She knew she wouldn’t need it. “Come on, girl, we’re home now.” The mare’s head drooped slightly. She followed Carole into the barn.

Frank, John, and the four girls stared at the retreating pair. They couldn’t believe what they had seen. It was so strange, and so special, that nobody wanted to talk about it. So nobody did.

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