Horses and Friends 1- A Horse for Kate by Miralee Ferrell

Author:Miralee Ferrell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: YA, E
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2015-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Kate stared at the mess scattered across the full width of the aisle running between the stalls and the indoor arena and groaned. “Mrs. Wilder will fire us if she sees this.” She hoisted the wheelbarrow back into an upright position.

Tori grabbed the shovel and started scooping. “I guess we got it too heavy, and it overbalanced. I’m so sorry, Kate!”

“It would’ve happened to either of us, so don’t sweat it. I’ve never pushed anything that full either.” She ran back to the stall and returned with the second shovel. The two girls scrambled to clean the area, praying Mrs. Wilder wouldn’t show up before they finished.

Footsteps farther along the alleyway made Kate freeze, and she slowly swiveled, then drooped with relief. “Oh, it’s you.”

Colt pushed his wheelbarrow toward them. “Uh, yeah. You were expecting someone else?” He stopped and thumped the legs of his wheelbarrow down next to theirs, then withdrew his shovel and went to work.

Tori paused, her mouth hanging open. “Hey, we made the mess, not you. You won the race to get the stall cleaned, and you don’t have to help.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I want to.”

Kate stared. “Well, okay then. Thanks.” She pushed her shovel under another mound and scooped it up. “You want to work together after this?”

His face brightened. “Sure. It’d be more fun that way, if you don’t mind.”

They collected the last of the pile and wheeled toward the exit. Kate motioned toward Colt. “You didn’t bring any shavings back.”

“Naw. I didn’t heap mine as full as yours, so I still have more to clean.”

Kate huffed. “Guess that’s smart.”

The next minutes passed in silence as the trio finished cleaning one stall and then the other. After they’d returned with full loads of shavings and spread them, Kate surveyed the clean area. “Sure wish we could lead the horses in and out and do more than clean stalls.”

Tori shuddered. “I don’t. At least not yet. Look at that thing!” She pointed at the far end of the arena where a tall Thoroughbred raced in a circle, bucking and kicking. “My mom was right. Those things can kill you.”

Colt edged up beside her. “He’s glad to be out of his stall, is all. Once he has a halter on, he’s probably fine. Besides, that mare out there is practically asleep. He can’t be too dangerous, or she’d be staying clear of him.”

Kate studied Colt for the first time since they’d been introduced. She guessed he might be about thirteen. He was dressed in dusty jeans, a T-shirt, and worn cowboy boots, and wore his hair short. Good thing, as it looked like he’d probably have some serious curls going on if he let it grow out. He wasn’t what other girls might consider to be hot, but his blue eyes sparkled, and his grin was pretty cute. And he didn’t act a bit stuck-up or rude like some boys she’d met. “You act like you know a lot about horses.”

“I’ve got one back home.”

“Isn’t this home?” Tori kicked at a pile of clean shavings, smoothing it out.

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