Mystery at Saddle Creek by Shelley Peterson

Author:Shelley Peterson [Peterson, Shelley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cormorant Books

Bird was in a grim mood as she stood outside the ring on Sundancer. The last horse and rider had finished the course and were trotting out. They’d had four rails down and two time faults. Bird had no idea where she and Sunny stood in the class, and no interest, either.

Moonie and Kimberly, however, were another thing altogether. Moonie had developed an immediate attachment to Kimberly, and Kimberly was just as smitten. She patted her neck and praised her aloud.

“Good girl, Moonie, my beauty! Good girl.”

Get over it. Sunny pinned his ears and snapped at Moonie.

Bird didn’t care enough to interfere.

The announcer turned on his microphone and began reading the much-anticipated results. “There will be a jump-off to decide first and second. Coincidentally, our first two entrants had identical times. The third to eighth place winners will be announced after the jump-off. Would five forty-five and five forty-six come to the in-gate.”

Kimberly was stunned. “Ohmygosh! I can’t believe it! You and I are jumping off to get first? Holy! Moonie, you’re awesome!”

Bird! I can’t believe it! We went much faster than them!

All your prancing and pulling in the wrong direction added time. Anyway, there will be no jump-off for us. We’re not going back in.

No fair!

You heard me, Sunny. I am not taking you into that ring again.

Sundancer’s ears flattened and his eyes became slits. He was angry — very angry — but Bird was not about to change her mind.

The jump-off course had been posted, and Kimberly pored over it intently. “I think I know the course,Bird. Do you? It’s one, seven, six, nine and finish back over one. Wow, it’s difficult.” Her entire body was trembling.

Hannah came over with a big smile on her face. “Well done, Kimberly! I’ll bet Dexter Pill and his clients wish they hadn’t been so hasty.”

“I’m so glad they were! I love Moonlight Sonata. I want to ride her all the time!”

“Let’s talk about that later,” Hannah laughed. “Right now, you’ve got a job to do. Do you know your course?”

Kimberly nodded. “Yes, I think I do.”

“Good,” said Hannah. “Remember to sit up after the second jump and keep her steady coming into the vertical. You’re up now.”

Kimberly and Moonie trotted in confidently, looking around at the jumps in their new order. What a difference from the petrified girl who’d woken up at the third jump, Bird reflected. She admired Kimberly’s courage, riding this mare in a jump-off, when she’d only met her today.

They cantered through the electronic starter, and took the picket fence easily. Turning sharp right to the in-and-out, they kept a good clip, but Moonie picked up some speed as she galloped left along the fence to the oxer. Once over safely, they flew left to the vertical.

Sunny was getting quite agitated. He started jiggling with nerves and then hopping up and down.

This is very uncomfortable for me, Sunny.

It’s not fair!

Kimberly and Moonie finished up over the white picket, after doing the optical illusion and safely turning a tight corner.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.