Stagecoach by Bonnie Bryant

Author:Bonnie Bryant [Bryant, Bonnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-82520-9
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2013-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

WHEN CAROLE GOT to Pine Hollow the next day, she was all set to sit down with Stevie and plan their attack. She had spent her English and math classes jotting down points they could use to persuade Lisa to put acting second—at least once the play had ended. Stevie, however, seemed to have already made—and activated—her own plan. She was saddled up and riding outside. She waved to Carole from the outdoor ring. Carole waved back automatically and then stopped in her tracks. Instead of Topside Stevie was riding Prancer.

Suddenly it hit Carole. Why hadn’t they thought of that before? Prancer needed work, and so did Stevie. Topside, on the other hand, did not. The most important thing was keeping him fresh and interested for the rally. A little light schooling and a trail ride or two would do the trick. Riding Prancer, Stevie could sharpen her skills and help Lisa get the mare ready.

“Pretty good idea, huh?” Stevie called, trotting down the long side of the ring.

“Are you kidding? It’s a great idea!” Carole yelled after her. She watched the mare’s briskly swinging trot for a few minutes in admiration. She looked energetic but relaxed. Stevie sat proudly in the saddle. At the end of the ring they picked up a canter. Prancer chucked the bit up in her teeth and shied away from the rail. Stevie laughed and made her trot until she stopped playing. They were obviously enjoying each other immensely.

“Want someone to watch you?” Carole asked when Stevie approached again.

“Definitely—we can use all the constructive criticism we can get.” She brought Prancer down to a walk and came over to Carole for a quick chat.

“I’ll be your ‘stage coach’ first, as Lisa said, and then we can switch,” Carole commented.

“It’s a deal,” Stevie said.

For the next half hour the two girls gave Prancer an intensive private lesson. Carole planted herself in the middle of the ring and barked criticism and commands. “Too fast! Too late! Canter now!” Far from being an annoying chore, watching and coaching was more fun than Carole could have imagined. As she critiqued Stevie and Prancer, she found herself thinking how high-spirited and eager Prancer was. She was sleek, fast, and feisty and could be difficult.

Funny, Carole mused, that sounded a lot like Stevie. In the long run, the mare would probably do better with someone who was steady, organized, and methodical—someone like Lisa. For now, though, both she and Stevie would benefit from the partnership.

Carole had them walk, trot, halt, walk, trot, canter, trot, halt, trot, walk, trot, canter until Stevie was breathing hard and Prancer was sweating even in the brisk fall air. Then she put them through circles, figure eights, leg yielding, center lines, and more circles. As they worked, the girls compared their impressions of how Prancer was doing. A couple of times the mare bucked while cantering, and once she trotted right over the low dressage-ring rail. “You get right back in there, you bad, bad girl,” Stevie commanded, not missing a beat.

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