Track Record by Bonnie Bryant

Author:Bonnie Bryant
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497654143
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween

ELEVEN

Carole glanced at her watch and then looked through the gaping main stable doorway, her stomach fluttering eagerly. “It’s almost three-thirty,” she told Ben, who was sweeping the entryway. “They should be here soon.”

Ben nodded and joined her at the door. Even though he didn’t say anything, Carole could tell he was just as excited as she was. His dark eyes gleamed with interest, and he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other and checking his watch.

Carole leaned forward to peer toward the road. It was more difficult than usual to see, since there were a couple of large bulldozer-type machines parked at the edge of the driveway. The contractor Max had hired to work on the expansion wasn’t wasting any time getting started. In fact, the workers were supposed to break ground the very next day.

Carole felt oddly wistful when she thought about that. Pine Hollow had been the same for so long—it was weird to think that things would soon be changing. Of course, people and horses had come and gone over the years she’d been riding there. But that wasn’t really the same. The expansion felt much more serious somehow.

She glanced at Ben, who was still standing beside her. “It’s going to be strange around here,” she commented.

Ben nodded. “I know.” He lifted his chin and gazed toward the road. “Look. It’s them.”

Carole followed his gaze and saw Pine Hollow’s truck trundle into the driveway with a two-horse trailer behind it. With that, all nostalgic thoughts of the past fled, and she had to restrain herself from hopping up and down with excitement. She and Ben walked out into the chilly winter wind and waited as the large vehicle made its way slowly toward them and parked near the door.

“They’re here!” Red O’Malley, who seemed happy and relaxed after his brief honeymoon, climbed out of the cab and grinned. “Like it or not.”

“Did you have any trouble loading them?” Carole asked anxiously.

Red shrugged. “Madison walked right on like a pro,” he said. “Jinx … Well, let’s just say he took some convincing.” He winked. “It’s just lucky for us that he’s crazy about apples.”

Max emerged from the stable. “What’s everybody standing around here for?” he barked. “Let’s get these horses unloaded.”

Carole grinned at Ben. He smiled back. It was just like Max to act so gruff and businesslike at such an exciting moment. But they set about doing as he said.

Madison was just as easy to unload as she’d been to load. She backed placidly off the trailer, took a look around, and then followed Red calmly into the stable.

“She goes in the stall across from Talisman,” Max called.

Red tossed him a thumbs-up as he continued walking, chatting easily with the mare. Carole glanced at Max. “Should we get Jinx out?”

Max raised one eyebrow. “Absolutely,” he said. “He’s your project, isn’t he? So you’d better get started.”

Carole wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw the ghost of a smile playing around the corners of the stable owner’s mouth.

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