Horse Feathers Read online

  “You did very well, Veronica. Therefore I’ve decided to award you with the red ribbon.”

  A warning glance from Max quickly halted the tirade that Veronica appeared to be ready to launch into. “I’m sure that Veronica is quite satisfied with second place,” Max said firmly. “Especially considering the fact that she was given two chances.”

  Veronica smothered a retort and managed a smile for Mrs. Welch. Then she turned to Stevie and whispered, “Cheater!”

  But the girls were too busy laughing at Number Seven, who seemed to think that the top of Veronica’s slipper would be a good location to leave a calling card.

  Veronica frowned and followed their gaze, shrieking as she noticed the white blob left on her slipper as Number Seven waddled away. “You foul beast!” she shouted, then stalked off toward the barn.

  “That would be waterfowl to you,” Stevie shouted after Veronica’s retreating back.

  The girls laughed as the goslings surrounded them, honking loudly so as not to be forgotten. “Well,” said Stevie. “I guess we showed her!”

  “Come on,” said Carole. “Let’s go give Red a hand with Clara.”

  It was Clara’s last day, since the vaulting horse would be returning to her own home the next morning. The girls had planned a special bath and grooming party for the mare to show their appreciation for all her hard work. Not only that, but Lisa had prepared a special apple bran mash for Clara’s last dinner at stable.

  SEVERAL HOURS LATER the girls shared a late picnic lunch at their favorite spot on the knoll overlooking Pine Hollow. In the grassy paddock below, Stevie could see all eight goslings swimming around in the pond, enjoying the afternoon sun. More noticeably, they seemed not to mind that Stevie had gone off and left them.

  “Did you see Veronica’s face when Mrs. Welch handed you the blue ribbon?” said Carole. “I thought she was going to explode.”

  “Well, you know how I hate to gloat …,” Stevie answered demurely. She was instantly rewarded with a carrot stick to the side of the head, compliments of Lisa. Her friends knew that Stevie loved to gloat, especially when it came to Veronica. “But,” Stevie continued, “what can I say? My goslings seemed to hold better form than Veronica did.”

  “They did have pretty good balance,” teased Lisa. “Perhaps you’ve found a new hobby for them.”

  “You know,” Stevie said slowly, “there may be one slightly greater victory today than beating Veronica. Although,” she added as an afterthought, “that admittedly is a pretty great victory as far as I’m concerned.”

  Lisa and Carole looked at each other. What could possibly be greater than beating Veronica?

  “Earth to Stevie,” said Carole. “What are you talking about?”

  “Since neither of you two have noticed …,” replied Stevie, shaking her head in mock disgust. “It seems that Numbers One through Eight truly are my children, because they’ve taken on my most desirable quality.”

  “What’s that?” asked Lisa, stumped. Not that Stevie didn’t have desirable qualities—she just wasn’t sure which one applied to the goslings.

  “Well, they seem to have become horse-crazy. Look for yourselves.” Stevie pointed to the pond, where the goslings had been joined by Nickel. Three of the goslings were poised on Nickel’s back, honking delightedly at the free ride. The others waddled around the pony’s feet, trying to figure out how to get on.

  Number One, in true leadership fashion, sniffed at his face while he drank from the pond. He honked to get Nickel’s attention and was rewarded with a gentle sniff as Nickel investigated his new friends.

  The girls watched in amazement as Number One herded up the remaining goslings and steered them toward the water. Nickel, following the goslings’ lead, carefully made his way into the pond for a swim. The three goslings on his back slid into the water once it reached their level, joining their siblings and Nickel for a swim around the pond.

  “It looks as if your goslings have adopted Nickel,” Lisa said softly, smiling at the sight the pony made, swimming around the pond with the goslings.

  “I only hope he knows what he’s getting into,” joked Stevie.

  “It seems like everything worked itself out,” Carole mused. “You won the competition and your goslings have found a new home.”

  Stevie lay back on the blanket and shut her eyes contentedly. Everything had definitely worked out. “At last,” she sighed, “I’ll have a good night’s sleep and a clean room!”

  Lisa and Carole exchanged amused smiles. As if sensing their reaction, Stevie opened one eye. “What?”

  “Oh, Stevie,” Lisa teased playfully, “you’re never going to have a clean room!”

  The girls laughed, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun while they watched the goslings playing with Nickel in the pond below.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BONNIE BRYANT is the author of more than a hundred books about horses, including The Saddle Club series, The Saddle Club Super Editions, the Pony Tails series, and Pine Hollow, which follows the Saddle Club girls into their teens. She has also written novels and movie novelizations under her married name, B. B. Hiller.

  Ms. Bryant began writing The Saddle Club in 1986. Although she had done some riding before that, she intensified her studies then and found herself learning right along with her characters Stevie, Carole, and Lisa. She claims that they are all much better riders than she is.

  Ms. Bryant was born and raised in New York City. She still lives there, in Greenwich Village, with her two sons.