Horse Tale Read Online Free PDF

on and get yourselves some lunch. Just make sure you’re back here by two-thirty to get back in costume. The early show is at three, and the late show is at four-thirty.”
    “We’ll be here,” Stevie assured him. “This is going to be a blast!”

“I COULDN ’ T EAT a thing,” Stevie declared. The girls were wandering aimlessly around the town. They had already checked on their horses, who were dozing contentedly in their spot outside the sheriff’s office. As the girls left them, they had noticed some tourists stopping to take pictures of the horses.
    “I know what you mean,” Carole said. “I’m much too excited to think about lunch.”
    “I’m not hungry, either,” Lisa said, “but I definitely am thirsty. I’ve never had to do so much screaming in my life.”
    “Me, neither.” Suddenly Stevie stopped in front of a store. “Let’s go in here a minute.”
    “The candy store? I thought you weren’t hungry,” Christine said.
    “I’m not.” With that Stevie disappeared through the shop’s door. Her friends shrugged and followed.
    The candy store was decorated like an old-fashioned sweet shop, and the glass jars lining the walls seemed to contain every type of candy known to humankind. Stevie had known exactly what she wanted, though. She was already at the counter placing her order.
    “Rock candy!” Lisa said as the proprietor handed Stevie a bulging paper bag. “I should have known.”
    “It’s one of her favorite treats in the world,” Carole explained to Kate and Christine.
    “I don’t blame her,” Christine said. “It’s one of mine, too. I hope you’re planning to share, Stevie.”
    The girls left the candy shop and strolled down the covered sidewalk. “Don’t worry, I’ll share,” Stevie said. “But this candy is mostly for medicinal purposes. I’ve got a little bit of a sore throat from all that screaming, and I wouldn’t want to lose my voice just before our big debut.” She covered her mouth with her hand and gave a weak-sounding cough.
    Carole raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “You don’t sound very sick to me,” she said. “But as long as you stick to that promise to share, I won’t say a word.”
    “Just don’t let it spoil your appetites,” Stevie warned jokingly as she held out the bag so her friends could help themselves.
    “Speaking of appetites, I think we really should try to eat something before the show,” Lisa said sensibly. “We probablywon’t have much time between the early and late shows, and we’ll definitely be starving by then if all we’ve eaten since breakfast is rock candy.”
    “Lisa’s right,” Kate said. “Why don’t we go to the hamburger place next to the ice-cream parlor? That way if anyone feels like dessert—”
    “Say no more,” Carole said. “Just lead the way.”
    T HE FIVE GIRLS stepped through the doors of the high-school gym at two-thirty on the dot. Despite their excitement, each of them had managed to polish off a double-decker cheeseburger with all the trimmings and an ice-cream cone.
    “I hope we still fit into our costumes,” Carole commented, patting her stomach.
    “I kind of hope we don’t,” Stevie admitted. “I’m not crazy about that silly calico dress I have to wear. I wish we had more interesting roles.”
    The others laughed. “Still, you have to admit this is pretty exciting,” Lisa said.
    “You’re right,” Stevie admitted without hesitation. “It is.”
    Chuck hurried out to meet them. “Go right on back to the locker room,” he instructed them. “Cassie’s waiting for you with your costumes.”
    The girls did as he said. They changed quickly, then gathered at the full-length mirror near the door to make last-minute adjustments.
    “Is my bonnet straight?” Lisa asked anxiously, fiddling with the ribbon tied under her chin.
    Carole gave the item in question a critical look, then nodded. “It’s straight. Does my hair look okay?” She patted her head experimentally. She had