Horse Whispers Read Online Free PDF Page A

go on a little rescue mission.”
    “It’s nothing serious, is it?” Lisa asked, envisioning a guest with a broken leg, then a cow stuck in a ravine.
    “No, thank God. It’s just that Brenda has discovered that after six months of sitting at a desk, she’s not in great shape. They’re in town and she doesn’t feel up to snow-shoeing back.”
    “So you’re going to go get her?” Stevie asked, horrified. “Boy, I’d make her walk!”
    Mrs. Devine smiled. “Unfortunately, I don’t think that would make the Bar None very popular with the McHugh family. Anyway, it’s just a half hour’s drive into town.” She sighed. “I only wish they had called five minutes ago. I could have asked John to give her a ride. But this is what running a guest ranch is like—you have to be flexible.” Phyllis removed her apron and hung it on a nail beside the refrigerator. “We’ll try again tomorrow, okay?”
    “Great,” Stevie said.
    “Keep an eye on the oven, will you?” Phyllis added over her shoulder. “I’ve got Carole’s leftovers warming.”
    “Sure thing,” Lisa called. Even a little task like that made her feel professional.
    When Phyllis was gone, the girls gave the kitchen counters a final wipe. Both of them felt bad that she hadbeen called away. They wanted to leave the kitchen as spotless as possible. On her second go-round, the pie recipe caught Stevie’s eye. She went to the fridge and read it over. It didn’t look like there was much to it. “Say, Lis’—” she began.
    Lisa glanced at her friend. She could already tell what Stevie had in mind. “No way!”
    “But Lisa—”
    “Forget it. I am not going to make the pie without Phyllis, so you can just drop the subject right now.”
    Stevie smiled. Some people had an inborn talent for talking to horses. She, Stevie Lake, had an inborn talent for talking to her friends—and persuading them to do things they didn’t want to do. “Of course
you’re
not going to make the pie,” she said in her most wheedling voice. “We’re
both
going to make the pie.”
    “No, Stevie—”
    “You heard what Phyllis said: a nice, simple, one-crust pumpkin pie. How hard can it be?”
    Lisa crossed her arms over her chest defensively. She was all too familiar with Stevie’s powers of persuasion. “
Very
hard,” she answered. “Very, very, very, very hard.”
    “Listen to this: The only ingredients in the crust are butter, flour, and water. Don’t you think we can handle that?”
    Lisa frowned. She had to admit she was surprised. “That’s it? That’s all that makes a crust?”
    Stevie saw her window of opportunity and jumped. “Can you believe it? Three ingredients! It’ll be a piece of cake—I mean, pie! Think how great it will taste—”
    “Stevie—”
    “I mean, think how impressed Phyllis will be—and everyone—when we serve it for dessert tonight! We’ll be helping out in a big way. Phyllis is having such a busy day, and this will be one less thing she’ll have to worry about.” Stevie eyed Lisa shrewdly. She could tell her friend was wavering. It was time for the kill. “Think of how impressed a certain
ranch hand
will be.”
    Lisa’s eyebrows flew up. “A certain ranch hand … Now who could that be? I don’t know what you’re— Oh,
John
!” She grinned. “I’m not even sure he has a sweet tooth,” she said coyly.
    Stevie looked unconvinced by Lisa’s theatrics. She opened the refrigerator door and took out a stick of butter. She opened the pantry and took out a canister of flour.
    Lisa watched her, chewing on a nail. She felt herself weakening. “Oh, okay!” she burst out. “I give in! Let’s make the pie ourselves. You’re right. How hard can it be?”
    Stevie congratulated Lisa on her decision. And she silently congratulated herself on her ability to influence her friends. Obviously it was as sharp as ever. “ ‘Preheat the oven to three-fifty,’ ” she read.
    “Got it,” Lisa said. “What