Stable Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

that,” Veronica suggested. “Given the way games practice went for your team, you’ve probably done enough with the ponies. Dime might get away from one of you and run all the way back to CrossCounty. Why don’t you all clean their tack?” She looked at Simon admiringly. “Simon can unload the ponies. He’s so nice and strong.”
    “Forget it,” Stevie said, starting forward. “If you think—”
    “Stevie.” Lisa pulled at Stevie’s jacket. “Let’s do what she says.”
    “I’m not giving her the satisfaction,” Stevie said. “Dime running away from us! Give me a break! We can do some things right.”
    Carole agreed with Lisa. “Nothing’s gone right today so far. And anyway, if we’re in the tack room, we can’t see Veronica laughing at us.”
    “Besides,” Lisa said, “my hip is sore. I’d like to sit down. And if I don’t see that rotten Dime again for a week, I won’t be sorry.”
    Stevie gave in. “At least after we clean the ponies’ tack, we can take our own horses out on a trail ride,” she suggested. The others agreed gladly. After the morning they’d had, they needed a trail ride.
    They took the ponies’ sweat-soaked saddles and bridles out of the cab of Max’s truck and carried them into the stable. On the way to the tack room they passed Mrs. Reg’s office. Mr. Stowe still stood in the open doorway. Apparently he hadbeen telling jokes, because when they walked by they heard him say, “And what about this one: How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?”
    Stevie stopped to listen. She liked dumb jokes.
    “Only one,” said Mr. Stowe. “But the lightbulb has to really want to change.”
    Mrs. Reg laughed, but Stevie didn’t understand what was funny. She felt a wave of annoyance wash over her. How was Mrs. Reg ever going to take care of the dance decorations with this old man telling pointless jokes all day? “Mr. Stowe, why don’t you come with us,” she said abruptly. “We’re going to clean tack.”
    Mr. Stowe turned and smiled. “Why, hello, Stevie, Carole, Lisa,” he said. “How nice to see you again. Did you have a nice time at Cross Country? Elizabeth told me you were playing games with them.”
    “It’s Cross
County
,” Stevie corrected. “And we were playing games
against
them, not
with
them.”
    “And we didn’t have a very nice time,” Lisa added, thinking that Stevie’s fierce tone required some explanation. She told them about Dime’s and Penny’s awful behavior.
    “How strange,” Mrs. Reg commented. To Mr.Stowe she added, “Normally they’re both very sweet and dependable.”
    “So now we’re cleaning the tack we used,” Stevie said. “Come on, Mr. Stowe. You can help us.”
    Mr. Stowe smiled gently. “I wouldn’t be much help, I’m afraid. As far as I remember, my uncle didn’t clean his tack at all—at least not while I was around. I don’t know the first thing about it.”
    “We’ll show you,” Carole said. “It’s not hard, but it is important. Mrs. Reg’s always telling us so, aren’t you, Mrs. Reg? You’re supposed to clean your tack after each ride.”
    “Didn’t you clean Delilah’s bridle yesterday?” Lisa asked.
    Mr. Stowe looked embarrassed. “Well, no—”
    “I guess it’s not that important,” Lisa said hurriedly. She turned to Mrs. Reg. “I mean, I know it is, Mrs. Reg, but I don’t think you should get upset with Mr. Stowe. He just didn’t know.”
    “That’s okay, Lisa, I’m not upset,” Mrs. Reg said gently.
    “I’m very sorry,” Mr. Stowe said in confusion. “I didn’t realize. If I was supposed to clean tack, then I’d better start cleaning. Thank you, Carole.I’ll accept your kind offer.” He tipped his hat to Mrs. Reg, took one of the two bridles Carole was carrying, and accompanied The Saddle Club to the tack room.
    They had to teach Mr. Stowe everything. It turned out he didn’t even know how to take apart a bridle! “I just never messed with this stuff