Horse Capades by Bonnie Bryant

do you mean?” she asked.
    “Isn’t it obvious?” Alex replied. “They’re probably going crazy right now trying to figure out what you’re going to do next. They’re so sure you’re playing a joke on them, when actually there’s no joke at all. So they can think about it twenty-four hours a day, but they’ll never be able to figure out what you’re really up to. Because what you’re really up to is … nothing. It’s brilliant!”
    By now, Stevie was grinning right along with her twin. “You know, you may be on to something, Alex,” she said. “In fact, you may have just given me a great idea about how to save my movie.…”

B Y THE TIME Carole, Lisa, and Phil arrived at Pine Hollow on Thursday afternoon, Stevie was ready for them. First, she had convinced Carole and Lisa to wait at their school for Phil’s mother to pick them up. That would give her a few more minutes, and it would also ensure that they all got to the stable at the same time. If they didn’t, her plan wouldn’t be nearly as effective.
    Luckily the weather had turned rainy again, and Carole and Lisa had eagerly agreed to the ride. Stevie herself hardly noticed the rain as she raced over to Pine Hollow as soon as the final bell rang. She couldn’t wait to get there and find out if her plan was all set. It was.
    “I don’t know, Lisa,” Carole said as she climbed out of Mrs. Marsten’s car. “She’s getting better, and she’s doing it at her own pace. I don’t know if we should rush her.”
    They were talking about Prancer again. The mare was jumping almost every time Lisa asked her to now. She
was
getting better, but not fast enough for Saturday’s competition. The girls knew they were lucky Prancer hadn’t been scared off jumping for good, but they still couldn’t help wishing they had more time.
    Lisa sighed. “Maybe I should just skip the show,” she said. “Or I could try another horse. Max offered to let me ride Delilah if Prancer isn’t in shape for Saturday.”
    “You’ll never win a ribbon that way,” Phil pointed out. “Switching horses at the last minute will throw you off, won’t it?”
    Carole nodded. “Phil is right. Prancer is the horse you work with the best. And she’s a much better jumper than Delilah.”
    Phil waved as his mother turned the car around and headed back down the driveway. Then all three of them scurried through the drizzle and into the warm, dry stable.
    “Whew!” Lisa said, shaking the water out of her hair. “What a day.”
    “I hope it doesn’t rain on Saturday,” Carole said. The three of them went into the student locker room so that Carole and Lisa could change from their school shoes into their riding boots. “The weather has been so unpredictable lately.”
    Lisa sat down on the bench and pulled off her sneakers. “If it rains, I’m sure Max will just move the competition to the indoor ring,” she said, tossing the sneakers into her cubby. “But it would be a little crowded.”
    “Speaking of the indoor ring,” Phil said, “I guess that’s where we’ll be rehearsing today.” He was leaning in the doorway, waiting for the girls.
    Carole nodded. “I wonder when we’re going to find out what Stevie’s really up to,” she said.
    Lisa laughed. “I don’t know,” she replied. “But this has been quite a setup, even for her.”
    “You don’t suppose she could possibly be telling the truth about this movie, do you?” Phil asked. “It wouldn’t be the first time she’s had to redo a project because a teacher didn’t appreciate her sense of humor.”
    “It’s possible,” Carole said, pulling on her boots and standing up. “But even if the movie is for real, all her talk about giving up practical jokes has got to be setting us up for something.”
    Phil chuckled. “I guess you’re right about that,” he said. “Well, come on. If you’re ready, let’s go tack up.”
    “Not necessary,” said Stevie brightly, coming up behind him. She was