Horse Games by Bonnie Bryant Page B

wasn’t either. I hate lies, Carole, and you told me a lie!”
    The lines in Marie’s face hardened with anger. Carole wanted to speak, wanted to reach out with her heart, but there were no words. Before she could say anything at all, Marie gave Patch a big kick and the two of them bolted off—not at a leisurely walk, but at a trot that rapidly turned into a canter.
    When it came to words, Carole could often be tongue-tied, but when the subject was horses, she just about alwaysknew what to do. Marie was a pretty good rider. That was clear to anybody who’d seen her on horseback, but she was also a girl who was still recovering from some serious injuries and she had no business galloping off through the fields. No matter how angry Marie was at Carole, Carole had a responsibility to Marie, to Marie’s mother, and to Max. She couldn’t let Marie do something recklessly dangerous!
    Carole turned Starlight around and bounded after her. Patch was a fine and gentle horse, but he was also a fast horse and once he got an idea about running free, it was sometimes pretty hard to convince him to stop. By the time Carole and Starlight were aimed in Marie’s direction, Patch was two hillocks away, and still going strong.
    “Go, boy! Go!” Carole said, touching Starlight gently with her riding crop. He got the idea. He instinctively understood what Carole needed. Carole was grateful then for the fact that horses are naturally competitive. They love races and Starlight was no exception. As far as he was concerned, Patch’s head start was just all the more reason to go fast.
    Carole gripped tightly with her legs and they flew after Marie and Patch. As they got closer, she was afraid that Marie was struggling with Patch. Riding a horse under control wasn’t always easy, even with strong legs. Riding a horse out of control was hard, even for an experienced rider, and nearly impossible for somebody with weak legs. “Help!” Marie shrieked. She was doing the best shecould but it was just too much for her. Her arms flailed over her head and the reins flew out of her hands.
    “Grab his mane!” Carole yelled.
    Marie’s fingers clutched at Patch’s mane.
    Carole focused every bit of her concentration on reaching Patch and grabbing the loose reins. Every time her concentration slipped the least bit, her mind filled with a terrible image of Marie falling on the ground and hurting herself. If Marie had to go back to the hospital now, Carole didn’t know how she’d ever forgive herself—and she was sure Marie would never forgive her.
    “Hold with your legs! I’m almost there,” Carole called out. She tried to mask the fear in her voice. She was sure it wouldn’t do Marie any good to think that she was scared, too.
    Then, a funny thing happened. Starlight pulled up to Patch and the two of them ran neck and neck together. Carole tried to reach over to grab Patch’s reins. Before she could get them, however, Patch slowed down and drew to a halt. As far as he was concerned, the race was over. He probably even thought he’d won. Carole didn’t care what his motive was. She was just glad he’d stopped. Carole drew in Starlight’s reins and rode over to Marie.
    Marie didn’t have the reins, and her feet were out of Patch’s stirrups, but she was still in the saddle. She was leaning forward against Patch’s neck, clutching it. Tears streaked her face. She gasped with the sobs that racked her body.
    Carole dismounted. She took Patch’s reins and Starlight’s and walked the horses to a fence post nearby. She secured the reins around the pole.
    “Come on,” she said gently, helping Marie out of the saddle. “Let’s get you down from there for a breather, okay?”
    Without answering, Marie allowed Carole to help her down. Carole fished in the pocket of her breeches and found a rumpled handkerchief. She offered it to Marie. Marie wiped at her tears, but they kept coming. Carole led her to a small rock on the edge of the field,