Horse-Sitters by Bonnie Bryant Page B

it. It’s just so much work.”
    Colonel Hanson nodded. “Does this make you think any differently about working with horses full-time someday?”
    “No!” Carole said immediately. “I know that’s still for me. But this makes me realize more than ever what a demanding job a stable manager has. I mean, Stevie and Lisa and I have to juggle our time among nine horses, making sure each one is fed, watered, groomed, exercised—all at the right time.” She smiled. “Not to mention taking care of one overgrown lizard.”
    Colonel Hanson shuddered. “Don’t remind me,” he said. “I’m just glad you didn’t try to bring that beast into this house.”
    “Anyway, it takes a lot of planning, and a lot of hard work, and a lot of, um—what’s that word you’re always using?” Carole asked.
    “Discipline! That’s exactly what it is,” Colonel Hanson said, nodding. He smiled at her proudly. “You’ve always had that, honey. Runs in the family, you know. But all this work can only improve what nature gave you. That’s one of the rules we live by in the military. Hard work builds character.”
    “Hard work is right,” Carole said tentatively. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be.”
    “But you’re doing it anyway,” Colonel Hanson said. “That’s my girl. I’m proud of you, sweetheart. Just like I always am.” He began humming a marching tune under his breath.
    After that, Carole just ate her dinner in silence.

T HE NEXT AFTERNOON after school, Carole and Lisa hurried straight to Pine Hollow and got to work, beginning with the polo ponies. After half an hour, when Stevie still hadn’t shown up, they started to get worried.
    “It isn’t like Stevie to be late on a day like today,” Lisa said. “Where do you think she could be?”
    “I have no idea,” Carole said, hoisting two fresh buckets of water she had just filled. “But we don’t have time to stand around wondering about it. She’ll get here when she gets here.”
    “And then we’ll kill her?” Lisa guessed.
    “No,” Carole replied with a grin. “Then we’ll make her take care of Mr. Munch.”
    Another half hour passed before Stevie rushed into the stable,red-faced and breathless. “Sorry,” she panted when she found Carole and Lisa in the tack room. “Ran … all the way … here. Detention. Fell asleep … science class. Ms. Cartwright … no sense of humor.” She collapsed on a trunk and gasped for air. After a moment she regained control of her voice. “Anyway, I really am sorry,” she told her friends. “I tried to talk her into giving me a suspended sentence, but no go.”
    “I was exhausted today, too,” Lisa admitted. “I yawned so much during the first two periods that I thought my head was going to crack open.”
    “Yeah, well, I didn’t get to sleep until pretty late,” Stevie admitted. “I was up half the night finishing my homework. It’s ridiculous. I mean, summer is right around the corner, but my teachers just aren’t taking the hint.”
    “Well, we already decided we might forgive you,” Carole said, “if you take care of Mr. Munch today.”
    “Hey, no problem,” Stevie said. “He’s the easiest client we have. So where are we on all the others?”
    “We’re almost done with the polo ponies,” Lisa said. “We decided to exercise them on the longe line to save some time, so we only have two more to go. We haven’t touched the other three horses yet. We’ll do them next.”
    Stevie nodded. “All right, then,” she said. “If you guys can finish up with the polo ponies, I’ll take Romeo out and …” Her voice trailed off and she grimaced. “Uh-oh,” she said quietly. “Don’t look now, but I think I hear Aunt Eugenia.”
    Sure enough, the old woman strode into the tack room a moment later with Max on her heels. “Don’t be ridiculous,Max,” she was saying huffily. “I think I know how to tack up my own horse.”
    “Are you sure you really want to go riding right