Prize Problems by Janet Rising Page B

her! Drum would probably enjoy being taken out to the field and brought in again with Cat’s skewbald mare. Drum felt the same way about Bambi as I did about James.
    But why did it have to be Cat? And why did she volunteer? I kept thinking. And thinking. And I couldn’t even call her and find out about Drummer, which was just the worst thing. No, the worst thing was imagining my beloved pony being cared for by Cat. What if he liked her? What if she poisoned his mind about me? What if they got on so well together, he didn’t want me to come back home? I couldn’t get it out of my mind, not even with the exciting promise of today’s mystery activity. It went around and around in my head, driving me nuts.
    And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. I was miles away from home and unable to do anything but think and worry and worry some more.
    The Wednesday mystery activity had been given a big build-up. Lots of winks and dramatic eye-widening by Annabelle and Sharon whenever it had been mentioned or asked about, so big things were expected by everyone. I hoped it was good—it needed to be to take my mind off the disturbing news about Cat. But the mystery event wasn’t scheduled until after lunch. This morning, we had the daily lesson.
    Sprout was almost friendly when I got him in from the field.
    â€œHello,” he said gruffly as I offered him an apple I’d snitched from breakfast.
    â€œThanks,” he said, munching thoughtfully. “Golden Delicious,” he mumbled, dribbling apple foam over his chest and on to my arms.
    â€œYes,” I agreed, trying to brush the sticky stuff off and only spreading it about instead.
    â€œI prefer Granny Smiths,” he said.
    â€œSorry, that’s all they had,” I told him, putting on his harness and leading him in to his stable and trying, unsuccessfully, to stop thinking about Catriona doing the same thing with my pony at home. Bean had gone all wide-eyed at me when I told her who Katy had got to care for Drummer.
    â€œHow do you feel about that?” she’d asked me.
    â€œHow do you think?” I’d replied, dramatically. “But it’s not like I can do anything about it, not from here. But then…”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWell, do you think James would look after Drum for me, if I asked him?”
    Bean had pulled a face. “Yeah, I guess he would, but how do you think Cat would feel, being usurped?” she’d said.
    â€œBut you know she hates me,” I’d replied. “She can’t want to look after Drummer. She’d probably be relieved to get rid of the responsibility.”
    â€œDidn’t Katy say she’d offered? She might think you’re making a statement about her ability to care for your pony, she could be extending the olive branch to you—you know, being friendly,” Bean had pointed out. “And besides,” she’d continued, “Cat’s OK—you two just hit it off all wrong to start with and now neither of you can forget it.”
    â€œShe almost got Drummer stolen, have you forgotten that?” I’d cried, remembering how Cat had struck a deal with one of the travelers. “What if she gets someone else to steal him while I’m away?”
    â€œYou’re over-reacting,” Bean had said soothingly. Only she hadn’t said it quite convincingly enough.
    Oh pooh again, I’d thought. I’m stuck with it. Drummer’s stuck with it. How would I feel if Cat said she didn’t want me to look after Bambi, especially if I’d offered, put myself out, even? I knew I would feel offended. Like I wasn’t good enough, even though I’d look after Bambi like she was my own. Things were bad enough between Cat and me. If I replaced her with someone else, things could only get worse. I didn’t really think she’d be horrible to Drum. What really worried me, and I hated to admit it, was the