Liberty and the Dream Ride by Stacy Gregg

and he already had some experience riding Four-Star – he’d gone clear on the cross-country at Adelaide in Australia last November on his talented mare, Queen Latifah.
    â€œI could use a groom if you’re available, Stella?” Shane said, giving her a cheeky grin.
    â€œSorry,” Stella smiled back, “I’m Team Issie.”
    â€œMaybe I can change your mind over dinner?” Shane said, flirting shamelessly with her. “Maybe you and I could go get some food after the meet-and-greet is over?”
    â€œI’d love to—” Stella began but Avery interrupted her.
    â€œâ€”but she can’t.” He finished Stella’s sentence. “Stella has an early start tomorrow morning at six to get Comet ready for his first day of training. I’m sorry, Shane. I’m sure she’ll have time to catch up with you after the competition is over, but the girls are on a nine p.m. curfew until then.”
    â€œYou’re kidding me!” Stella was wide-eyed.
    â€œDo I look like I’m kidding?” Avery asked.
    â€œSo what happens if I’m not back to my room before nine?” Stella pouted. “Do I turn into a pumpkin?”
    â€œNo,” Avery deadpanned, “you turn into an unemployed groom.”
    Stella looked furious, but Shane could see that they weren’t going to talk Avery around. “It’s OK,” he said. “We can catch up tomorrow and have lunch maybe?”
    â€œSure,” Stella said. She was trying to act cool, but her flushed cheeks and shining eyes showed just how thrilled she was to see Shane Campbell again. She’d never quite got over the boy she’d described as “the world’s best kisser”!
    â€œIt’s almost like a Havenfields reunion tonight,” Shane continued, referring to the farm where they’d first met when Stella and Issie had travelled to Melbourne to compete in the Express Eventing Challenge. “There’s you guys and me… and Tara.”
    â€œTara?” Issie was shocked. “Tara Kelly is here?”
    â€œYeah,” Shane nodded. “I saw her just a moment ago. Hey, there she is! Tara!”
    He gave a wave across the room and a cool, elegant woman with walnut-brown hair, wearing cream jodhpurs and a white blouse, waved back and came over to join them.
    â€œIssie, Stella and – oh my goodness, Tom Avery!” Tara smiled warmly as she embraced her old friend. “How good to see you in Lexington!”
    â€œYou too!” Issie grinned. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    â€œWell, it’s hardly that surprising, is it?” Tara said. “I do live here, after all.”
    Tara Kelly had once been a world-famous eventing rider, but by the time Issie met her she had given up competing in favour of teaching. Tara wasn’t just a teacher, however, she was also the chief talent scout for the legendary Blainford “All-Stars” Academy – an elite equestrian boarding school in Lexington, Kentucky.
    Tara had once offered Issie a place as a pupil at her school – and although Issie had turned it down, there was no bad blood between them. In fact, Issie was thrilled to run into Tara once more.
    â€œSo why are you at this meet-and-greet?” Avery asked. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about coming out of retirement and riding in the Four-Star?”
    Tara shook her head. “My riding days are well and truly behind me, Tom.”
    â€œTara’s already won Lexington three times!” Issie pointed out. “She needs to give the rest of us a chance!”
    Tara smiled. “That’s very kind of you, Issie, but I think I should warn you that I’m not leaving the field completely open. One of my former star pupils from Blainford is competing. I’m here as his trainer.”
    â€œAnd who is this former pupil?” Avery asked.
    â€œAh,” Tara looked around the room.