and, Carole had realized after last week’s talk, good feeding.
“You’ve got that horse so shiny, I need my sunglasses,” a cheerful voice commented. Carole turned eagerly to greet Denise, who had come up behind her and was looking at Starlight with admiration.
“Thanks! I was just thinking that it’s the food Starlight eats that helps give him that healthy glow,” Carole said.
“You’ve got that right,” Denise agreed. She gave the bay gelding a pat on the shoulder. “Are you coming to the Horse Wise meeting in Max’s office?”
“Oh, that’s right—I was having so much fun grooming Starlight that I forgot we’re supposed to meet there first,” Carole said.
“Here, let me help you put him away,” Denise volunteered.
“Great.” Carole gathered up her brushes while Denise led Starlight back to his stall.
As they walked to Max’s office, Denise observed, “You really like all aspects of horsemanship, don’t you?”
Carole nodded eagerly. “I just love anything to do with horses. I don’t even mind mucking out.”
“That’s the way I was, growing up, too,” Denise said as they entered Max’s office. “Still am actually,” she added.
Glowing with pride, Carole went to sit with Lisa and Stevie. It wasn’t as if Denise had praised her outright, but to Carole, hearing that she was like Denise was as good as any compliment Denise could give her.
Max had called everyone together to talk about the summer camp program. “It’s going to be the same as it always is,” he announced after quieting the group down. “Two weeks of intensive lessons.”
Stevie raised her hand. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease Max just a little. “Are you sure it’s going to be
exactly
the same, Max?” she asked, elbowing Lisa and Carole.
Max looked at her oddly. “Well, every year varies slightly, and of course there’s the exhibition to think of, but basically, yes. Anyway, I want to make sure we have the name of everyone who is coming to camp as well as the horse you’ll be riding, so I’m sending around this sign-up sheet.”
Stevie took advantage of the pause to needle Max again. “The exhibition is always the
second
week of camp, isn’t it, Max?” she asked pointedly.
Max nodded, raising an eyebrow. “You know that, Stevie. It’s always the last day, Saturday.”
Stevie smiled knowingly. “It’s too bad that
everybody
won’t be able to make it this year,” she said. She was surprised she hadn’t gotten a rise out of Max yet. She had thought she might be able to get him to admit that he and Deborah had set a date, but so far he had kept a perfect poker face.
“Can’t your parents come?” Max asked.
“Oh, yes. They’ll be there, but some other people might be away,” Stevie persisted suggestively.
To her disappointment, Max simply shrugged and continued the meeting. “The important announcementI have to make is that I have a new cocounselor for the camp program. I’m sure you all can guess that it’s Denise. She’s going to participate in the upcoming Horse Wise meetings to get to know the riders and horses, and I’m very pleased to have her joining us.”
When Max paused, the Pony Clubbers broke into spontaneous applause. Denise was fast becoming a favorite around the stables. Having her as a camp instructor would be a treat.
“What fabulous news!” Veronica gushed.
Denise stood up, motioning for everyone to stop clapping. “Thanks for the applause. You may want to withhold it when you find out how hard you’ll be working during camp,” she kidded.
“Do you really think she’ll get Veronica to work?” Stevie murmured under her breath.
“If anyone can, it’s Denise,” Lisa whispered back.
“Anyway,” Denise continued, “I have a few specific goals for the two weeks. One is that we all cooperate and work together to keep up the high Pine Hollow standards. I expect
everyone
to pitch in, and I won’t be afraid to remind anyone who
“You’ve got that horse so shiny, I need my sunglasses,” a cheerful voice commented. Carole turned eagerly to greet Denise, who had come up behind her and was looking at Starlight with admiration.
“Thanks! I was just thinking that it’s the food Starlight eats that helps give him that healthy glow,” Carole said.
“You’ve got that right,” Denise agreed. She gave the bay gelding a pat on the shoulder. “Are you coming to the Horse Wise meeting in Max’s office?”
“Oh, that’s right—I was having so much fun grooming Starlight that I forgot we’re supposed to meet there first,” Carole said.
“Here, let me help you put him away,” Denise volunteered.
“Great.” Carole gathered up her brushes while Denise led Starlight back to his stall.
As they walked to Max’s office, Denise observed, “You really like all aspects of horsemanship, don’t you?”
Carole nodded eagerly. “I just love anything to do with horses. I don’t even mind mucking out.”
“That’s the way I was, growing up, too,” Denise said as they entered Max’s office. “Still am actually,” she added.
Glowing with pride, Carole went to sit with Lisa and Stevie. It wasn’t as if Denise had praised her outright, but to Carole, hearing that she was like Denise was as good as any compliment Denise could give her.
Max had called everyone together to talk about the summer camp program. “It’s going to be the same as it always is,” he announced after quieting the group down. “Two weeks of intensive lessons.”
Stevie raised her hand. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease Max just a little. “Are you sure it’s going to be
exactly
the same, Max?” she asked, elbowing Lisa and Carole.
Max looked at her oddly. “Well, every year varies slightly, and of course there’s the exhibition to think of, but basically, yes. Anyway, I want to make sure we have the name of everyone who is coming to camp as well as the horse you’ll be riding, so I’m sending around this sign-up sheet.”
Stevie took advantage of the pause to needle Max again. “The exhibition is always the
second
week of camp, isn’t it, Max?” she asked pointedly.
Max nodded, raising an eyebrow. “You know that, Stevie. It’s always the last day, Saturday.”
Stevie smiled knowingly. “It’s too bad that
everybody
won’t be able to make it this year,” she said. She was surprised she hadn’t gotten a rise out of Max yet. She had thought she might be able to get him to admit that he and Deborah had set a date, but so far he had kept a perfect poker face.
“Can’t your parents come?” Max asked.
“Oh, yes. They’ll be there, but some other people might be away,” Stevie persisted suggestively.
To her disappointment, Max simply shrugged and continued the meeting. “The important announcementI have to make is that I have a new cocounselor for the camp program. I’m sure you all can guess that it’s Denise. She’s going to participate in the upcoming Horse Wise meetings to get to know the riders and horses, and I’m very pleased to have her joining us.”
When Max paused, the Pony Clubbers broke into spontaneous applause. Denise was fast becoming a favorite around the stables. Having her as a camp instructor would be a treat.
“What fabulous news!” Veronica gushed.
Denise stood up, motioning for everyone to stop clapping. “Thanks for the applause. You may want to withhold it when you find out how hard you’ll be working during camp,” she kidded.
“Do you really think she’ll get Veronica to work?” Stevie murmured under her breath.
“If anyone can, it’s Denise,” Lisa whispered back.
“Anyway,” Denise continued, “I have a few specific goals for the two weeks. One is that we all cooperate and work together to keep up the high Pine Hollow standards. I expect
everyone
to pitch in, and I won’t be afraid to remind anyone who
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