were having a lively conversation about possible ways to wreck Veronica’s scheme. Carole was very interested in their ideas, but she found it hard tofocus on what they were saying. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts from the day. She recalled every horse she and Judy had seen, and all their ailments. When she closed her eyes, syringes, sample tubes, leg wraps, and veterinary instruments seemed to dance before her, like the visions of sugarplums in the poem that began, “ ’Twas the night before Christmas …”
Her thoughts moved on. The night before Christmas was the night of the Starlight Ride. And the next day would be Christmas.
That would be the second Christmas without her mother. Carole tried to think of it in a more positive way. It would be the second Christmas she could share with just her father. She sighed. It was a nice try, but it didn’t change the truth. She knew her father was going to love his socks, and she would love whatever he gave her, but it couldn’t make up to either of them what they were missing. She didn’t care about herself, but she wanted to make it all right for him. She wanted to make him happy.
Her eyes closed again and she quickly drifted into a deep sleep, dreaming of horses wearing argyle socks to keep their feet warm on a cold winter night.
S TEVIE COULDN ’ T BELIEVE how much she cared about what she was wearing. Usually, she was satisfied with grabbing a pair of jeans up off the closet floor, and throwing on any shirt that happened to be lying around. But now, before going to Phil’s with Lisa for the Hanukkah celebration, she’d spent a full twenty minutes selecting an outfit and another ten minutes deciding exactly what shade of tan panty hose to wear with it. She looked in the mirror to make sure it really was her.
It was. Not only that, but with a light application of mascara and lip gloss, it was a prettier version of her. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She thought she might even look better by candlelight.
“Stevie, you’re beautiful. So, let’s go,” Lisa said. Lisahad watched the entire process. She had even approved the shade of panty hose.
The girls weren’t exactly dressed up, but they looked very nice. Lisa was wearing a wool jumper with a turtle-neck and low-heeled shoes. Stevie ended up wearing a kilt, a pretty white blouse with a red sweater over it, and red shoes.
“I think the red shoes are a nice festive touch,” Stevie said.
“
Nice festive touch?
” Lisa asked. It wasn’t that she didn’t agree; she just couldn’t believe she’d heard Stevie say it.
“I guess I mean they go well, huh?” Stevie sounded sheepish.
Lisa nodded.
S TEVIE ’ S FATHER DROVE them to Phil’s house. When they arrived, the Marstons invited him to join them for a little holiday cheer. For a few terrible seconds, Stevie was afraid that he was actually going to accept. Fortunately, Mr. Lake had the good sense to go home. Stevie and Lisa went in.
Stevie had already met Phil’s parents, and she introduced Lisa to them. Then they met Phil’s sisters. His older sister, Barbara, was sixteen, and Rachel, his younger sister, was ten.
Then Phil introduced A.J. to Stevie and Lisa. A.J. was Phil’s age, but he was much smaller than Phil. He had bright red hair and a personality to match.
“I’m awfully glad to meet the girl who was able to teach Phil so much about riding this summer,” A.J. said, shaking Stevie’s hand. “He thinks he knows everything. I’ve been telling him he doesn’t, but he never listens to me. But you succeeded! And for that, my lady, I owe you a great debt.” With that, A.J. took Stevie’s hand and pretended to kiss the back of it, just like a seventeenth-century courtier.
Naturally, Stevie curtsied. “But, my lord,” she said, instantly slipping into character, “I make it my job to tell everybody that they don’t know as much as they think they do. I think you’ll be next!”
“Try it and I’ll sic the dragon on
Her thoughts moved on. The night before Christmas was the night of the Starlight Ride. And the next day would be Christmas.
That would be the second Christmas without her mother. Carole tried to think of it in a more positive way. It would be the second Christmas she could share with just her father. She sighed. It was a nice try, but it didn’t change the truth. She knew her father was going to love his socks, and she would love whatever he gave her, but it couldn’t make up to either of them what they were missing. She didn’t care about herself, but she wanted to make it all right for him. She wanted to make him happy.
Her eyes closed again and she quickly drifted into a deep sleep, dreaming of horses wearing argyle socks to keep their feet warm on a cold winter night.
S TEVIE COULDN ’ T BELIEVE how much she cared about what she was wearing. Usually, she was satisfied with grabbing a pair of jeans up off the closet floor, and throwing on any shirt that happened to be lying around. But now, before going to Phil’s with Lisa for the Hanukkah celebration, she’d spent a full twenty minutes selecting an outfit and another ten minutes deciding exactly what shade of tan panty hose to wear with it. She looked in the mirror to make sure it really was her.
It was. Not only that, but with a light application of mascara and lip gloss, it was a prettier version of her. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She thought she might even look better by candlelight.
“Stevie, you’re beautiful. So, let’s go,” Lisa said. Lisahad watched the entire process. She had even approved the shade of panty hose.
The girls weren’t exactly dressed up, but they looked very nice. Lisa was wearing a wool jumper with a turtle-neck and low-heeled shoes. Stevie ended up wearing a kilt, a pretty white blouse with a red sweater over it, and red shoes.
“I think the red shoes are a nice festive touch,” Stevie said.
“
Nice festive touch?
” Lisa asked. It wasn’t that she didn’t agree; she just couldn’t believe she’d heard Stevie say it.
“I guess I mean they go well, huh?” Stevie sounded sheepish.
Lisa nodded.
S TEVIE ’ S FATHER DROVE them to Phil’s house. When they arrived, the Marstons invited him to join them for a little holiday cheer. For a few terrible seconds, Stevie was afraid that he was actually going to accept. Fortunately, Mr. Lake had the good sense to go home. Stevie and Lisa went in.
Stevie had already met Phil’s parents, and she introduced Lisa to them. Then they met Phil’s sisters. His older sister, Barbara, was sixteen, and Rachel, his younger sister, was ten.
Then Phil introduced A.J. to Stevie and Lisa. A.J. was Phil’s age, but he was much smaller than Phil. He had bright red hair and a personality to match.
“I’m awfully glad to meet the girl who was able to teach Phil so much about riding this summer,” A.J. said, shaking Stevie’s hand. “He thinks he knows everything. I’ve been telling him he doesn’t, but he never listens to me. But you succeeded! And for that, my lady, I owe you a great debt.” With that, A.J. took Stevie’s hand and pretended to kiss the back of it, just like a seventeenth-century courtier.
Naturally, Stevie curtsied. “But, my lord,” she said, instantly slipping into character, “I make it my job to tell everybody that they don’t know as much as they think they do. I think you’ll be next!”
“Try it and I’ll sic the dragon on
Similar Books
