The Mystery of the Masked Rider by Carolyn Keene Page B

asked.
    â€œBecause Colleen always beat Marisa, no matter which horse she rode. It really ticked off old Diego. He wants to be number one.”
    â€œI got that feeling, too,” Bess said. “That’s why he wants to buy Nightingale.”
    Scott’s brows raised in surprise. “Colleen’s going to sell Nightingale?”
    â€œI think you’ll have to ask Colleen about that,” Nancy told him.
    Bess flushed again. “Me and my big mouth. I figured everyone knew.”
    â€œWell, we’d better be going.” Nancy stood up. “Maybe we’ll get to watch Colleen exercise Nightingale.”
    â€œNot me!” Bess exclaimed. “I can hear those little booths calling to me, ‘Bess, Bess, come spend some money.’ ”
    Nancy and Scott laughed.
    â€œI’ll walk down with you,” Scott told Nancy. The three of them dumped their trash, then headed out of the cafeteria. Bess waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd walking around the concourse. Nancy and Scott went down the steps. At the bottom they had to show their exhibitor badges.
    The warm-up area was full of horses in western-style tack.
    â€œThe next class must be cutting horse,” Scott said. “That’s where the horse is judged on how well it can separate a cow from the herd. It’s pretty neat to watch.”
    A truck pulling a long trailer rumbled into the area. In the back of the trailer a dozen cows snuffled and bellowed.
    Standing on tiptoe, Nancy looked around for Colleen. Her friend was trotting Nightingale in small circles on the other side of the warm-up ring.
    â€œThey make a great team, don’t they?” Scott nodded in the direction Nancy was looking. “I don’t understand why Colleen would ever want to sell Nightingale.”
    â€œWhatever her reasons, it can’t be an easy decision.” Nancy tried to sound vague. She glanced sideways at Scott as they started down the walkway toward horse and rider. “Isn’t it unusual for you and Colleen to have stayed such good friends? After all, you’re rivals, right?”
    â€œWell, yes and no,” Scott replied. “It’s true that when big prize money’s involved, horse people tend to get greedy. At the same time you spend half your life showing. You see other riders more than your family. If you didn’t make friends, you’d be really lonely.”
    Just then Colleen caught sight of her friends and waved them over. Nancy waved back and started to duck under the rope.
    â€œWatch out!” Colleen yelled suddenly.
    Nancy looked up, and her heart flew into her throat. A riderless horse, reins hanging loose, was galloping straight for her!

8
Bumps in the Night
    Nancy felt strong hands yank her backward. Losing her balance, she fell in the tanbark as Scott ducked under the rope and raised his arms.
    â€œWhoa!” he yelled.
    The galloping horse snorted and veered away from him. Colleen reined Nightingale into the horse’s path. “Whoa,” she echoed Scott’s command.
    The runaway horse slid to a stop, then lunged to the right. Wheeling Nightingale in a circle, Colleen boxed the horse into a corner. At the same time a rider in cowboy hat and chaps rushed up.
    â€œWhoa, Minx,” the rider crooned. With a snort Minx tossed his head, pranced a few steps, then finally halted.
    â€œAre you all right?” Scott turned to Nancy after the rider had caught his horse.
    â€œFine.” Nancy stood up and brushed off her jeans. “Thanks to you.”
    â€œI should have warned you to watch out,” Scott said. “When this many horses are packed into a small space, you’re bound to have trouble.”
    â€œHey, are you two okay?” Colleen trotted over on Nightingale.
    Nancy nodded. “That was some pretty good rounding up you did,” she teased. “Maybe you two should be in the cutting class.”
    Colleen laughed. “I