Read Saratoga Sunrise for Free Online Page B

concert on the piazza."
    Sara nodded. "Aunt Trixie, after our mineral bath can we watch Seawind work out on the practice track?" A shiver of excitement went up Sara's spine.
    "Truthfully, I would rather shop on Broadway; however, I insist you run along and peek in on your horse. Johnson can wait for you with the carriage. I can walk back to our cottage when I'm done, or hire another carriage."
    "Are you sure, Aunt Trixie?" Sara held her breath. She wanted to ride Seawind so desperately, but she knew that her thoroughly modern aunt wouldn’t tolerate her doing so, even at the Springs.
    "Yes, my dear, it's perfectly fine. We can go our separate ways and meet here when we are finished." Aunt Bea smiled.
    Her father grunted. "Well it's not perfectly fine with me. I insist you have a chaperone, Sara. We were just discussing that Jack Summers, weren't we? He will be with Seawind, and I don't want you alone with the man." A waiter appeared at Bond's side and poured more coffee into his cup.
    "Daddy, Johnson will be there, and probably Toady, but if it makes you feel better, I'll see if Clara can accompany me."
    Aunt Bea folded her napkin and put it on the left side of her plate. "Since Mr. Reed is here, why don't you have him ask Chef Morris to prepare a picnic basket for you? It looks like it is going to be a lovely day."
    "What a wonderful idea! Thank you for suggesting it, Aunt Trixie." Sara reeled with excitement. She would ask Jack to share her picnic basket.
    "Mr. Reed, would you ask Chef Morris to pack a picnic lunch?" Her father spoke before she could.
    "Yassir, Mr. Peterson. I'm sure he'd be delighted to fix something special for Miss Sara," the waiter replied with a wide grin.
    "Oh, and–"
    "Yes, Miss Sara?"
    "Would you remind Chef Morris that I have a big appetite?"
    "I'll remind him, but there's no need. Chef Morris says the only one that can eat more than you, Miss Sara, is Mr. Diamond Jim Brady." He shook his head and chuckled.
    "Bond, where is Montague this morning?" Aunt Trixie asked when the waiter left. "And I'm still wondering why he didn't appear at the cottage last night. He never knew that we found Sara."
    Bond's eyes narrowed. "The same thing crossed my mind. Monty must have discovered somehow that Sara was at the cottage and decided not to bother us. If I run into him later, I'll certainly find out, but this morning I assume he's probably at the track or the stables watching Bravo Joe work out."
    Sara's heart dropped. It wouldn't do to run into Monty, especially if she was dressed in Toady’s silks. She would take a chance, however. Anything to ride Seawind.
    "I'll send for Johnson."
    "No need, Bond," Aunt Trixie said. "I sent him a note earlier. He should be waiting for Sara and I in front of the hotel with the carriage."
    # # #
    Sara smoothed her skirt and joined her aunt in the carriage for the short ride to the Fountain Hall at the Congress Spring.
    The pavilion was a beautiful place to drink the waters. The stained glass windows transferred rainbow hues from the sun to the tiled floors. Baskets of bright, spicy-scented petunias hung from every available carved beam.
    Fancy chairs and tables were scattered here and there, but many of the drinkers at the Congress Spring preferred to lean on the mahogany counters that were especially constructed for just that purpose. The waters were drawn by elaborate pulleys from the well and served by men stationed behind the counter. Each glass had "Congress Spring" engraved on it.
    As if she was reading her mind, Aunt Trixie sighed. "It is a beautiful Drinking Hall, but I can remember when dipper boys would serve the water. They would stand by the pipe or the rock opening, and dip in four glasses fastened to long sticks. And there was just a small pavilion back then which hardly provided enough shelter from the sun or elements. Now just look at the modern conveniences. What will they think of next?"
    As Sara took her first drink of the season of the horrible