Read Trail Ride for Free Online

in dressage?” Carole reminisced. “She said with his ability to sense what his rider wants almost before his rider knows they want it, he could be a monster hit.”
    “But she was also smart enough to know that Stewball is where he belongs. He probably would have been a great show horse, but in his heart he loves working the ranch,” Kate said. “He wouldn’t have been as happy.”
    Lisa frowned. “Do you think we should tell her how content he is without her, or would that make her more miserable?”
    “Actually, I think it would make her feel better,” Carole told her.
    Kate laughed. “Yeah, but you might want to rethink the wording a little bit.”
    They continued along, chatting easily about anything that came to mind.
    The morning was faultless. The sky was a deep blue, and although the air was cool, Lisa knew it could easily be sweltering before noon. Looking back, she saw the trail the horses had left as they passed through the long dewy grass. Looking forward, she could see the beginning of a thick, lush forest. “Where are we going, anyway, Kate?”
    “I told you, I have something wonderful to show you.”
    “How long will it take to get there?”
    “As long as it takes.”
    “What a typical cowboy reply,” Lisa grumbled good-naturedly.
    “What’s in the saddlebags?” Carole asked.
    “Something special,” Kate said, smiling.
    “Aren’t you going to tell us anything at all?”
    “Yeah, have a little mercy,” Lisa urged. “We’re dying of curiosity here.”
    “You two will simply have to hold your horses.”
    “Tell me you didn’t just say that!” cried Carole.
    All the girls laughed.
    “All right,” Kate relented. “I’ll say this much—you two are never going to forget this afternoon as long as you live!”

D EAR L ISA , C AROLE , and Kate
,
    Got your e-mail.
    Could you guys be having any more fun?
    Sorry to hear that the airplane ride was a little turbulent, but you should have seen the air pockets my brothers let loose in the backseat of the van. Gross! Of course when I complained to Mom and Dad, what happened? They told me to stop whining! Okay, that wasn’t the way they actually put it, but it was what they meant. I mean, they made it sound like all I had done the whole trip was complain. Gee, I can’t think of what I might have to complain about, can you? I’m only being held hostage, in unspeakably crowded conditions, with basically
inhuman companions, while being transported across state lines against my will, and when I get there I’ll be tortured by the noxious droning of my stupid cousin Dava and deprived of the basic and simple right of physical exercise!!!
    By the way, can either of you tell me the average size of a boy’s bladder? Like a
thimble
maybe? Is it possible that miniature bladders are a genetic disorder that runs in my family? Luckily I seem to have been spared, but if the amount of times we had to make bathroom stops for my brothers is any indication, then the answer is a big yes! I mentioned my concern to my parents, explaining that I wasn’t complaining but simply pointing out a medical crisis that I personally felt might be better addressed by our physician at home and my willingness to forgo the trip for the welfare of the many over the few. Pretty selfless of me, hmmm? I know, I know. They didn’t buy it, either.
    And, I swear, is counting cows not the stupidest game ever invented? That’s right, counting cows! Whoever has the most cows on their side of the car at the end of the trip wins. That’s pretty much the entire game. But you never heard such arguments over who had how many and who cheated in counting and who passed a cemetery (which means you lose all your
cows) and who cares! Torture, I tell you! Mile after mile of sheer torture!
    The worst moment came when I realized we had passed over into Massachusetts and I was now not only in the same country as Dava but in the same state as well! HELP ME! I actually volunteered to let my