Read Online Silver Stirrups by Bonnie Bryant - Free Book Online

better?” he inquired. “ ’Cause dinner’s almost ready.”
    “Uh … yeah, Dad,” Carole said, wiping at her tears.
    Carole’s father withdrew from the room but then stepped back in. “It’s not really a stomachache that’s got you down, is it, honey?” he asked gently.
    Carole shook her head.
    “Did something happen at the schooling show?” Colonel Hanson guessed.
    Sniffing hard, Carole nodded.
    “Can you tell me about it?” her father asked quietly. He came and sat on the edge of her bed.
    Carole swallowed. “It was awful, Dad. I—I messed up. And then I dropped out,” she admitted.
    Colonel Hanson nodded, his face serious. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. But everybody messes up sometimes—nobody’s perfect, you know.”
    “I know, Dad,” Carole said quietly. “But I shouldn’t have dropped out, should I?”
    Colonel Hanson put an arm around her shoulders. “What do you think, honey?”
    Carole could barely respond. The truth was, she was not only jealous of Andrea, she was embarrassed at what she’d done. “I know I shouldn’t have, but you see …” Slowly, haltingly, Carole heard herself telling her father about Andrea Barry, what a great rider she was, how nice her horse was, et cetera. “She—she’s
perfect,
Dad! She has everything!”
    Colonel Hanson listened without interrupting. “I have a suggestion,” he said when Carole had finished.
    “Yes, Dad? What do you think I should do?”
    Colonel Hanson’s eyes twinkled. “The first thing I think you should do is try to get up and come down to dinner. We’re having turkey burgers.”
    Carole smiled a little in spite of herself. Trust her father to think that food would cheer her up.
    Then he continued more seriously. “And as for Andrea Barry, who’s to say you won’t beat her the next time? Or the time after that? A little competition can be a good thing, I always say. It keeps you on your toes, right, honey?”
    “I—I guess so, Dad,” Carole said doubtfully.
    Colonel Hanson gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Youmight surprise yourself,” he suggested. “You might find it’s actually
more
fun having some friendly rivalry at Pine Hollow.”
    Carole smiled wanly. How could she admit to her father that she didn’t
want
a rival? That she had been perfectly happy being number one all by herself?
    “Now, how’s that stomachache?” Colonel Hanson asked.
    “It’s better, Dad,” Carole said quickly. “Thanks.”
    “There’s my girl,” he said, standing up. “And how about those burgers? Provided they’re not burned to a crisp, that is.”
    Carole managed a laugh. “Sure, Dad. Turkey burgers sound great. I’ll be down in five.”
    After her father left, Carole got up, went to the bathroom, and splashed water on her face. For a minute she felt like crying again, but she gritted her teeth instead. “Dad’s right,” she murmured to her reflection in the mirror. “Competition
can
be good.” She had to believe that, or she would keep feeling sorry for herself—and that meant feeling miserable.
    And as Carole combed her hair and went down the stairs, her self-pity seeped away and was replaced with a new determination: a die-hard determination to beat Andrea at Briarwood, no matter what. To prove, once and for all, that she, Carole Hanson, was the undisputedbest junior rider in the region. And there was only one way to do that: to win the Silver Stirrups Trophy.
    A S L ISA HAD PREDICTED , her mother was happy to drive Andrea home. In the car, Andrea was quiet, so Lisa chatted happily about the show. She mentioned Andrea’s two firsts, as well as her own sixth in jumping. Lisa had also gotten a third on the flat. With Carole sitting out and Stevie riding sloppily, Lisa had been the only member of The Saddle Club to place in the second class.
    “Congratulations, dear,” said Mrs. Atwood. “And congratulations to you, Andrea,” she added, clearly impressed.
    “Thank you,” Andrea said softly.
    “You must have