High Stakes
Page 23
“Really?” Lisa sounded surprised. “Wow. I’ve seen those chaps. That’s a pretty extravagant gift.”
Carole bit her lip, staring down at Starlight’s glossy mahogany neck without really seeing it. She knew exactly which chaps Stevie meant—she too had seen them the last time she’d been at the mall, and they really were pretty spectacular. “I think it sounds like a really romantic gift. I’m sure Phil will love them. Um …” She hesitated. “Do you mind if I ask how much they cost?”
Stevie shrugged. “Why would I mind? It’s not like you couldn’t just walk into the store yourself and find out anyway.” She grinned, then told them the price.
Carole gasped at the amount, dismayed at how much Stevie was planning to spend. Was that the sort of money she would be expected to shell out now that she and Cam were a couple?
Probably not, she thought uncertainly, hiding her consternation from her friends by leaning over to fiddle with her stirrup. After all, Stevie and Phil have been together for years. Cam and I have been a couple for only a short time. It’s not like he’s going to expect anything that generous from me. Is he?
As she straightened up in the saddle again, Lisa shot her a shrewd glance. “Don’t worry, Carole,” she said. “Just because Stevie’s suddenly turned into Ms. High Roller, it doesn’t mean you have to mortgage Starlight to buy Cam a Christmas present. It’s the thought that counts, remember?”
“Definitely,” Stevie agreed. “He’ll be thrilled with anything you pick out, Carole. Especially if you wear something really hot when you give it to him.” She batted her eyelashes playfully.
Carole blushed. “Um, so how are you going to afford those chaps, anyway?” she asked Stevie. “Last I heard, you were so broke you were borrowing money from your brothers to pay your library fines.”
“Good point,” Stevie said. “And I must admit, at first I thought that might be a problem myself. But then I had another brilliant idea. I’m planning to ask all three of my brothers to give me cash this year instead of buying me presents.” She adjusted her riding helmet and grinned at her friends proudly. “They always leave their shopping until the last minute anyway, then spend half of Christmas moaning and groaning and complaining about how hard I am to shop for. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled that I’m letting them off the hook.”
Carole nodded. Knowing Stevie’s brothers, that was probably true. Still, she was impressed that Stevie was planning to lay out so much cash for one Christmas present. Wow, she thought. Am I going to have to start buying Starlight the economy brand of horse treats so that I can afford to have a boyfriend?
She realized she was being silly. For one thing, she was sure that Cam wouldn’t want her to bankrupt herself or deprive her horse for his sake. He cared about her, and that was way more important than any Christmas gift. Still, it was just one more thing to worry about.
Stevie and Lisa had already switched topics and were discussing which trail to take, but Carole couldn’t seem to focus on what her friends were saying. This is our first Christmas together, and I want it to be perfect, she thought as she stared blankly over Starlight’s head into the trees beyond. That means I need to figure out the perfect gift for Cam. And I don’t have much time.
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About the Author
Bonnie Bryant is the author of over one hundred forty books about horses, including the Saddle Club series and its spinoffs, the Pony Tails series and the Pine Hollow series. Bryant did not know very much about horses before writing the first Saddle Club book in 1986, so she found herself learning right along with the characters she created. She has also written novels and movie novelizations under her married name, Bonnie Bryant Hiller. Bryant was born and raised in New York City, where she still lives today.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2000 by Bonnie Bryant Hiller
Cover design by Connie Gabbert
ISBN: 978-1-4976-5411-2
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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