Trail Ride

by Bonnie Bryant

  Carole and Stevie exchanged glances. Lisa’s mother was a stickler for good manners. Sometimes they thought Mrs. Atwood was a little too worried about social appearances. In fact, they suspected the reason she had let Lisa start riding in the first place was that Mrs. diAngelo, the leading socialite in town, had had her daughter enrolled in riding classes at Pine Hollow.

  “No, Mom, I don’t need any new clothes,” Lisa said, rolling her eyes at her friends. “I can wear whatever.” She paused, then sighed heavily. “Okay, okay, we can go shopping tomorrow if you want.” She listened again. “I know you’ll be alone, but I thought you liked that once in a while.”

  Stevie crossed her fingers. It sounded like Lisa was winning the case. She sure hoped so, because it wouldn’t be the same going to the Bar None without the entire Saddle Club.

  “Okay, Mom, I’ll be home in a little while. Bye.” Lisa hung up. She looked troubled.

  “Well?” Stevie demanded.

  “I can go,” Lisa told them quietly.

  “Yay!” Carole and Stevie danced around the room again, but when Lisa didn’t join in, they stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” Carole asked. “Aren’t you happy?”

  “Of course I am,” Lisa assured her. “Only …”

  “What?” Stevie asked.

  “I don’t know. Mom sounded kind of … weird.”

  Carole perched on the edge of her dad’s desk. “Weird how?”

  Lisa shrugged. “She sounded kind of lonely.”

  “You said your dad’s out of town again, right?”

  Lisa nodded. “He’s been gone a lot lately. Even more than usual.”

  “Don’t worry, Lisa. As soon as he comes home, your mom will be fine,” Carole reassured her.

  “And you’ll be out West!” added Stevie. She grabbed the phone and started dialing.

  Lisa brightened visibly. “You guys are right.” She pulled a sour face. “Of course I have to get a whole new wardrobe.”

  “You know, some girls would enjoy that,” Carole reminded her.

  “I know, but lately all my mom wants to do is shop, shop, shop.”

  “Quiet, everybody!” Stevie whispered sharply.

  Lisa and Carole gave her affronted looks.

  “My mom’s at the office, so shush.” She turned her attention to the phone and said brightly, “Hi, Mrs. Renfrew, it’s Stevie. How are you? I’m great, thanks for asking. How are your boys?”

  Lisa and Carole began to snicker.

  Stevie, who was doing her best to maintain a polite conversation with her mother’s secretary, waved them away. “Is Mom there?” she asked sweetly. “Thanks.” She shot a baleful look at Lisa and Carole.

  When Mrs. Lake got on the phone, Stevie gleefully filled her in on the exciting events and waited expectantly. There was a long pause. “What?” she shrieked. “You’re kidding! No-o-o-o-o!” Stevie threw herself into Colonel Hanson’s swivel chair. “I totally blacked it out.”

  Carole and Lisa exchanged concerned looks.

  “Aww, come on, Mom, nobody would miss me,” Stevie coaxed. “It’s not like I’m one of the brides-maids!” She swiveled furiously in the chair. “Besides, according to statistics, she’ll probably be getting married again, anyway. I can go next time.”

  Mrs. Lake’s response could be heard all the way across the room. Lisa and Carole cringed.

  “Sorry, Mom,” Stevie said contritely. “I’m sure it’s a match made in heaven.” She mimed sticking her finger down her throat at her two friends. “No, Mother, I did not just make a face.”

  Carole and Lisa put their hands over their mouths in an attempt to smother their laughter.

  “But I won’t have anyone to talk to,” Stevie wailed. “Who?” she demanded, jumping to her feet. “Cousin Dava? Mom, have you lost it? She hates everything, even horses!”

  Stevie spent the next few minutes arguing hotly with her mother, but it was obviously no use. Finally she hung up and sat glowering at the phone.

  “Problem?” Carole said after a minute.

  “I can’t go!” Stevie told them, near tears. “My cousin is getting married and Mom says the whole family has to be there to support her.” She thumped her head onto the desk. “I hate my cousins!” she said passionately.

  “Stevie, you know that’s not true,” Lisa said in a shocked tone.

  Stevie looked up. “Okay, I just hate my cousin Dava.”

  “That’s more like it,” Carole said.

  Bad as she felt, Stevie couldn’t help venting a little. “You know, if I had another week, I could figure out how to get out of this.”

  Lisa put a consoling arm around her shoulders. “I don’t doubt that for a minute.”

  Stevie pulled herself together. “On the bright side, Mom said I could use her new Quicky-Mail thingy to send messages to you guys any time I wanted.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard about those things,” Lisa cooed. “It’s one of those wireless miniature computers that you can use to send and receive e-mail. All you have to do is hold it in front of the mouthpiece.”

  “Very cool,” Carole concurred.

  “I can’t believe this is happening to me,” Stevie said glumly. “You guys have to promise to write me every single day and give me all the details!”

  “We promise,” Lisa assured her.

  “I bet it won’t be nearly as much fun as we think it will be,” Carole told her stoutly.

  “Oh be quiet, Sally Sunshine,” Stevie snapped. She sat back and surveyed her two best friends. They were obviously excited to be going and almost as upset as she was that she couldn’t be there as well. “Well,” she said, “at least it’ll be happy trails for some of The Saddle Club.”

  CAROLE AND LISA stood by the gate to the runway, clutching their suitcases expectantly.

  “Have you ever seen Stevie looking so down?” Lisa murmured.

  “Not often,” Carole admitted.

  “She couldn’t even come and see us off.”

  “I know. When she drove away this morning, she looked like she was going to her own execution.”

  “Can’t blame her. No trip to the Bar None, no Saddle Club meetings, no riding.”

  The two girls shuddered at the very thought.

  “Do they even have horses where she’s going?” Lisa asked.

  “In Massachusetts? Of course they do!” Carole said. “At least I think they do.”

  “No electricity, though,” Colonel Hanson said quietly.

  “Dad! Stop that.”

  “Come on, you two, cheer up. Stevie is going to be fine. She always manages to land on her feet.”

  “Maybe she’ll even find a way to ride,” Lisa said hopefully.

  “She did take along her riding stuff,” Carole whispered.

  “How’d she manage to get that past her mom?”

  “She stuffed it in with the spare tire last night while she was supposed to be doing the dishes,” Carole told her, grinning.

  Lisa chuckled. “That’s our Stevie.”

  “There’s your ride, girls,” Colonel Hanson said, pointing to a sleek white-and-blue jet descending toward the runway. It touched down with barely a bump and taxied over to the gate where they were waiting.

  Carole felt her heart start to race with excitement. She was devastated that Stevie wouldn’t be with them for the trip, but she was sure glad she was going anyway.

  The aircraft came to a complete stop and after a few minutes the door was opened, unfolding into a set of stairs. A bright strip of red carpeting rolled down, shooting across the pavement toward them.

  Colonel Hanson laughed. “Looks like you girls are getting the red-carpet treatment,” he said with raised eyebrows.

  Carole and Lisa exchanged excited looks.

  A man appeared in the doorway of the plane and waved at the three of them.

  “Frank!” Colonel Hanson called, striding forward.

  Frank Devine trotted down the steps and met him halfway. “Mitch! You old warhorse.” The girl
s watched as the two men shook hands and slapped each other on the back with obvious delight.

  Lisa looked at Carole. “Old warhorse?”

  “It’s a military thing,” she giggled. “Hi, Mr. Devine.”

  “Carole! Lisa!” He swooped them both up in a bear hug.

  “Nice uniform, Mr. Devine,” Lisa told him once she had been released.

  “You like?” He straightened his navy blue tie. “My official flying togs. I just dropped the boss off in D.C. Very important banking business.” He winked. “Now I’m all yours. You girls ready to go?”

  “We can’t wait,” Carole said happily. “How are Kate and Mrs. Devine?”

  “Terrific,” he assured them. “But you can judge for yourself in a few hours.”

  “I think that’s your cue to get on board, girls,” Colonel Hanson said.

  “Yep, we’re burning daylight,” Mr. Devine told them, rubbing his hands together.

  Carole remembered that burning daylight was an old Western term. Cowboys had to get up at the crack of dawn in order to get all their work done before the sun went down. She felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine. “Ready when you are, sir,” she said, saluting him smartly.

  Mr. Devine laughed and saluted her back. “She’s a chip off the old block, Mitch.”

  Carole’s dad looked pleased. “You take care of my girls now, Frank. Have fun, sweetheart,” he said, giving Carole a big hug. “Stay out of trouble.”

  “Sure thing, Dad,” she murmured, returning the embrace. For a moment she thought she might cry. Ever since her mother had died, Carole had found it difficult leaving her dad alone. She gave herself a mental shake, kissed him on the cheek, and headed for the plane.

  “A red carpet, Mr. Devine?” Lisa said, stepping gingerly on the plush material.

  “Nothing but the best for you two,” he told them, striding up the stairs. “The most spectacular views, the richest caviar, the most expensive champagne.” He turned around to face them. “You did bring your fake IDs, right?”

  Lisa laughed. “Mr. Devine!”

  Chuckling, he led the way inside.

  The interior of the plane was lavish. Carole and Lisa had both been on commercial airlines before, passing through first class on their way to economy seating, but this was something truly special. The compact interior appeared remarkably spacious, because instead of rows and rows of seats jammed together, there were only a few huge reclining chairs upholstered in dove gray leather. A handful of low smoky glass tables were bolted to the floor, and the windows had curtains in a shade of burgundy that complemented the chairs and pearl carpeting perfectly.

  “Good morning, ladies. Welcome aboard.”

  The girls turned to see a pretty young woman, immaculately dressed in a tailored uniform, smiling at them.

  “Girls, allow me to introduce Ms. Penny Jane Minns, flight attendant extraordinaire.”

  “Oh, Frank, go fly the plane or you’ll make me blush,” the woman said good-naturedly. “You must be Lisa and Carole,” she said, shaking hands with them in the right order. “You can call me Penny.”

  “How did you know who’s name was which?” Lisa asked.

  “Frank told me a lot about you girls. A lot,” she emphasized.

  Carole felt herself blush. “Sorry.”

  Penny laughed. “Don’t be. Your adventures would make a good book or two.” She escorted them to their chairs. “Let’s get you buckled in for takeoff.”

  She watched as they adjusted their seat belts, then gave them each a fluffy pillow.

  “It’s going to take a few more minutes until we’re cleared for takeoff. Why don’t I get you a drink in the meantime? A little bubbly okay?” She held up a ginger ale bottle with a smile.

  “Thank you very much,” they said happily.

  While Penny was pouring their drinks, Lisa turned to Carole. “Look at these pillows,” she whispered, clutching hers in her lap. “It’s real linen, not that disposable paper stuff they use on regular airlines! I wonder what the thread count is?”

  Carole could hardly believe her ears. Thread count? “You know, Lisa, this vacation from your mother might be exactly what the doctor ordered, because I think you’re losing it.”

  Penny returned a moment later with two crystal champagne flutes filled with “bubbly.” Carole had never felt so sophisticated.

  Minutes after they had finished their drinks, the private plane taxied down the runway and rose gently into the air.

  “I wish Stevie were here,” Lisa said, pushing a button to recline her chair. “Whoa!” The seat back fell away, a footrest flew up, and she found herself lying on a bed.

  Carole burst into laughter and reclined her chair as well. “It doesn’t seem right without her. We’ll have to be sure to e-mail her every single day and tell her what a miserable time we’re having.”

  “Right,” Lisa said, popping a macadamia nut into her mouth. “Miserable.”

  Penny appeared in the aisle next to them. “Now that we’re under way, I can start serving lunch,” she told them. “While I’m getting it ready, I thought you might like to watch some TV.” She punched a button and a large screen rolled down the wall. “If you can’t find anything you like, we also have an extensive video library on board. There’s a list in the side pocket of your seats.”

  The two girls straightened up their chairs and pulled out the multipage list.

  “If you don’t both want to watch the same program, there are individual screens that unfold from under the seats,” she said helpfully.

  “Thank you,” Carole said with a grin. “I’m sure this will be fine.”

  “I’ll be back in a second with your appetizers.”

  Lisa turned to Carole. “Appetizers? We get appetizers?”

  Carole almost guffawed. “I’d ask you to pinch me,” she said, “but our seats are too far apart.”

  Lisa pointed her nose in the air. “After all, this is first class, my dear,” she drawled.

  Penny returned and unfolded hidden tray tables in each of the girls’ armrests. The girls watched in fascination as she placed real silverware, linen napkins, place mats, and individual crystal salt and pepper shakers on each of their tables.

  “Look at that!” exclaimed Lisa. “No plastic forks or little paper packets.”

  Shortly after, Penny presented them with silver servers of shrimp cocktail: large shrimp nestled on beds of crisp iceberg lettuce and smothered in zesty red sauce. “Bon appétit, ladies,” she said as she departed.

  Lisa looked down at her appetizer. “What, no oyster crackers? What kind of joint are they running here?”

  Before they could even laugh, Penny swept back in carrying individual china dishes of crackers. “The adults don’t usually go for these, but it may help to wash the fishy stuff down.”

  “Th-Thank you,” Lisa stammered.

  “By the way, I didn’t have time to make the usual lobster Thermidor,” she said apologetically. “I hope you two won’t mind burgers and fries for the main course?”

  Lisa and Carole beamed their approval.

  “Didn’t think so,” she chuckled, heading back to the galley.

  Lunch concluded with ice cream sundaes with a choice of toppings, which reminded Carole and Lisa once again of Stevie.

  “Can you imagine what kind of sundae Stevie would have ordered?” Carole asked.

  “Pistachio ice cream with pineapple sauce?”

  “And grape jelly.”

  “And cherries or banana chips.”

  Both girls burst into laughter at the thought.

  Stevie’s sundaes were the stuff of legend: any and every topping, the weirder the combination the better. Her friends were convinced she only did it so that nobody would ask her for a taste, but still, it was uniquely Stevie.

  “I’m so miserable,” Carole moaned, licking the last of her fudge topping from her spoon.

  “Are you insane?” Lisa demanded, wiping her mouth on her linen napkin.

&n
bsp; “No, I’m practicing for Stevie. Do I sound convincing?”

  “Sorry, I don’t see an Academy Award in your future. But I really do miss her.”

  “Me too.”

  “After-lunch mint?” Penny said brightly.

  “If you insist,” Lisa said cheerfully.

  “Good idea.” Carole smiled. “After all, I wouldn’t want to offend anybody with my chocolate breath.”

  The rest of the flight passed quickly and smoothly with the help of the plane’s video library. Almost before they knew it, Penny was telling them to return their seats to the upright position in preparation for landing.

  When Carole saw the airport near Two Mile Creek come into view, she felt her pulse begin to race. “Betcha I can spot Kate first from up here,” she challenged Lisa.

  “No way,” Lisa responded, pressing her face against her window. “Not without your Seeing Eye dog.”

  Carole laughed and returned to scanning the ground below.

  “There they are!” Lisa cried a few minutes later. “I’d know that old truck anywhere.”

  Lisa was right. Carole could just make out the familiar pickup parked by the edge of the runway. Two small figures stood next to it, waving. She waved back, even though she was fairly certain she couldn’t be seen yet.

  The plane touched down gently and slowed to a stop. Minutes later Mr. Devine stepped out of the cockpit. “All ashore who’s going ashore.”

  “Isn’t that what they say on ships?” Lisa asked as she unbuckled and scrambled out of her seat.

  “Never argue with the captain, young lady. Did you know I could have you keelhauled with the slightest wave of my pinkie?”

  “No way, Mr. Devine,” said Carole. “That’s also for ships, not airplanes.” She checked around her seat to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

  “Mutiny! Penny, were having a mutiny!” Mr. Devine cried. “Lower the plank!” He opened the door and unfolded the steps. “Throw these two off my ship!”