Monica and the Unbeatable Bet Read online

  Right then, I made up my mind.

  “I’m going in the Junior Hunter classes,” I said.

  “Good,” Grandpa said. He grinned. “You’re up for the challenge.”

  When we pulled up to the farm, the show grounds looked like a crowded carnival. There were trucks and trailers everywhere. I didn’t see the Rock Creek Stables horse van.

  Grandpa parked the car. “Good luck today, sweetheart,” he said when we got out.

  “Thanks, Grandpa,” I said.

  He gave me a great big hug. Then he left to sit in the bleachers.

  I got to the Show Secretary’s table just as Megan finished paying her fees. She sneered at me.

  “Don’t you dare enter Lancelot as a Green Hunter,” Megan said. “I know all about how he was shown for three years before Chloe’s mom bought him.”

  “I’m riding him in Junior Hunter,” I said.

  Megan looked surprised. “Is that a good idea?” she asked, tossing her hair. “The jumps are six inches higher.”

  Chloe walked up and laughed. “Lancelot’s last owner jumped him higher than that,” she said, slinging her arm around me. “And she won blue ribbons all the time.”

  “That doesn’t matter. Monica is the one riding him today,” Megan said as she walked away.

  “Ignore her,” Chloe said.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I already am,” I said, winking at my friend. “Come on. Let’s get signed in.”

  Chloe and I filled out our forms and paid our fees. The Show Secretary gave us paper numbers to pin on our coats.

  Lancelot was totally calm when I saddled him. But I wasn’t. “I’m freaking out,” I whispered to Chloe.

  “Why?” she asked. “I mean, I know you’re nervous about the show. But what exactly are you nervous about?”

  “The jumps,” I admitted. “They’re so much higher.”

  “Two-foot-tall jumps and two-and-a-half-foot jumps look the same to Lancelot,” Chloe said, trying to reassure me.

  “The extra six inches makes a big difference to me,” I said.

  Chloe brought Rick-Rack to her mom. Then she led me and Lancelot to the warm-up ring.

  First I walked, trotted, and cantered. Then Chloe told me to jump the practice fence.

  Rory met us there.

  “That looks higher than two feet,” I said.

  “It’s two and a half feet,” Chloe said.

  “You can do it,” Rory added.

  I stared at the fence.

  I couldn’t chicken out. I had already entered the Junior Hunter over fences class.

  And Megan knew it.

  I cantered toward the jump. I tried to hold the reins steady, but I was tense. Lancelot didn’t go over the fence. He ran around it.

  I walked him for a minute. Then I tried again.

  “Wait!” Rory yelled. He ran over to the jump and took off the top two rails. “Try this!”

  “But that’s only twelve inches high!” I said. I knew Lancelot could jump that. Easy.

  “Trust me,” Rory said. He waved me over the little jump.

  I didn’t get it, but I gave the jump a shot. Lancelot snorted as he jumped, like he was insulted.

  “Do it again,” Rory said.

  By the time I rode around, Chloe and Rory had added a rail. Now the jump was eighteen inches high. I made that jump easily.

  Then they bumped it up to two feet. I started to feel nervous, but I made it.

  “Keep going!” Rory said.

  I jumped the fence again.

  “Two feet, three inches cleared!” Chloe exclaimed.

  “And again,” Rory said.

  Lancelot sailed over the fence.

  Two feet six inches. And I didn’t flop or pull on his mouth. I did it!

  I started to relax. I had jumped the dreaded 2’6” once. Now I knew I could jump it again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Show

  Time

  I rode Lancelot to the show ring alone.

  Alice was helping the other lesson kids.

  Mark and Rory were busy with the kids who owned their own horses. They always seemed to have silly last-minute problems.

  Owen’s boots were dusty. Lydia didn’t like her hair, and Megan got hay in her lip gloss. So Rory was stuck dealing with their problems. I was sort of glad, because at least Megan wasn’t following me around making me even more nervous.

  Chloe was busy too. She was warming up for Advanced Equitation.

  I scanned the bleachers, but I couldn’t see Claudia and Becca or my mom, Logan, and Angela anywhere. There were a lot of people, though. Maybe I just couldn’t find them in the crowd.

  I hoped so. If I was going to do this, I needed all the support I could get.

  The announcer’s voice boomed through a loudspeaker. “Maiden Equitation on the flat!”

  There were eighteen other riders. Everyone headed into the ring. I took a deep breath as I entered the ring. I felt calmer, and Lancelot walked without prancing.

  “Trot!” the announcer said.

  I remembered Rory’s tip. I didn’t look at the judge. I pretended I was riding with Chloe at Rock Creek. I didn’t miss a diagonal, and Lancelot didn’t miss a lead.

  And then it was over.

  I couldn’t believe it. All that worrying, and it was over before I knew it.

  “Walk, please, and line up!” the announcer called.

  He read the names of the sixth, fifth, and fourth place winners. None of them were me.

  I was disappointed. I wasn’t only worried about winning the bet for Rory. I wanted a ribbon to hang in my room. Any color would have been okay with me. I decided I’d just have to try even harder in the next event.

  Then the announcer said, “Third place goes to number 414, Monica Murray!”

  I was thrilled.

  But third place wasn’t good enough to win Rory’s bet with Megan.

  Chapter Twelve

  Just

  Ride

  Lancelot did everything right in Junior Hunter Hack. That was great. The problem was, the other horses were great, too. Ethan Westfield from Holly Hills won first place. Owen was third, and Chloe was fifth.

  I didn’t get anything.

  I couldn’t help feeling down.

  “Don’t be sad, Monica,” Dr. Granger said afterward. “You had a great ride.”

  “Sometimes I don’t win anything,” Chloe said.

  “I’m not upset for me,” I said.

  Chloe grinned. “Lancelot doesn’t care about ribbons,” she teased me.

  “No, but Rory —” I stopped talking, but it was too late.

  “What about Rory?” Dr. Granger asked.

  Then I told them about the bet.

  “Don’t think about it,” Chloe said. “Just ride.”

  So I did.

  I was the eighth person to ride in Maiden Equitation over fences. I watched everything the first seven riders did. I even noticed some mistakes. And then I realized something. I could win red or blue if I rode perfectly.

  So, of course, I blew it before the first jump. Lancelot took off on the wrong lead.

  I couldn’t win, but I stayed calm and started again. Lancelot didn’t refuse or run out, and I didn’t flop.

  All the riders waited by the gate when the Show Secretary entered the ring. She handed out the ribbons. “Sixth place goes to Number 414, Monica Murray,” she said.

  I was stunned. I could hardly even thank her when she gave me
the green ribbon.

  Grandpa, Claudia, and Becca stood up in the bleachers and cheered.

  I was happy with my green sixth place. But I only had one chance left to save Rory.

  I had to place first or second in Junior Hunter over fences.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Winner

  Is

  Everyone was too busy to talk before the Junior Hunter class.

  Chloe and Dr. Granger were talking to Mark.

  Rory was walking Merlin and Dandy.

  Alice was giving the lesson kids some last-minute advice.

  More advice wouldn’t help me now. I knew that. I just had to ride my best, let Lancelot do his thing, and hope the judges loved my horse.

  I took a deep breath.

  I looked toward the bleachers. My family and friends did a stand-up-sit-down wave starting with Claudia and ending with Logan.

  I gave them a regular wave back.

  Chloe and Rick-Rack were out of the class. That meant there were twenty-one horses in the Junior Hunter over fences.

  Lydia’s horse bucked when she cantered her circle. Merlin moved very slowly, like he was too tired to jump. Owen had to work to keep him going. Dandy knocked down a rail, which made Megan furious.

  Then it was my turn.

  Lancelot broke into an easy canter and kept a steady pace. He didn’t stop, run out, or pull. I didn’t lose a stirrup, flop, or fall.

  Every jump was perfect.

  Rory rushed over when I left the ring.

  “That was great!” he exclaimed. “The best in the class so far.”

  “I’ll be happy with anything,” I said.

  Rory patted Lancelot’s neck. “I’m sorry my bet put pressure on you, Monica. You weren’t supposed to know. Megan just made me so mad.”

  Rory and Chloe waited with me when the winners were announced. I didn’t win yellow, white, pink, or green. A Holly Hills rider came in second. I crossed my fingers, even though I was sure there was no way I could have won.

  “First place goes to number 414,” the Show Secretary said. “Lancelot, ridden by Monica Murray!”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Number

  One

  I gasped.

  “Better get in there,” Rory said, nudging me.

  The next few minutes were a total blur.

  I rode into the ring to get my blue ribbon. The Show Secretary put it on the bridle. Lancelot was so proud he pranced out.

  All of the kids from the stable surrounded me.

  “Fantastic first show, Monica!” Mark said. He smiled at me and gave me a high five. Then he handed Megan a bar of saddle soap.

  Megan gasped and turned red.

  I led Lancelot back to the horse van. Rory and Chloe walked with me.

  “Megan is in big trouble with Mark,” Chloe said.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “For betting against our barn,” Rory explained. “Everyone from Rock Creek is on the same team.”

  “Lesson kids and owners,” Chloe said.

  “Everyone,” Rory said. “Mark doesn’t care if we make mistakes or come in last.”

  “As long as we do our best,” Chloe added.

  “Which I did!” I said happily.

  Rory looked down. “I’m sorry I freaked you out by making that bet,” he said.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “In a way, I think it helped. I had something to ride for.”

  “I really did believe in you,” he said, smiling at me. “I knew you could do it.”

  Rory grinned. Then he gave me a huge hug.

  “You didn’t have to win to be number one with me,” he said.

  Monica’s SECRET Blog

  Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

  Well, it’s over. My very first REAL horse show. I didn’t think I’d even get one ribbon, and I ended up with three — including one BLUE ribbon!

  I was so scared before the show. I’m not really sure what I was scared of. Messing up, disappointing Rory, being embarrassed in front of my friends and family. I didn’t want Megan to be right. I didn’t want to let Lancelot down. (I know he’s a horse, but we’re a team!)

  I’m so glad I didn’t do any of that. I’m really proud of myself. And now I have three ribbons hanging up on my bedroom wall where I can see them every day.

  Okay, it wasn’t the worst thing to prove Megan wrong, either. ;)

  Keep Out! Angela, This Means You!

  I didn’t ride today. Chloe’s right—nobody wants to ride the day after a show. Now I just have to figure out when I can enter the NEXT show! I hope it’s soon.

  In the meantime, I have a bunch of chores I didn’t have time to do yesterday, so I’d better get to work!

  love,

  Monica

  Mark my words

  anticipation (an-tiss-i-PAY-shuhn)—

  the feeling of waiting for something to happen

  canter (KAN-tur)—

  to run at a speed between a trot and a gallop

  class (KLASS)—

  a group

  course (KORSS)—

  a route

  diagram (DYE-uh-gram)—

  a drawing or plan that explains something

  disqualified (diss-KWOL-uh-fyed)—

  prevented from taking part in an activity

  equitation (eh-kwi-TAY-shuhn)—

  the art of horse riding

  event (i-VENT)—

  an activity during a competition

  experience (ek-SPIHR-ee-uhnss)—

  knowledge and skill

  faith (FAYTH)—

  trust and confidence in someone or something

  groom (GROOM)—

  to brush and clean an animal

  mortified (MOR-ti-fyed)—

  very embarrassed

  post (POHST)—

  to bob up and down in the saddle

  prep (PREHP)—

  to get ready

  stable (STAY-buhl)—

  a building where horses are kept

  You can write too.

  Some people write in journals or diaries. I have a secret blog. Here are some writing prompts to help you write your own blog or diary entries.

  1 I had an amazing time at the horse show in Holly Hills, even though I was nervous. Write about a time you were nervous but everything worked out perfectly.

  2 Write about being brave. Who’s the bravest person you know? Why?

  3 Rory and Chloe really helped me out. How do you help your friends? How do they help you? Write about it.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DIANA G. GALLAGHER

  Just like Monica, Diana G. Gallagher has loved riding horses since she was a little girl. And like Becca, she is an artist. Like Claudia, she often babysits little kids — usually her grandchildren. Diana has wanted to be a writer since she was twelve, and she has written dozens of books, including the Claudia Cristina Cortez series. She lives in Florida.

  Monica is published by Stone Arch Books

  A Capstone Imprint 1710 Roe Crest Drive North Mankato, Minnesota 56003

  www.capstonepub.com

  Copyright © 2012 by Stone Arch Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  012014

  007984R

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Gallagher, Diana G.
<
br />   Monica and the unbeatable bet / by Diana G. Gallagher.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Monica is already nervous about riding in her first horse show, and when she finds out that Rory is betting on her performance it only increases the pressure she feels.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4342-2555-9 (library binding)

  ISBN-10: 1-4342-2555-0 (library binding)

  ISBN 978-1-4965-3945-8 (eBook)

  1. Horse shows--Competitions--Juvenile fiction. 2. Competition (Psychology)--Juvenile fiction. 3. Wagers--Juvenile fiction. 4. Worry--Juvenile fiction. 5. Interpersonal relations--Juvenile fiction. [1. Horse shows--Fiction. 2. Competition (Psychology)--Fiction. 3. Wagers--Fiction. 4. Worry--Fiction. 5. Interpersonal relations--Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.G13543Mpo 2011

  813.54--dc22

  2011001995

  Art Director/Graphic Designer: Kay Fraser

  Production Specialist: Michelle Biedscheid

  Photo credits:

  Cover: Delaney Photography

  Avatars: Delaney Photography (Claudia), Shutterstock: Aija Avotina (guitar), Alex Staroseltsev (baseball), Andrii Muzyka (bowling ball), Anton9 (reptile), bsites (hat), debra hughes (tree), Dietmar Höpfl (lightning), Dr_Flash (Earth), Elaine Barker (star), Ivelin Radkov (money), Michael D Brown (smiley face), Mikhail (horse), originalpunkt (paintbrushes), pixel-pets (dog), R. Gino Santa Maria (football), Ruth Black (cupcake), Shvaygert Ekaterina (horseshoe), SPYDER (crown), Tischenko Irina (flower), VectorZilla (clown), Volkova Anna (heart); Capstone Studio: Karon Dubke (horse Monica, horse Chloe)