“That’s right,” Kate said. “Different horses have different things that upset them, different things that make them happy, and different skills and ability. Like Stevie was saying earlier, horses are as individual as people. We want to be able to give buyers a sense of what they’re getting.”
“I already know that Midnight here should go to a rider with a sense of humor,” Stevie commented, “because he’s definitely got one himself.”
“And I know that Lucky is very precise and obedient,” Kate said, patting the gray roan she was grooming. “Actually, I knew that already, because I helped a lot with his training. He’s young, but he’s great at taking direction from a rider—he’ll follow any signal he’s given, no matter how complicated, no questions asked.”
“Really?” Carole said, glancing with new appreciation at the horse. “He’s so elegant looking, too. He doesn’t really look like a typical Western horse.”
“I agree,” Kate said, beginning to go over Lucky’s coat with a stiff brush. “He’d probably do great in the show ring back East. In fact, I already have a buyer in mind for him.”
“How’d he get his name?” Lisa asked.
“Look at his face,” Kate said, turning the horse a little so the others could see. Lucky had a white stripe running down his nose. The stripe was narrow and fairly straight except at the top, where it angled off sharply to the left across his forehead. “We thought his stripe looked like a number seven. So we started calling him that—Lucky Seven, that is. Lucky for short.”
“It’s perfect,” Carole said, and the others agreed.
As the girls finished the first set of horses and moved on to others, they continued to compare notes about them. Lisa and Stevie found a bay mare who was very gentle and docile—Lisa recognized her as Ellie, the first horse she and Chocolate had cut from the herd the other day. They decided that Ellie would be ideal for a family with young children.
Carole worked on a beautiful golden palomino mare the wranglers called Goldie, who was young, spirited, and highstrung. Carole thought that Goldie should go to an experienced rider who was willing to take a little more time with her training.
Stevie groomed a short pinto pony. Kate told her he was called Road Map because of his distinctive markings. Stevie could tell that Road Map was lively and strong but well trained and very smart. She thought that those qualities, along with his small size, would make him the perfect choice for a young person who was a better-than-average rider.
There was a fast, obedient Appaloosa gelding named Amigo who Kate was sure would be just right for a working cowboy or a rodeo rider. A bay named Rocky seemed best suited to be a cutting horse because of his quickness. And Kate and Carole between them had some trouble restraining a very spirited yet skittish mare called the Red Queen. She was a very tall and slim chestnut with a fine head and arched neck, which made Carole think she had at least a little Arabian in her bloodlines. The girls decided the mare should definitely go to a very experienced rider.
Finally the last of the horses was groomed to perfection. The girls leaned on the corral fence to rest and admire their work. Carole thought the horses looked wonderful, and that the buyers would be clamoring for them. She told the others so, and they agreed without hesitation. They were proud of the grooming they’d done, which as Kate had pointed out would show the horses to their best advantage. But they also had to admit that the horses themselves were beautiful and wonderful and well trained. They decided it was a great combination.
After a few minutes they left the corral and headed off in search of more ways to be helpful. It was almost noon, and the customers would start arriving right after lunch. There was no time to waste.
THE BUYERS BEGAN arriving right on schedule. The Devines and their guests had finished everything that needed to be done just in time, eaten a hurried but well-deserved lunch, and headed back outside as the first car pulled into the drive. The girls helped Phyllis carry out the lemonade, cookies, pies, and other goodies, and they promised to take turns helping her sell them. Luckily the food booth had a good view of the auction platform, because The Saddle Club didn’t want to miss a second of the auction when it started. Lisa and Kate took the first shift, and Stevie and Carole headed over to the corral.
Before Frank began auctioning off the horses, the buyers had a chance to look them over. John, Walter, Stevie, and Carole stood by to bring out individual horses when requested so potential buyers could examine them more carefully. Stevie’s first customer was a man with two little girls about five and six years old.
“Hi, there,” she greeted them.
“Hi! We’re getting a horse!” the younger girl announced.
The man patted her on the head. “I think she could probably guess that, Nina,” he said with a laugh. Then he turned to Stevie. “My daughters have been promised their very own horse. They’re pretty new riders. Can you recommend one of these beasts for them?”
“As a matter of fact, I know the perfect horse,” Stevie answered without hesitation. “Wait right here, I’ll bring her out.” She entered the corral and returned a moment later leading Ellie, the gentle bay mare.
“Oh, she’s pretty!” exclaimed the older girl. “Is she a girl? We want a girl.”
“Yes, she’s a mare,” Stevie told her. “That’s a girl horse. Her name is Ellie.”
The man quickly checked the mare over. Ellie stood docilely while he lifted all four feet, looked in her mouth, and ran his hands over her. Stevie suspected he knew what he was doing. “Do you have any other horses?” she asked him.
“You bet,” he replied. “My stepson is a rodeo rider. He’s seventeen. And my wife and I ride as well. But none of our horses is right for Lucy and Nina here—they’ve been learning to ride on an ancient nag that lives on a farm a couple of miles down the road. Now they think they’re ready for a horse of their own.”
“We are, Daddy!” the older girl, Lucy, insisted. Ellie had lowered her head to sniff at the girls, and Lucy was patting the mare’s velvety soft nose while Nina smoothed back her mane. Stevie could tell that both girls were already in love.
“You know, I just got my very own horse, too,” Stevie told Lucy and Nina. “His name is Stewball.”
“That’s nice. We want to get this one,” Nina said, patting Ellie. “She’s pretty.”
“That’s true,” Stevie agreed. “But there’s more to picking a good horse than just finding one that’s pretty, you know. I think Ellie may be just the right horse for you two—not just because she’s pretty, but also because she’s gentle and patient, and because she’ll be able to teach you to be even better riders than you already are.”
“Really?” Lucy said, gazing at Ellie with new respect. “I want to be a really good rider, just like my big brother.”
“Me, too!” Nina chimed in. “I want to be a rodeo rider just like him.”
Stevie smiled. The sisters reminded her of herself when she was their age. She had been just as enthusiastic and eager to learn. “I’m sure you’ll both be great riders before long,” she told them. “Ellie will be able to help you develop all the skills you need, like communicating through the reins and with your legs, keeping your balance in the saddle, things like that.”
“She sure is pretty,” Lucy said reverently, still staring at Ellie.
Stevie nodded and chuckled. The little girls were too caught up in the excitement of getting their own horse to worry about practical things like balance. She could understand that—very well, in fact. Didn’t she feel exactly the same way about Stewball?
That thought startled her a little. She found herself wondering just how different her decision to buy Stewball was from the little girls’ decision about Ellie. They had decided they wanted Ellie because she was pretty. Were Stevie’s reasons for wanting Stewball any more logical?
The girls’ father had finished his examination. “Well, she seems to be in good shape. And it looks as though she’s gentle.”
“Oh, she is,” S
tevie assured him, trying to forget her thoughts about Stewball. “She’s a real sweetheart. And very obedient, too.”
The man nodded, looking satisfied, and Stevie had the feeling she’d just made a sale. She was glad, too, because she was convinced that Ellie and the little girls would be a perfect match.
The girls and their father said good-bye and wandered off toward the refreshment table, and Stevie turned to help a man who had been waiting patiently.
For the next hour or so they were all kept busy answering questions, showing horses, and selling Phyllis’s delicious baked goods and lemonade. When they were sure that all the customers had had a chance to check over the horses, the auction began. Frank acted as official auctioneer. He stood on a large, sturdy wooden platform that John and Walter had built. A wide, gently sloping ramp led up to it from one side, and as each horse came up for sale, John or Walter would lead it up onto the platform so the buyers had a good view. The buyers were seated in rows of folding chairs that John had set up in the yard between the corral and the house.
By this time Stevie and Carole were taking their turn at the refreshment table. Lisa and Kate took up a position behind the platform so they could tell Frank what they knew about each horse’s personality as it was led up the ramp.
The first horse auctioned off was Amigo, the Appaloosa. John led the gelding carefully up the ramp. Amigo followed without hesitation and stood quietly, gazing out over the crowd gathered below as if he were shopping for the perfect owner.
“Hello there, folks, and welcome to The Bar None Ranch,” Frank began. He wasn’t using a microphone, but his deep voice carried easily to everyone, including Phyllis, Stevie, and Carole, who were watching from the refreshment table. “I’m Frank Devine. On behalf of myself, my family, and everyone here at The Bar None, we’re glad you could all make it. As you’ve already seen, we have some fine animals for sale today. And as you can probably tell already, I don’t sound much like a professional auctioneer, but I’ll do my best.”
The Saddle Club girls giggled. With his relaxed drawl Frank sounded nothing like a fast-talking auctioneer. If Carole hadn’t known better, she would have thought he was a lifelong rancher instead of a retired Marine.
“I’m lucky to have some good help,” Frank added. He gestured at Kate and Lisa. “These girls know the horses inside out and upside down, and they’ll be helping me to tell you a little bit about each animal’s character and abilities so you’ll have a better chance of making a good choice. And if any horse isn’t exactly what they and I say it is, I’ll be happy to take it back for a full refund.”
“I guess we’d better know what we’re talking about, then,” Lisa whispered.
“Don’t worry,” Kate replied. “We do.”
“We’ll start with this horse in front of me,” Frank continued. Amigo had been standing quietly through Frank’s introduction. Now John led him in a tight circle on the platform as Frank described him. “He’s a gelding, part quarter horse, and about eight years old, near as we can tell.”
He leaned over to listen to Kate for a moment, then continued. “My daughter Kate tells me he’s called Amigo, and that he’ll be a real friend to any hardworking cowboy or experienced rodeo rider out there. He’s smart and steady and strong, and he’s trained within an inch of his life. He’ll be a star performer on the range or in the rodeo ring.”
Frank paused for a moment to let all this information sink in. “Now, what do I hear for him?”
Bids came fast and furious for several minutes. Amigo obviously had several would-be owners in the crowd. Finally the bidding was narrowed down to two people. The Saddle Club was happy to see that both bidders looked like experienced cowboys. After several more bids one of the men dropped out with a tip of his hat to the other.
“Sold, to the gentleman in the blue shirt,” Frank said finally. “I don’t have a gavel, but that’s official, folks.”
John led Amigo back down the ramp. The Appaloosa’s new owner made his way through the crowd to meet them. From her position behind the platform, Lisa watched them for a moment, pleased with the way the sale had turned out.
But soon her attention returned to the action in front of her. Walter had just led Ellie onto the platform.
“Hi, there, you two,” came a voice from behind her. Lisa and Kate turned to see Stevie grinning at them. Carole and Christine were with her.
“Is it our turn at the food booth already?” Lisa asked, a little disappointed.
“No way,” Carole assured her. “Christine’s parents brought her over. As soon as they got here, they insisted on filling in for us so we could come over and join you.”
Meanwhile Frank had started his spiel. “Ellie here is a mare, about ten years old,” he said. “She’s well trained and obedient.”
Stevie reached over and tugged at the cuff of Frank’s jeans. When he leaned over, she whispered in his ear. He nodded and stood up again.
“One of my expert helpers has just told me that Ellie is very gentle and patient,” he said. “She’s a good, steady horse, and as you can see, she’s on the small side. For all those reasons she would be ideal as a first horse for kids.”
In the audience Stevie spotted Lucy and Nina. They were both jumping up and down eagerly, hanging on to their father’s hands. “That’s the one, Daddy!” Lucy cried loudly. “That’s Ellie, she’s ours!”
A ripple of laughter ran through the audience. Everyone had heard the little girl. When her father finally pulled his hand free to bid, nobody bid against him. Stevie smiled. She wasn’t surprised that nobody dared to bid on the mare after hearing Lucy’s comment!
“Sold,” Frank announced after waiting a moment. He smiled down at Lucy and Nina. “To the two young ladies in the front row.”
“I’m glad Ellie came out early,” Stevie told her friends. “Now those girls can relax and enjoy the rest of the auction knowing that they’ve already got their dream horse!”
The others nodded. But there was no time to discuss it further; John was already leading the next horse onto the ramp.
One horse after another was auctioned off. The girls thought that the amount of money people were bidding was just about perfect. The prices were high enough that the Devines would make a terrific profit from the auction, but low enough that people could feel they’d gotten a bargain on a well-trained animal.
Another thing that seemed even more perfect to The Saddle Club was that the horses seemed to be getting matched up with appropriate owners. They watched as a woman whom Kate recognized as an outstanding local horsewoman bought Goldie, the spirited palomino. And they nodded in satisfaction when the same woman bought Road Map for her young daughter.
“Even though she’s only eight, and small for her age, she’s practically an expert rider already,” Kate told the others. “You should see her ride. Road Map will be perfect for her.”
A little later Rocky went to a wrangler who worked at a nearby ranch. Then it was Midnight’s turn.
“Now, my helpers tell me this horse is very special,” Frank told the audience. “He needs someone who will appreciate his, uh, special sense of humor. And he needs a good rider who can handle him—he’s pretty frisky.”
Several people bid on him, but Midnight ended up going to a teenage boy. Stevie had noticed the boy examining Midnight earlier. “Do you know him?” she asked Kate.
“I recognize him,” she replied. “He goes to my school. His name is Mac. He’s a senior, and he’s pretty well-known around school for two reasons. The first is that he’s quite a good calf roper. He’s taken some prizes in local rodeos.”
“What’s the other reason?” Carole asked.
Kate grinned. “He’s even more famous—or should I say infamous—for being the class clown.”
“Perfect!” Stevie exclaimed happily. She looked at Midnight’s new owner with greater respect.
As the day went on, things continued in pretty much the same fashion. Every horse seemed custom-made for the rid
er who bought it—although the girls preferred to think of things the other way around! Finally the last horse, Lucky, was led onto the platform. Frank described the gelding’s qualities, including Kate’s recommendation that he be considered for English show riding. Half a dozen people bid on him, but in the end a tall, middle-aged man dressed in a suit and tie bought him.
“He doesn’t look much like a show rider,” Stevie said, a little disappointed. Lucky was a terrific horse, and he deserved a rider who would appreciate him.
“He’s not,” Kate said. “But he is the person I was thinking of when I said I knew who should buy Lucky.”
“What do you mean?” Lisa asked.
“He’s an agent for a stable back East,” Kate explained. “I was talking to one of my old trainers. He happened to be looking around for a couple of new horses, and when I told him about Lucky, he decided to send that man out here to look at him and maybe buy him.” She nodded at the man, who was stroking Lucky while talking to Walter. “He may not look much like a rider, but he knows what he’s doing.”
“What a relief,” Carole said. “I thought our perfect record was going to be broken.”
“We have managed to match up horses and riders pretty well, haven’t we?” said Lisa.
Kate nodded. “But the important thing about that isn’t our record. It’s the fact that the horses and their new owners will be happy and able to get the best out of each other.”
“That’s true,” Stevie agreed. She thought about Lucy and Nina and what a perfect teacher Ellie would be for them—and what loving owners they would be to her. She thought about Midnight, whose abilities and sense of humor seemed perfectly matched to his owner’s. She thought about Lucky, who would be going East where his talents could be put to their best use. And then she thought about herself and Stewball. Were they as good a match?
Stevie remained deep in thought as she and her friends went to help Frank and Phyllis wrap things up.
Horse Tale Page 9