The Mystery of the Masked Rider Read Online Free Page A

Saturday,” Bess said.
    â€œDr. Hall said she’s fully recovered,” Colleen told her. “She checked Nightingale out yesterday afternoon.” Colleen took the saddle off the door and threw it on the mare’s back.
    â€œAnd I’d say by the grin on your face that you and Phil made up,” Nancy said in a teasing voice.
    Colleen flushed. “You’re right. Last night wewent out to dinner. It was very romantic. I guess I needed the break. I just didn’t realize how much pressure I’ve been under lately, getting ready for the upcoming show and trying to make a decision about selling Nightingale.”
    â€œHas anything else unusual happened since Saturday?” Nancy asked.
    â€œNo. Things have been real quiet. Last night Dad stayed home and kept an eye on Nightingale.” Colleen crossed her fingers. “Let’s hope things have returned to normal. Right, girl?” She kissed Nightingale on her soft nose, then led her from the stall. But as the mare stepped into the aisle, Nancy could see that she was favoring her right front leg.
    â€œShe’s lame,” Nancy said, frowning. “Her front leg.”
    â€œWhat?” Colleen walked the horse two more steps down the aisle. Nightingale was clearly limping.
    â€œI can’t believe it!” Colleen’s voice rose to a shrill pitch. “What is going on?”
    â€œMaybe it’s nothing,” Bess tried to reassure her friend. “A pebble or something.”
    Colleen sucked in her breath. “You’re probably right. I’m just overreacting. Oh, no!” Handing the reins to Nancy, she suddenly bent down and ran her hand down Nightingale’s right foreleg.
    â€œLook at this!” Colleen cried, straightening abruptly. She was staring down at the palm of her hand. Nancy came over to stand next to her.There was reddish-brown gunk and horse hair on Colleen’s fingers.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Bess asked, peering around Colleen’s other side.
    Colleen held out her hand. “Smell.”
    â€œNo way!” Bess stepped back, but Nancy leaned over and sniffed. “It smells like strong pine tar,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
    â€œIt’s called a blister,” Colleen answered in a bitter voice. “You rub the substance on a horse, and it burns its skin sore. My fingers are tingling right now.”
    Puzzled, Nancy frowned. “If you didn’t put it on Nightingale, then who did?”
    Colleen’s eyes glimmered angrily. “I don’t know. But whoever did it was trying to make Nightingale lame on purpose!”

4
A Painful Surprise
    â€œSomeone deliberately rubbed the blister on Nightingale’s leg?” Nancy repeated, shocked.
    Colleen nodded. “And it must have been late last night or sometime this morning. Nightingale was fine when I put her in the barn early yesterday evening.”
    â€œBut why would someone want to hurt your horse? And where’d they get that blister stuff?” Bess asked two of the questions that were spinning in Nancy’s mind.
    Colleen threw up her hands. “Who knows!” she exclaimed. “If I knew who it was I’d . . . I’d . . .” Suddenly her voice trailed off and her shoulders slumped. “I’d better get some warm soapy water and wash off the blister before it makes Nightingale’s leg swell,” she said finally. “It’s already burning my own fingers.” She heldout her hands. Her fingers were reddish brown. “The stuff stains your skin, even if you wash it off.”
    By the time Colleen returned with a bucket, Nancy and Bess had untacked Nightingale and put on the mare’s halter. “I figured you wouldn’t be riding today,” Nancy said to Colleen.
    â€œThat’s for sure,” Colleen said grimly. “I just hope Nightingale’s going to be in shape for the show. It’s only four days away.”