Antonia, the Horse Whisperer: The Rosenburg Riding Stables, Volume 1
For Ever and Ever She had won the big jumping competition A no fault ride with the best time No faults Antonia was absolutely stunned and overwhelmed She sat on Snow White her horse The gray mare pranced with excitement and seemed just as proud as Antonia Yes she Antonia Rosenburg had actually won first prize in the horse show The result of years of training she heard a voice exclaim over the loudspeaker He means us Snow White and me she thought and enjoyed the resounding applause She stroked Snow White’s mane stretched then lifted her head and swung it shaking her long hair to the back Her eyes lit up with joy She could hardly believe it They had won And the people in the stands were clapping for her Next to her Leona was sitting on Thunder Leona her very best friend Had she won too 4
Man I knew it whispered Leona You and Snow White cleaned up all the prizes Somewhere in the audience Antonia’s father Alex ander and Grandma and Grandpa Rosenburg were sitting And of course her older sister Caroline was there too Antonia bowed her head as the medal was hung around her neck and then she accepted a gleaming trophy A ribbon was placed on Snow White’s bri dle Proudly Antonia sat up straight in the saddle and waved to everybody The fanfare sounded and the six best riders galloped their victory lap for the grand fina le It was a wonderful feeling It was like a dream from which she suddenly awakened because somebody was calling to her What had happened Hello Leona leaned down toward her from the top bed and grinned You were talking in your sleep again Antonia rubbed the sleep from her eyes and beamed Really I was standing on the very top It was an un believable feeling Antonia you’ve gotten to the top so many times 5
You know the feeling already I train and train and I’m still not half as good as you You were just born to ride horses Leona jumped out of bed and pointed out the window It’s going to be a super-duper day Not a wisp of a cloud to be seen Riding and swimming are on the menu today And the sun really was shining brightly already sending its warm rays into Antonia’s room Antonia stretched her arms and legs Yes It would be a great day It was summer vacation Finally Six weeks of rid ing swimming and dreaming Get up shouted Leona Antonia leaped out of bed She would be able to spend the whole day with her best friend and Snow White And tomorrow too And the next day Leona was staying here at Antonia’s house in her room for three weeks That’s what both friends had wanted for their summer vacations Antonia suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach The Snow White butterflies Today was Snow White’s big day today she finally got the bandage off At last Antonia and her mare would slowly be able to begin 6
training again But there was another feeling too a slight ache in her tummy and a nervous trembling Was it doubt Oh nonsense Everything will be fine Anto nia told herself We’re going to the lake after riding right Leona was such a tomboy There wasn’t a sport she didn’t try And that’s how she looked slim well-trained short-cropped blonde hair blue eyes and thousands of freckles on her snub nose Swimming and riding were her absolute favorite sports and she was really good at swimming and best at diving Antonia was sure one of Leona’s ancestors must have been a real mermaid 7
