Mystery of the Midnight Rider (Nancy Drew Diaries #3)(11)

She hurried outside with her husband right behind her. Bess, George, and Payton headed out too. I started to follow, but Ned stopped me with a hand on the arm.

"I have a confession to make,” he said once we were alone. "I, um, wasn’t planning on taking you to the horse show tomorrow.”

"You weren’t? But I thought—”

"I know I told you that was the plan.” He shrugged, looking sheepish. “But I was actually going to whisk you off for a romantic picnic at Cliff View Park instead. You know—for our anniversary.” "You were?” I was touched. "That sounds amazing. Even Bess would be impressed.”

He laughed. “Yeah, it was killing me today not to just tell her so she'd get off my back,” he said. “But I wanted it to be a surprise.” "I’m surprised.” I smiled and stood on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you.”

“But that’s what I’m saying.” Ned sounded troubled. “I don’t think we can go. Not with this Payton business hanging over our heads. I’m worried about her. Plus, you just pretty much promised my folks we’d be at that horse show all day tomorrow.”

I cocked an eyebrow. "Or at least all day until we solve the mystery. What if we get there early and wrap it up before lunchtime? Then we could still have our picnic in the afternoon.”

That made Ned look happier. "True. Do you think you can figure it out that quickly?”

“So far the most obvious theory is that this might be a straightforward case of envy-based petty sabotage.” I shrugged. "How tricky could it be?”





*****





I yawned as I pulled my car into the show’s parking lot. It was early—so early that I found a parking spot pretty close to the gate. Spotting a familiar car a few spots down, I pulled out my cell phone and called Ned.

"Are you here?” his cheerful voice asked after just a couple of rings. He’s definitely a morning person.

"Just got here,” I replied as I climbed out of my car. "Where are you?”

"At the bam with Payton. Mom and Dad insisted I drive her over and not let her out of my sight. They’re still pretty freaked out about the whole situation.”

“I know.” I pocketed my keys. "That’s another good reason to solve this mystery as quickly as possible.”

"Yeah. Are Bess and George with you?”

"They’re meeting us here later. They didn’t see the point of getting up quite this early.” I glanced around again at the nearly empty parking lot. "They figured nobody would be around to question at the crack of dawn. And I didn’t want to tell them why I was in such a hurry.”

He chuckled. “Got it. So what’s the plan?”



"You stick with Payton,” I said. "I talk to some other people, start figuring out a suspect list. I’ll call or text if I find anything interesting.”



After we hung up, I headed for the entrance gate. Halfway there,

I heard someone calling my name. It was Annie Molina, the local activist. She was rushing toward me, her full, flowing skirt billowing out around her legs and her round face cracked into a broad smile. Her PAN cohorts from yesterday were nowhere in sight. Maybe they were sleeping in, just like Bess and George.

"Nancy Drew!” she exclaimed. "It is Nancy Drew, right? Carson Drew’s daughter, the one who’s always getting written up in the papers for solving crimes and such?” She tittered, pushing aside a lock of curly brown hair as the breeze tossed it into her face.

"Yes, that’s me. It’s Annie, right?”

"Yes!” Annie looked thrilled that I’d recognized her. "I just wanted to say hello, and to tell you a few things you might not know about horse shows like this one.”

Uh-oh. Here it came.

"I’m sorry,” I said quickly. "I really need to—”

"These horses are nothing but slaves!” Annie exclaimed dramatically. She paused and waited for my reaction.

"I see,” I answered quickly and dodged around her, heading for the entrance. "Well, thanks for the info. We’ll catch up later.”

"Wait!” she cried.

But I didn’t. I made a break for the gate, easily leaving her behind.

Once inside, I headed toward the barn where Payton’s horses were stabled. Halfway there, I spotted Dana. She was riding a large chestnut gelding with four white stockings. I leaned on the rail to watch.

This was the first time I’d seen Dana on a horse, and I was impressed. She might come across as tense and abrupt on the ground. But all that disappeared in the saddle. She looked like a fluid part of her mount. There was a jump set up in the middle of the ring, consisting of some bright-yellow-striped rails with a planter full of flowers underneath. The horse was eyeing the obstacle nervously. Every time he got near it he spooked, jumping to the side and speeding up.

Dana didn’t react except to bring the horse back around. Again and again, until the horse was barely flicking an ear at the jump. Finally she turned him and trotted directly toward the obstacle. The horse’s ears pricked forward with alarm, and I held my breath, certain that he was going to put on the brakes.

"Get up,” Dana urged, her voice stern but calm. At the same time, she gave the horse a tap behind her leg with the crop she was holding.