The Lucky Horseshoes
At the end of the riding lesson, Red and Sue helped all the riders dismount.
“Now we’re going to have a parade,” Red announced. “Each one of you can lead your pony back into the stable.”
Nancy led Cupid into his stall. Then she went into the tack room with Bess and George.
“’Bye, Nancy,” Jackie said as she headed toward the exit.
“’Bye!” Nancy called.
Katie walked past, too. But she didn’t say goodbye to Bess or Nancy or George. Nancy thought Katie was acting silly.
“Oh, no!” Bess yelled. She was staring into her lunch box.
“What’s wrong?” Nancy asked.
“My lucky earrings are gone!” Bess cried.
Contents
Chapter 1: Squishy Mud
Chapter 2: Bess’s Earrings
Chapter 3: Katie’s Mad
Chapter 4: Stage Fright
Chapter 5: Two Suspects
Chapter 6: The Faded Clue
Chapter 7: Butterscotch
Chapter 8: Friends Again
1
Squishy Mud
One minute of school left,” eight-year-old Nancy Drew whispered. It was Thursday afternoon.
“That’s only sixty seconds,” Bess Marvin whispered back. Bess was one of Nancy’s two best friends. Her blue eyes were bright with excitement.
George Fayne was Nancy’s other best friend. George sat at the front of the row. Nancy could tell George was excited, too. Her shiny dark curls bounced as she moved around in her seat.
“Fifty-five seconds,” Nancy whispered. “Fifty-four, fifty-three . . .”
Nancy tried to sit still, but she was too excited. She and Bess and George were taking their first riding lesson after school.
“May I have your attention, please?” Mrs. Reynolds asked. She was the girls’ third-grade teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School.
“Tomorrow morning is our classroom spelling bee,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “I want everyone to get plenty of sleep tonight—”
Brring! The final bell rang.
“And come to school tomorrow with your spelling caps on,” Mrs. Reynolds finished. “Class dismissed!”
Nancy, Bess, and George jumped up from their seats. They put on their jackets and gathered their things. Then they hurried out of the classroom. They walked as quickly as they could down the hallway.
“See you at the stables!” Katie Zaleski called as they opened the front door to the school and stepped outside. She was starting riding lessons that afternoon, too.
Katie hurried toward her mother’s car. Nancy, Bess, and George sat on the front steps of the school.
“I hope Hannah comes soon,” Nancy said. “I don’t want us to be late getting to the stable.”
Hannah Gruen was the Drew family’s housekeeper. She had lived with Nancy and her father ever since Nancy’s mother had died, five years earlier.
The girls piled into the car as soon as Hannah pulled up. As Hannah drove, the girls chattered about their new after-school activity.
“What did you girls have for lunch today?” Hannah asked.
“Jumping beans,” George said with a giggle.
Hannah looked at them through the rearview mirror. Nancy could see that Hannah was smiling.
Nancy, Bess, and George settled down and looked out the window for the turnoff.
Soon the car reached the part of town where the houses were spread far apart. Hannah slowed the car. Then she turned into a drive marked with a sign that said River Heights Riding Academy. She parked in front of the stable.
Inside, ponies and horses stood in stalls. Nancy heard them snorting and stomping.
A tall, red-haired man came out of the office. He was followed by a woman with blond hair. “May I help you folks?” the man asked.
“We’re here for our first riding lesson,” Nancy told him.
“Great!” the man said. “My name is Red. I’ll be your instructor.” He turned to the blond woman. “And this is Sue, my assistant. She’ll show you around the stable.”
“You can keep your school things in the tack room,” Sue told the girls. “I’ll show you where it is.”
Nancy and her friends followed Sue into the stable and into a tiny room. The room was filled with brooms, buckets, brushes, and saddles. The floor was muddy. Cubbies lined one wall.
Bess and George put their jackets and knapsacks away. Nancy didn’t have to. Her things were still in Hannah’s car.
The girls hurried to the riding ring. A few boys and girls were already waiting to begin their lesson.
Katie was standing with Mandy Trout. Mandy was a girl Nancy knew from ice-skating. Katie and Mandy were talking to Jackie Taylor. Jackie lived near George. They sometimes played basketball together in George’s driveway.
George, Bess, and Nancy walked over to join the other girls.
“Are you excited about your first riding lesson?” Bess asked Mandy.
“This isn’t my first lesson,” Mandy said. “I’ve been riding for two months already.”
“It’s my first,” Jackie said.
“I knew that the minute you walked in,” Mandy told Jackie.
Mandy pointed to Jackie’s white pants. “Nobody wears white pants for riding,” she said. “Those are going to get good and dirty.”
Jackie looked down at her pants. Her face turned pink. Nancy knew Jackie felt embarrassed.
“I didn’t know what to wear, either,” Nancy said. She wanted to make Jackie feel better.
“All you have to do is look at me,” Mandy announced. She spun around so that everyone could see what she was wearing. “This is the perfect riding outfit.”
“What’s so perfect about it?” George asked.
“First of all, I always wear riding boots because of the mud,” Mandy said.
“My shoes are already dirty,” Bess said unhappily.
Mud was oozing up around the sides of Nancy’s gym shoes, too. But Nancy was too excited to think about it.
“You should wear jeans because they’re easy to wash,” Mandy went on. “But the most important thing of all is my special sweatshirt with a horseshoe sewn on it.”
“I have a sweatshirt like that,” Katie said. “Only mine has a parrot on it.”
“A horseshoe is better than a parrot,” Mandy said. “Parrots aren’t lucky. Horseshoes are.”
“Hi, everyone!” Just then Red and Sue came into the ring. They were each leading a line of ponies. And they were each carrying round, black hats that looked like helmets.
Bess opened her eyes wide. “I didn’t know ponies were so big!”
“Don’t be scared,” Nancy said.
“I’m . . . not,” Bess said. But she stayed close to her friends as Sue gave everyone a riding hat that fit just right.
“These hats are to be worn at all times when we ride,” Sue said. “Just like when you go Rollerblading or bicycle riding.
Then Red explained how to get up on the ponies.
“Wait until an adult is holding the pony’s head,” Red said. “Then take the reins with your left hand. Put your left foot into the stirrup. Pull yourself up, and swing your right leg over the pony’s back.”
“It’s easy,” Mandy whispered to the others.
“Sue and I are going to help each of you mount,” Red announced. “Please wait your turn.”
Sue started to help Jackie.
Red smiled at Bess. “Ready?”
“I’m not sure,” Bess said. “I feel a little scared.”
“Don’t worry,” Red said. “Some of the best riders were nervous when they first began. I think we’ll put you on Butterscotch.”
“Butterscotch is my pony!” Mandy said.
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Red smiled at Mandy. “You’re the most experienced rider in the class. I was counting on you to ride Rebel. He’s a little friskier, but I know you can handle him.”
“Okay, Red. If you think I’m such a good rider, then I’ll do it,” Mandy said.
Nancy watched Bess mount Butterscotch.
“Take the reins in your left hand,” Red was saying to Bess. “Good!”
Nancy hardly noticed when Mandy walked over to a glossy black pony.
“What’s Mandy doing?” George asked. “She’s not supposed to get on the horse by herself.”
Nancy turned in time to see Mandy climbing up on Rebel’s back. The pony let out a low whinny and pranced sideways.
Nancy saw Mandy try to pull herself up, but she was slipping as Rebel moved! Nancy had to do something fast, or Mandy was going to fall off.
2
Bess’s Earrings
Nancy rushed over to Sue. “Mandy needs help!” Nancy called.
Sue looked over and saw Mandy hanging on to Rebel’s side. The pony was stomping his feet. His eyes looked wild.
“Whoa, Rebel,” Sue called. She hurried over and helped Mandy climb into Rebel’s saddle. Once Mandy was seated, the pony calmed down.
“Mandy, what were you doing?” Sue demanded. Nancy thought she sounded angry.
“Getting up on Rebel,” Mandy said. Her lower lip was trembling.
“You know the rules about getting on the ponies,” Sue said. “Wait for help. You could have hurt yourself.”
“Well, I’m sorry!” Mandy said in a huffy voice. “It was no big deal.”
Sue helped Nancy mount a chestnut-colored pony named Cupid. George rode Smokey, a black-and-white pony.
Once everyone had mounted, Sue had the horses form a line. Then she led the class around the ring. Red stood by the fence in case anyone needed help.
Nancy felt nervous at first. She wasn’t used to being so high off the ground. She was much higher than when she rode her bicycle. But Cupid seemed gentle and walked slowly. Before long Nancy began to relax.
Sue showed the class how to sit up tall and straight in the saddle. Then she led the ponies around the ring in a big circle. She told everyone to hold on with their legs.
Nancy smiled at Bess and George as they passed each other in the circle. Riding was fun, she decided. She was happy that she and Bess and George were signed up for two riding classes every week. She couldn’t wait until their next class on Monday.
• • •
Friday was the day of the spelling bee. Nancy, Bess, George, and Katie were in their classroom.
“Bess, are you wearing earrings?” Nancy asked her friend.
Bess reached up and touched her earlobes. “Yes,” she said. “These are my horseshoe earrings. Mandy said horseshoes are lucky. Well, I’m hoping these will bring me luck in the spelling bee.”
“You bought special earrings just for the spelling bee?” George asked.
Bess giggled and shook her head. “I borrowed them from Mom.”
“Do you have a good-luck charm for the spelling bee?” Nancy asked Katie.
Katie shook her head. “No. But I still think I’m going to win.”
Nancy knew that Katie always got gold stars on her spelling tests. Once Katie had noticed that Mrs. Reynolds had spelled the word February wrong on the board.
The bell rang, and the students took their seats. Mrs. Reynolds took attendance. Nancy had butterflies in her stomach. The spelling bee was about to begin!
“Okay, class,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “Please line up across the back of the room.”
All the kids jumped out of their seats and hurried to line up. Nancy found a spot between Bess and George. Katie stood on George’s other side.
Mrs. Reynolds turned her chair around so that she was facing the line. “When it’s your turn, I’ll pronounce the word for you. Then you’ll say the word, spell it, and then say it again.”
Nancy remembered the rules. Mrs. Reynolds’s class had already had a few practice spelling bees.
Molly Angelo was first in line.
“Molly, your word is adopt,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
“Adopt,” Molly said. “A-D-O-P-T. Adopt.”
“Very good.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled at Molly.
The next few students in line got their words right, too. Peter DeSands was next.
“Peter, your word is banner,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
“Banner,” Peter said. “B-A-N-E-R. Banner.”
“I’m sorry, Peter,” Mrs. Reynolds said. “That’s not quite right. You may sit down.”
Peter made a face as he walked back to his desk.
Bess was next. “Banner,” she said. “B-A-N-N-E-R. Banner.”
“That is correct, Bess,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
Bess beamed and touched her earrings.
Nancy smiled at Bess. She knew that Bess has gotten the word right because she was a good speller.
Next it was Nancy’s turn. Her word was gentle. She got it right. George and Katie got their words right, too.
Phoebe Archer, Jason Hutchings, and Jenny Marsh missed their words. They had to sit down.
“That’s the end of round one,” Mrs. Reynolds said when everyone had taken one turn. “Now let’s start round two.”
Mrs. Reynolds gave Molly another word to spell. Then Bess got her second word right.
Nancy felt nervous. She was next!
“Nancy, your word is beagle,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
One of Nancy’s favorite books was called One Hundred and One Dog Breeds. Beagles were one of the breeds. Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. “Beagle,” she said. “B-E-A-G-L-E. Beagle.”
“Very good,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
George’s word was familiar. She left out the second i, and had to sit down.
At the end of round two, only five spellers were still standing. They were Brenda Carlton, Bess, Nancy, Katie, and Andrew Leoni.
Bess smiled at Nancy. “I can’t believe I haven’t made a mistake yet,” she said. “These earrings are super-lucky.”
“It’s not just the earrings,” Nancy said. Nancy knew Bess always studied for spelling tests. And she usually got most of the words right.
Round three began.
Brenda made a mistake spelling the word capitalize. She stomped back to her seat.
Bess’s word was merry. She got it right.
Nancy was next. “Your word is sufficient,” Mrs. Reynolds told Nancy.
Nancy gulped. She thought she had been given a hard word. “Sufficient,” Nancy said slowly. “S-U-F-F-I-C . . .” Then she paused. “E-N-T. Sufficient,” she said.
“No, I’m sorry,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
Nancy felt disappointed as she walked back to her seat. But she wasn’t upset. She listened carefully as Katie spelled the word.
“S-U-F-F-I-C-I-E-N-T,” Katie said. “Sufficient.”
“That is correct,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
Nancy realized that she had left out the second letter i.
Andrew spelled his next word correctly, too.
Now only Bess, Katie, and Andrew were left standing. Nancy felt happy that Bess was doing so well.
Andrew left out the letter e from the word volume.
Katie and Bess were the only spellers left!
“Anchovy,” Mrs. Reynolds said to Katie.
Katie didn’t even stop to think. “That’s easy,” she said. “Anchovy. A-N-C-H-O-V-I-E. Anchovy. It’s spelled just like Katie.”
“I’m sorry, Katie, that’s not right,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
Katie’s mouth dropped open. “Are you sure?” she asked Mrs. Reynolds.
“Yes,” Mrs. Reynolds said.
Katie stomped back to her desk without saying a word.
Uh-oh, Nancy thought. Katie sure is angry.
The teacher turned to Bess. “Bess, if you can spell the word anchovy correctly, you’ll be our classroom spelling champ!”
3
Katie’s Mad
Nancy took a deep breath. She was nervous just watching Bess spell. She could imagine how nervous Bess felt! Nancy hoped her friend would get the word right.
Bess rubbed one of her horseshoe earrings. “Anchovy,” she said. “A-N-C-H-O-V-Y. Anchovy.”
“That is exactly right!” Mrs. Reynolds exclaimed. “Bess, you’re going to represent our class in the schoolwide bee. Congratulations!”
“Thanks!” Bess said with a smile. She gave George and Nancy the thumbs-up sign.
Katie raised her hand. “Mrs. Reynolds, suppose Bess gets sick,” she asked. “Who will be in the spelling bee?”
“Well, you’re the runner-up, so you’d represent our class, Katie,” Mrs. Reynolds said gently. “But let’s all hope that Bess doesn’t get sick.”
• • •
“I’m proud that you won our class’s spelling bee,” Nancy told Bess at lunch.
“I can’t believe you knew how to spell all those words,” George added. “You were awesome!”
Bess shook her head. “I never expected to win,” she said. “I’m just glad that Mandy told me that horseshoes are lucky. Those earrings must have helped me spell better.”
“Shh,” George said. “Mandy is sitting right over there. If she hears you, she’ll start bragging about how you couldn’t have won without her.”
Nancy laughed. Mandy had bragged a lot the afternoon before. Mandy wanted everyone to know that her outfit was best and her pony was the most difficult to ride.
Nancy was happy that Mandy had found something she was good at. Mandy had been the worst skater in their ice-skating class.
Katie walked past the girls’ table.
“Hey, Katie!” Bess called. “Come sit with us.”
“No, thanks,” Katie said. She walked right by them. Then she sat at another table.
“I think Katie is mad at me,” Bess said.
“She was definitely angry when she lost,” Nancy said. “I think she’s hoping you’ll get sick on the day of the schoolwide bee.”
“Well, I’m not going to get sick,” Bess said. “I want to win.”
“Don’t worry about Katie,” George said. “She’ll get over losing in a couple of days.”
“Look,” Nancy said. “Here comes Mrs. Oshida. I think she’s going to make an announcement.”