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."Hurry and wash your hands, Nancy.You're just in time," Hannah said."I'll be right there," the girl replied, racing upstairs.She almost bumped into Carson Drew."Whoa, honey! What's the rush?" the tall, distinguished lawyer chuckled, taking his daughter by the arms."Sorry, Dad, but Hannah said to hurry, and everything smells so good and I'm so hungry!" she smiled up at him.He tilted her chin and looked at her fondly."At the rate you're going, you'll beat me to the table!"Later, over the delicious desert of chocolate mousse, Nancy told her father and Hannah of Judd Bruce's unfriendly attitude."I'd like to know why he's so defensive," she added."If he's one of a group of people who owns Minaret, why didn't he want me to see who the others were?""Good question," her father murmured as he sipped his coffee."Dad, is there any chance you could find that out for me? And also could your private investigators trace the whereabouts of a jockey named Pepper Nash? He used to race at tracks around here, but now he seems to have disappeared."Carson Drew readily agreed to try to get the answers."It may take a day or two, honey, but I'll let you know as soon as I learn anything."The next morning dawned sunny and warm.Driving to the Rainbow Ranch to model for the first TV commercial, Nancy found Tony Traynor and his film crew already there.As soon as Monsieur Philippe had done his makeup work on her, she was ready to start.A stable boy led a shining big black stallion out into the summer sun.Tony said, "I thought Stormy would be a good horse to start with.Is it all right with you, Nancy?""Oh, yes! Isn't he a beauty!" She patted and soothed the restless animal."Okay, Stormy, here we go!" With that, Nancy lithely mounted him.She was no sooner in the saddle than the big black thoroughbred began to buck and kick wildly.As he galloped and snorted, it was all Nancy could do to hang on!10.Another FrightStormy continued to plunge and rear like an untamed bronco, calling on all of Nancys riding skills to stay on his back.Seeing her chance, she jumped off quickly and at last was able to quiet the stallion."That was one time I was sure Id be thrown!" she said to Tony Traynor and Kurt Ellum.The trainer had come hurrying to the scene, looking concerned during her wild ride.Nancy continued patting and stroking Stormy to calm him."Here, let me take him! I'll get you another horse," Kurt Ellum said and reached for the reins in Nancys hand."Too bad," Tony said regretfully."He's a magnificent horse.Just what we need for this first commercial.You know, a different type of mount for each one.""No, wait, please," Nancy said to Ellum, refusing to surrender the reins."There must be a reason for him to act like that." Working deftly, she loosened the girth and pulled the light English saddle off Stormy.As she did so, a horse chestnut fell out from under the saddle and bounced on the ground."No wonder!" Tony Traynor exclaimed, picking up the prickly hulled nut."Stormy must have been in pain as soon as I mounted him," Nancy cried."How did that ever get under his saddle?"Kurt Ellum called angrily toward the stable, "Don!" Turning to Nancy and Tony, he said, "It's the fault of that fool stable boy.I'll fix him!"When a long-haired boy of about fifteen came running out in response to Ellum's shout, he got a vicious tongue-lashing that left him close to tears.Nancy gently intervened, but he was marched back to the stable by Ellum with the horse walking between them.In spite of having gotten off to a bad start, the shooting that morning went very well.Nancy rode and posed on a beautiful white Arabian horse named Snowflake, which Ellum personally brought out to them.Afterward, Tony said, "I'd still like to shoot the next one with you on that black stallion, Nancy.Do you think you'd want to after this morning?""Indeed I would," Nancy declared."It's bad for my morale to admit defeat.I'm going into the stable and talk to Stormy right now.""Good luck!" Tony grinned."The crew and I have to shove off.I'll see you here on Friday morning, okay?"When Nancy emerged from the stable, Mr.Harlow was approaching."I hoped I'd see you before you left, Nancy.I wanted to tell you that I've checked with all my employees.No one here at Rainbow Ranch uses sedatives or sleeping pills."Nancy was still inclined to wonder how reliable his staff's answer to such a question might be, coming from their employer.But she replied politely, "Thanks for finding out.I guess I'll have to look elsewhere."As they were talking, Nancy noticed Mr.Harlow's granddaughter walking slowly toward them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]