Mystery of the Midnight Rider (Nancy Drew Diaries #3)(33)

His wife heard him and chuckled. "Yes, I wonder where she got that from?” she quipped, reaching over to squeeze her husband’s hand.

"Wait a minute,” I said, a little confused. "You mean signing as her own trainer was Payton's idea? But I thought she said—”

"Look!” Ned exclaimed, cutting me off. "Payton’s starting!” While I was talking with Mr. Evans, the crew had finished rebuilding the jumps. We all watched as Payton finally nudged her horse into a relaxed trot, beginning a big, loopy circle around part of the ring. From watching previous rounds, I knew she was waiting for the buzzer to sound so she could begin.

I glanced over at Mr. Evans, who was chatting with Bess. Why was his last comment bugging me so much? Okay, so Payton put as much pressure on herself as her parents did. That was obvious. It didn’t have anything to do with the case—did it?

My mind sorted through the clues and incidents again, looking for patterns. Any of our suspects could be the culprit—right? Except I kept getting stuck on that note in the grill. I tried to picture Lenny Hood following Payton home from the show grounds, then sneaking into the Nickersons’ backyard. Or Jessica. Or Cal or Dana or Mickey.

It just didn’t compute. How on earth would any of them pull it off? Perhaps more important, why would any of them hide a note in such an out-of-the-way place?

There was only one logical answer. They wouldn’t. That meant somebody else must have done it.

I glanced over at Dr. Evans and Mrs. Nickerson, who had their heads close together as they chattered and laughed while waiting for Payton’s round to start. A new idea crept into my mind. Could it be...?

The buzzer sounded, startling me out of my thoughts.

“Here she goes!” Mr. Evans exclaimed as Payton cantered Midnight around to the end of the ring, picking up speed as she aimed him toward the timer flags.

There was a loud whoop from down by the gate. Glancing that way, I saw Dana standing there, watching Payton.

I gasped as the answer hit me like a horse’s hoof to the gut. "Stop!” I shouted, leaping out of my seat so fast I almost tripped over Bess. "Stop her!”

"Nancy!” Mrs. Nickerson cried. “What are you doing?”

The others were gasping and crying out too, but I ignored them.

I lunged down the bleachers, almost stepping on the hand of the man sitting in front of me.

"Stop her!” I yelled as loudly as I could, waving both hands over my head. "Please! You have to stop this round!”





CHAPTER TWELVE




Driven



I RACED FOR THE RING, IGNORING THE shouts and stares from people around me. I had to stop Payton before it was too late.

There were too many people between me and the gate, so I pushed aside some spectators standing at the fence and vaulted over. I was vaguely aware of people running toward me—jump crew, probably, trying to stop the crazy girl from ruining the show—but I had a head start as I dashed across the ring. Midnight was just a few strides out from the first jump on the course, his ears pricked forward. Was I already too late?

“No!” I howled, pushing my legs to pump faster.

Payton heard me and glanced over. A look of confusion crossed her face as she saw me running toward her.

Midnight heard me coming too. He spooked away from me, losing speed as he lurched sideways.

“Go!” Payton urged, kicking the horse to get him moving again.

But the horse’s hesitation had given me the time I needed. I threw myself forward, grabbing for the reins. Midnight tossed his head, almost dragging me off my feet. But I held on, and the horse came to a prancing, snorting halt.

"Nancy, what are you doing?” Payton’s face was very pale beneath her black riding helmet. "Let go!”

I met her eye, not backing off. "You don’t have to do this, you know.”

Someone grabbed my shoulder from behind. "Come with me, young lady,” a gruff voice said.

Glancing back, I saw a particularly burly member of the jump crew. A man in a suit was hurrying toward me as well—some sort of official, I assumed.

“Get her out of here,” the official snapped. He glanced up at Payton. “I’m sorry about this, Ms. Evans. If you need a moment to regroup or settle your horse, of course it’s no problem.”



“What’s going on?” Dana demanded, rushing over to us. “Pay-ton, are you okay?” Without waiting for an answer, she whirled to glare at me. “What in the world are you doing?” She shoved me back away from Midnight and grabbed his reins herself, running her free hand down the horse’s neck soothingly. Then she glanced at the jump-crew guy. “Get her out of here already!”



"Wait.” I resisted as the guy started to pull me away. “Look at this, Dana.”

Slipping out of the man’s grasp, I stepped forward and slid my hand under the girth, giving it a hard yank.

SNAP! It broke apart just under the saddle flap. The loose end flopped down against Midnight’s front legs, making him jump in surprise.

“Whoa!” Dana exclaimed, her eyes going wide with alarm as Payton’s saddle, suddenly left with nothing but gravity holding it on the horse’s back, slipped to one side. “Easy, boy.

I stepped back, shoulders slumping. My hunch had been right.