Chapter 1: Suspicions Arise

"What is the purpose of history, anyway? What's past is past! In the present I just want to be at Pine Hollow!" Stevie Lake smartly observed as she sat boredly through the last 15 minutes of, what she thought was the most useless subject in the world. Stevie was always impatient through school, but today she was a lot more impatient than usual because of something that had happened the previous day.

Flashback

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Stevie had been on her way to get Belle's tack to go on a trail ride with her two best friends when she heard Max say something interesting in him office. She tiptoed to the boor, which was slightly ajar, and crouched in a nearby shadow. She then heard Max say into the phone, "Yes, of coarse Mrs. Fionne, we will put them all in the 4 stalls closest to the tack room on the left side on the barn." There was a slight pause in which she heard mumbling come from the phone. Then Max replied, "No, not at all, new students are always very welcome here and we still have plenty on room." There was a very long pause, Stevie saw Max open his mouth to say something or start to speak several times, but apparently this person loved to talk because he couldn't get one word in!

Suddenly Max started writing on a notebook paper on his desk. Stevie silently watched the rapid movements on the pen across the paper through the slightly open doorway.

Then Max replied, "I'll have nameplates made as soon as possible, and tomorrow will be perfect at about…" Max's gaze drifted to his calendar as he carefully studied the next days schedule. "4:00, would that be good with you? OK then…Alright, I'll see you at 4:00 tomorrow! OK, that's fine. Ok well… I'll…I'll see you then!" Max hung up the phone swiftly and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked very thankful that that ordeal was done with. He scribbled something indecipherable on his calendar, then walked to the door just as Stevie stood up quickly, just in time to look Max in the face and ask sweetly, "May I please use the phone, Max?"

Max looked very suspicious, but nodded all the same and said, "Just don't make it too long, OK?"

"Okie Dokie!"

As Max strode down the aisle way, Stevie pretended to dial numbers and spoke into the phone, considering a possible career as an actress. Once she was sure no one was around, she abruptly hung up.

End of Flashback

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Stevie woke from her ponderings as Ms. White's impatient voice brought her back to the present, as Stevie sheepishly turned her history book to page 107