First, they took care of the horses they’d been riding, untacking and grooming Topside and Barq. Then, when that was done and they’d each brought fresh hay and water to the horses, the girls met in Starlight’s stall to take care of him. That was when Mrs. Reg appeared. Mrs. Reg was Max’s mother, and she was a friendly person, kind and motherly. She was well-known for her habit of keeping young riders busy with chores that needed to be done around the stable and for her endless supply of stories. Whenever something happened, Mrs. Reg told a story that didn’t seem the least bit relevant to the circumstances. It usually took the girls a while to figure out what the point was, but when they did, they almost always learned something. This time Mrs. Reg didn’t have a chore, nor did she have a story. But she certainly had a piece of her mind to give to Stevie and Lisa. “I saw that horse in his stall, all lathered up, with his tack on,” she accused. “I don’t know what you two think you were doing, but you didn’t do it right.
