Show-Jumping Dreams (7 page)

Saffron had caught up with Princess. She grasped her bridle in a muddy hand. “Dad’s going to be really mad if I take her back looking like this. She’s filthy!” she wailed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell Uncle Tim it was an accident,” Zoe said.

“It won’t make any difference. He’ll still blame me. You know how strict he
is. He’s got this saying: ‘It’s always the rider’s fault.’”

“But that’s not fair!” Alex exclaimed.

Unexpectedly, she felt herself starting to feel sorry for the older girl. It couldn’t be much fun having a dad who was so strict. She thought hard and a plan began to form in her mind.

“I have an idea. Let’s go to my house . . .”

“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Judd exclaimed when she saw Saffron standing miserably in the mud room, dripping mud and water everywhere.

To Alex’s relief, her mom didn’t waste time asking for explanations.

Mrs. Judd rolled up her sleeves. “Okay. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes and into the shower. Alex, can you get me—”

“Sorry, Mom. I’ve got something super important to do,” Alex interrupted swiftly. “Zoe will help. Won’t you, Zoe?”

“Um . . . sure.” Zoe frowned, puzzled.

“Towels are in the bathroom. And take any dry clothes from my bedroom,” Alex called over her shoulder, dashing outside before anyone could protest.

She ran over to the stables where all three ponies were tethered. Comet whinnied a greeting when he saw her.

Alex looked at Princess in dismay.

The once elegant gray pony was covered with patches of smelly drying mud and streaked with grass stains. Her tangled mane and tail looked like frayed rope.

“Wow! She looks terrible, doesn’t she?” Alex found herself wondering whether there would be time to put her plan into action. But she had to try.

First though, she had a confession to make to her magical friend.

“I’m . . . I’m sorry that I encouraged you to use your magic when I was upset. It was wrong of me, Comet. I know that now. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course. Everyone makes mistakes,” the magic pony said. “It is what you do to fix them that is important.”

Alex felt a bit better. “Thanks, Comet. You’re the best. I’ve got an idea. This is
how I can make it up to Saffron . . .”

The magic pony swiveled his ears and listened carefully as Alex told him what she had in mind. “But we’ll have to hurry before Zoe, Saffron, or my mom come out here.”

Comet nodded. “I will help you. But are you sure that this is what you want?” he asked, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Alex didn’t hesitate. “This time—definitely!”

She felt a familiar warm tingling sensation flowing down to the tips of her fingers. Large violet sparks ignited in Comet’s caramel-colored coat, and a cloud of tiny bright lights like busy worker bees fluttered into the air. The glittering little helpers spread
out, gathering everything they needed before they got to work. Alex watched in astonishment.

Splash!
A hose sprayed warm soapy water over Princess, washing the mud from her coat, mane, and tail.
Swish!
Towels swept back and forth drying her.
Rustle!
Brushes buffed her coat, and combs gently untangled her mane and tail.

Princess sighed with contentment, enjoying being pampered. She even lifted each hoof in turn for it to be picked out, brushed, and oiled. Finally she was finished. Her coat gleamed like silver, and her mane and tail were brushed to a glossy silkiness.

“She looks wonderful. Thanks, Comet!”

“I am glad that I could help,” Comet neighed as every last little glowing bee disappeared, and the deep-violet sparks faded from his coat.

They were only just in time. Zoe and Saffron were leaving the house and crossing the yard.

Saffron’s eye widened when she saw Princess. “Alex? What . . . wow! I can’t believe it!” she gasped delightedly. She was
dressed in a pair of Alex’s overalls and a spare pair of jodhpurs, which were tucked into a pair of her mom’s old riding boots.

“How did you manage to get Princess looking like that?” Zoe asked.

You wouldn’t believe me, even if I could tell you!
she thought. “I love a challenge! Anyway, I didn’t want to hang around and get bored, while everyone fussed over Saffron,” she lied happily.

While Saffron was admiring her perfectly groomed pony, Zoe leaned close to whisper to Alex. “You can’t fool me. You did it to stop Saffron from getting into trouble, didn’t you?”

Alex shrugged. “Well, I did feel a bit sorry for her. I didn’t want her to get in trouble with her dad.” She would have loved to tell Zoe the truth, but she
couldn’t do that without giving away Comet’s secret. She knew that she would never tell anyone about her magical friend.

Comet seemed to know what she was thinking. He tossed his head and gave a soft whicker of approval.

Saffron turned to Alex. “Thanks, Alex. I won’t forget this,” she said warmly. “I . . . I know I can be a pain. It’s the way I am, but I don’t mean anything by it. Friends, okay?”

Alex flushed. “I guess I haven’t been that easy to get along with, either,” she admitted honestly. “It’ll be different from now on.”

“Yeah!” Zoe did a little dance of triumph. “Does this mean we can all concentrate on having fun and getting
ready for the Pony Club fund-raising event?”

“You bet!” Alex and Saffron exclaimed happily.

Comet’s warm magic swirled around Alex as they paused on the heathery hillside a week later. His sides were heaving after a thrilling gallop, and as he looked out across the wide expanse of the land, he caught his breath.

Alex relaxed in the saddle, full of the afterglow of another exciting ride on the magic pony. If she lived to be a hundred,
she would never forget the joy of riding him.

She had spent the afternoon at Zoe’s house, watching some of Saffron’s show-jumping DVDs. Zoe’s mom had gotten pizza and snacks and turned the event into a party.

Now Alex and Comet were cutting across the fields on their way home.
Another search among the rock formations had proved fruitless. There had been no more signs of Destiny.

“It was so much fun today and Saffron was great. We’re all getting along better. But Zoe will always be my best friend,” Alex told him happily, resting her hands in her lap.

Comet huffed out a warm breath and snorted softly. “I am glad that things have worked out well for you.”

Alex thought she detected a trace of sadness in his voice and guessed that he was missing his twin sister.

“They’ll work out for you and Destiny, too,” she said nicely. “I know they will.”

Comet’s eyes glowed with new hope. “I hope so. Thank you, Alex.”

Gray clouds were gathering above the
huge boulders. Alex shivered and reached out to stroke the palomino’s silky neck. “It’s getting cold. There’s a warm stable and a bucket of oats waiting for you at home. Shall we go?”

Comet pricked his ears. “I am ready. Hold tight!”

Alex caught her breath as the magic pony rocked back onto his hind legs and pawed the air with his hooves. When he leaped forward, tiny rainbows glimmered in his caramel coat and sandy mane.

They galloped toward a stony track and in no time at all reached the winding lane that led to Scarp Hill Farm. Comet smoothly changed pace, and Alex rose to the trot as the farmhouse came into view.

Her heart gave a lurch as she spotted a truck in the yard. It was the horse
ambulance. “Pasha’s back from the specialist center!” she cried delightedly.

Dismounting quickly, she led Comet into the stable.

“Pasha!” The chestnut pony was in her stall, which was open and led into the yard. At the sound of Alex’s voice, she pricked her ears. Turning her head, she nickered and gave a friendly blow. Comet snorted softly to her and the ponies gently touched noses.

“Oh, that’s so sweet. Pasha looks a lot happier, doesn’t she?” Alex stroked her pony’s nose.

She quickly unsaddled the magic pony and gave him a scoop of food to eat, before rushing into the house to talk to her mom.

Simon Green, the vet, was sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee. He
looked up and smiled. “Hi, Alex.”

“Hi, Simon. Hi, Mom. I just saw Pasha! She looks great! Has the treatment worked? When can I exercise her on a lunge rope in the yard? How soon can I ride her again?” Eager questions spilled out of her.