“Not half as glad as I am,” he said. His eyes followed Crazy Horse and Cadillac everywhere they went; feeding at the hayrack, trotting here and there amongst the herd of ranch horses just to let everyone know they were back.
Crazy Horse nosed up to Jitterbug and butted her in a friendly fashion. Cadillac danced up to Johnny Mohawk and shook his mane at him. Yukon and Moose wandered slowly by.
“Do we know how Crazy Horse got loose from Logan in the first place?” Matt was rerunning events from Sunday night to now.
“Rob says Gibb loaded him into the horse box, drove out onto Route 3, and dumped him,” Kirstie answered. She smiled as Cadillac and Crazy Horse spotted them on the fence and came toward them.
“‘Rob says’!” Matt grinned from ear to ear.
“The young guy who let us out of the tack room,” she explained, her face burning. Chalk it up to the evening sun hitting her as it sank behind Eagle’s Peak. “He wasn’t part of the robbery. He’s staying put at Ponderosa Pines until they sort something out.”
“Rob!” Matt wouldn’t let it drop. “So how far does Rob say Gibb drove before he dumped Crazy Horse?”
Still blushing, determined to ignore Matt’s teasing, Kirstie jumped into the meadow and went to meet the two horses. They approached in step, Cadillac adjusting his long stride to Crazy Horse’s short legs. “Thirty or forty miles,” she told him. “A heck of a long walk back here!”
“What a star!” Matt followed her into the meadow. As Kirstie walked toward Cadillac, he split off and met the sturdy, plain, ordinary quarter horse with the strong, loyal heart. He slung an arm around his neck and walked with him.
“How many people do you know who would do as much for a friend?” Kirstie asked. Cadillac lowered his head to nuzzle her shoulder, keeping Crazy Horse at the edge of his sight.
“Not many. Animals, yes. People, no.” Matt fell into step with the geldings. “Animals give you loyalty, no question.”
“Especially horses,” Kirstie murmured happily. “Though I’d do it for Lisa, I guess.”
“Risk your life?” Matt mused.
Holding up her wrist to show him her bracelet, Kirstie nodded. They walked in silence toward the sun.
“Mom’s happy,” Matt said out of nowhere.
“That’s good.” Kirstie stopped, one hand on Cadillac’s neck.
“We talked. I’m gonna finish college, be a vet.”
She took a deep, deep breath. “That’s real good.”
Crazy Horse leaned his head across Matt to nudge her arm. His mane fell across his half-closed eyes, he seemed to be smiling: It’s been a close call, but hey, everything worked out fine!
WILD HORSES
Kirstie is leading a horse trek through Miners’ Ridge when a sudden storm causes a landslide. She is trapped alone in Dead Man’s Canyon with a herd of wild horses whose leader—a proud stallion—has been hurt by falling rocks. Cold, wet, and alone in the gathering storm—can she find a way out and help the injured stallion?
RODEO ROCKY
While at a local rodeo contest, Kirstie is horrified to see how Rocky, an injured horse, is treated. Kirstie persuades her mother to buy him but soon learns that training an ex-rodeo horse is not easy. And when Rocky throws Kirstie on a trail far from the ranch, she quickly realizes that the only way to get them both home safely is to trust herself and the unruly horse.
JOHNNY MOHAWK
Kirstie Scott knows her beloved horses are friendly and gentle, so when a guest at Half Moon Ranch accuses Johnny Mohawk of throwing him off, she is positive that he is lying. With the threat of a lawsuit looming, Kirstie must prove that Johnny Mohawk is not to blame before time runs out. Kirstie is certainly no detective, so how can she possibly prove that Johnny Mohawk is truly innocent?
MIDNIGHT LADY
Kirstie Scott can’t wait to meet the neighbors that have just moved in, especially their strong-willed and elegant mare, Midnight Lady. But she is shocked to discover that they mistreat their horses. Appalled by the abuse, she vows to rescue them. However, her plan backfires when many of the horses escape deep into the mountains. Kirstie is now faced with a tough choice—confess or sneak off herself in search of Midnight Lady and the other missing horses.
THIRD-TIME LUCKY
Kirstie Scott adores all of her horses, but Lucky is her favorite. She is devastated when Lucky suddenly falls ill and his life hangs in the balance. Even more unsettling is that no one can figure out what’s wrong with him. Desperate for answers, Kirstie takes Lucky deep into the Rockies to find a reclusive but legendary horse doctor before she loses her beloved friend. Who is this mysterious doctor—and will he even be able to save Lucky?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and brought up in Harrogate, Yorkshire, Jenny Oldfield went on to study English at Birmingham University, where she did research on the Brontë novels and on children’s literature. She then worked as a teacher before deciding to concentrate on writing. She writes novels for both children and adults and, when she can escape from her desk, likes to spend time outdoors. She loves the countryside and enjoys walking, gardening, playing tennis, riding, and traveling with her two daughters, Kate and Eve.
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