“…and if it wasn’t for me nothing bad would’ve happened to Aria and she wouldn’t have been taken from her home and I wish I had told you right away because then you would have sent me away before I got to love you both so much and I wish you could just know how sorry I am but at least if you like Melody that’s something, and she will have a happy home and grow up to be a beautiful horse and I’m already going to miss her too and…”
“Sophie!” Kalene and Joel said together and Sophie finally stopped.
“Sophie,” said Joel in a quieter voice. “If you had told us about Aria months ago, we wouldn’t have sent you away. You made a mistake, that’s all.”
“And you never should have taken Aria,” said Kalene. “You put her life in danger. And Melody’s life too.”
“Anything could have happened to her out there. Anything,” added Joel.
“But even though you were wrong to take her and you were wrong to not tell us,” said Kalene, “we are not going to send you away.”
“And of course we still want to adopt you,” said Joel.
“And you’re going to be punished,” added Kalene.
Joel nodded and continued. “You’re our daughter. Families stick together.”
“Remember that next time something happens,” said Kalene. “And I hope you can trust us enough to tell us. We’ve made mistakes too, and we don’t expect you to be perfect. But we do expect you to try to always do the right thing and to be the best person you can be.”
Sophie smiled and her eyes lit up. “You really still want to adopt me?”
“We’re your mom and dad, Sport,” said Joel. “You’re not going to get rid of us that easy.”
“Besides, who else can we get to take on a half mustang foal,” said Kalene and looked up a Joel.
“That’s right,” he said, when he realized what Kalene was talking about. “That little filly would be lost without you. What would she think if we sent her owner away?”
“What? You can’t mean it, can you?” whooped Sophie, overjoyed. “She’s mine?” Then she laughed. “And I’m yours!” she added. She threw one arm around Kalene and the other around Joel. “I can’t believe it,” she said, her voice muffled by Joel’s coat. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. Or how wonderful you are!”
“Well now,” said Joel, pushing her back. “You wait to decide how wonderful we are. There’s work to be done. We’ve got a couple of horses to take care of, so let’s not keep them waiting. And we’ve got a punishment to work out,” he said looking at Kalene.
“Oh yes,” said Kalene. “This one will take some thought. I’m glad your arm isn’t broken, Sophie. I think we can start in the barn today. All the stalls need mucking out. We’ll think of the second phase of the punishment later.”
But Sophie was so happy she just nodded her head. A huge grin spread across her face. She couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful than shovelling horse manure today, manure from the horses that belonged to her mom and dad.
And from Melody, the little one that belonged to her.
Late that night, Sophie went out to the barn to say goodnight to Aria and Melody. It was strange to see them comfortable in their roomy stall instead of the hidden corral. She wondered if Aria and Melody missed the sounds of the desert canyon, the water bubbling from the pool, the wind in the willows, the calls of the night birds.
She scratched Aria under her chin, stroked Melody’s neck and whispered, “See you in the morning, Melody,” into the foal’s ear , then slipped out of the stall and closed the door behind her.
“Sophie.” Angelica’s voice came from the other end of the barn.
Sophie spun around to see Angelica standing outside Rosie and Starlet’s stall. Relief washed over her. “Angelica!” she cried as she ran toward the golden girl. “I’m so glad you are okay! You are, aren’t you? The mustangs found you. And what about the mountain lion?”
Angelica smiled. “Yes, I am fine. And the mountain lion was killed.” She shook her head and her golden hair shimmered in the light. “He leapt on me just before the flood swept over us. He drowned.”
“I’m glad he’s dead,” said Sophie. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. And I’m so glad you came to say goodbye.”
“I came to give you something too,” said Angelica. “And to tell you how happy I am for you and your new parents.”
Sophie beamed. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“They love you very much,” said Angelica. She reached out and touched Sophie’s cheek. “And you are worthy of their love.”
When Sophie looked down, embarrassed, Angelica continued. “I came to tell you of Starlet too. The Great One wants me to tell you of her, since you will have a part to play in her future.”
“I will have something to do with Starlet?” asked Sophie, looking up.
“Yes, she is to become the companion to your best friend. Not now, but in a year or two,” said Angelica. “They will have many happy years together, just as you and Melody will.”
“You mean Max?” asked Sophie. “That’s so weird because Max totally loves Starlet. She has ever since the first time she saw her!”
“You will get the opportunity to bring them together,” said Angelica. “When the time is right, you will know what to do, what to say, to make it come to pass.”
“I would be happy to help,” said Sophie with a smile. Then she grimaced. “I don’t suppose I can tell Max, can I?”
Angelica shook her head and smiled.
“That’s okay,” said Sophie. “She’d never believe me anyway.”
Suddenly Angelica gasped and closed her golden eyes. “I can feel someone pulling me…far to the south…a mountain pass…” she whispered. After standing still for another moment her eyes snapped opened. “We must hurry,” she said urgently. “Hold out your hand, Sophie.”
Angelica put her hand to her hair as her golden tresses began to swirl in a nonexistent wind. Sophie watched her capture a single strand and twine it around her finger. She tugged sharply and placed the hair in Sophie’s outstretched palm.
But it was no longer a hair. It was a necklace, as gold-coloured as Angelica’s locks and as light as air. Sophie touched it with her finger and then lifted it. The necklace tinkled gently and Sophie could feel a soft energy warming her fingers. Sophie leaned forward so Angelica could slip the necklace around her neck. Sophie noticed that Angelica’s skin was glowing as she pulled away.
“Thank you,” Sophie said breathlessly. She stroked the golden links. “It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen.”
Angelica glowed brighter. “If you ever need help, Sophie, just touch it with your finger and call my name,” she said. “I will hear you and will come .”
“Thank you, Angelica,” said Sophie. For a second she hesitated, then she stepped forward and threw her arms around the older girl.
Angelica pulled her close for a moment, her arms warm and strong and tingling with energy. Then she pushed Sophie back. “I am sorry, Sophie. I must go,” she said. “Gato is calling me. He is in danger.”
“Good luck, Angelica,” called Sophie. She stepped back as Angelica brightened even more. Each point of her body became as luminous as the heart of a candle and her hair flew around her, not as gold, but as light. Then the form of the girl was gone and Angelica became the swirling brightness. Sophie tried to look at the light, but it hurt too much. With regret, she put her hand over her eyes. She could see the gleam through her fingers and eyelids grow stronger and stronger.
Then it grew less. Slowly, Sophie lowered her hand and opened her eyes. Angelica was gone. Sophie touched the necklace as she stared at the place Angelica had been.
“She sure knows how to make an exit,” she said to the barn full of horses.
Melody and Starlet neighed in agreement.
Gato. You are in grave peril.
And your companion, the lovely Fresa, has fallen. I am too late to save her.
Too late. My heart weeps with great pain
and sorrow.
But I will not be too late to save you, Gato. I must save you from the same fate that befell Fresa, for the condors will soon return.
###
What will happen next?
CONDOR MOUNTAIN
Available at:
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Suddenly, one of the shadows moved. Elena gasped as Crotalo stepped from behind a tree. The wild mare stared warily at Elena with eyes reflecting the sunset.
"You stay back!" Elena yelled.
Crotalo only lowered her head and snorted. Elena waved her arms, but stopped when Crotalo didn't move. Her gaze raked the shadows beside the horse. No sign of the strange girl. Crotalo was acting on her own.
I have to get going, Elena realized. I have to get as far as I can before it's too dark to travel.
"Go home!" she yelled louder, hoping that this time the horse would be frightened and run.
But the dark horse just kept staring at her with sunset-red eyes.
Elena doesn't believe the strange girl when she tells Elena that her father and his horse are trapped in the mountains, and that Elena is the only one who can save them. Only to make her mother and sister happy does she head into the Andes Mountains on her trusted mare, Mora, sure she’ll find her dad there, safe and sound.
But now frightening things are happening. Though there is no sign of the amber-eyed girl, the wild horse she was riding when she first spoke to Elena is following them. And then there are the strange fits that started falling over Elena after she met the girl, fits where she flies and thinks like a condor – and sees a man and a horse below that look suspiciously like her father and Gato.
Also available at Enchanted Pony Books
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Freedom Series
Freedom
Echo
Whisper
Horse Guardian Series
Dark Fire
Desert Song
Condor Mountain
Swift Current
Gold Fever
Slave Child
Rattlesnake Rock
Sobekkare’s Revenge
Mystic Tide
Silver Dream
Fighting Chance
Wolf Chasm
Desert Song (Horse Guardian) Page 11