McKenzie Read online

  “Derek, I’m surprised to see you’re still around here. I thought you’d be gone by now.” The woman flicked a piece of straw off her red T-shirt. “Is Emma around? I need to talk to her.”

  Derek pushed the wheelbarrow to the next stall. “She ran into town to pick up a load of feed. Can I do anything for you?”

  Maggie handed Derek a flyer. “Would you mind posting this somewhere so your riders can see it? I’m offering calf-roping sessions for teams who want to practice for the rodeo, and I only have two time slots left.”

  Derek took the flyer and looked it over as Maggie continued. “I mainly wanted to ask her about Diamond Girl, though. I’m so worried that something awful might have happened to her. I came by to tell her I’ll do anything I can to help. If she doesn’t feel up to taking on all those kids this week, she can feel free to send them my way. After all, Emma owes me.”

  Without another word, she turned and marched out of the stable. Derek shook his head as he watched her leave.

  “Why was she surprised to see you here, Derek? Are you leaving Sunshine Stables?” McKenzie asked.

  “No. I’m not leaving. Not yet, anyway. But I would like to start my own stable someday, and I need to save a lot of money before I can do that,” Derek said as he stepped back into a stall.

  McKenzie hoped Derek wouldn’t leave. She’d had so much fun since he had come to Sunshine Stables.

  “What did she mean by saying Emma owes her?” McKenzie grabbed another pitchfork and began scooping old hay and manure from another stall.

  “Several of Maggie’s riding students dropped out and are going to Emma’s Kids’ Camp instead. I guess she’s a little upset about that,” Derek said.

  McKenzie couldn’t believe anyone could be angry with Emma. She was such a sweet person. McKenzie had often thought that if she had an older sister, she would want her to be like Emma. Could Maggie really be upset because she had lost a couple of her young riders to Kids’ Camp? It was just a one-week program. McKenzie wondered if something else was bothering the woman. Could Maggie know something about Diamond Girl?

  “Well, Emma would never take Maggie’s riders on purpose.” Bailey folded her arms across her chest as she defended her instructor.

  Derek nodded. The three raked old hay out of the stalls in silence. After they had filled several wheelbarrows, Derek stood up and stretched.

  “Emma wanted that lean-to off the barn cleaned today,” he said. “Some old machinery is in there, but everything else can be thrown on the trailer to be hauled off. It shouldn’t take long. Would you girls do that?”

  “Sure,” McKenzie agreed. She loved messing around in the hayloft of that old red barn. Emma’s cat, Cheetah, often had a litter of kittens up there. Working in the barn sounded good.

  On their way out of the stable, McKenzie stopped in the supply room for a pair of binoculars. From the hayloft in the barn, a person could see the countryside for miles. She thought Bailey might enjoy the view.

  McKenzie led Bailey through a gate leading to the back of the barn. She swung the door open and stepped inside, breathing the musty smell of old hay. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the walls.

  The barn was a large, tall building supported by heavy wooden beams. The hayloft stretched across one end of the barn and was piled with hay bales. An old wooden ladder stood at one side reaching to the floor of the loft.

  McKenzie hung the binoculars around her neck by the leather strap and tugged on Bailey’s arm. “Do you want to go up?” McKenzie asked as she headed toward the ladder.

  Bailey stood at the foot of the ladder and peered up, frowning. “Oooh, I don’t know about this,” she said in a trembling voice. “It’s awful high up.”

  “Oh, you’ll love it once you get up there,” McKenzie said, stepping onto the first rung. “I’ll go first.”

  McKenzie continued climbing until she stepped onto the loft. She knelt and peered down over the edge. “Come on. It’s really neat up here.”

  Bailey wrinkled her brow as she stared at McKenzie. “I don’t like high places. I don’t think I can do it.”

  “Sure you can. Step on the first rung and take it one step at a time, but don’t look down. You’ll do fine.” McKenzie held out her arm toward Bailey.

  Taking a deep breath, Bailey stepped on the ladder. Climbing slowly, she finally reached the loft as McKenzie clutched her arm.

  Bailey glanced around at the bales. “Wow, this really is cool,” she said, brushing the dust from her hands.

  “Come to this window.” McKenzie scampered to a pile of bales and climbed almost to the top of the barn. She turned and leaned out the open window as the breeze brushed her cheeks. She could almost reach out and grab a branch in the treetop.

  Bailey’s hands trembled as she held the binoculars to her eyes. She gasped. “Hey, I can see the old windmill turning at Old Towne and the barber shop and…I see someone in the woods behind Old Towne.”

  McKenzie grasped the binoculars and peered into the distance. “I see it too,” she said as a flash of red moved slowly through the trees. But whoever it was disappeared quickly into the timber.

  Bailey wrinkled up her nose and sneezed. “Ooh, it’s dusty in here,” she said as she covered her nose with her hand.

  McKenzie knew that because of Bailey’s asthma, sometimes hay and dust bothered her. “Why don’t you go outside? I’ll start carrying out those boxes.”

  Bailey frowned. “I have my inhaler. I can help.”

  McKenzie didn’t want to take the risk of her friend having an asthma attack. “I’ll do it,” she assured Bailey. “But see those two horses near the fence? Bring the brown mare, Molly, in here through that other gate. Grab a brush and give her a rubdown, and she’ll love you forever.”

  The girls climbed down the ladder and headed outside, Bailey to get Molly and McKenzie to the lean-to.

  As McKenzie’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the shapes of old machinery at one end. Boxes and cans littered the other end. She grabbed a box filled with old leather straps and tack and loaded it onto the trailer parked outside the door. She carried box after box, and as she was finishing, something furry rubbed against her leg. She shrieked and jumped back.

  After glancing nervously at her feet, she chuckled. “Cheetah, you scared me half to death.” McKenzie bent over to pet the cat’s soft fur.

  As she stood up, she noticed several crates behind an old wooden horse cart. The crates were crammed into the corner, so she would have to move the cart to get to them. McKenzie grabbed the cart and rolled it outside.

  “This is a great horse, McKenzie,” Bailey called out as she brushed the mare’s back. “She’s as gentle as a bunny.”

  “I thought you’d like her. Her eyesight is going bad, but she can still run,” McKenzie said as she headed back for the crates. They were heavier than they looked, so she rearranged the contents before she could lift them. She looked up as a shadow filled the doorway.

  “Hey there, Buckeye. How are you doing, boy?” she asked as the dog trotted to her side.

  Buckeye sat beside her, content to have his ears scratched.

  Until he saw Cheetah.

  With a leap and a yowl, he was on his feet. Cheetah’s back arched. She hissed and spat before she sprang for the door with Buckeye close behind. Within seconds, McKenzie heard a frantic neigh and a piercing scream.

  McKenzie raced to the door. As Molly lunged against the gate, the latch slipped, and the horse raced into the open pasture. McKenzie was surprised to see that Bailey had hitched the old horse cart to her.

  McKenzie scanned the corral to find Bailey. She couldn’t see her anywhere. But then she spotted Bailey, her black hair flying behind her as she clung to the sides of the old horse cart! It dangerously careened from side to side as the nearly blind horse ran uncontrollably! Bailey screamed again, hanging on for dear life!

  The Stranger

  “Bailey!” McKenzie screamed. “Hold on!”

  She ra
n to the chestnut horse grazing nearby. Since she had no time to saddle the horse, she climbed the fence, and with a quick jump she was on his back. Clinging to his mane, McKenzie clucked and dug in her heels.

  The horse leaped forward, and McKenzie raced after Bailey and the runaway horse. She leaned forward until she was almost lying on the horse’s neck, urging the horse to run faster. Soon she gained on the old brown mare. Bailey shrieked more, spurring Molly to go even faster.

  The wind whipped McKenzie’s hair and curls flew in her face, but she didn’t let go. Her only choice was to get close enough to the mare to slide onto her back. McKenzie prayed that the mare would slow down. With the extra weight of the cart and Bailey, Molly finally showed signs of tiring. McKenzie urged her horse onward, slowly gaining on the mare.

  When she was neck and neck with Bailey’s mare, McKenzie called out in a soothing voice, “Hey there, Molly. It’s okay. Easy, girl.”

  Soon the mare slowed. McKenzie glanced at Bailey still gripping the sides of the horse cart. The younger girl’s eyes were wide with fear.

  It’s now or never, McKenzie thought as she inched closer to Molly. She leaned over to the mare and grabbed the halter. With all her strength, McKenzie pulled herself onto the mare’s back.

  McKenzie tugged on the reins to slow down the mare, talking softly to Molly until she slowed to a walk. With another tug on the reins, McKenzie finally brought the mare to a halt.

  “You okay, Bailey?” McKenzie asked. Bailey still gripped the horse cart.

  Bailey didn’t answer for a moment; then she pushed her tangled black hair out of her face. “I think so,” she whispered.

  McKenzie leaned forward, feeling Molly pant beneath her. She couldn’t believe she had just ridden bareback and jumped onto a moving horse! She was glad it was over and that Bailey was all right.

  “Wow, that was some ride,” McKenzie said after she caught her breath.

  Bailey sat cross-legged and still in the cart. Her face was pale with little pink spots on both cheeks.

  “You can get out now,” McKenzie continued as she patted the mare. “This old girl’s not going anywhere for a while.”

  “I don’t think I can,” Bailey mumbled. “My legs are scared stiff. They won’t move.”

  McKenzie laughed. “You think you were scared? I can’t pry my fingers off these reins.”

  Bailey pulled her legs from beneath her and stretched. “You were great, McKenzie. I can’t believe you did that! It was just like in the movies!”

  “Well, if that’s Hollywood, I’ve had enough,” McKenzie said as she sat up straight. “Hey, where did my horse go?”

  The girls glanced around the pasture and spotted the horse about a hundred yards away.

  McKenzie took a deep breath. “We’d better go round him up and head for home. I’m going to have a talk with Buckeye when I get back. No more scaring cats around the horses.”

  “I don’t have to ride back here, do I?” Bailey asked from her seat in the horse cart.

  “No way. You can ride Molly back. She should be okay now that there aren’t any cats around.” McKenzie hopped off and helped Bailey onto the mare’s back. Her knees felt wobbly after her daring ride. She grabbed the reins and led the mare toward her horse.

  The girls didn’t speak as McKenzie walked beside Molly and Bailey. She glanced up at her young friend who was staring straight ahead, slouched in the saddle. McKenzie knew the runaway horse had frightened Bailey, but now that the incident was over, Bailey seemed more embarrassed than scared.

  McKenzie knew that her younger friend was a talented rider, especially for someone with as little training as she’d had. But Bailey had little confidence in herself when she was around the older Camp Club Girls. McKenzie knew how important it was for Bailey to be a good horseback rider, but this incident sure wouldn’t help matters.

  As the girls approached McKenzie’s chestnut horse, Bailey exclaimed, seemingly forgetting the runaway horse episode. “Hey, look. Someone else is out riding. His horse is gorgeous.”

  McKenzie looked across the fence, about fifty yards away, at a young man struggling with his horse. He was clearly frustrated with the animal, so he didn’t notice the girls. But Bailey was right, the horse was beautiful.

  McKenzie had never seen a horse like this one. She looked like a brown American paint horse with large white splotches and stockings.

  “Hey,” McKenzie called out. “Do you need some help?”

  The young man looked up, apparently surprised to see them, but he didn’t answer. His horse bounded closer to the fence, snorting loudly. The man jerked on the reins, but the horse reared on her hind legs.

  McKenzie stared in disbelief. He seemed to have no clue as to how to handle the animal. She felt sorry for the poor horse. The horse acted like she wanted to throw her rider.

  No animal deserves to be treated like that! McKenzie thought angrily.

  As McKenzie looked at the horse, she thought the horse looked familiar, but she knew if she’d seen a horse with that coloring before she’d remember it.

  “I can help you calm your horse, if you’d like,” McKenzie called out. “I’ve worked with horses quite a bit.”

  The young man glared at her and snapped, “I don’t need your help. I’ve got it under control.”

  McKenzie winced. It was clear he didn’t have things under control. He acted as if he’d never ridden a horse before.

  “Your horse is beautiful. What’s her name?” Bailey called, her eyes glistening.

  “Would you two just leave?” he stammered in a raised voice, ignoring her question. “Can’t you see you’re scaring my horse?”

  McKenzie looked sheepishly at Bailey. “I think we’d better go. Can you handle Molly by yourself? Then I’ll ride my horse.”

  Bailey patted Molly affectionately. “Sure. We’re friends now, aren’t we, Molly?”

  McKenzie stepped up on the fence to mount her horse. The young man had gained some control of his horse. She clucked at her horse and headed back toward Sunshine Stables.

  In the distance, she saw a rider on horseback racing toward them. As he drew nearer, she recognized Derek. Within minutes, he pulled up alongside them, holding his battered white cowboy hat against his chest.

  “You two okay?” he asked breathlessly. “I heard screaming, and then I saw Molly flying across the pasture with Bailey in the cart. I was unloading feed, or I would have been here sooner.”

  Bailey looked down as a flush came over her cheeks. “I’m fine. I did a dumb thing, I guess.”

  Derek flashed a grin at Bailey but didn’t scold her. Apparently, he figured out what had happened.

  “Well, at least nobody was hurt. I don’t think I even want a ride that wild,” he said as he jumped off his horse. “Why don’t you take my horse, Bailey, and I’ll take Molly and the cart.”

  Bailey gave Derek a relieved look and slid off Molly. “I like that idea.”

  After Derek helped Bailey onto the saddle of his horse, he turned to McKenzie. “Are you all right riding bareback?”

  McKenzie assured him she would be fine. Then she asked, “Do you know that guy back there?”

  Derek looked to where she was pointing. “I don’t see anyone.”

  McKenzie looked back and sighed. Where could he have gone so quickly? “He was there a minute ago. He was riding a beautiful brown paint horse with white spots.”

  “And his horse wanted to throw him off,” Bailey piped up.

  Derek shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know anyone around here with a horse like that. Maybe one of the riders at Cedar Creek brought his own horse.”

  McKenzie hadn’t thought of that, but Derek was probably right. The rider had been on Maggie’s land, and he looked and acted like a beginning rider. McKenzie knew lots of adults who wanted to learn to ride and took lessons.

  McKenzie and Bailey led the way back while Derek followed them with Molly and the cart. As they rode back, McKenzie mentioned the flyer Maggie had
brought over earlier.

  “I entered the calf-roping contest at the rodeo last year and it was a lot of fun. Would you want to be my partner? I would show you how to do it.” McKenzie swatted at a mosquito perched on her arm.

  “That sounds like fun, but how would we practice? Emma doesn’t have calves,” Bailey asked.

  “Maybe we could sign up for one of Maggie’s calf-roping sessions.” McKenzie urged her horse as they approached the backside of the old barn. “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s a great idea,” Bailey said. “I just hope Emma will let us.”

  Emma was waiting at the barn for the girls when they returned. “Thank God you two are all right,” she said, giving each one a hug. “You had me worried for a minute.”

  They told Emma the whole story as they groomed, fed, and watered the horses. They asked their instructor if they could sign up for calf-roping sessions at Maggie’s place.

  Emma thought for a minute and then said, “I don’t see why not. I’ll call her after supper. I’m starved. Let’s go inside. We’re finished here.”

  The girls fixed the toppings for a pizza while Emma made the crust. After placing the pizza in the oven, Emma went to call Maggie.

  The girls slipped out to the front porch as the sun dipped low in the western sky. Soon it would disappear behind the nearby mountains.

  McKenzie loved living near the mountains and had lived here all her life. With the mountains practically in her backyard, she could go skiing and snowboarding in the winter whenever she wanted. Sunshine Stables was in the valley about thirty miles from her home and had been a perfect place for her to train with Sahara.

  Buckeye came up the steps, stopping to sniff a baby kitten. Cheetah hissed at him from her perch on the porch railing. Bailey scooped up her little orange kitten and dove onto the porch swing, cuddling the tiny bundle in her arms.

  “Oh, no you don’t, you big mean dog,” she scolded playfully.

  McKenzie called Buckeye to her side and scratched his ears. Soon he laid his head in her lap and closed his eyes, while McKenzie daydreamed about the rodeo. Every year she looked forward to competing, but this year it was hard to get excited. A part of her looked forward to it, but she felt almost guilty with Diamond Girl missing. If no one could find the horse, Emma couldn’t enter the rodeo. McKenzie couldn’t imagine the rodeo without Emma and Diamond Girl.