Starlight Christmas by Bonnie Bryant

him one more time. Can I?” Carole looked at her friends, who were staring at her as if she’d just sprouted another head. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
    Stevie spoke first. “Oh, it just surprises us that you’d rather ride that strange horse than a nice horse like Barq. But it’s okay. Barq probably won’t mind, right Max?”
    “I’m sure he’ll be glad for a little peace and quiet. Now, how many times do I have to tell you all that it’s time forthe Starlight Ride inspection? Get on your horses and in the ring and sit tall in the saddles for inspection. Now!”
    Stevie, Lisa, A.J., and Phil all headed for the ring. Carole had to call Judy and Mr. Michaels first. She explained it to Max. He gave his okay, but told her to hurry.
    Judy was relieved to hear that Garnet was all right. Carole didn’t want to explain about the practical joke, so it was a good thing Judy didn’t ask for details. The vet was fairly accustomed to Veronica’s hysterical outbursts about nothing.
    Mr. Michaels was very enthusiastic about Carole riding Pretty Boy on the Starlight Ride. He was sure Max could board him for the night and didn’t seem concerned about when the horse would get back to Mr. Michaels’s place. So, finally, everything was set. It was finally time for the Starlight Ride.

“L ET ’ S GO !” S TEVIE told Carole. She was ready. Everybody was ready. Everybody had passed Max’s inspection. Jackets were zipped, scarves wrapped. It was time to begin.
    Carole led the procession out the door of the stable, where each rider paused to touch the good-luck horseshoe. It was an automatic gesture, but one that had come to mean something special to all of Pine Hollow’s riders. Nobody who touched the horseshoe had ever been seriously hurt. Tonight, riding in the dark, it seemed especially important.
    Max rolled the stable doors open and Carole, riding Pretty Boy, stepped out into the night. Max handed her the leader’s torch and they were ready.
    The trail wound through the fields and into the forest,circling the hills that rose behind Pine Hollow. All the way, it was marked by bright lanterns every ten yards or so, so there was no way they could get lost. Eventually, the trail would end up along a small back road that led to the center of town. It was about two miles to the town center along the winding trail they would follow, two wonderful miles of lamplit trail on a starry night.
    Carole took a deep breath and signaled Pretty Boy to begin.
    “Isn’t it amazing?” Lisa said to A.J., who was riding next to her right behind Carole. “I mean, look at the snow. It’s like a fairy tale!”
    “This whole day has been like a fairy tale,” A.J. said. “I mean, who could believe all the stuff that’s been happening, and how perfectly it’s all worked out!”
    “And you don’t even know it all, yet,” Lisa said mysteriously.
    “I don’t?” A.J. looked puzzled.
    “Nope,” she said. “There’s more to come.”
    “Oh, yeah, all the caroling and the cocoa, right?”
    “That, too.”
    Within a few minutes, the train of riders was through the Pine Hollow gate and everything was going smoothly.
    “I’ve never ridden at night, you know,” Stevie told Phil.
    “No? What about that night ride at camp?” he said, reminding her of the time she’d ridden his horse to safety, escaping from a barn fire.
    “Well, maybe,” Stevie conceded. “But that was bareback and barefooted, in pajamas, at a wild gallop most of the way. I mean, now we’ve got saddles and boots, and clothes, and no galloping. I think I like it better this way.”
    “I agree,” Phil said. He reached over and squeezed Stevie’s hand. “Also, this time I’m with you instead of worried sick about you! That’s much better.”
    They all rode quietly for a while, enjoying the beauty of the place. The moon had risen now. It was full and silvery, casting a gleaming light across the snow-covered field.
    Stevie thought she heard something.