final quarter mile to cool down their horses. Carole led the group into the center of the park. There, surrounded by a waiting crowd of family and friends, and anybody else in town who wanted to be a part of it, was the reason they were there. A beautiful, tall menorah stood next to a life-size stable scene, complete with real, borrowed animals. Now there were horses as well. Carole brought the riders to the stable and then began the ceremony.
Carole took the torch she’d been carrying to lead the way for her riders, and used it to light the shammash on the menorah. Then, Stevie took the shammash and lit five of the menorah’s candles, since it was the fifth night of Hanukkah. Finally, Carole took the torch and put it in the holder made for it above the stable. Her torch now represented the star of Bethlehem, which guided the three kings to the stable in Bethlehem as the torch had guided Carole’s twenty riders to the stable in Willow Creek.
Then the crowd of parents and friends began singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas!” followed immediately by “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah!”
The rest of the Starlight Riders dismounted and secured their horses by a truck with some hay the animals could munch while the party proceeded.
The party at the stable didn’t last too long. It was cold outside! But, the riders were glad to see, their welcoming committee had remembered to bring the cocoa and cookies. The mayor had also authorized a small bonfire to warm them all. It didn’t last long, but it was fun.
Then the riders prepared for the return to Pine Hollow along the much shorter route, by the road. They checked their horses’ tack, mounted, and lined up. Carole raised her hand to signal a start. At the same time their horses began walking, the riders began singing. The strains of the riders singing “Silent Night” echoed through the town after them.
All the riders were quiet on the return ride. Carole was sure everybody was sad that the wonderful, magical ride was almost over, although perhaps not quite as sad as she was.
She leaned forward and patted Pretty Boy on his neck. They had traveled very far together in one short evening. They’d gone from a miraculous birth in Mr. Michaels’s stable, ridden across cold pastures, rounded up three horses turned out into a paddock for a prank, examined a
very
mysterious disease of a certain healthy mare, and ridden through more pastures, fields, and a make-believe stable. Pretty Boy had been her companion all night and Carole was glad he had. The horse seemed glad, too,although she suspected he’d be gladder once he got his tack off and could snuggle into a warm blanket with some fresh water and feed.
“You know,” she told Pretty Boy. His ears perked up. She was sure he could understand. “I’m awfully grateful to my friends for that silly trick they played on Veronica. Not only did it work, but it also made it possible for me to be here tonight, riding you.”
Pretty Boy snorted. Carole thought he agreed with her and was happy about it, too.
“T HAT WAS WONDERFUL , every minute of it,” Phil told Stevie.
“Oh, the wonderful part isn’t over yet,” she replied, leading Topside to his stall.
“Here, I’ll give you a hand, and then you can help me with Teddy,” Phil suggested. “He’ll probably behave better if you put him on the van. You really have a special way with him. I don’t know what it is, but he trusts you.”
Stevie shrugged. “I don’t know either. I’ve only saved his life twice,” she added slyly.
“Well, maybe that’s it,” Phil said, and laughed.
Phil followed Stevie into Topside’s stall and took Topside’s tack as Stevie removed it. With Phil’s help, the work went very quickly. Topside was brushed down,blanketed, watered, and fed in a matter of minutes. Then it was Teddy’s turn.
“We need to hurry a bit,” Stevie said.
“Not too much, I hope,” Phil said. “I haven’t seen you alone for a minute all
Carole took the torch she’d been carrying to lead the way for her riders, and used it to light the shammash on the menorah. Then, Stevie took the shammash and lit five of the menorah’s candles, since it was the fifth night of Hanukkah. Finally, Carole took the torch and put it in the holder made for it above the stable. Her torch now represented the star of Bethlehem, which guided the three kings to the stable in Bethlehem as the torch had guided Carole’s twenty riders to the stable in Willow Creek.
Then the crowd of parents and friends began singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas!” followed immediately by “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah!”
The rest of the Starlight Riders dismounted and secured their horses by a truck with some hay the animals could munch while the party proceeded.
The party at the stable didn’t last too long. It was cold outside! But, the riders were glad to see, their welcoming committee had remembered to bring the cocoa and cookies. The mayor had also authorized a small bonfire to warm them all. It didn’t last long, but it was fun.
Then the riders prepared for the return to Pine Hollow along the much shorter route, by the road. They checked their horses’ tack, mounted, and lined up. Carole raised her hand to signal a start. At the same time their horses began walking, the riders began singing. The strains of the riders singing “Silent Night” echoed through the town after them.
All the riders were quiet on the return ride. Carole was sure everybody was sad that the wonderful, magical ride was almost over, although perhaps not quite as sad as she was.
She leaned forward and patted Pretty Boy on his neck. They had traveled very far together in one short evening. They’d gone from a miraculous birth in Mr. Michaels’s stable, ridden across cold pastures, rounded up three horses turned out into a paddock for a prank, examined a
very
mysterious disease of a certain healthy mare, and ridden through more pastures, fields, and a make-believe stable. Pretty Boy had been her companion all night and Carole was glad he had. The horse seemed glad, too,although she suspected he’d be gladder once he got his tack off and could snuggle into a warm blanket with some fresh water and feed.
“You know,” she told Pretty Boy. His ears perked up. She was sure he could understand. “I’m awfully grateful to my friends for that silly trick they played on Veronica. Not only did it work, but it also made it possible for me to be here tonight, riding you.”
Pretty Boy snorted. Carole thought he agreed with her and was happy about it, too.
“T HAT WAS WONDERFUL , every minute of it,” Phil told Stevie.
“Oh, the wonderful part isn’t over yet,” she replied, leading Topside to his stall.
“Here, I’ll give you a hand, and then you can help me with Teddy,” Phil suggested. “He’ll probably behave better if you put him on the van. You really have a special way with him. I don’t know what it is, but he trusts you.”
Stevie shrugged. “I don’t know either. I’ve only saved his life twice,” she added slyly.
“Well, maybe that’s it,” Phil said, and laughed.
Phil followed Stevie into Topside’s stall and took Topside’s tack as Stevie removed it. With Phil’s help, the work went very quickly. Topside was brushed down,blanketed, watered, and fed in a matter of minutes. Then it was Teddy’s turn.
“We need to hurry a bit,” Stevie said.
“Not too much, I hope,” Phil said. “I haven’t seen you alone for a minute all
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