Her friend nodded. “Here, I’ll give you a boost up.”
“Cally, before we go, I, uh, well, I’m really sorry,” David said. “I know now that none of this is your grandpa’s fault, including chucking me into the cellar. He’s just an old guy who needs some help.”
Cally looked up at him, her eyes huge in the moonlight.
“He has every right to be mad at Graham,” David continued. “Those two jerks stole his horses, plus all the money Dancer made later in his life, and in a way, even Tango, because your Grandpa would’ve kept some of Dancer’s best foals. Williams and Graham are the ones who started all this, and they’re the ones responsible for what happened. Your grandpa never would’ve done anything to me if he didn’t think I was Graham. So I’m sorry I made you feel bad. I just needed time to think it through.”
Cally stroked Breeze’s neck. “That’s okay.”
“Don’t worry. We’re both getting even with you,” Joanna added from Breeze’s back.
David looked up at her and arched an eyebrow.
Joanna smiled sweetly down at him. “We’re making you ride the pacer home.”
Thank you, my dear ones, for helping this man who is lost in the maze of his own memories. How he needs you. He has instinctively known that, I think, and that is why he turned to your species for help, though his way of asking for that help was confused and irresponsible.
I am so grateful for your compassion. This man has been lost for too long.
The ride back was slow and peaceful. Bonnie ambled along at a relaxed walk, so of course David teased Joanna that Bonnie wasn’t that hard to ride bareback, and that he was obviously a much better rider than she was. Joanna dared him to go faster, but when he asked the mare to pace, she wouldn’t listen to him.
“Joanna had no problem getting her to go fast,” said Cally, joining the banter.
David tried to get Bonnie to pace again, but she’d have none of that. Instead she stubbornly continued to walk, her ears back.
“Well, she is in foal,” said Joanna.
“Oh, I didn’t know,” said David. He leaned over the black’s neck. “Sorry, girl.”
Bonnie sighed deeply, obviously exasperated with humans. The two horses’ hoof beats drummed a regular tattoo on the road. The night was warm and bright. “Breeze is lovely to ride,” said Joanna. “So smooth, and a nice long stride.”
“Is he?” asked Cally. “He seems bumpy to me.”
“I’ll let you ride Raven tomorrow. Then you can see the difference that a long stride makes.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow, remember?”
“Oh, yeah,” Joanna said softly. “I wish…”
“Me too.” A long moment of silence. “Hey, do you have any ideas yet on what to do with Raven?”
“Who’s Raven, and what’s the problem?” asked David.
“Joanna’s pony. She’s growing too big for him.”
“You have to sell him?”
“I hope not,” said Joanna. “I wish I could think of some way to keep him.”
“You don’t have any younger brothers or sisters, eh?”
“Just two older brothers.”
“Younger cousins? Or what about leasing him to a younger sister or brother of a friend?”
Joanna paused. She didn’t have any younger cousins who lived nearby, but leasing to a friend’s younger sibling? That was a possibility. She couldn’t think of any friends with an obviously horse crazy little brother or sister, but still, it was the best idea she’d heard yet.
“It’s so dark,” said Cally, bringing Joanna’s attention back to their surroundings.
“What?”
“The house. Look. He’s not home yet.”
Cally was right. They’d come in sight of the house and every light was still off. “Don’t worry,” said Joanna. “Angelica will help him.”
“What if he grabbed her like he tried before?”
“Don’t worry about Angelica,” said David. “She can take care of herself. She’ll have some trick up her sleeve.”
They came to the head of the driveway, and Breeze automatically turned in as if he were going home. Bonnie paused at the road to look in the direction Joanna knew her farm was, then reluctantly followed Breeze.
“Tomorrow, Bonnie. Don’t worry. You can go home tomorrow.”
“Look,” said Cally, her voice a hushed whisper. She pointed toward the shed.
Now that they were closer, Joanna could see a faint light come from the small building, obviously not the bare electrical bulb that hung from the ceiling. This was a soft rainbow glow.
She slipped to the ground, and Cally dismounted after her.
“Don’t worry. I know what it is,” said David, sliding from Bonnie’s sleek back.
“What?” asked Joanna.
David smiled. “I’m guessing one of the coolest things we’ll ever see.”
Together Joanna and Cally crept to the open shed door, David right behind them.
Cally inhaled sharply, and Joanna’s mouth dropped open. There in the center of the small shed stood six ponies – Silver Sky and the fillies. Light sparked along their backbones to their manes, between their ears, and down their noses to Mr. Thomas, lying sound asleep on a straw bed at their hooves. In the narrow spaces between the ponies’ bodies, Joanna watched the sparkles land on him and dance for a moment, then slowly fade away.
“What are they doing?” whispered Cally.
“Something good,” David whispered back. “With Angelica it’s always something good.”
They were all around him, his horses, grey and dull, just as usual. The dream was back.
He tried to open his eyes. Tried to wake. But he couldn’t. He wanted to scream with frustration. Was this nightmare going to accuse him for the rest of his days?
A tiny whispered melody brushed against his mind. A flash of rainbow light touched Dancer’s back, then leapt to Rocket Gal’s mane, to Thunder’s flank, to Wings’ shoulder. And everywhere it sparkled, it grew.
What was happening? The dream was different now. Amazingly, gloriously different!
Dullness slid from horse bodies until they glistened black, red, bay, white. Then the grey melted from the landscape all around them.
He was standing in a green field now. Amazed, he turned in a circle. The sky was sapphire blue, and the grass vibrant with life. A massive oak displayed florescent leaves on graceful boughs. More horses grazed in the distance, greys, bays, blacks, and chestnuts. Familiar horses. Horses he had raised, horses who had once lived on his farm, long ago.
He turned back to his friends, stroking each on his or her satin neck, gratefully and reverently. They didn’t seem to be accusing him any more.
But they didn’t need to. His own guilt still stabbed at him.
“I’m sorry, my friends,” he murmured. “I didn’t see his trick in time to stop him. Even if I could’ve proven what he did, I may have gotten you back. But I failed. I am so sorry.”
“Nevertheless, you are the one who has indirectly brought Williams to justice.”
He spun around. “Who’s there?” he stammered. A bay mare raised her head at the edge of the distant herd.
“A friend who tells you the truth.”
He swallowed nervously. “You say that Williams has been brought to justice?”
“He has. Think no more of him. Enjoy this time with your friends. Soon you will wake from this slumber and you will not see them again until you pass over.”
The bay was walking toward him now and, one by one, the others fell in behind, ears pricked forward and eyes bright. He remembered the mare in the lead. She’d been a promising young filly, bouncy and full of life, right from the moment of her birth. Kathy had adored her and wanted to call her Bunny because she was always leaping about. Though he had to give her a real racehorse name, Dance In Time, her barn name became Bunny – until Williams bought her.
No, he had to get that man out of his head.
“I must tell you a s
econd thing, which is as important. Remember, when you need help, do not be too proud to ask. You will miss out on much if you cannot learn to move beyond pride.”
What was the voice talking about?
“Remember my words. Goodbye.”
“Wait!”
Something touched his arm and he spun around. Wings. The voice had said he wouldn’t see them again until he crossed over. A sob caught in his throat. Did that mean his friends were all dead, and he wouldn’t see them either until he died?
But of course they were gone. They had lived on his farm thirty years ago. How had he thought they were still alive? Time was playing tricks in his mind. There was only one thing to do. Obey the voice, and enjoy his limited time with his friends. Forget Williams, forever. He could do that now, especially since the man had been brought to justice. He wasn’t worth another thought.
And the second thing the voice said, about being proud – what was it talking about? How could he be too proud when he felt so humbled by failure?
Yet it seemed wise, this voice, and it had given him this perfect gift.
He’d think about pride later, he decided. This moment he would not waste.
The magical sparks slowly disappeared from the ponies and one by one they raised their heads to look at Joanna, Cally, and David standing in the doorway.
“Where did they come from?” asked Cally, bewildered. “What’s happening?”
“They’re our ponies,” Joanna said. “But I have no idea what just happened.”
Silver Sky nickered to Joanna and walked toward her, and when he moved she could see Angelica kneeling near Mr. Thomas’s head.
“Angelica?” Joanna’s hand moved automatically to stroke Silver Sky.
Angelica looked up at the three of them. “We gave him good dreams this time,” she said and smiled. “His long nightmares are over.”
Joanna yawned as she rode home from the fillies’ paddock. It was such a relief to have them back in their pasture, safe and sound, even though she hadn’t been too worried about them. She knew Angelica would never purposefully put the ponies in danger.
When they got to the first gate, Silver Sky went through the movements like a pro. “Good boy, Sky,” said Joanna and patted him on his glistening shoulder. “What a night, eh? All this isn’t over either, but we can at least get some sleep before the next round.”
Silver Sky nickered to her as he strode along.
“You were magnificent tonight, buddy.” And he had been. The way he, the fillies, and Angelica had saved, possibly even changed, Mr. Thomas was amazing. After they’d left the shed Angelica quickly explained to a worried Cally that her grandfather was fine, and even potentially more than fine. The ponies had given him peace, she said, and she’d given him some advice that she hoped desperately he would take.
When Cally had asked what, Angelica just smiled. That was between the two of them, she said. Then she gave them each a necklace, including a new one for David, and told them how to use the magical necklaces if they ever needed her.
David’s car started right up, and after exchanging contact information with Cally and Joanna he wished them well and drove off, waving back through his open window. Before Joanna took her ponies home she promised Cally she’d be over the next morning. Angelica came with her as far as the property boundary to show her where she’d made the hole in the fence. Then, after Joanna had the ponies through and the rails were back in place, Angelica gave each of them a farewell hug.
Joanna sighed and brushed the tingling necklace with her fingertips. She was so glad Angelica had given it to her. Thinking she might never see the otherworldly teenager again would’ve made her far too sad. Also, the necklace was her only reminder of David, Cally, and their whirlwind adventure.
They went through the second gate, and Joanna rode the stallion across the stable yard. Raven’s loud neigh came from inside the barn as they approached.
Joanna tightened Silver Sky’s reins, so the stallion wouldn’t respond. “Shhh, Sky. I don’t want to wake anyone up.”
“Too late.” The voice came from the dark doorway of the barn.
Joanna pulled Silver Sky to a quick halt. “Robbie?” Of all the people to catch her!
Her older brother detached from the shadows, Noah at his heels. “What do you think you’re doing, riding my pony?”
“He’s not your pony. He belongs to the farm. And you can’t tell Dad, okay? Please, Robbie? Please?” Joanna slid from the saddle and led Silver Sky toward Robbie and Noah. She’d beg if she had to. The black dog came toward her, wagging his tail.
“Of course I’m going to tell him.”
“I can’t believe it! I kept your secret when you told Dad you were riding the ponies out on the trails for exercise, and really you were riding over to Lindsey’s house.”
“That was different. It didn’t put the ponies in danger,” Robbie said, coming closer. “And I was still winning all the championship ribbons at the shows. That’s what’s important.”
“Well, obviously I didn’t hurt Sky either. And I’m sure Dad hates lying more than he hates someone just not telling him something.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
Robbie tried to grab Silver Sky’s reins from her, but Joanna was too fast. She whipped the reins behind her back, and thrust her chin out as she glared at him. “You sure you want to risk it? Because if you tell, I tell.”
“You little brat!” he said, his voice low and quivering with rage. “You’re always trying to sneak your way into things!” He stopped, obviously furious beyond words.
Joanna stepped back. Automatically her hand went to her throat – and brushed against the necklace Angelica had given her. An instant calm washed over her, and she suddenly understood why Robbie had been so mean to her lately.
“Why can’t you just go hang out at the mall with Mom?” Robbie spat at her, finding his voice again. But this time Joanna heard the despair behind the anger and bitterness. He was afraid of her replacing him on the farm.
She breathed deeply in an effort to control her own emotion. Giving in to her indignation and anger would only make the situation worse. “Robbie, I am not trying to take your place,” she said, her voice as calm and reasonable as she could make it, her gaze as steady and forthright. “I love the ponies too. I’ve always loved them, just like you. And I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well get used to me being around. I’m going to work here, even when I’m out of school, just like you. This farm and raising future generations of ponies is going to be my job.” She paused for a moment to let her words sink in, then continued, “But I don’t see why we can’t work together. You like competing, and that’s great. I’ll probably compete too, because that helps advertise our ponies, but mainly I love working with the mares and young ones. It seems to me we could be good partners.”
Robbie’s gaze dropped to the ground.
“And thanks for the compliment,” added Joanna. “You must think I’m a great rider if you think I’m your competition.”
“Not really. I mean, you’re okay. For your age.”
“Thanks,” Joanna said, dryly.
“No prob.” For the first time in ages, a tiny smile touched Robbie’s face, then disappeared. “It was something else, something Dad said, that got me thinking you were, you know, trying to take over behind my back.”
“What?”
“He thinks Raven’s getting too small for you, and–”
“Oh no.” Joanna leaned against Silver Sky. “He’s going to make me sell him, isn’t he?” Then she looked up at her brother. “But why would that make you mad? Why would you care if he makes me sell Ravie?”
“It wasn’t that.” Robbie paused to draw in a deep breath. “He’s thinking of giving you Tessie.”
“What?” Immeasurable joy sparkled in that one single word.
“Duh. Silver Tresses? Surprise’s last foal? The two-year-old?”
“I know who she is. He’s thinking of giving her to me
?”
“Yeah,” Robbie said, glumly. “Don’t tell him I told you.”
“And Dad’s never given you a pony of your own,” said Joanna, understanding. “But Robbie, it doesn’t mean he likes me more. I bet he just doesn’t want to sell Tessie because she’s Surprise’s last foal, and I’m a good excuse. And you’re such a good rider, he probably doesn’t want to lose you to one special pony.”
“Maybe.” Robbie scuffed the ground with his foot, then knelt beside Noah and rubbed the dog’s ears. “But it sucks.”
“Why don’t you tell him you want your own pony?”
“What if he says no?”
“I bet he won’t. I bet he doesn’t even know how you feel. He probably thinks you’re happy with all of them. If you ask, he might even let you have your pick of the bunch.”
“Maybe.” His voice was a touch cheerier now.
“Or I can tell him,” Joanna offered.
Robbie looked at her with an irritated expression, then stood. “I’m not a baby.”
Joanna nodded. “So are you going to tell him about me riding Sky?”
“I guess not.”
“And we’re partners, right?”
Robbie shrugged. “If we have to be. You want me to help you put Sky away?”
“No, I can handle it.”
Robbie yawned. “Good.”
Joanna led the stallion past him into the barn.
“Joanna.”
She stopped, turned around.
“About Raven, I know the answer to your problem. I’m surprised you didn’t think of it, actually. Must be because you’re still just a kid.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind,” Joanna said, and flipped her hair back. She and Robbie might have a truce, but he was still incredibly annoying.
“Well, think for a minute.”
“Just tell me.”
“Small, gentle, reliable pony….”
“Yeah, so?”
“A granddaughter to be born in September…”
“Oh, that’s perfect!”
Silver Dream Page 9
