Spirit Riding Free: PALs Forever

by Stacia Deutsch

  Aunt Karen faced the children and said, “After lunch, you and Snips can rest a bit, and then we will all go to the stables together. I’d love to take you on a ride down to the lake where you can swim.”

  Abigail thought it sounded fun until Ariella rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, sure,” as if it were the worst plan ever.

  Aunt Karen glanced at Uncle Tony and sighed.

  Uncle Tony sighed back at her, then said cheerily, “I’ll hook up the little cart and Ashton can come along.”

  “It’ll be a fine adventure,” Aunt Karen said. “Our first one of the week.”

  “Let’s finish lunch so we can get started,” Uncle Tony said, digging back into his meal with the appropriate fork.

  Abigail continued to work at her food but was getting impatient. It would have been easier to eat like Snips, but Abigail was prepared for a fancy vacation, and she wasn’t going to mess it up.

  “I’m done,” Ariella announced, pushing back from the table.

  “Huh?” Abigail looked up from her food to discover that her cousin had eaten everything on her plate without lifting a piece of silverware. There were chicken bits all over her hands and rice stuck in her fingernails. Her dress had grease stains, similar to the stains on Snips’s fine shirt.

  It was as if her aunt and uncle didn’t notice what was going on at the table. They were so deep in conversation again that when Ariella grabbed a cookie off the dessert tray and told Snips, “Come on. Let’s get out of here,” they didn’t say anything.

  Abigail rose to join her cousin and her brother, when her aunt realized what was going on.

  “Stay,” she told Abigail. “Let the little kids run off. You can enjoy your dessert in peace with your uncle and me. We’d love to hear all about Miradero.” Abigail sat back down in her chair and watched as Snips and Ariella ran toward the barn, hand in hand, laughing.

  “How is my dear sister?” Aunt Karen asked.

  Abigail took a tiny bite of her cookie. Chewed. Swallowed. Dabbed her lips with her napkin, then replied, “She’s doing well.”

  Dear Pru,

  Things are good at my cousins’ house, but they’re really strange. Ariella is not at all how I remember her. I don’t like even thinking this, but I get the feeling she’s more interested in hanging out with Snips than with me.

  That’s crazy! Right? I know.

  I must be imagining things.

  I’ll just have to try harder to show her that I fit in here at the fancy house with their fancy chef and fancy barn and fancy life. It’ll take a little more effort, but she’ll notice how much I belong and will stop hanging out so much with Snips, who isn’t trying at all. The more fancy I am, the more not-fancy Snips will look. There’s no way my cousin could like not-fancy better than fancy. I mean, you should see this place! She has the ultimate fancy life!

  You can’t run in the halls or wear shoes on the carpets. There’s no food allowed anywhere except at the dining table… and there are four tables to choose from! Not even counting the one outside on the porch.

  In the barn, we don’t do any of the work because there are groomsmen to saddle and unsaddle the horses. Boomerang is so spoiled. He’s getting bathed every day, and I haven’t even braided his mane because the professionals keep doing it before I get there. All I have to do is show up if I want to ride. The men at the barn even boost me into the saddle and help me down… which is a little weird, but since it’s fancy, and I’m all about fancy living nowadays, I let them.

  There’s going to be a big surprise that Ariella keeps talking about, but she refuses to let us in on it. With how fancy my aunt and uncle are, I’m guessing that it is a fine night out at the opera or perhaps a carriage ride through the park. Oh, I know! Maybe it’s a ball! That would be the best thing ever! I really hope the surprise is a ball. I brought the perfect dress for a night of dancing. I bet they will have little sandwiches and we can all drink tea from porcelain cups.

  I’ve learned all these good manners and have been using them as best as I can, but a ball would be the greatest place to show off what Miss Prescott taught me. I would curtsy and bow. I could eat politely and show off my brand-new waltzing skills.

  I am going to impress Ariella so much that she will invite me back next spring break. Not Snips, who ate with his fingers, spilled juice on an expensive rug, broke an antique vase, and brought Señor Carrots into the kitchen for a late-night snack.

  In the competition of fancy versus not-fancy, I will be the winner.

  Wish me luck.

  PALs forever,

  Abigail

  Isn’t Destiny Falls fabulous?” Julian asked for the tenth time in ten minutes.

  Lucky’s day was not turning out how she’d expected. Her dad had promised a great day, just the two of them, but instead had somehow gotten roped into attending a meeting about the railroad station. To make it up to her, Lucky’s dad said he’d meet up for a late lunch and take her out then. Kate was planning to attend an all-day painting class at the local art shop, so that left Lucky with Julian to take a tour of the town.

  Lucky wished she’d gone with Kate to the painting class instead.

  “It’s fabulous for sure,” Lucky repeated for the tenth time. She actually really did like the town but felt reluctant to let Julian know that, since he was so enthusiastic about everything.

  In fact, Lucky was suspicious. Why was Julian so enthusiastic about Destiny Falls?

  “Let’s see the schoolhouse,” Julian said, leading her down a side street from the main square. “And afterward, I’ll show you the best barn in town. You and Spirit are going to love it. It’s so much better than Pru’s little place.”

  “The Granger stable is amazing.” Lucky felt defensive. “It has just the right number of stalls, and the riding ring and turnouts are great. Spirit is perfectly happy there.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll bet that Spirit likes this barn better,” Julian said, putting out his hand to shake. “A dollar?”

  “Sure,” Lucky said, shaking his hand. “Easy money.”

  “We’ll see what Spirit says,” Julian told Lucky.

  Spirit neighed. He’d met Lucky in the town square. Julian was already on his horse, ready to ride to the schoolhouse.

  Lucky jumped on Spirit’s back. “I thought Kate wanted to see the school, too,” Lucky said. “Should we wait for her and do it later?”

  “She’ll see the school,” Julian said. “Aunt Kate has a meeting with the principal tomorrow.”

  “First, it’s weird to hear you call her ‘aunt,’ and second, why would she meet the principal?” Lucky didn’t understand. There was no reason to meet the boss of the school, unless… But that wasn’t possible.… Then again, Kate did bring everything she owned to Destiny Falls.…

  Julian had also said that once her dad saw the plans for the new train station, he would want to “get started”.…

  As Lucky began connecting the dots, her mind started racing faster and faster. She felt almost dizzy from her conclusion. She shook it off and leaned over Spirit’s neck. “We’re only here for a week, boy. Not forever.” She wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure him or herself.

  Spirit bobbed his head comfortingly.

  As much as Lucky hated to admit it, the schoolhouse really was amazing. It was big and had a gymnasium for sporting events. All the kids were organized into sports teams. Different kinds of teams for different sports, too! And there was even a small theater with a stage for school plays.

  Lucky couldn’t help thinking how Maricela would look at the center of the stage, with a spotlight right on her. Too bad Maricela didn’t want to move to Destiny Falls with… No, wait, she was thinking about moving again. Lucky stamped that thought out of her head and climbed on Spirit’s back to follow Julian to the local barn.

  “See? Everything is modern and new here,” Julian was saying. “And now, I’m going to earn that dollar.” He looked to Spirit. “Hey, horse, check out the pasture.”

  Luc
ky followed Julian’s gaze to a large area behind the multi-stall barn structure. There was a huge open pasture with maybe twenty horses milling around, eating the grass and hanging out together.

  “It’s completely open,” Julian said. “They don’t even bother with fences or gates because the horses don’t want to leave.”

  One of the problems at the Grangers’ barn was that Spirit hated being locked inside. But it was definitely safer to have the horses shut in for the night, and Lucky had already had issues with horse rustlers who wanted to “steal” Spirit away.

  “Never any problems here,” Julian assured Lucky, as if reading her thoughts. “Everyone respects one another’s horses, and all the horses are treated equally.”

  Spirit whinnied and Lucky said, “You really want to go check it out? Are you sure?”

  Spirit whinnied again, and Lucky climbed down. “It’s not the wild,” she warned him. “You don’t have to like it.” She noticed a stream ran through the grass with shady trees lining the sides of the water. The horses all looked happy.

  Julian dismounted as well, but his horse stuck around while Spirit went to meet the Destiny Falls herd.

  “You owe me a dollar,” Julian said, holding out his palm. “Want to go two for nothing?”

  Spirit trotted around the pasture happily. “Fine,” Lucky grunted. “What are you going to bet me now?”

  “That you’ll want to see a play tonight.” He held up two tickets for a new musical. “Everyone loves the railroad here, and my family gets free stuff all the time because of it.”

  “Those tickets were free?” Lucky couldn’t believe it. “No one gives us free stuff in Miradero.”

  Julian waved the tickets in front of her impatiently. “So, do you want to go? You’ll be treated like royalty, and we can even go backstage afterward to meet the actors.”

  Oh, she really did want to go. Julian definitely knew exactly how to push her buttons, but she never got to go see plays in Miradero, and she had never been able to go backstage!

  Lucky sighed. “Okay. You win that bet, too.” Lucky dug two dollars out of her boot and handed them to him. “I don’t really want to go with you, but I do want to go.”

  “I just love spending your money,” Julian said, tucking the cash in his belt. He looked around with a grin. “Now, what else can I bet you?”

  “You aren’t getting any more of my money,” Lucky said. She whistled for Spirit. “I think Spirit and I should tour around by ourselves now,” she told her cousin. “I’ll go find my dad. Maybe he’s ready for lunch.”

  “He’s not ready,” Julian insisted. “There’s a lot to be done here, and everyone is depending on Uncle Jim.”

  The way he said it raised Lucky’s suspicions again.

  “Want to see a nice new house?” Julian asked. “It’s for sale.”

  “Why would I want to do that?!” Lucky demanded as she settled on Spirit’s back. She pulled his mane a bit too tightly and Spirit shook her hand loose. “I already have a house!”

  “I’ll bet you a dollar that you’ll like this house better than the one you have in Miradero,” Julian said. “It’s next door to my new house.” He grinned again.

  “I’m not taking the bet!” Lucky shouted. “I don’t want to see any new houses. And I don’t want to ever live next door to you.” She was angry and could feel her heart racing. “No matter what you think is happening here, my family is not moving to Destiny Falls!” She squeezed Spirit’s flanks and nudged him into a gallop, leaving Julian behind.

  His words echoed in the back of her mind all the way to town.

  Lucky found her dad sitting in the hotel restaurant. He was surrounded by men who worked at the railroad. They were all wearing suits and ties.

  “Dad!” She rushed into the restaurant, pushing past a waiter to reach the table.

  “Lucky?” Jim stood and asked, “What are you doing here? Where’s Julian?” He glanced over her shoulder expectantly.

  “I left him at the stables because he wanted to show me the house next to his,” Lucky said. “He’s acting like—”

  “Oh, that Julian,” Jim said with a light laugh. “He sure can get under your skin.” He looked at the other men at the table politely. “Please excuse us for a moment.” Jim pulled Lucky to a more private area.

  As soon as they were alone, Jim frowned slightly. “Lucky, you know better. You can’t just barge in here like that. This is an important meeting about the new railroad station.”

  “I—” Lucky began, but her father interrupted.

  “Things are going so well. Don’t you just love it here? It’s so bustling and exciting. There’s always something going on,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to cancel our lunch, but I should have this all wrapped up by dinner. You, Kate, and I can all go out to celebrate.”

  “I might be going to the theater with Julian,” Lucky said glumly. She didn’t know if that was still happening. Or if she even wanted to go.

  “Terrific!” Jim replied. “Then I’ll celebrate with Kate. We’ll have a date!”

  “Ugh,” Lucky moaned. This was supposed to be her special day with her dad. Not Kate’s date night. And certainly not a special day for the men waiting patiently at the dining table. “Dad, I need to ask—”

  Jim put up a hand. “Later, Lucky. I need to get back to the meeting.” Something by the restaurant doorway caught his eye. Lucky turned her head. It was Julian, standing there, smiling and waving as if nothing had happened between them. “Go on with Julian to see that house,” her father said. “He told me he was going to introduce you to some of the kids in town. It’ll be good for you to make new friends.”

  “But I like my old friends!” Lucky cried.

  Jim put his arm around her shoulder and escorted Lucky toward Julian. “A young girl can never have too many friends,” he said. “Hello, Julian. Lucky is looking forward to the rest of the tour and the show this evening. Thank you for entertaining her.”

  Lucky felt sick as Julian gave a small bow and said, “It’s my pleasure.” Catching Lucky’s eye, he winked.

  Maybe someday Lucky should have a heart-to-heart about Julian with her dad. But obviously that day wouldn’t be today.

  “Dad?” Lucky said before they left the restaurant. “Can I borrow five dollars?”

  “That’s a lot of money,” Jim said, fishing out his wallet. “What do you need it for?”

  “I don’t know,” Lucky said. “But I’m betting the money will come in handy.”

  “It’s always good to be prepared,” Julian chirped.

  When Jim walked away, Lucky turned to Julian. “I bet you a dollar you can’t make me like Destiny Falls enough to want to live here.” She tucked the money her father gave her into her boot and stomped away.

  “You’re on,” Julian called out, chasing after her. “I’m always game for a challenge.”

  Dear Pru,

  I think something terrible is happening. I haven’t been able to talk to my dad about it yet because I can’t seem to get him alone, but… I think we’re moving to Destiny Falls! Julian has been showing me around the town all day, and he keeps saying how much I’d like the school and how much Spirit will like the stables and how the house right next to his is for sale. Julian certainly seems sure that we’re moving, and I can’t help thinking he’s right!

  Julian and I went to see a show tonight. The play itself was amazing. There were bright lights and really beautiful costumes, and the story was about a group of three friends—just like us! It would’ve been a night out of a dream, except for the sound of Julian crunching on popcorn next to me the entire time. Afterward, my dad was supposed to meet us at the ice-cream parlor. I was going to try again to talk to him about the move, but he never showed up!

  Apparently, he didn’t make his dinner date with Kate, either. My dad was still at a meeting with the railroad people until late, and when I got home, Kate was asleep. So I just went to sleep, too. He must have been out most of the nigh
t.

  I know, I know. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions without asking someone about it, but it’s as if Dad and Kate aren’t even on this vacation with me! Here, let me tell you what I know. I’m sure if you reason it out how Boxcar Bonnie does, you’ll agree that all signs point to us moving to Destiny Falls.

  1. Julian showed Spirit the amazing local barn and bet me how much Spirit would like it. (It is really nice but definitely not as nice as yours.)

  2. Dad told Julian to introduce me to people so I could make new friends. (He said—actually said—it would be good for me to make new friends, as if I needed to replace the friends I already have!)

  3. Kate is meeting with the school principal today. (Why would she need to meet with the principal here unless it was for a job?)

  4. Kate brought pretty much everything she owned on this vacation. (I wish I’d never joked about us moving here.)

  5. The house next to Julian’s is for sale, and my dad told me to go see it with him. (Why would I need to go see some silly house?!)

  6. My dad is in important meetings all day every day. (It’s like they can’t make any decisions without him!)

  7. Dad keeps asking if I like it here. (As if he really cares!)

  That’s seven clues. That’s more clues than even Boxcar Bonnie ever uses. She only needs three or four clues, and then she’s certain enough to solve the mystery. I don’t need to talk to my dad anymore because my clues can only point to one thing:

  We’re moving to Destiny Falls.

  Pru! Help! I need to do something before everything gets settled!

  I need to convince my dad that we can’t—just CAN’T—move away from Miradero, but I’m not going to be able to do it alone. I need you and Abigail to drop what you’re doing and come here right now to help me convince my dad not to make us move so no one buys a new house or gets a new job or anything like that! I know you have the rodeo and that Abigail is having fun with her family, but you need to go get her and then hurry to Destiny Falls—before it’s too late.