by Chris Platt
Celah stared off into the desert and called to the runaway filly, her sides shaking with the force of her neigh.
Callie’s parents came running. “What’s going on here?” her mother asked.
Callie felt a sob rising in her throat. “Moon Shadow got loose.” The full moon was coming up and she strained to see in the gathering darkness.
“How did this happen?” Mr. McLean asked.
Callie brushed angrily at a tear that slipped down her cheek. “Luke came to deliver something and he went into the stall with Moon Shadow,” she explained. “And I was in such a hurry to get rid of him that I forgot to check the lock.” She balled her fists at her sides. “I was so stupid! I should have checked the lock.”
“Okay, honey,” her mother said. “Now is not the time to lay blame. First we have to find your horse. Let’s split up. You stay close to the house, Callie, in case she comes back. Your father and I will go looking for her.”
Callie pointed toward the hills to the east where the full moon was rising. “Celah was staring in that direction. I’m sure that’s where Moon Shadow went.”
“I’ll go that way,” said Mr. McLean. He picked up a coil of rope and an extra halter. “Sara, you head in the opposite direction, and Callie, stay here,” he said. “I don’t want you getting lost, too.” He took off at a jog, heading into the hills.
How can they expect me to just wait at home? Callie wondered as she paced behind the barn, straining to hear anything that would indicate that Moon Shadow was out there. The full moon was rising higher and she could see the outline of the sagebrush and a scattering of trees on the distant hills.
Celah whinnied again and Callie thought she heard an answering call. She held perfectly still, refusing to breathe as she listened to the sounds of the night.
There! She heard it again—the sound of a scared whinny in the distance. Callie couldn’t stand it anymore. She knew her parents would probably ground her, but she had to disobey them in this case. Moon Shadow was in danger!
She picked up the halter where she’d tossed it on the ground and took off in the direction of Moon Shadow’s last call. Callie ran as fast as she could. When she reached the open desert, she stopped to get her bearings. She knew these trails. She’d ridden them hundreds of times in the last couple of years. She chose the trail that led to the spot where she’d witnessed the mustang battle at the beginning of the summer. If she didn’t find her filly before she reached the outcrop, at least she’d be able to stand on the high rocks and look out over the entire area.
“Shadow!” Callie called. “Here, girl.” She walked for another ten minutes, listening to the night sounds of the desert. A chill went up her spine when a coyote howled in the distance. Several more coyotes joined in the cry, and Callie quickened her pace. She had to find Moon Shadow—and fast.
Callie picked her way among the desert brush. She stumbled several times when she wandered off the trail and tripped over a low-lying branch or a partially buried rock. A loud snap sounded to her right and Callie stopped in her tracks, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end.
“Moon Shadow?” she called softly into the night. “Mom, Dad?” How far away were those coyotes? Callie wondered. She racked her brain, trying to remember if she’d ever heard of a coyote attacking a human. “Is…is someone there?” Her voice shook and she rubbed her arms to rid herself of the goose bumps that had popped up there.
There was a sudden snapping of branches and Callie’s heart dropped into her shoes. She opened her mouth to scream, but the loud snort of a horse stopped her. Then a dark shape materialized out of the darkness.
“Moon Shadow!” Callie hollered as the little buckskin raced toward her, her golden coat shimmering in the light of the moon.
Moon Shadow cocked her tail over her back and raced past Callie, her head held high as she enjoyed her freedom.
Callie sucked in her breath, marveling at the beauty of the mustang foal as she galloped down the trail with her mane and tail flying, jumping the sage and bitterbrush that got in her way.
“Shadow, come here, girl,” she called as the filly turned and made another pass. Callie put out her hand and beckoned to her. Moon Shadow made several more wild canters to and fro, then pulled down to a high-stepping trot. The filly circled Callie as she stood with her hand outstretched.
Moon Shadow halted and raised her head high, blowing loudly through her nose in a powerful snort.
“Now you’re just being a show-off,” Callie scolded. She approached slowly and buckled the halter over the filly’s head. Moon Shadow nuzzled her shoulder and Callie threw her arms around her neck, breathing a huge sigh of relief. “I thought you were gone,” she whispered into the mustang’s sweat-dampened coat.
Moon Shadow blew through her lips and tossed her head.
“Are you ready to go back to your stall?” Callie led the way back down the trail and Moon Shadow followed eagerly.
When they reached the barn, both of her parents were waiting anxiously with all of the outdoor lights turned on. “Callie?” her mother’s voice cut through the night.
“I’m here, Mom and Dad,” Callie called out. “I found Moon Shadow.” She stepped into the circle of light. Her father took the filly from her while her mother folded her in a big embrace.
“If I wasn’t so happy to see the two of you, I’d ground you for the rest of your life!” Mrs. McLean said. “I thought we told you to stick near the house.”
Callie hung her head. “I’m really sorry, Mom. I just couldn’t stand the thought of Moon Shadow being out there all by herself—especially when I heard the coyotes howling.”
“Coyotes? Well, how do you think we felt about you being out there all alone?” her father said sternly.
Callie nodded. She was in big trouble.
“You’re going to have to do some extra time in the garden for disobeying,” Mrs. McLean said. “And you can spend the rest of the evening in your room. Your father and I will take care of Moon Shadow tonight. Get going,” she said as she shooed Callie toward the house.
Callie slowly made her way to her bedroom. Moon Shadow was safe. That was all that mattered. She’d gladly accept any punishment her parents gave her.
Sixteen
Callie slept soundly knowing that Moon Shadow was safely tucked away in her stall and her parents were watching over her. When the sun came up the next morning, she bounded out of bed and quickly changed her clothes. She had forty-five minutes to do her chores and check in on Moon Shadow before she left for the ranch. As she pulled on her boots, she noticed that her parents had already moved her filly out front to the paddock next to Celah’s.
“Good morning,” her mother said as she rounded the corner of the barn. “Moon Shadow has already been fed, but you can finish her stall before you leave for the Thompsons’.”
Callie quickly completed her chores, then picked up a soft brush and spent a few extra minutes grooming her filly and Celah. Star nickered from her pen and Callie slipped the mare a piece of carrot. “Your mom will be here this afternoon,” she said as she rubbed the chestnut’s neck. “I’m almost out of time. You’ll have to wait for Billie to brush you.”
She finished with Celah and moved on to Moon Shadow. She groomed the filly until the dapples stood out on her shining coat. It really was too bad that she couldn’t enter her filly in that end-of-year show. But next show season she’d be ready for sure.
She put the brushes away and headed for the house. Her mother met her at the kitchen door and handed her an apple and a raisin bagel. “Don’t forget you’ve got some weeding to do when you get home,” she said with a lift of her eyebrow.
Callie nodded as she stuffed the bagel in her shirt pocket and took a big bite of the apple. The juice ran down her chin and she wiped it with her sleeve. She grabbed her bike from the side of the house and pedaled to the Thompson ranch.
“Good morning,” Mr. Thompson greeted Callie as she walked into the barn and took the muck rake dow
n from its nail on the wall. “I hear you’re going to be entering the last show of the season.”
Callie shook her head. “Maybe next year.” She took the wheelbarrow from its spot and rolled it to the first stall.
“Why are you waiting?” Mr. Thompson asked.
Callie shrugged. “I can’t enter,” she said. “I don’t have a show halter, or any fancy clothes to wear for the competition.”
“I see,” Mr. Thompson said. “Excuse me just a minute.” He walked toward the office and returned a moment later. “This might be a little big, but I’m sure you could punch an extra hole in it.” He handed her a black leather show halter with silverwork running down the cheek band and across the nosepiece. “Return it to me when you’re finished.”
Callie’s mouth dropped open. She reached for the halter and ran her fingers over the ornate silver designs. “Oh, Mr. Thompson, it’s beautiful! The color will be perfect for Moon Shadow.”
Mr. Thompson smiled. “Go on up to the house when you’re done here. I believe my wife has kept all of the old show clothes that Jill’s outgrown. I’ll ask her to help you pick out something for the show.” He handed her the lead that matched the halter. “I’ve seen you watching the kids’ lessons, so I know you’ve learned what you’ve got to do.”
Callie nodded. “I know Moon Shadow and I don’t stand a chance at winning—especially if we’re in the same class with Luke or Jill—but I think it’ll be fun.”
Mr. Thompson ruffled her hair. “That’s the right spirit,” he said. “Both Luke and Jill like to enter that class, but don’t worry. It’s your first show. You need to go in there with a positive attitude and show your fine little horse to the best of both of your abilities.”
“I’ve been practicing with Moon Shadow, but she’s kind of feisty,” Callie said. “Sometimes she just wants to play.”
“Your best bet would be to work with her every day between now and the show. If you can, take her someplace where there are a lot of people and noise,” Mr. Thompson suggested. “That’s mostly what upsets a new horse. She’s used to going through her paces at home where everything is quiet. Then when you take her out among the crowds and confusion, you can’t expect her not to be distracted.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Mr. Thompson, for everything!”
Callie whistled while she finished her work. She and Moon Shadow were going to the show!
Billie was waiting for Callie when she returned home from the ranch. “What’ve you got there?” Billie asked as she took the clothing from Callie’s arms and inspected it. “Wow, that’s pretty fancy stuff. It looks like a western show outfit.”
Callie grinned as she held up the halter. “The Thompsons loaned me a halter and some clothes so I could enter Moon Shadow in the show at the end of the month.”
“A show? That is so cool!” Billie said. “Can I help?”
Callie motioned for her friend to follow her into the house. “For starters, you can help me convince my parents that this is a good idea.” She told her about Moon Shadow’s escape the night before.
“Do you think Luke left the stall unlatched on purpose?” Billie asked. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I don’t think so. He’s always been pretty bad about closing gates and locking stuff.” Callie kicked off her boots and opened the back door of the house. “But you never know about that guy.”
Callie found her mother in the sewing room. She carefully laid the clothing out on a chair. “I know I’m in trouble for disobeying you last night, Mom, but I have a favor to ask,” she said. At her mother’s nod, she continued, “There’s a show at the end of the month and I’d like to enter Moon Shadow in the halter class. It doesn’t cost much, anyway, and I’ve already got the money saved.”
Mrs. McLean inspected the shiny material of the western show vest, poking at a rip in the seam. “Where did you get these?” she asked.
“The Thompsons loaned me the clothing and a show halter,” Callie said as she showed her mother the beautiful black and silver halter. “I promised them I’d take really good care of all this stuff.”
Her mother held up the white long-sleeved shirt and black pants, measuring them with her eyes to see if they would fit Callie. “Are you sure you and Moon Shadow are up to this?” she asked. “You don’t have any experience in showing, honey.”
Callie shoved her hands into her pockets. “I’ve been watching Jill and Luke work with their halter horses all summer,” she said. “And I’ve practiced a lot with Moon Shadow. The show is just down the road. We can walk there.”
Billie cut in. “I’ll help Callie any way I can. She’s been working really hard. I know she and Moon Shadow can do this.”
Mrs. McLean considered the idea. “Well, outside of that little slip-up we had with Moon Shadow last night, you’ve been a pretty good kid this summer. I’ll have to talk with your father. If it’s all right with him, then it’s fine with me. I’ll have to fix this vest, though.”
Callie gave her mother a big hug. “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best!”
The following two weeks went by in a total blur. Every minute of Callie’s days was filled with working at the ranch, doing her own chores, practicing for the horse show, and helping Dr. Susan on weekends. She had to get up at dawn every morning just to get everything done.
Moon Shadow was growing rapidly, and was now on a total diet of hay and grain. All of the work that Callie had been doing with her had developed the filly’s muscles. When she walked Moon Shadow down the road, neighbors always commented on how beautiful the little mustang was.
Callie worked hard on the lessons she had learned watching the Thompson kids. Billie came out a lot to help, and Justin rode his gelding over from the mustang pens as often as he could. With all of the extra help, Moon Shadow was definitely making progress. Callie knew they were far behind the other kids who had been showing all summer, but the young mustang had fallen into the routine and was behaving in a respectable manner.
One day Callie overheard Luke talking about a baseball game with his friends. She decided to take Moon Shadow. That would be the perfect place to follow up on Mr. Thompson’s advice and expose her horse to the bustle and noise of a crowd. Billie saddled up Star so Moon Shadow would have some moral support, and just before the game was to begin, they walked the horses over to the local park.
There weren’t a lot of people, but the kids in the game and the dozen or so onlookers made enough commotion to startle the filly and give her a good dose of what she’d encounter at the busy show grounds. Luke was the loudest of the bunch. Every time he hit a home run, he made sure the entire neighborhood heard about it.
In the beginning, Moon Shadow snorted and bolted about when she heard the cheering of the crowd. Once she gave Callie a good scare when she almost broke loose from her hold. But after a while, when she saw that Star wasn’t bothered, Moon Shadow learned to ignore the noise and all the people running around. She became more concerned with outmaneuvering Star for the small dried tufts of bunchgrass that grew in the sandy desert soil outside the baseball diamond.
“I think she’s ready,” Billie said as she tugged Star away from the grass and they headed back to Callie’s house. “Just two more days, and we’ll be at the show!”
Callie swallowed hard. Where had the time gone? “Don’t expect any miracles,” she warned her friend. “Right now I’m just hoping to get through this in one piece.”
Billie reached out and booted her with the toe of her riding boot. “Don’t talk like that, Cal. You’ll be fine.”
Callie pressed her lips in a thin line. She knew her friend was right. She really shouldn’t worry.
But when the morning of the show finally arrived, Callie woke with butterflies in her stomach. Her hands shook when she pulled on her old work clothes and boots.
“You’re up awfully early,” Mrs. McLean said when Callie cut through the kitchen on her way to the back door. “Not so fast,” her mother added, pointing to the bowl of g
ranola on the table.
Callie held her stomach. “I can’t eat a single bite, Mom.”
Mrs. McLean handed her a piece of toast and an orange. “Toast is always good for an upset stomach. You can eat the orange later when you aren’t so nervous.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Callie said, grabbing the simple breakfast and bolting out the door. Her father was already at the barn when she arrived.
“I drew a couple of buckets of warm water,” he said, pointing to the corner of the barn. “That light yellow filly picks up every speck of dirt she comes across, and she’s already had a good roll this morning.”
Callie tied a hay net to the hitching post so Moon Shadow could eat while she gave her a bath. She scrubbed and rinsed the filly, then toweled her dry. “You’re going to stay tied up so you don’t roll,” she told Moon Shadow. “You’ve got to stay totally spotless until after our performance.”
She packed a grooming kit to take to the show and placed it in the backseat of the car. Her parents would drive over and meet her and Billie at the arena. When she was sure she’d packed everything she would need, she went to the house to collect her show clothes. Her mother had her outfit pressed and hanging on her bedroom door, but instead of Jill’s old green western show vest, there was a sparkly bright blue vest in its place. “Mom?”
Mrs. McLean poked her head through the open door, smiling. “You’ve worked so hard with that filly, I figured you needed a really fancy outfit to show off a little to the other competitors.”
“But I never even saw you working on it,” Callie said, running her hand over the sparkles.
Her mother shrugged. “I stay up a lot later than you do.”
Callie ran to her mother and hugged her. “Thanks, Mom,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful.”
Mrs. McLean kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “Your father and I are really proud of you and what you’ve done with Moon Shadow,” she said. “When you walk into that show ring today, don’t worry about anyone else or their big-deal horses. If you do your very best, you can hold your head up high and be proud of yourself. We’re backing you one hundred percent!”
