C is for Compassion. This one is easy. Compassion is showing love for others: people, animals, plants… anything. Compassion is treating someone nicely, the same way you’d want to be treated. Pru’s mom is best. Mrs. Granger cares about everyone: horses and people, too. You know who else has a lot of compassion? Miss Flores, that’s who. Mrs. Prescott, I mean. She loves everyone. Of course, she loves Mr. Prescott the most, but she still has room in her heart for all of us.
Valor is the courage to stand up for what’s right, even if it’s risky. Valor can be little things, like eating something that looks gross, but true valor is courage times a hundred. It’s like that feeling when you are riding your horse and you see a big jump coming up, and your heart is racing and you think, I should just stop this horse and go home, but then you don’t stop the horse and you face a huge fear, and the horse jumps and lands safely on the other side and you had valor. It doesn’t have to be a horse, but jumping is an important part of valor. Get it?
Honesty means having respect for the truth. An honest person tells no lies. This might be the most important value for a Frontier Filly. A Filly is supposed to be truthful and sincere. You should always be able to trust a Filly. She’s honest in her words and her heart and her mind. Her words speak only truth. I have a bad feeling that I might be bending this value a lot by telling Snips to be invisible, but maybe since Pru and Lucky know the truth, that balances the fact that no one else does? Honesty is important and sometimes really hard. I mean…
Whoa, hang on—I gotta go. I hear Lucky and Pru calling my name. Something weird is happening at Boots and Bows.
Lucky and Pru came rushing up to Abigail.
“You aren’t going to believe what’s going on!” Lucky told her, grabbing Abigail’s arm and dragging her toward the starting block. It was actually a pile of hay bales with a sign on it that said, BEGIN HERE.
The Golden Valley herd was up. As the Hungerford Heart holders, they would get to go first at every event and get the chance to earn their badges before any of the other herds. Pru thought that wasn’t fair. She thought there should be a competition to see who went first, like a race, but Abigail explained that on this, the handbook was clear—the herd with the Heart went first.
“What’s going on?” Abigail asked Pru.
“We have a problem,” Pru said. “Riley, Olivia, and Jimena already had their turns. They didn’t hit any targets at all.”
“None at all?”
“None,” Lucky confirmed.
“That seems impossible,” Abigail said, looking to see that Ana of Golden Valley was sitting on her horse. She was yellow with white patches on her rear. “Cupcake,” Abigail remarked. At Pru’s questioning look, she explained, “I’ve been getting to know all the horses.”
“She’s an Appaloosa with a long nose,” Pru noted. “I like her Palomino coloring.”
“It’s starting.” Lucky got very serious. “Cupcake and Ana are ready for action.” She pointed to where Ms. Hungerford stood in the distance, ready to blow the starting horn and check off on her clipboard when the arrows hit the targets.
They moved closer to watch.
“I hope Ana does better than Riley, Olivia, and Jimena,” Sophie was telling a girl from the Lakeside herd.
“I can’t believe they missed every target,” the girl replied. “They didn’t even have to get a bull’s-eye, but they hit nothing at all. I think they’ll have to try to earn the badge again next year.”
Abigail knew you didn’t have to earn all the badges to win the Heart, but, still, it sure helped. She leaned in to Lucky and Pru. “I thought you were kidding. Jimena, Olivia, and Riley really didn’t hit the targets?”
Lucky shook her head. “Not even one arrow.”
“Keep your eyes on the targets,” Pru told Abigail. “Don’t blink.”
Abigail stared straight out, which was hard in the bright sunlight. Her eyes started to water as Ms. Hungerford blew the horn. The sound of the starting toot echoed through the valley, and an instant later, Ana and Cupcake were off and running.
“She’s a good rider,” Pru told Lucky and Abigail. “I’d love to compete against her in the riding ring.”
“It’s not a competition!” Abigail and Lucky said at the same time.
“I know!” Pru chuckled.
Abigail focused on Ana’s next move. She slowed as she reached the first target. Not everyone could shoot an arrow and ride like Lucky on Spirit. Most of the girls had to stop at the targets. It didn’t make a difference for the badge. Land an arrow in three out of four targets and the little circle patch with an arrow on it was yours.
Ana approached the target. She reined Cupcake to a halt and raised the bow that had been tied to the saddle. The arrows were in a case that hung across Ana’s back. Like a warrior, Ana reached behind her and grabbed an arrow.
“She looks like a pro,” Abigail said. “I’m guessing she’ll get a bull’s-eye.”
“Probably not,” Pru said, and Lucky agreed.
“Huh?” Abigail asked. Lucky and Pru pointed.
“Eyes on the target,” Pru reminded her. “Just watch what happens.”
Ana steadied her bow. Pulled back the arrow and aimed.
What happened next was so fast that Abigail could barely believe her eyes. The arrow soared through the air, straight and true—headed directly into that small red bull’s-eye.
It got closer and closer and then, just before the arrow hit the target, the target rolled away.
It was subtle, and maybe the other Fillies didn’t see it, but Abigail had been staring hard at the target.
“It moved!” she said to Lucky and Pru as the arrow flew right past the target and landed in the dirt.
“We know,” Lucky said. “I was watching Jimena shoot, since she went first. She doesn’t need to stop on her horse—” She paused for Pru to fill in the name.
“I don’t know the name.” Pru shrugged. “But I know she’s an Appaloosa.”
“Duchess,” Abigail put in. “She calls her horse Duchess.”
“Right,” Lucky said. “Duchess rode past the target, and Jimena took what I thought was a perfect shot, but she missed. And she missed the next three targets, too!”
As Lucky explained, Abigail watched Ana and Cupcake gallop to the next target, stop, shoot, and miss. The third was the same, and by the fourth, Abigail realized what was happening.
Abigail gasped. “Snips is moving the targets!” she exclaimed.
“Good detective work, Boxcar Bonnie,” Lucky said, naming her favorite detective from the books she loved.
Lucky loved to solve a mystery, so Abigail asked, “But how’s he doing it?”
Lucky rolled her hands into little circles and peered through as if her fingers were binoculars. “There’s a rope tied to each target. The targets are on wheels. My guess is that Snips has Señor Carrots tied to that rope, and he is pulling the targets out of the way. He’s moving them slowly enough that if you’re watching the arrow, you won’t notice!”
Before they could discuss what to do about it, Ms. Hungerford called for the Miradero herd to mount.
Lucky always rode without a saddle, so she waited for the others to check their tack.
“Snips is ruining everything!” complained Abigail. “Boots and Bows is hard enough for Boomerang and me. Now we won’t have a chance at all.”
“We don’t have time to stop him, and we can’t reveal that he’s here, so we should try to do our best, just like we planned,” Pru suggested.
“Ugh!” Abigail moaned, but she agreed. “I guess if no one earns a badge, maybe we can convince Ms. Hungerford to let us all try again tomorrow.”
“We can use the rope to tie Snips to a tree so he can’t pull the targets away,” Pru said with a wink.
Normally, Abigail would probably protest tying her brother to a tree, but this time, tying him seemed the best option.
“Okay,” she said as Lucky swung up on Spirit’s back. “Don’t feel bad when you
miss the targets. Since no one will get the badge today, maybe we can blame the wind or something.” It wasn’t a good idea—she hated the lie—and now, hiding Snips made two strikes against the value of honesty, but what else could they do?
Lucky nodded. “Come on, Spirit.” She leaned over her horse’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Since we aren’t going to hit any targets anyway, let’s ride faster than ever! We’ll go down in defeat with style.”
She moved with Spirit to the starting block. Pru handed Lucky the quiver of arrows, and she swung the case and strap over her shoulder.
Ms. Hungerford sounded the horn.
Spirit took off at a gallop. Lucky, willing to take an even more daring ride than usual, balanced as she stood up on Spirit’s back for the first shot.
“It’s too bad about Snips’s sabotage,” said Abigail when the arrow flew. “That would have been a perfect—”
“Bull’s-eye!” Pru exclaimed. Lucky was the first Filly of the day to hit the target dead center.
She hit the next target while leaning off Spirit’s side like a trick rider.
“Bull’s-eye again!” Pru cheered.
“Bull’s-eye?!” Abigail said, more a question than an exclamation.
“Yep,” Pru said, softening her cheers.
When she reached the fourth target, Lucky decided to trick things up—she stood on his back backward, leaned down, and shot the arrow between her own legs. The trick shot was amazing and risky.
“And another bull’s-eye!” Abigail said with less enthusiasm. Lucky was a great rider, a great shot, and for her—the targets didn’t move.
Lucky and Spirit rushed back to where Pru and Abigail were still standing at the starting block.
“Congratulations,” Pru said.
“Snips didn’t move the targets when I shot at them,” Lucky said. “Spirit and I just did what we’d planned all along.” She frowned. “I don’t get it. What is he up to?”
Pru was next. “Let’s see what happens when Chica Linda and I ride through.”
Pru had practiced; that was obvious. It wasn’t all bull’s-eyes like Lucky, but she hit each of the four targets.
Abigail, for all her worry, had an easy time, too.
Boomerang wasn’t a fan of arrows or sharp things, and he made his opinion very clear. He was trotting intentionally slowly and barely breathed when Abigail first pulled an arrow from the quiver.
“Four hits,” Lucky said when Abigail got through the course.
The Miradero herd’s arrows were the only ones that hit the targets all afternoon. The rest of the Fillies did just as poorly as the Golden Valley herd. When the event ended, the only group to earn their badges was the Miradero herd. They were each given the small patch with the arrow embroidered on it.
The girls in the other herds began to complain. There was a rumor going around that the Miradero Fillies had somehow cheated. The other girls wanted a chance to do the Boots and Bows course again.
Ms. Hungerford protested at first, but Abigail knew the passage in the handbook that applied to this situation. She boldly approached Ms. Hungerford. “Ma’am, on page fifty-four of the handbook, it states, ‘When badges are not immediately earned, Fillies can be given a second chance in the same weekend event, if the entire group agrees, and there is no foul play involved.’”
“Ah, I see,” Ms. Hungerford said, clearly impressed by Abigail’s knowledge. “So the Miradero herd thinks all the Fillies should get a second try?” She looked at all three of them.
“Yes,” the PALs replied together.
“Are you certain there was no foul play?” Ms. Hungerford looked hard at Abigail.
“It was the wind,” Abigail said, licking her finger and holding it aloft. “Yep, the wind blew when the others shot, but it died down when we took our turn.” She swept back her hair, saying, “There it is again, pesky wind.”
Olivia gave Abigail a side-eye stare, as if she wasn’t buying a word.
Lucky pushed forward to step in front of Abigail. “Since the wind gave us an unfair advantage last time, tell you what: We, the Miradero herd, won’t participate again. We already got the badges, so we’ll just stand here out of the way.”
Pru looked at the clouds and said, “It looks as if the big winds are over now. It’s a good time to try again.”
Abigail begged, “Please, Ms. Hungerford, let the other Frontier Fillies have a do-over.”
Ms. Hungerford thought about it for a long moment, and then she said, “I agree. All Fillies may try again.”
As the other herds gathered at the starting gate for the second time, Ms. Hungerford turned her back to the PALs. Abigail, Pru, and Lucky used the opportunity to hurry into the trees where no one would see them.
“Snips!” Abigail whispered, searching for her brother.
He crept out of some camouflage he’d created with leaves. Señor Carrots was with him. A rope, just as they’d expected, was tied from a target to the donkey’s saddle. Ropes connected to the other three targets lay on the ground.
“You’re welcome,” Snips said with a wide grin. “If Miradero is the only herd to win the badges, you’ll look so good that you’ll earn the shiny trophy, too! It’s my most devious plan ever. I’m a genius.”
Lucky said, “We’ll earn the Heart on our own. Don’t ruin this for everyone else!”
“Go back to the tent,” Pru said.
“Stay invisible!” Abigail exclaimed.
With a huff, Snips said, “Come on, Señor Carrots, our genius isn’t appreciated here. Let us retreat.” Guiding the donkey with the rope, they took a few steps away, but then Snips turned back. He shouted, “Wait till you see what I have planned for tomorrow!” With a cackling laugh that bounced around the thick trees, he took off running toward the campsite.
Abigail thought about the next day. “No, thanks.” She called out after him, “We don’t need your help!”
Her shout was met by more maniacal laughter.
“Don’t worry,” Lucky told Abigail. “We’ll stop him before he tries anything sneaky.”
“Snips is tricky,” Abigail said. “I should know. He’s been tricking me his whole life.”
“But now the PALs are watching.” Pru turned Chica Linda back toward the course for Boots and Bows.
They got back to the starting gate just as Ana was heading out on Cupcake for her second time at the course. This time she hit every target. Jimena, too. Olivia and Riley and Sophie and all the girls hit at least three targets.
When it was over, Abigail looked out toward where the others were proudly sewing on their new badges. “There are two more badges to earn,” she said. “Let’s just make sure Snips stays away from the Majestic Mare event tomorrow!”
Diary Entry
Dear Diary,
What am I going to do about Snips? Of all times to become invisible, he picks now! I can’t find him anywhere.
Pru and Lucky and I got back to the tent after an amazingly great time at Boots and Bows, and I was ready to face the evil Snips and his donkey sidekick. I was thinking about our mom and dad—what would they do? I can’t send him to his room or take away dessert. I can’t ban him from riding Señor Carrots. I’m just a kid, so what should I do?
Okay, Abigail, think….
Here’s what I can do:
1) Tie him to a tree. That was Pru’s idea, and I’m starting to think it’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.
2) Zip him in the tent, but the zipper works both ways. He’ll escape.
3) Convince him I don’t want to take home the Hungerford Heart. That’s a pretty good idea, because if I didn’t want it anymore, he wouldn’t think he needs to help me get it. Problem is that I really, really want it. I’m not Maricela. I can’t act.
UGH!
4) Here’s a long-shot idea: I talk to him. Like, really, really, really talk. I mean, we talked before when I told him to stay invisible, but that didn’t work, so now I’ll talk more. I’ll explain how he’s ruining our chance t
o take home the Hungerford Heart. As I write this down, I think this isn’t such a long shot; it’s really a good idea. Maybe the best. I mean, I think I could talk some sense into that brother of mine, and if I can’t, maybe Pru or Lucky can. I think that’s what we need: a meeting. It’s like when adults say they need to talk about “adult things” and go into another room, only we’ll talk about “kid things” and go into the tent.
I’ll explain to Snips exactly why he has to stay invisible. I’ll explain about the Heart and the badges and the handbook and everything. And I’ll keep on explaining things to him until he decides to change. I can talk a lot. I might read him parts of the handbook. Even if it takes hours, and I have to talk till my throat hurts, and no one sleeps all night long, I am going to make him understand. When I’m done, he’ll be begging to stay in the tent. Talking is my greatest strength, even more than braiding manes and tails. I’ve got this, and in the end, evil Snips will agree to be a better Snips.
I might have to talk to Señor Carrots, too. If I must, I will. I can be pretty convincing to horses and donkeys—just ask Boomerang.
But first, before I can talk to Snips, I have to make him visible again. And that brings me to my next great idea. The best idea.
Here’s what I am going to do to make my brother visible:
5) Lure him out with s’mores.
Gotta run! I’m off to the campfire. S’mores for me. S’mores for Lucky. S’mores for Pru. S’mores for Boomerang. And one very special s’mores trap to catch myself a little brother.
The campfire was fun, but afterward was disappointing.
When Ms. Hungerford put out the fire, Pru, Lucky, and Abigail each saved her last s’more. The plan was to set them out in front of the tent and catch Snips when he came to snack—and since Snips loved snacks, they figured it would be easy to nab him. Then Abigail would talk his ears off until he agreed to stay away during the Majestic Mare event, which was in the grassy field the next morning.
Spirit Riding Free: Abigail's Diary Page 3
