ready Kami told Alisa But I should've known you’d feed your horse before yourself Of course Alisa replied She took the feed and poured it into Diabolo’s manger A shaft of sunlight put rich auburn highlights into her long dark hair and brought out the soft glow of her lightly tanned face Isn’t she gorgeous Alisa murmured as Diabolo crunched the pellets She sure is Anyhow it’s time for our supper We’re having a cookout by the creek Kami reminded her Even though she and Alisa were roommates Kami still felt a little shy around her She’d only been part of the Stardust stunt-riding team for a few weeks but Alisa had spent three summers at the stable She had the reputation of being the best junior rider in the business The white patch down her face isn’t it just perfect said Alisa with a contented sigh
showing she was still focused more on Diabolo than the cookout Kami tried again Alisa Lizzie sent me to tell you you need to put your steak on the grill What Oh yeah Alisa sighed then walked into the stall ready to lead Diabolo out into the meadow I’ll be right there Do you want me to cook it for you Kami offered She knew just how in love Alisa was with Diabolo she felt exactly the same about her horse Magic How do you like it medium rare Sure Alisa agreed absent-mindedly It’ll be ready in ten Kami said as she turned and headed back to the cookout Don’t be late or one of the boys will eat it for you Alisa ran her hand down Diabolo’s smooth neck and through her silky mane before buckling on a halter and attaching a lead rope
Come on it’s time to get you out to pasture The mare clip-clopped out into the corral then stopped dead Okay I know you don’t need this rope Alisa agreed as Diabolo dug in her heels and tossed her head She unbuckled the halter You’re a big girl you can walk there all by yourself But you do need me to get the gates Freed from the lead rope Diabolo waited patiently for Alisa to pull the tall metal lever and for the first gate to swing open Then she walked through her chestnut brown coat gleaming long tail swishing Gate number two would give her access to cool water from Elk Creek and to the meadow beyond She waited while Alisa released the second catch and then walked to the water’s edge She paused again raising her head to smell the smoke from the barbecue further upstream Go Alisa urged
Diabolo glanced back at her and blew out through her lips Go eat some grass At last with a toss of her head Diabolo stepped into the creek and waded across Alisa watched her as she reached the far bank launched into an easy trot and joined the other horses grazing in the meadow Then Diabolo turned and whinnied as if to say Your turn now go eat Alisa laughed Okay I hear you I’m out of here But she stood there just a little longer reflecting on the great day she had had working with Diabolo in the round pen on vaults and saddle falls Her wonderful talented horse hadn’t made one mistake Lizzie had praised her and Jack co-owner of Stardust Stables with Lizzie had told her there would soon be feedback from the Wildfire audition they’d done a week earlier
