between granite boulders alternating with stretches of the cold clear winding water of the South Platte River This is going to sound stupid she murmured her arm still looped around Dylan’s neck But you know how this night sky makes me feel He stood perfectly still ears pricked gazing toward the distant peaks I look up at the stars and I feel small she whispered We’re just tiny specks you and me Dylan turned his beautiful head toward her his eyes like dark pools But that’s okay she continued It means two things one we’re almost invisible and two we’re totally free The next day Saturday was a lazy day at Stardust Stables
Hey guys Lizzie and Jack gave us all the morning off Tom announced at breakfast with his usual mischievous grin Except for cleaning tack hosing down saddle blankets and taking alfalfa out to the meadow Zak added with a grimace Cool no scooping poop This was what pleased Ross the most Leaving the horses out in the meadow meant that the corral would stay poop-free all day long Like all the riders at Stardust Ross loved the training and the camaraderie but the chores Not so much Only Kellie was unhappy there were new stunts she wanted to try out with Dylan That was until Becca showed up with an idea What do you say we saddle up and take the horses along the Jeep trail Becca suggested to the girls I want to try cross-country loping through the pines trees along the ridge
Kellie gave up on the idea of learning new stunts and headed straight out to the meadow After all what could be better than a relaxed girls-only ride Great count me in Alisa cried Then before they knew it Hayley and Kami were also coming By eight o’clock five girls and their horses were ready to set out from the corral complete with bagged lunches and bottles of water Formation trotting Hayley suggested as they eased out onto the dirt track She and Cool Kid headed the group with Alisa and Diabolo and Kellie and Dylan close behind then Kami and Magic Becca and Pepper brought up the rear Ta-ra-ta-raah From the meadow Zak cupped his hand to his mouth and imitated the sound of a cavalry trumpet Hey girls enjoy he yelled after them
We will Kellie called over her shoulder They took it gently until they hit the steep Jeep trail heading toward the pine trees Then still in tight formation they broke into a trot Link hands Alisa suggested to Kellie It meant that Diabolo and Dylan had to keep pace exactly which was tricky since Diabolo had longer legs and a wider stride than Dylan Soon though the two girls had their horses working in perfect unison Ready to do some cross-country loping Hayley asked as they came up the hill At her signal all five horses and riders left the trail and spread out among the trees Kellie grinned as Dylan transitioned into a lope and then into a full gallop Covering the soft ground at top speed she swerved around a boulder then immediately ducked to avoid a low branch She spotted a fallen tree ahead and adjusted her balance to allow Dylan to fly over it without a second thought
