Chapter 6
Disappearing Girth

Dot talked about Mojo all week. His saddle was so nice. He loved carrots. He was so shiny. Lily tried to listen, but it made her sad. She also wanted to make sure she and Dot did all their favorite “friend” things before she left. She asked Dot over to watch their favorite horse movies. She offered to take her out for ice cream. She begged Dot to help her make mini tack for their model horses.

But the only thing that Dot made time for was Mojo. She said, “We can do all that later, Lily!” But only Lily knew that there wasn’t much “later” left.

When Dot asked to go on a trail ride, Lily jumped to say yes. “Monster will have such a good time!” she said.

“Mojo hasn’t been out on the trails yet!” Dot said. “He’ll love them.”

But when it was time to tack up, nobody could find Mojo’s girth. Without it, Dot couldn’t finish saddling him. Everyone looked for it. Lily pretended to look in her locker, but really she had pushed Mojo’s girth even farther into a pile of extra saddle pads.

“Guess you’ll have to take Monster,” Lily said, shrugging.

Dot frowned. “He’s being used in a lesson,” she said. “Plus, I really wanted to ride Mojo.”

Then, Dot had an idea. “I don’t need a saddle at all!” she exclaimed. She led Mojo over to the mounting block and hopped on. “Come on, I’m ready to go!”

Lily sighed to herself. I should have hidden his bridle instead, she thought.

Mojo was perfect during the trail ride. He walked right through the stream without hesitating. When a deer crossed their paths, Mojo just looked at it calmly. Dot even got him to canter up a hill and jump the log at the top. Monster never liked to canter on the trails.

They make such a good pair, Lily thought sadly. It’s too bad they don’t have much time left together.