‘Forget it,’ said Kit. ‘No way am I sneaking onto the police commissioner’s property.’

‘We wouldn’t be sneaking in,’ said Ruby. ‘Just standing on the outside, having a little peek.’

‘I’m not going to stalk the police commissioner,’ said Kit.

‘We wouldn’t be doing to do anything illegal,’ Ruby argued. ‘We would just be … going for a night ride …to watch the fireworks display tonight. And maybe getting a little bit …lost.’

Kit still looked unconvinced.

The girls found Grampy and Analita standing outside the information centre.

‘I found a local truck repair business,’ said Grampy. ‘I have to go and see them.’

‘I’ll take the girls back to Zelda’s place,’ said Analita.

‘Can we go for a night ride later tonight?’ asked Ruby. ‘There will be fireworks on the peak of the mountain.’

‘Sure,’ said Analita.

‘I’ll come along and make sure you don’t get into any mischief,’ said Grampy, frowning.

After feeding and watering the horses back at the barn, the triplets spent the afternoon gazing into Zelda’s crystal ball. They all held hands in a circle. Then Zelda showed them how to stare into the sphere and look for shapes.

‘Just like you see shapes in the clouds, you might see shapes in the crystal ball,’ she said, picking it up and passing it to Ruby. ‘When you see a shape, search inside your deepest dreams to find the meaning.’

The ball had cracks and lines and many imperfections. Sunlight bounced around inside it and made the shapes move around. ‘I see a horse,’ said Ruby excitedly. ‘It’s galloping.’

‘Is it galloping to the left or the right?’ asked Zelda.

‘To the left.’

‘Then it is in your past.’

‘It’s the colt,’ said Ruby sadly. ‘Does that mean he will never be ours?’

‘Not at all,’ said her great-aunt. ‘It simply means he is still in your heart.’

‘All I see are prison bars,’ said Lexie, when it was her turn. ‘And they are definitely to the right. Great, we’re all going to get arrested.’

‘I don’t see anything,’ said Kit, sounding disappointed. ‘Just lines and cracks. Everything looks broken and chaotic.’

‘Sometimes if you don’t see anything it will catch up with you in your dreams, in a night or two,’ said Zelda. ‘You will wake up and know what it meant.’

‘Why didn’t Grampy tell us about you?’ Ruby asked. Zelda seemed like such a wonderful and interesting person.

Her great-aunt looked suddenly sad. ‘Everyone was very upset when Levinia died. People said things they didn’t mean. I came to visit you when you were little babies, but Gallius and I seeing each other again …well, it was painful for both of us.’

‘What did you see in the crystal ball, Zelda?’ asked Kit.

‘I saw lots of breaks and cracks coming together and healing,’ said Zelda. She smiled warmly at them. ‘Now, would you like me to come to the police commissioner’s place with you tonight?’

All three girls gasped.

‘You used the crystal ball to read our thoughts,’ said Ruby.

‘Your deepest thoughts,’ said Zelda, giving her a wink.

Later that afternoon, just as the sun was sinking behind the mountains, the Trickett family set off on their horses to watch the fireworks. The girls tucked Chance into her stall for the night before leaving.

‘The best place to see the fireworks is at the top of the mountain. There is a track that runs alongside a little farm, just outside of town,’ said Zelda.

Ruby pulled her beanie down around her ears as she rode into the cold clear night. Grampy rode behind Lexie on Featherfoot and Analita rode behind Kit.

As they followed a snow-lined track, a loud boom echoed through the night. The first firework launched high into the sky. It whistled up through the darkness and burst into sprays of light. Across the mountain, people could be heard cheering. More fireworks exploded overhead and soon the night was alive with colour and sound. The snow beneath reflected pink, purple, gold and green.

Ruby could have watched all night. But she had more important things to do.

The fireworks continued to light the sky, showing them the way. They came alongside paddocks with tall post-and-rail fences. An enormous house sat on top of a hill with many more buildings around it. From the buildings came the sound of horses whinnying.

Suddenly the night seemed less magical.

‘They’re frightened,’ said Kit. ‘Listen to them.’

Kismet let out a neigh. Soon their other horses were whinnying too. They wouldn’t stop. Between their calls Ruby heard the shrill cry of a foal.

‘Destiny!’ said all three girls at once.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Grampy had slipped off the back of Featherfoot. He squeezed through the fence and ran as fast as he could through the snow.