Chapter One
Mia was sweeping the stable floor. She heard the head instructor, Maren, shouting.
“Girls!” Maren called. “Everyone out here! The pasture gate was left open again. Trixie and Diamond are out!”
Mia dropped the broom. It clattered to the floor.
Her stomach sank. She had been the last one out to the pasture.
Oh no! Not again! thought Mia. I was the last one out. Did I lock the gate?
Mia had been volunteering at the Rocky Ridge Riding Center for three months. So far, she’d left the pasture gate open twice. It was pretty much the worst mistake you could make.
“Mia, come on!” her best friend, Sky, yelled. “What are you waiting for?”
“Nothing,” Mia said. She hurried toward Sky.
“Wait, Mia!” Sky exclaimed. “Aren’t you going to pick up the broom? Maren says we’re not supposed to leave tools on the barn floor.”
“Oh, right,” Mia mumbled. She picked up the broom and propped it against the wall.
Mia was always doing stuff like that. She needed to focus more. She also needed to be more careful.
Mia and Sky grabbed halters and lead ropes.
“I’ll go close the gate to the road,” Maren called. “You two catch the horses.”
“Got it,” Mia replied. Trixie and Diamond were standing in a grassy area. Beside them, the pasture gate was wide open.
Diamond’s coat gleamed in the sunlight. He had arrived at the stable only three months ago, like Mia. Diamond was Mia’s favorite.
But Diamond wasn’t perfect. In fact, he had some serious problems. He had been biting students and other horses.
“I’ll see if I can catch Diamond,” Mia said to Sky. “You catch Trixie.”
Sky’s forehead wrinkled. “Trixie is easy to get. But are you sure you can catch Diamond?” she asked. “He tried to bite me last week.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Of course I can catch him,” she said.
Sky shrugged. She went over to Trixie. The mare stood calmly while Sky slipped a halter on her.
Now it was Mia’s turn. She walked up to Diamond. She held the halter behind her back. He was watching her. Mia knew it was going to be tricky.
“Hi, boy,” Mia said. “I know you’re having fun, but it’s time to go in.”
She whipped her hand out fast. She tried to slide the halter on. But her hand accidently knocked Diamond above the eye. He flattened his ears and snapped at her hand.
Mia gasped. She snatched her hand away. She’d been too fast and had scared the horse.
Then Maren’s hand fell on Mia’s shoulder. “Mia, you’re being too quick with that horse,” her instructor said.
She took the halter from Mia’s hand. Slowly, the instructor slid it over the horse’s head.
“Horses don’t like hands flying around,” Maren said.
“Sorry,” Mia muttered. “I was just trying to help.”
“Sky, please put Trixie in her stall,” Maren went on. “And Mia, I’d like to see you in my office.”
Maren began leading Diamond toward the stable.
Mia and Sky stared at each other. Mia swallowed. Whatever Maren wanted to discuss, it wasn’t going to be good.