Chapter Two
Maren was sitting behind her desk in the stable office when Mia arrived at the door. Her heart was pounding.
“Come in, Mia,” Maren said. Her face was serious.
“I’m sorry, Maren,” she blurted. “I know I’ve messed up before but —”
“Please sit down, Mia,” Maren said.
“Okay,” Mia said.
“You were the last one scheduled to take Trixie and Diamond out to the pasture,” Maren said. “Were you the last one out of the gate?”
“I think so,” Mia answered.
“This is the third time you’ve left the gate open,” Maren said. “I’ve told you before that this is dangerous.”
Mia stared at her feet.
Maren flipped through some papers. “I’ve just been reading over your volunteer record,” she said. “Mia, you have a history of making careless mistakes. You act before you think.” Maren sighed. “I know you care about the horses. But we can’t have these kinds of problems. You cannot volunteer here anymore. You’ll have to gather your belongings and call your mother.”
“I-I’m sorry,” Mia said, sniffling. “I never meant to leave the gate open so many times.”
Maren put an arm around Mia. “I know you didn’t mean it, Mia,” she said. “But it’s just too risky to keep you here.”
Mia went outside to call her mom. She would have to explain what happened. And then her mom would scold her for being careless again.
“Well, this horse will have to be sold,” a voice said nearby.
Mia looked around. Two of the younger instructors, Ben and Sara, were standing next to Diamond. They did not see Mia.
Mia leaned in to hear exactly what they were saying.
“I agree,” Sara said. “Watch this.” She reached up to pat Diamond’s neck. But the horse quickly laid his ears back and turned to bite.
“Diamond, stop!” Ben said sternly. “He’s too dangerous to be kept here. We don’t want him hurting a student or another horse.”
Sara sighed. “We’d better tell Maren.”
Diamond stood quietly. His proud neck was arched. He doesn’t know he’s about to be sold, Mia thought. He’s just like me. Both of us are being sent away.
Mia put her hand on the phone to call her mother. Suddenly, she stopped. An amazing plan had just flashed through her head. It was crazy. But if it worked, it just might save both her and Diamond.