Chapter Six
The next afternoon, Mia found Sky in Trixie’s stall.
“Sky!” she called, panting up to her friend. “I need some help.”
“What?” Sky asked. She wiped her arm across her forehead. “Did Diamond bite you yet?”
“Not yet,” Mia told her. “I think he’s starting to trust me.”
“So what’s the problem?” Sky asked.
“He won’t let me touch his ears,” Mia said. “Now I can’t bridle him! And I’m supposed to have my lesson in fifteen minutes.”
“Oh boy,” Sky agreed. “Maren hates it when people are late for lessons.”
“I know!” Mia said. “Any ideas?”
“I’ll come help you,” Sky said. “Trixie will be fine for a second.”
The two friends walked fast to Diamond’s stall. They didn’t have much time.
“I got his saddle on without any trouble,” Mia said. “He doesn’t mind if you just move really slowly. Be really, really careful.”
“Slowly? Be careful? I’ve never heard you talk like that before. Or move like that!” Sky said, smiling.
Mia shrugged. She slid back the bolt on Diamond’s door. Sky stepped up beside the horse.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked.
“Can you stand on the other side of his head?” Mia asked. “I’ll get the bridle around his ears. You take one side. I’ll take the other. We’ll just slide it right over.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Sky said. She stepped over to Diamond’s right.
Slow and careful, Mia told herself. She draped the reins over Diamond’s neck, just like Maren had taught her.
The horse stood quietly. His head was tense. So far, so good.
Mia pressed her thumb into the corner of Diamond’s lips. He opened his teeth. She slid the bit over his molars and into the back of his mouth. Now for the ears.
Mia realized she’d been holding her breath. She forced herself to exhale. At the same time, she lifted the headstall up. Sky reached over.
But just as Mia touched the tips of his ears, Diamond reared his head. His neck quivered. His eyes rolled.
“Shoot!” Mia muttered. She lowered her hand and looked at Sky.
“I see your problem,” her friend said, her eyes wide.
“Yeah,” Mia replied, sighing.
“Try again,” Sky urged.
Once again, Mia raised the headstall and tried to slip it into place. This time, she actually got it most of the way over one ear. Almost there!
She tried to jam the other ear into place. But Diamond felt the rough touch. He let out a warning whinny. He quickly backed away into the corner.
Mia felt all the progress she’d made slipping through her fingers.
“My lesson’s in two minutes!” she wailed, the bridle dangling from her fingers.
Just then, Maren appeared at the stall door. “And you know how I like students to be on time,” she chimed in.
Maren opened the stall door. She took the bridle from Mia’s hand. She slid it smoothly over Diamond’s head. She buckled a few straps. He was finally wearing a bridle.
“Sometimes horses will only let people they trust touch their ears,” Maren said. “Looks like you two still have a little ways to go.”
She went out the stall door. Mia looked at Sky and swallowed.
“Time for my lesson,” Mia said in a brave voice.
“Good luck,” Sky said.
Sky squeezed her friend’s shoulder. Mia nodded back. She had a feeling she was going to need all the luck she could get.
