CHAPTER ONE
“Attagirl!” exclaimed Sophia Mendoza as Mary Lou sailed over a fallen tree. The height of the jump would have sent shivers down the boots of some riders, but Sophia wasn’t afraid. How could anyone be scared when they were having fun with their best friend?
Mary Lou, Sophia’s beautiful chestnut mare, whinnied with pleasure. She was enjoying this just as much as her rider! The horse galloped on, weaving through the woods, hooves thundering across the ground.
“This way,” said Sophia, gently guiding Mary Lou past some low branches. “Let’s go!”
Sophia had loved Mary Lou ever since she could remember, and exploring was their favorite thing. Over the years living on the farm she called home, she had grown into a skillful rider, staying firm in the saddle despite the speed of Mary Lou’s gallop. Sophia laughed as the wind whistled through her light brown hair. Around her neck she wore a crystal star pendant that sparkled prettily as they sailed in and out of the trees.
When she was out in the wild, everything else disappeared. All she had to think about was the sunshine on her back, the reins in her hands, and Mary Lou whisking her away on an adventure. Sophia urged her horse on, past shadowy glades and prickly thickets of brambles, until the afternoon sun began to fade and it was finally time to turn back. Together, they galloped into a grassy meadow, toward a paddock surrounded by a tall wooden fence. Home.
“Last jump,” whispered Sophia, leaning over Mary Lou’s neck. “Let’s make it a good one!”
Mary Lou’s ears went back as she pushed firmly off the ground, leaping over the fence with ease. She whinnied happily and slowed down to an easy trot.
“Perfect!” Sophia laughed, slipping to the ground. She kissed the horse’s nose before adding, “As always!”
Mary Lou nickered, nudging Sophia gently. While Sophia patted her neck and talked to her, the horse noticed something out of the corner of her eye. What was that pink shimmer of light floating above the farmhouse? Mary Lou blinked in surprise. But when she opened her eyes and looked again, the light had disappeared.
Sophia hadn’t noticed anything strange. She was more troubled by how quickly the sun was setting. She took Mary Lou’s reins and led her across the paddock.
“It’s getting late,” she said. “We need to get you back to your stable before—”
“Mom finds out?”
Sophia groaned. Her little brother, Marco, popped out from behind the stable, smiling from ear to ear. He was only nine years old, but he had already learned some impressive detective skills.
“Mom is going to flip when she finds out you took Mary Lou out of the paddock!” he said.
Mary Lou and Sophia exchanged a nervous glance.
“I’m just guessing, of course,” Marco continued, “since I heard her say to you earlier, ‘Don’t even think about taking Mary Lou outside the paddock.’ ”
Sophia gave him a playful punch in the ribs. She really didn’t want to get caught breaking the rules, but it had been such a lovely, sunny afternoon. It almost felt wrong not to go out and have an adventure.
“Luckily Mom never has to find out,” said Sophia, thinking fast. “She’s busy making dinner, and you know how lasagna always gets the better of her.”
To her surprise, Marco didn’t reply. Instead, his smile faded and his big brown eyes grew even wider than usual. Suddenly Sophia was aware that someone was standing behind her.
“Hey, Mom!” She gulped, spinning around.
Sophia’s mom glared at her daughter. One hand was on her hip, the other was holding a pizza box.
“I didn’t make dinner,” she said firmly. “I ordered in.”
Quick as a flash, Marco swept past his sister, lifted the box out of his mom’s hand, and made a dash for the house. “I’ll just bring this inside. Bye!”
Sophia’s stomach did a flip. Mary Lou bowed her head and looked down at the ground. They really were in trouble now.
“How many times have I told you that you’re not allowed to go riding off the farm?” said Sophia’s mom.
“Mary Lou needed to stretch her legs,” argued Sophia. Then she sighed. Her mom had a way of looking at her that made it impossible not to tell the truth. “I just took her along the track,” she added quietly. “Dad and I used to ride it all the time.”
Her mom’s eyes softened. She stepped forward to stroke Mary Lou, then led the horse toward the stable and started getting her ready for bed.
“I am just trying to keep you safe,” she said gently.
“I’m a good rider,” replied Sophia, grabbing Mary Lou’s water bucket. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
Her mom raised an eyebrow. “Really? Last week, you rode out in a thunderstorm to catch a runaway chicken. The week before, I caught you both playing tag with a bull.”
“Fair point, Mom.”
Sophia glanced over at Mary Lou, who now had her bridle removed and was busy enjoying a lovely neck rub. It wasn’t that they intended to do dangerous things, they just sort of…happened.
“Why can’t you ever do some safe, typical teenage stuff?” asked her mom. “You could make some friends, go to the movies, have sleepovers. It could be fun.”
“Friends are overrated,” said Sophia, giving Mary Lou a goodnight cuddle. “I’m more of a rebellious loner with a love of adventure who can’t help getting into trouble.”
Sophia’s mom shook her head and chuckled, leaning in to join the hug.
“You got that right,” she agreed. “Oh, and about you sneaking out…”
“Grounded?” said Sophia. “Yep. I thought so!”
Cock-a-doodle-dooooo!
The farm’s big red rooster was perched on the wall outside Sophia’s bedroom. He fluffed up his feathers, took a deep breath, and crowed again. Cock-a-doodle-doo! It was his job to wake everyone up bright and early each morning, and he was never late.
Sophia yawned sleepily, stretched, then opened up the window and popped her head out.
“And a very good morning to you!” she said, giving the rooster a friendly wave.
Sophia slid her feet into a pair of slippers and headed downstairs. She could already smell the warm, homey scent of her mom’s pancakes cooking in the kitchen. On the landing was a photo of her dad, Miles Mendoza. Sophia and Marco still missed him so much—sometimes it was hard to remember that he wasn’t just out in the stable feeding the horses or doing jobs around the farm. As she went past, Sophia gently kissed her fingers and pressed them to his picture frame, just as she did every single day.
“Morning, Dad,” she whispered.
Sophia was still staring into her dad’s kind face when the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong!
“I’ll get it!” shouted Sophia, taking the stairs three at a time. She skidded up to the front door in seconds, but when she threw it open, no one was there. Sophia stepped out onto the porch, looking left and right. “That’s strange,” she mumbled before turning back inside and almost tripping over a shiny silver box sitting in the middle of the doormat.
Sophia gazed at the box. How had that gotten there? A shimmer of magenta light hovered behind her as she looked again for a delivery person. When she finally gave up and carried the box inside, the light darted away.
Sophia took the box in to show her mom and Marco. Although it was heavy and sturdy, the outside had been beautifully decorated with a pair of gold and lilac horses. Sophia gasped when she noticed her name engraved on the top.
“What is it?” asked Marco.
Sophia’s mom watched anxiously as Sophia carefully lifted the lid. Inside the box was an invitation written on a sparkly card.
WE ARE PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND
NUNCIOR ACADEMY
THE WORLD’S LEADING SCHOOL FOR PROMISING EQUESTRIAN RIDERS
Sophia’s face lit up. A school where she would get to ride all day? A place for her to be with horses as part of her lessons? It sounded like a dream come true! She looked at her mom pleadingly. “Can I go?”
“And can I have her room?” Marco chimed in.
Sophia’s mom frowned. “What about your school here?”
“They don’t let me bring my horse to class!” said Sophia. “And it’s not like anyone would miss me there.”
“But I would miss you,” said her mom. “Marco would miss you.”
Marco began to nod, then quickly shook his head. “Actually, the new bedroom would heal the pain….”
His mom shot him a look. Marco saw his cue to make a speedy exit as Sophia picked a brochure out of the box. It was filled with information about Nuncior Academy. It sounded amazing.
“I know you worry about me,” she said to her mom, “but I have a feeling that I am meant to do this.”
Sophia’s mom stared at the brochure for the longest time. At last, she looked up and said, “I am sorry. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Mom! Seriously?” Sophia clutched her crystal pendant and felt herself starting to cry. This was a riding academy. Her mom knew that caring for horses had always been her dream. And surely ruining someone’s dreams couldn’t be right. “Dad would want me to go!” she blurted out. “If he were here, he…”
Sophia’s mom turned her head away. “Our family has lost enough,” she said. “I don’t want you leaving, Sophia.”
There was nothing more to say. Sobbing, Sophia ran back up to her bedroom and slammed the door.