5 
5 Sasha
MY FRIENDS FOLLOWED ME, AND I walked up to a stall and clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth to get the horse’s attention. The palomino gelding started toward me and put his beautiful Arabian head over the door.
I turned to the group, and Alison gasped. Her eyes were as round as peppermint candies.
“Alison,” I said. “You’ll be riding this strange horse named . . . Sunstruck. I think that’s his name. Is that okay?”
“Omigod! Baby!” Alison ran forward toward her horse and peppered his muzzle and cheeks with kisses.
“How did you—? When did—?” Alison sputtered at me.
Eric, Callie, Brit, and Heather all shared the same look: hope. Hope that their horses were here and not at Canterwood.
“They’re all here!” I said. “I coordinated the travel with Mr. Conner, and he worked with your parents and Kim. They’ll be staying at Briar Creek until we go back to school.”
Eric looked at his boots for a split second. “Luna’s here too,” I assured him. “Mr. Conner knows you love her like she’s yours.”
That made him grin.
“Go find your horses,” I said. “They’re all in the last few stalls.”
Callie, Eric, Brit, Heather, and Alison hurried down the aisle, not even glancing at the Briar Creek horses.
“If it’s okay, I’d like to say hi to Charm and then introduce you to your horses,” I said to Jacob and Paige.
They nodded.
“That was an amazing surprise, Sash,” Paige said.
“I wanted the horses to be home for Christmas too,” I said. “Home for them is wherever we are.”
Jacob, Paige, and I walked past Heather, who had her arms around Aristocrat’s neck. The liver chestnut leaned into her. Brit had found Apollo—her gray gelding—and was whispering in his ear. Callie and Black Jack were reunited in the stall next to Apollo. Eric dug into his pocket, produced a peppermint stick, and held it flat on his palm for Luna.
It made me teary to see all of my friends with their horses—the horses they thought they’d be without over break. It hadn’t been easy getting them here. The Foxes had put up a fight about having Heather’s expensive horse staying “at some stable in Union,” but Mr. Conner and I had managed to convince them.
“Charm?” I called. A low nicker came from the right side of the aisle. “Chaaarm! I hear you!” Another nicker, louder and longer this time. I broke into a jog, not waiting for Paige and Jacob to catch up.
As I reached the stall, a chestnut head popped over. Wide brown eyes found me, and I grinned. “Charm!” I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face in his mane. He smelled like clean hay and sweet grain. I stepped back and held his face in my hands. Charm wore his dark-brown leather halter, with his name inscribed on a gold name plate attached to the halter.
“Look at my other boyfriend,” I said as Jacob reached my side.
“Hey, Charm,” Jacob said. He put out a tentative hand for Charm to sniff. Charm bumped Jacob’s hand with his muzzle, and Jacob patted his neck. I couldn’t believe Jacob was the guy who, when we had first met, was so scared of horses he wouldn’t even touch Charm.
Paige caught up and petted Charm’s cheek.
Charm’s coat gleamed from daily brushings. Every hair on his white blaze sparkled like fresh snow. His socks were just as clean. Charm’s breeding—a mix of Thoroughbred and Belgian—made him tall and strong.
“Anyone interested in a ride?” I called.
“Yes!” everyone chorused back.
With a final pat, I left Charm, and my friends and I met in the center of the aisle.
“Sasha, wow,” Callie said. Her brown eyes danced. “This was the biggest surprise!”
Heather nodded. “Really. I was down about spending Christmas away from Aristocrat. Thank you so much!”
I waved my hand. “I wanted to do it. Mr. Conner did most of the work, really. It’s a small thanks to you all for helping me with the charity project.”
I explained that everyone would find their tack and grooming supplies in a closet at the back of the stable. I hadn’t wanted to blow the surprise when I’d shown them the real tack room.
“So, you guys tack up. I’m going to introduce Jacob and Paige to their horses and help them get ready. Want to meet out in front of the stable in half an hour?” I asked.
“Deal!” Brit said.