Shadow Walker 2
2.
The Saddle Club girls were out by the paddock where their horses were as a long back limo pulled up outside the Stables. The door opened, and Lee Cranston stepped out. he walked up to the driver's window. He said something to the drive and the limo drove away.
Lee shook his head as the limo pulled away.
"I'll never get used to that." He said to himself
He turned and walked into the stables. as he made his way toward Max's office, he became aware that there was a warmth about this place. Even the horses seemed to love it here.
Before he really had time to think about it, he arrived at Max's office.
Max looked up from the paperwork on his desk.
"You must be Lee Cranston," He said.
Lee smiled and nodded.
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Regnery," he said
"Please call me Max." Replied Max.
"Alright," said Lee, "Max it is. I'm here this week to choose a riding school and I'd like to look around Pine Hollow."
"Fine," said Max, "I'm a little busy right now, but I don't think I'll have any trouble finding you a tour guide."
Lee turned and saw the three girls he saw sitting together earlier that day at JB's. They were peeking around the doorway.
"Lee," said Max, "Meet three of our most illustrious students, Lisa Atwood, Carole Hanson, and Stevie Lake around here they're known as The Saddle Club.
"Lisa and I have already met." Said Lee
"Oh?" said Max raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah," said Lisa, "Alex was bothering me at JB's earlier, and Lee made him back off."
Max shook his head.
"That Alex," he muttered, "One of these days, he's gonna push his luck too far and wind up in real trouble."
Lisa nodded in agreement.
"Anyway," said Max changing the subject, "Would you girls be willing to show Lee here around Pine Hollow?"
The girls readily agreed. Lee thanked Max and the girls and headed off with the Saddle Club. They took him around the whole stables and showed him everything, from the dressage ring to the lounge.
As he walked around with them, he noticed the same warm atmosphere was everywhere in this place. he had talked to other people who had been to Pine Hollow and they all said the same thing.
"There's just something about that place. when you get there, you feel at home."
When they finally finished the tour, Lee turned to them.
"Thank you for the tour ladies." He said, just then a sharply polished new truck pulled up with an expensive looking horse trailer behind it.
"Who's that?" asked Carole
"Just somebody that will help me make the final decision about what stables I go to." Smiled Lee. He walked over to the trailer and opened the back of it. the girls watched as he unloaded a beautiful black and blanket with spots Appaloosa. He was solid black in front and the "blanket with spots" referred to a white patch across his hips that was speckled with black spots.
The girls watched as the horse, even with no lead, fell into step with Lee and walked right next to him as he returned to the girls.
"Ladies," he said, "This is Lightning."
Girls all crowded around and cooed and gushed over lightning.
"Where did you find him." asked Carole
"He was born on a horse farm right next to the orphanage where of I spent first part of my life." Replied Lee, "I first met him because Mr. Colson the guy who owned the place would let some of the older kids ride his horses once in a while. I helped feed and groom lightning all the time. "
"Wait a minute," said Stevie, "Colson Farms?!"
"Yeah," said Lee, "That's the place."
"I heard several racehorses trained there." said Lisa
"That's true." Replied Lee, "So Anyway after I found out I was the Cranston Heir, I went back to Colson and asked if I could buy Lightning. He said yes, and besides it seemed Lightning had already chosen me."
"Well why don't we go on a hack?!" said Lisa Excitedly.
"Fine," said Lee, "It'll give Lightning a chance to meet some of the horses around here in a casual setting."
The girls ran to tack up and Lee tacked up lightning. A few minutes later the girls appeared leading their own horses.
"Lightning," said Stevie motioning to the horses, "This is Belle, Starlight, and Pegasus."
The four horses seemed to hit it off.
Lee and the girls mounted up and headed toward the riding trails.
It was very apparent to Lee right off the bat that Lightning was enjoying himself. And it seemed the saddle club's horses were also happy to have a new friend.
Just as they reached the turn off to the rock quarry, they heard the sound of hoofbeats coming from the other direction. A split second later a silver-gray horse with a black mane and a familiar rider appeared around the bend.
"Maya," said Stevie surprised as she rode up to them, "I didn't know you rode!"
"Yeah," said Maya, "This is Lilac I've been stabling her over at Cross County, but ever since that disaster of a date with Reggie Van Forsythe I've been looking for a new place to stable her."
The three girls all looked at each other. They had all had the same idea at the same time. Maya should come to Pine Hollow!
Before any of them could make the suggestion, a firecracker suddenly exploded on the trail behind Lilac.
As the dust from the tiny but loud blast flew. Lilac spooked and reared.
"Whoa girl, Easy girl!" said Maya trying to calm her down. Lisa Carole and Stevie tried to calm down their own horses. Lightning amazingly hadn't batted an eye.
Just as they seemed to get their horses settled another firecracker exploded. Lilac, completely spooked, reared and bolted down the trail with Maya trying in vain to get her to stop. within seconds they were gone from view.
"Come on Lightning," said Lee, "Let's go!" they took off after the runaway Lilac.
To the amazement of the girls, Lightning caught up with Lilac in less time than it takes to tell about it. Lee leaned forward in the saddle and grabbed Lilac's bridle.
"Whoa girl!" he said, "Slowing her down." finally Maya and Lilac came to a stop.
Maya looked up at Lee shyly and smiled.
"Thanks," she said, "It seems like you're always saving me."
"No problem." Smiled Lee, his expression then darkened a little, "Who was throwing those firecrackers anyway!"
"I don't know," said Stevie, "But we'd better find out, before they get somebody killed!"
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