Chapter 4

Max and the Saddle club as well as Desi, Simon, Melanie and Jess were all gather at the riding ring. Evie was in the ring slowly tacking up Atlas. It had been two weeks since Max had asked Evie to help him with Atlas.

Evie had done an amazing job. Max had found that because of her, Atlas was ready for the saddle much sooner than he had expected. Now he was biting his fingernails and wondering how he had let The Saddle Club talk him into letting Evie be the one to Saddle Atlas for the first time.

Evie finished what she was doing and straightened up. She turned and looked at Max.

"Okay," she said, "Here goes nothing."

Evie put her foot up in the stirrup and pulled herself up into the saddle. Atlas was perfectly calm. Evie smiled took a breath and gave the command,

"Walk on, Atlas."

Atlas responded immediately and seconds later he was trotting happily around the ring with Evie on his back.

"Well done, Evie," said Max, "I think we can consider you assigned to ride Atlas from now on."

Evie grinned,

"Thanks Max."

Over the next few days, the girls could be found riding up the main trail toward the quarry turnoff Evie and Atlas worked together like they had been doing it for years. When they weren't hanging out at the quarry, they spent a good part of their afternoons exploring the various trails.

Lisa watched Evie with a smile on her face. She couldn't help noticing how happy Evie was to have Atlas and to be riding again.

On the third day they arrived back at the stables after a hack to see Max and a black-haired man in a grey business suit come walking toward them. Max was looking grave and running his fingers through his hair. Right away the girls knew that something was really wrong.

"Evie," he said, "We have a problem."

"What?" asked Evie

"This is Mr. Harwell apparently he's Atlas's rightful owner." Replied Max apologetically

"WHAT?!" thundered all four girls simultaneously

"How can that be?" cried Lisa

"He claims that Atlas was stolen out of his barn three months ago right after he bought him," explained Max, "The Vet of course denies any knowledge of the horse being stolen when he arranged for me to adopt Atlas."

Evie felt like she had been kicked in the stomach and so did her friends.

"I can't believe this is happening." Said Carol as Evie dismounted and untacked Atlas barely fighting back tears.

"I'm afraid it is," said Max, "And I'm sorry, but he's got the paperwork, including a signature from the police commissioner vouching for its authenticity, so there's nothing I can do."

The man took Atlas's lead and handed it off to his assistant who led him toward a nearby horse trailer. Atlas balked when they tried to load him into the trailer Harwell laid the papers he had been holding on the hood of the truck and held his stable hand load Atlas.

Then they climbed into the truck and headed off down the road leaving the girls standing there in stunned silence.

The girls all walked dejectedly to the lounge. When they got there, they sank dejectedly down onto the couch. Evie was to upset to sit there for long, after a few seconds she jumped up and ran out the door.

Evie found herself standing in the driveway once more looking in the direction that the horse trailer had gone in.

Sighing dejectedly, she turned and walked back toward the stables. When she got inside, she thought of the something. She reached Max's office just as the Lisa, Carole and Stevie came around the corner looking for her.

"Evie are you okay?" asked Lisa

"Yeah, I guess," Replied Evie, "I just want to check on something."

She knocked on the door post as she stepped into Max's office. he was sitting at his desk shuffling papers.

"Hey, Evie." Said Max gently, "What do you need?"

"Max," said Evie, "Did that Mr. Harwell give you copies of the paperwork?"

"Yes, he did actually, why? Asked Max

"I'd like to see it please." Evie Replied

"Why torture yourself?" asked Max

"Max please!" insisted Evie

Max shrugged

"Okay." he said. he moved some papers aside, picked up a file folder and handed it to her.

Evie opened the folder and started looking through the papers. When she got to the voucher signed by the police Commissioner, she stopped short.

"Max," she said, looking up with wide eyes, "This voucher is a forgery!"

TO BE CONTINUED…Please Review!