"I've got you this time Sarah! Alex!" Will says as he is in the lead of the group with Alexis and Sarah right behind him as they are riding their horses out on the trail.
"Not as long as we've got the fastest horses in Horseland and you don't!" Sarah says as she and Alexis pass Will before the two stop at a tree.
"Good run Scarlett." Sarah says.
"You too Jewel." Alexis says as Alexander stops beside Alexis.
"Nice job you two." Alexander says.
"Thanks." Alexis says as she smiles and blushes slightly.
"Nice riding Sarah. Alexis." Will says as he stops.
"And Scarlett and Jewel. They're the fastest horses around. And we both love them." Sarah says.
"I hate loosing. Is Aztec looking a little under the weather to you?" Bailey asks.
"Estar loco Bailey. Be crazy. Aztec didn't loose that race. You did." Alma says.
"Yea. You can't blame Aztec for loosing Bailey. Heck you zigged when you should of zagged and made Aztec run about twenty feet farther than he had to. Why a.. a.. a librarian could have done better." Molly says.
"Yea but either way you and your horse are a team you win together and you loose together but it doesn't matter as long as you have fun." Alexander says as Alma pulls a book out of her riding bag.
"What are you doing with that book Alma?" Molly asks.
"I happen to be looking up information on optimum diets for race horses. Besides don't judge a book by its cover." Alma says.
"I always judge books by their cover. The less pages they cover the more I like them. See you back in Horseland." Bailey says as he takes off to Horseland soon followed by the others.
"Sorry if I dusted you guys on the way back." Will says as they walk with their horses.
"Oh please. Who wouldn't win with the head start you had." Molly says.
"She's got a point Will." Sarah says as she laughs slightly.
"Sarah is that you?" A voice ask revealing to be a girl with brown hair and glasses waving at Sarah.
"It's Mary!" Sarah says seeing the girl.
"Sarah." Mary says as Chloe and Zoey come out of the barn on their horses.
"Of course it's Sarah. What are you blind or something?" Chloe asks.
"Actually yes. I am blind. Let me guess you can see but your not very observant." Mary says.
"Sorry but if you'd keep your cane out in the open people wouldn't make the mistake of thinking your well like them." Chloe says.
"Of course we wouldn't want that now would we." Mary says.
"No we wouldn't." Zoey says.
"You could get hurt with all the horses and animals running around." Chloe says.
"See you later...oops! Well at least we'll see you." Zoey says.
"Good one Zoey." Chloe says as she and Zoey ride off as Alexis and the others walk over to Mary.
"Sorry about that Mary." Sarah says.
"Oh well. What those two lack in awareness they makeup for in humor." Mary says.
"Your not offended?" Molly asks.
"How could I be? There obviously not living in the same world as the rest of us." Mary says.
"You can say that again." Bailey says.
"Hey who's this?" Alma asks as she comes over.
"Meet the one the only cousin Mary!" Sarah says.
"That would be me." Mary says.
"I'm so glad you came. Mary let me introduce you to my very best friends in the whole world." Sarah says.
"Hey Sarah you have to come sign for this horse!" Will says as he stands next to a truck with a horse trailer attached.
"A horse!?" Bailey asks.
"Aww cous. You shouldn't have gotten a horse for me." Mary says.
"I didn't. I'll be right back." Sarah says as she goes over to the truck.
"I'll get your new horse out while you do the paperwork." Will says as he brings out a white thorough bred horse.
"Oh my he's perfect." Sarah says.
"Let's go meet this perfect horse." Mary says.
"Allow me.. er us to help you." Bailey says as he and Alma start helping Mary to the new horse.
"It's really not necessary." Mary says as Alexis and Alexander walk with Mary, Bailey, and Alma to see the new horse.
"Prince meet Sarah. Your new.. owner." Will says.
"No he's not really mine. I'm just training him." Mary says.
"I sure picked a good day to show up. If you happen to be stuck with a new horse who needs a rider I'd love to volunteer." Mary says.
"Sorry Mary. He doesn't need a rider he needs a trainer and I've been asked to train him. It's very important. But while your here you can treat Scarlett like she's your very own." Sarah says.
"My very own." Mary says.
"You can handle Scarlett by yourself right?" Sarah asks.
"Well.. absolutely." Mary says.
"Especially since I'll be right next to her the whole time." Bailey says.
"And I'll just be on her other side." Alma says.
"And Alexander and I can help too just incase she needs help with anything." Alexis says as Alexander nods.
"And uh I'll look for pot holes on the ground." Molly says.
"Really guys I'm ok by myself." Mary says.
"Nah we're happy to help." Bailey says.
"Ok Mary you take Scarlett inside. Rub her down, get her fed, check her water, and hang up all her gear." Sarah says.
"Is that all?" Mary asks.
"Uh no. Clean up any manure in the stall while your at it." Sarah says.
"Yes mam captain." Mary says.
"See you later. Prince and I need to get started." Sarah says as she takes Prince and she starts walking away. Mary and the others then go over to the horses.
"Come on Scarlett I need to get you curried and fed. Ok team which way to her stall?" Mary asks.
"This way." Bailey, Alma, and Molly all say at once as they try to help Mary with Scarlett. Alexis then watches as Bailey, Alma, and Molly watch Mary clean out Scarlett's stall. Alexis and Alexander then look at each other and shake there heads before going back to cleaning there horses stalls.
"Honestly guys I'm sure its fascinating watching me endure the manure but I can take care of Scarlett all by myself." Mary says.
"You never know. There could be a rake buried in the straw or a snake. I just wanna help."
"Bailey if there was a snake in here or any other wild animal Ahkira, Jewel, and I would know we keep a close eye on primacies around Horseland." Alexis says.
"But still though better safe then sorry." Bailey says. Alexis rolls her eyes a bit irritated.
"Hey as long as your asking. Here can you take this?" Mary says.
"Uh sure." Bailey says as he then steps on something buried in the hay and yelps in pain.
"Don't tell me." Mary says.
"Yup he stepped on a rake buried in the straw." Molly says.
"Girls you should never leave tools lying around where they could cause an accident." Bailey says.
"Come on Bailey lets get you out of here before you get bitten by that snake you mentioned. Then I can get back to taking care of Scarlett's stall." Mary says as she hands Bailey the bucket and gently urges him forward.
"Right. The stables can be a dangerous place." Bailey says as they all start walking.
"Hey. Anyone got a curry comb so I can groom my horse?" Mary asks as they leave the stable and Bailey goes over and sees Sarah riding Prince.
"Sarah and Prince are flying. Mary you gotta see this... oops sorry I didn't mean you have to literally see. I'm sure that you can probably hear them so clearly you can tell just what they're doing." Bailey says.
"Ce. I've rad that when you loose one sense your others become like super human." Alma says receiving a laugh from Mary.
"Bailey. Alma. Chill. I don't have any special extra sensory super human super powers but I'm not some defenseless baby either. Just think of me as normal ok." Mary says.
"Ok. I get what your saying from now on just let me know if you need any help." Bailey says.
"Me too." Alma says.
"Me three." Molly says.
"And we'll help too if you need it." Alexis says.
"Yup." Alexander says.
"Great. Then I'm going to go groom Scarlett by myself.. hmm. I'm not facing the right direction am I?" Mary says.
"Uh no." Alma says.
"Oops. That really takes the drama out of my exit." Mary says as she goes into the stables. As Alexis and the others go to watch Sarah they hear a commotion in the stables.
"What happened?" Alexis says as she and the others go to see what happened and see Mary on the ground rubbing her wrist.
"Scarlett kicked the door open. Knocked me over." Mary says.
"Are you ok?" Alma asks.
"Yea. Pretty much." Mary says as she rubs her wrist.
"Was your wrist broken?" Bailey asks.
"No but I know what that feels like. I broke it a year ago." Mary says.
"How?" Molly asks.
"I fell off a horse. That's why my parents freak out about me riding." Mary says.
"Ok time out you what!?" Bailey asks.
"Bailey I'll be fine. Help me up." Mary says.
"Sure but for he rest of the time where you go I go." Bailey says as Alexis and Alexander help Mary up.
"Me too." Alma says.
"Me three." Molly says.
"Oh boy here we go again. All six of us." Mary says. The next day Mary, Alexis, Molly, and Alma go to see Sarah unsaddling Prince in a stall.
"Hi girls. Mary I've got to get to work with Prince right away so you'll have to saddle Scarlett yourself if you want to ride today." Sarah says.
"If I want to ride today. Of course I want to ride today. I want to ride every day. It may take a while but I'll be out there." Mary says.
"It won't take long at all." Alma says.
"Even if you don't want to help your cousin we will." Molly says.
"She's not a baby she can do it herself." Sarah says.
"Sarah's right. I appreciate the help but I can do it myself. You don't have to bother." Mary says as Bailey and Alexander come over.
"It's no bother at all. Besides you don't wanna hurt your wrist again." Bailey says. Mary then sighs giving in.
"Ok let's get Scarlett ready." Mary says as they all then saddle there horses and go for a ride with Mary and stop once seeing Sarah out riding Prince.
"Hey Sarah." Bailey says as they ride there horses at a walking pace.
"Hey guys. Why don't you get Scarlett going faster for Mary?" Sarah asks.
"Now we're talking. How's about we go for a gallop?" Mary asks.
"Right now you just need to get used to being in the saddle." Bailey says.
"I've ridden before remember." Mary says as Aztec then steps into a gopher hole and rears up and backs into Scarlett making both horses rear before calming down as Will comes over on his horse.
"Alright alright just a gopher hole. But so much for making sure Mary stays safe aye cousin Bailey." Will says.
"Can we do it again?" Mary asks.
"No but I have to admit. You really stuck to your saddle. You maybe ready to add a little speed." Bailey says.
"Great. Scarlett we're finally going to get to-" Mary then gets cut off by Bailey.
"Trot." Bailey says receiving a sig from Mary.
"Better than walking." Mary says as she goes with Molly and Alexis as they go in a different direction without the others.
"Mary why do you want to ride so much?" Molly asks.
"I've always loved horses. It's apart of me. Everyone thinks I should be doing stuff more appropriate for someone like me if you know what I mean." Mary says.
"I can so relate. My friends in the city think I'm crazy take the bus all the way out here. Just because they aren't interested in horses doesn't mean I shouldn't be. They don't know what it's like to ride with the wind in your face." Molly says.
"I can relate as well because I'm different from a lot of people most think I should be with people who are like me. And plus whenever I'm with Jewel whenever I ride with her I feel free from a lot of things that I grew up knowing. It's like there's no one else but you and your horse." Alexis says.
"Exactly. So how about we gallop a little?" Mary asks.
"Ok. It's clear range for about a hundred yards straight ahead. Just stay next me and Alexis and if one of us say walls stop right away." Molly says.
"Let's go girl." Mary says as she and Scarlett take off.
"Mary wait up." Molly says as she and Alexis follow after Mary.
"Time to slow down." Molly says as she sees a fence.
"Ok. Whoa there Scarlett." Mary says as they all three come to a stop.
"Wow you ride almost like you can uh..'" Molly says.
"Like I can see. People forget riding is a partnership. As long as my horse can see-" Mary then gets cut off by Chloe and Zoey riding over.
"Hey Mary. It's me Zoey." Zoey says as Chloe then notices the necklace Mary is wearing.
"Oh Zoey look at that necklace. Is that a zanyuwee?" Chloe asks.
"Oh my gosh it is!" Zoey says.
"Uh actually its not." Mary says.
"Nonsense! I'd know a zanyuwee anywhere." Zoey says.
"Not to be rude but you cant see so like how do you know anyway?" Chloe asks.
"You two are absolutely-" Molly gets cut off by Mary.
"Wait. There right. I can't see so what would I know really." Mary says.
"Exactly. Hey how about trading for something you can actually use? I've got a really cool mp3 player?" Chloe asks.
"Look you two Mary would rather keep her necklace." Molly says as Mary then takes off her necklace.
"It's ok. If you really want to." Mary says.
"Cool." Zoey and Chloe say together as Zoey pulls out an mp3 player.
"It holds five thousand songs." Zoey says as she and Mary switch off.
"Mary are you sure?" Molly asks.
"Yea?" Alexis asks.
"She's sure." Zoey says.
"Oh yes I'm sure." Mary says.
"What a steal. A zanyuwee for an mp3 player." Zoey says as she and Chloe start to walk off.
"Oh we're good." Chloe says.
"And pretty." Zoey says.
"And clever." Chloe says as they leave.
"Why did you do that!? You just gave away your original zanyuwee!" Molly says.
"Zanyuwee zapoowee. I got three of those necklaces for five bucks at the swap meet. It's about as real as Chloe and Zoey are." Mary says.
"Girl you are something." Molly says.
"Yea nice going." Alexis says as Bailey, Alexander, and Alma come riding over.
"Hey Molly. You should see the new trail my dad just opened." Bailey says.
"It winds all over." Alma says.
"I've heard it winds up in meadow we've never been to." Alexander says.
"Wow. Lead the way." Molly says before everyone gives her blank stares as she realizes what she said.
"I can ride on a trail you know. Just let me follow along with you. I'll be fine." Mary says.
"You promise not to run off?" Alma asks.
"Yep. I'll be good." Mary says.
"Alright. But we'll just go up to the meadow and come right back." Bailey says.
"Yes." Mary says as Sarah comes riding over.
"Hey where you going?" Sarah asks as she stops beside Mary.
"Trail riding want to come?" Mary asks.
"Can't I've got more training to do. Listen I don't think this is such a good idea. It's going to be getting dark soon and there's a wind coming up and-" Sarah then gets cut off by Bailey.
"Oh don't be such a worry wart. There's a full moon tonight there'll be plenty of light even if run a little late." Bailey says.
"But what if the storm comes in?" Sarah asks.
"Are you kidding there wasn't anything about rain on the weather report. Come on guys lets go before Sarah talks us out of it." Bailey says as they start heading towards the trail.
"Don't worry I'll be fine." Mary says as they leave and soon get onto the trail.
"This is amazing. Oh listen can you hear that? There's a beehive in a tree." Mary says hearing some bees.
"What bees?" Molly asks.
"Trust me. I can hear them buzzing." Mary says.
"Now I can hear them. And I see them too." Bailey says seeing the hive.
"Me too good call Mary." Molly says as they come to a fork in the trail.
"We go to the right." Bailey says.
"You said this new trail is tricky." Alma says.
"Don't worry I'm memorizing the land marks. We'll be fine." Bailey says.
"Oh that's reassuring. I just hope Bailey knows where he's going." Alexis thinks to herself as they continue on.
"Smell the strawberries." Mary says smelling strawberries.
"It's really faint." Molly says smelling the air.
"But it's there. Smells good." Bailey says.
"Like dessert." Alma says receiving a nod from Alexis and Alexander.
"Oh I hear a stream. Back in the woods over there." Mary says.
"I do hear it. Now that you mention it. You know I never realized ho much I was missing before. It must be cool to be..." Alma says.
"Cool to be blind. Don't get carried away now. My life isn't exactly easy but it is incredible." Mary says as they keep moving.
"Ok we're almost there. Take the right fork this time." Bailey says.
"Lo linda! Beautiul!" Alma says as they reach the meadow.
"What does it look like?" Mary asks.
"Wide open trails with lots of pretty trees. Hey check out the hawk." Molly says as she points out a hawk.
"Uh oh check out the clouds." Bailey says as some dark clouds move in.
"Sure is getting dark fast." Molly says.
"Yea we'd better get going. If we spend too much time here and those clouds don't break and there won't be a full moon and-" Bailey gets cut off by Alma.
"Then in a few minutes its going to be getting dark." Alma says as they then head back onto the trail to get home but stop due to the dark.
"Dark." Alexis says.
"Pitch dark. I can barely see my hand in front of my face." Molly says.
"Don't worry I always carry a flashlight in my saddle bag. Oh great the batteries went dead. Now we can worry." Bailey says as he turns on the flashlight for the batteries to go dead.
"We are so lost. How do we know which way to go?" Alma asks.
"I think I can get us out of this." Mary says as she puts a hand up to her ear.
"How can you? You cant even see?" Bailey asks.
"Shh." Alma says.
"Remember that stream I mentioned well I can hear it coming from the left." Mary says.
"Your right I can hear it now." Molly says.
"Cool. Mary take the lead." Bailey says as they then follow Mary.
"Which way now?" Molly asks as they stop.
"We should be able to smell the strawberries soon." Mary says.
"Ce. Smells like fresas again." Alma says.
"Coming from the right follow me." Mary says as they follow her before stopping again.
"Which way?" Molly asks.
"Shh." Mary says as she listens.
"I don't hear or smell a thing." Bailey says.
"There not as long as they were in the daytime but if your really quite you can still hear them." Mary says.
"Bees! Mary you are a genius. We're almost home!" Bailey says as they continue on until they see Sarah and Will with flashlights.
"Hey Sarah." Molly says.
"Will!" Bailey says.
"Whoa. How'd you find your way back its so dark?" Will asks.
"It was Mary. Mary led us out." Molly says.
"Cousin your the best. I've got something to tell you. Let's go to the stables." Sarah says. The next day they all head to the stables.
"Ok. I have an important announcement to make. Mary these last few days I left you alone on purpose. Your parents made me promise to keep everything a secret incase it didn't work out. They asked me to test you to see if you could really take care of a horse on your own. Cleaning her, feeding her, riding her the whole package ." Sarah says.
"That's good to know. I thought I'd stop being your favorite cousin." Mary says.
"Never. It certainly wasn't easy evaluating what you could do on your own. Especially with Bailey, Alma, and Molly trying to do everything for you. And Alexis and Alexander the reason they stayed with you was because I asked them to I told them to let you do everything on your own but to at least stay close by and to be there incase something happened or you needed help with something but I also had them promise to keep it secret as well. But you were amazing and I think we all know that you passed the test with flying colors. So on behave of your parents I'd like to present you with your very own horse!" Sarah says as everyone then cheers for Mary.
"What!? Are you kidding me are you giving me Scarlett?" Mary asks.
"Are you kidding? I would never give away Scarlett. Prince is your new horse Mary." Sarah says.
"Oh wow thank you. Prince will be great I know it because you trained him." Mary says as she hugs Sarah and the group then go for a ride on there horses.
"Mary I'm sorry it took us so long to realize that you didn't need special treatment." Molly says.
"Thanks for putting up with us." Bailey says.
"Ce. You showed us your really can judge a book by its cover even if its written in grail." Alma says.