Lessons were coming to an end for the day at Pine Hollow. Max was getting the group to practise cross-country jumps in the forest. Carole was just clearing the double at the end of the stretch and trotting back.
"Excellent, Carole. You and Starlight were gliding over those jumps."
"I can't help it if Starlight is an amazing horse." The student gave Starlight a hug as she went to the back of the line. "Good boy, Starlight. You're my good boy."
"Ok everyone, that's it for the day." Max advised. "Cool your horses out, groom them and let them rest."
"We can cool them out on the way back to the stables on a trail ride." Lisa suggested.
"That's a great idea." Smiled Stevie, petting Belle's neck.
"That would save a bit of time." Max nodded, mounting on Barq. "Ok everyone, back we go."
Max took up the front of the group as usual, with the Saddle Club and their horses falling close behind. Phil kept up with them on Teddy, Danny fell in behind with Higgins, Megan on Eddie, Sam on Comanche and finally, Veronica on Garnet.
When the group returned, Mrs Reg and Deborah were out to greet them.
"How was the lesson?" Asked Deborah.
"Oh, everyone was jumping very well."
"Max." Mrs Reg said, "we have two new students coming in tomorrow. We have to assign horses to them."
Max nodded. "Either of them experienced?"
"I know one of them isn't. The other, we're not quite sure."
"We can show them around the place." Stevie smiled. "Can't we, guys?"
Carole and Lisa nodded eagerly, and Max gave them a thumb up.
"I'm sure you can teach the new students how to ride as well." Deborah added. "You taught me well."
"Didn't I help to prefect those skills?"
"They were the ones who got me on a horse."
The Saddle Club giggled, remembering how they helped Deborah learn to ride just well enough to propose to Max. It took a good amount of effort, but it sure was worth it. Since then, Deborah's been at riding lessons non-stop, so she could get better at it. Deborah had a lot of catching up to do since she was in France though.
Just then, the group heard footsteps approaching. They turned around to see Cornal Hanson standing there.
"Hey, dad." Carole greeted. "Why do you look all dressed up?"
"Carole, I need you to gather your things and report to me ASAP."
Carole blinked. She was planning to go out with Stevie and Lisa to JBs after untacking and grooming Starlight.
"Why?"
"On the double, Miss Hanson."
"I'll take care of Starlight for you." Deborah said quickly.
"Thanks, Deborah." Carole gratefully gave Deborah Starlight's reins and raced back to get her things.
Carole placed her things in her room at home and couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Redeployed?"
"My brigade and two others. We leave on act of service by the end of the month. It's a long way from Willow Creek."
"I don't want you to go." Carole said tearfully. She had always been an only child, and the loss of her mum was too much to bare when she died.
"I've called your Aunt Penny." Mr Hanson explained to his daughter. "Now, I know you love Pine Hollow, but…"
"She's coming to stay?" That wouldn't be so bad. Carole could still ride Starlight and be around Stevie and Lisa…
"She's got a spare room."
No… no this couldn't be happening. Carole couldn't move. Not this far from the stables.
"Please, I can't go!"
"You have to, Carole." Cornel sighed. "That's not negotiable."
THEME SONG
Two cars drive up to the stables with the new riders.
"Thanks, Uncle Roy. I'll take it from here." The teenaged boy stepped down from the car with his bag of supplies and started heading toward the barn.
"Remember." Roy called. "If you don't like this, you can try soccer."
The boy shook his head. "No. I'd much rather be there with equine mammals, not a ball game."
"Be sure to wear your helmet."
"Don't worry. I'm on top of it."
The boy walked along, nearly bumping into two girls, one close to his age.
"Sorry." The older one said. "My younger sis, Jess has made a couple of friends here recently. Are you here for lessons too?"
"Yeah…" The boy replied.
"Come on!" Jess urged. "I'll show you where the horses are. I've got to catch up with Ash and Mel too."
Jess, her sister and their new acquaintance headed toward the stables.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Hey, Jess!"
Jess raced over to Melanie and Ashley.
"Hey guys. Melanie, Ashley, this is my sister, Rachel and… oh, I didn't catch your name."
"It's Simon."
Ashley and Melanie shook hands with them.
"These are our ponies." Ashley gestured towards three grey ponies in the cross-ties. "This is Dime, he's the pony I ride."
"I ride Penny." Added Melanie. "She's the one in the middle."
"And the last pony is Nickel." Jess pointed to the pony on the end. "I ride her."
"All named after American money." Simon realised. "Is that the case with all the ponies here?"
"No." Jess shrugged. "But you two best sign up. The office is that way."
"Thanks, sis." Rachel and Simon rushed off, though they were a little shaky.
In the riding ring, the students were just beginning their warm up circuits.
"Megan, shorten your reins a little. We're onto trot now. Very good."
Carole slowed down a bit to stay near Stevie and Lisa, not fully concentrating.
"Are you alright, Carole?" Asked Lisa.
"No… dad's being redeployed."
"Where to?"
Carole shook her head in confusion. "I… a long way away. And it isn't just him."
"What?!" Cried Stevie. "What do you mean?"
Max caught sight of Stevie and Carole riding close together, as if in pair riding.
"Carole." He spoke gently. "Is something the matter?"
"I… Pine Hollow… dad… Starlight…"
"Do you want to take a break?"
Carole choked on her tears and nodded.
"Carole, you, Stevie and Lisa are excused." Max said, his tone patient and understanding. "Take your horses out for a gentle hack."
Carole gratefully allowed Starlight to canter through the open gate, Stevie and Lisa following close behind.
"What?!" Shrieked Veronica. "You can't do that!"
"I just did." Max replied simply. "Now, the rest of you, I'm going to find the dressage cones. Phil, you're in charge till I get back."
Phil gave a firm nod, though he couldn't help but feel worried for Carole. The Saddle Club have always been good friends to him, a good girlfriend to him in the case of Stevie. But he knew the girls were strong and would pull through.
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
"Oh, you've got to be kidding."
Deborah had tried to get up the horse riding schedule on the computer, but the computer glitched out.
"How am I supposed to fix this?"
"Deborah!" Called a voice, and she glanced over to see Mrs Reg. "I'd like you to meet our newest students: Simon Atherton and Rachel Cooper."
"Greetings you two." Deborah politely shook hands with the newcomers, and Simon glanced at the computer screen. Without anyone saying to, he quickly keyed in something to the computer. Like magic, the screen loaded properly and there wasn't signs of malfunction at all.
"As I thought. The hosting package. Just curious, when was this computer last updated?"
Deborah looked at Mrs Reg, as if to ask her if she knew.
"It was Max who did it, not me."
"I know how to get this updated. It won't cost you a cent."
"Would you two like to ride horses first?" Asked Mrs Reg gently. "Have either of you had experience?"
"Are we talking Cross-country, dressage, show jumping?" Simon asked inquisitively. Rachel had a cloudy gaze in her eyes and said nothing.
Deborah quickly got up the schedule.
"Well, I first started riding on Patch." She explained to Rachel and Simon. "He's a Push-Button pony. Do one of you want to take him?"
"I-I guess I'll take him." Rachel said shyly. "Is Patch gentle? And… why is he a 'Push-Button' pony?"
"Patch is the gentlest horse on the premise." Mrs Reg reassured. "We call him 'Push-Button Patch' because he hardly, if ever, gets spooked."
Rachel smiled weakly, feeling a bit better about riding.
"As for you Simon, I think we'll put you on that new pony we got last week. Topside."
"Would that happen to be the pony which Jess, Melanie and Ashley walked down to the stables?"
Mrs Reg nodded. "Come on, you two can help Jack and Red tack them up."
"I'll be back." Called Simon, as he and Rachel were lead out to the main stables.
Stevie and Lisa had to work Belle and Prancer hard to keep up with Carole and Starlight.
"So much for a gentle hack." Stevie sighed. "Carole, slow down please."
But, all Carole did was keep Starlight at the pace he was going, and the gelding wasn't intending to stop either.
"That way!" Cried Lisa, seeing Starlight's hoof prints down the left track. "Go Prancer, go!"
Prancer and Belle zipped down the track, which ended near a quiet river and patches of grass. Carole had jumped off Starlight and was allowing him to lap up the water. Stevie and Lisa got off their horses beside the grass, leaving them to eat.
"Carole, what's wrong?" Asked Lisa gently.
"The worst." Carole choked on her tears again, and hugged Starlight, while her two fellow saddle clubbers hugged her. "Aunt Penny lives in the city. She's got a spare room… Dad says he won't have time to look after me, and I have to live with her."
"You'll be able to get to Pine Hollow… right?" Asked Stevie.
Carole shook her head. "Too far… I won't be able to see you two or… or…"
Starlight pressed his muzzle onto Carole's shoulder, and even Belle and Prancer trotted over. Carole petted each of their noses with tears rolling down her face.
In the hayloft, Melanie and Ashley ran to the top, and Jess was trailing behind.
"Quick!" Ashley called. "Someone's coming."
Jess was going so fast she didn't see something on the loft. She stepped on it with her shoe.
"Ew…" She muttered.
"Get the haybales. They'll see him!"
Jess obediently moved the haybales around the top to cover herself, her friends and their donkey friend from view.
"You two ridden before?" Red asked as he, Jack, Rachel and Simon came into the stable.
"A bit of this, bit of that." Simon replied confidently. Rachel still didn't say anything.
"Ok." Jack nodded toward two saddles and bridles, along with two horses tied to the door with halters and lead ropes. "Let's see how you tack up."
"I guess that pinto gelding is Patch, right?"
Patch turned his head in a friendly manner toward Rachel and touched her shoulder with his nose.
"Ok, ok, boy." She giggled lightly. "Hang on."
Rachel placed the saddle pad on Patch's back near the middle, and then the saddle on top.
"That's not too far back, is it?"
"Looks good, Rachel." Red smiled. "Now put the girth on."
Rachel started to buckle the girth on the third strap and put four fingers in through to check. Then, she went to get the bridle, taking the halter down first.
"Ok Patch, take the bit."
Patch obediently did so, and Rachel carefully put the bridle over the horse's head. Then, she buckled the throat latch, and made sure three fingers could be put through. Finally, she placed the reins over Patch's head to his back.
"That was great for a beginner." Jack smiled. "Are you sure you don't have riding experience?"
"I have tacked up horses before." Rachel shrugged. "Hey, Simon, want me to help you?"
"What? Oh… nah. Just… checking these horses' condition. They… look to be very healthy."
"Thanks." Smiled Red. "Dr. Judy is an excellent vet, and the students care for the horses extremely well."
The group then pause to hear a voice coming from the top of the hayloft.
"Did you hear that?" Asked Jack.
Simon nodded. "Maybe we should check it out."
"Let's get you two into the ring first." Red advised. "Jack and I will give you a leg up… after we get Topside tacked up."
"I… left my hard hat somewhere." Simon sighed. "I'll be back in a moment."
Simon raced off, leaving the others confused.
Up in the loft, Melanie looked toward her two friends.
"I've thought of a name for our donkey friend." She whispered. "Trouble."
"That'd be right." Ashley replied quietly.
"We're going to have to move him somewhere else." Sighed Jess.
"There must be something we can do." Lisa wondered out loud.
"I think I have an idea." Stevie smiled. "You could stay with one of us."
Carole blinked at her friends. "Are you sure your folks will allow you? And my dad?"
"It's worth a try." Lisa said with determination. "You're like a sister to us, Carole. Families look out for one another."
"Yeah, we are a family." Added Stevie. "Us three, plus Belle, Prancer and Starlight. I doubt our parents would say no."
Carole gave her friends a grateful hug. "You two and our horses are the best. You know that?"
"I love hearing those words." Giggled Stevie, and the other two couldn't help but laugh too.
When the Saddle Club returned, they saw someone they hadn't seen before. She was doing a walk on Patch with Max observing her paces.
"She must be one of the new students." Lisa realised. "Hi!"
"Hello." She greeted as she transitioned to a trot. "Are you the Saddle Club?"
"That's us, don't wear it out." Smiled Stevie. "That's Carole Hanson, this is Lisa Atwood, I'm Stevie Lake. What's your name?"
"Rachel Cooper." She replied, changing her gait to a walk. "Have you three had your lesson today? I'm a little lonely with just Max, Patch and I."
"Well… sorta, but not really." Carole explained. "We can join you, if Max is ok."
"As long as you three and your horses are good to go, I'm not stopping you. You can show Rachel how you do dressage if you wish."
Max went to go find the cones, and Rachel and Patch trotted over to the Saddle Club.
"Are you three alright?" Rachel asked, bringing Patch to a halt. "I mean, you said you did have your lesson, but not really."
"Personal issues." Sighed Carole. "I'm due to move away from Pine Hollow. Stevie and Lisa are coming up with a plan for me to stay and keep me with Starlight."
"I hope it ends up working." Rachel replied kindly. "I… I wouldn't want you to lose someone so near and dear to you."
Rachel's voice sounded deep and distant, as if she was trying to brush something away.
"But, enough of this negativity. I've never seen dressage done in real life before."
While the Saddle Club went to show their new acquaintance how dressage was done, Veronica had heard Carole's comment.
"Well… look at this. Ooh, the Saddle Club's going to end up splitting up. Better call Kristi about it."
After the dressage was over, Lisa and Carole were untacking their horses together.
"You and Starlight looked fantastic today." Lisa commented, grabbing Prancer's bridle and bringing it down.
"Thanks…" Carole sighed. "Do you really think your folks will let me stay?"
"I hope so." Lisa smiled. "It'd be like an extended sleepover every night. And Prancer and Starlight are already pasture buddies."
Carole grinned, getting Starlight's saddle off. "It would be fun… oh, I must have dropped Starlight's body brush on the way up. Hang on, boy." Carole petted Starlight's neck and walked off to go find it.
"Tough break for Carole." Said a voice.
"As if you'd care, Veronica."
"She's staying with Stevie, isn't she?" She went on. "I mean, it's quite obvious. She's know Stevie longer."
"That's none of your business."
Veronica shrugged and strolled away.
"Is she that heartless to everyone?" Asked Rachel with worry, who was coming by with Patch's tack. The pinto gelding stood in his stall, resting.
"Don't worry. The Saddle Club have handled her since formation." Lisa reassured. "And don't let her push you around either."
Rachel nodded. "Course. Do you where the grooming boxes are?"
"In the tack room. Each horse has their grooming box with their names printed above the cubby holes."
"Gotcha."
As Rachel headed toward the tack room, she saw Stevie cleaning her saddle and Carole also heading into the tack room. But, Rachel and Carole didn't realise that Veronica had just come out and made her way over to Stevie.
"It's as if Carole thought that 'free walk' meant to leave the arena and went to the nearest paddock."
"And I suppose 'free walk' for you is to leave the stables and go to the nearest mall." Stevie retorted back.
"I spoke with Lisa." She continued. "Her mum will let Carole stay with them. Girly girls." She shrugged. "They always stick together."
Veronica was about to say more, but she saw Carole exit the tack room with Starlight's body brush and Rachel with Patch's grooming box. The rich girl dashed off.
"Do you want some help grooming Patch?" Asked Carole.
"Only after you're done grooming Starlight." Rachel replied. "I think Max told me everything. Though, if anything looks out of place, be sure to let me know."
The two girls split up, and while Rachel went to tend to Patch, Starlight started to enjoy the feeling of the brush running on his fur. By now, Lisa had finished grooming Prancer and she went to the feed room to grab her a carrot.
"Never get tired of this, do you boy?"
Starlight seemed to shake his head as his owner. Carole giggled and continued her work.
"Sad to hear you might not be doing this any longer."
Carole rolled her eyes and stared at Veronica.
"I'm sure you'll make the right choice. Though, one may be upset that you chose the other."
"Get a life, Veronica." Carole retorted. "Try grooming Garnet and mucking her stall."
As Veronica strolled off, Carole couldn't help but wonder: would Lisa and Stevie hate her if she didn't choose them?
Back with Rachel, she had started using the curry comb on Patch.
"Hello, Rachel." Simon called.
"Hey, Simon." She replied. "Groomed down Topside already?"
"Uh… yes. He's just been tucked into his stall." Simon said quickly. "Uh… want help grooming Patch?"
"Course."
Simon got out one of the brushes from the box and was about to put it on Patch's fur.
"Stop!" Rachel cried. "You never use a metal curry comb on a horse, especially if it's a Summer coat."
"Uh… right." Simon stuttered. "I was testing to see if you knew that. So… what do you think it's used for?"
Rachel got her rubber curry comb and rubbed it against the metal one.
"It's used for cleaning the rubber brush." Rachel explained. "The rubber curry comb gets a lot of dirt stuck in it, as it's typically the first brush you use on a horse."
Simon then found a brush that was identical to the rubber curry comb Rachel had. Simon started to copy Rachel's circular motions while grooming Patch, and noticed the dirt coming loose.
"There you go." Rachel smiled. "That's how you do it." She bent down to pick up a dandy brush and used even strokes.
"So… the dirt comes off with this brush, right?"
Rachel nodded. "This goes all over the horse's body except for the head. But..." she added with a smirk, "of course, that was another trick question wasn't it?"
Simon shrugged and picked up a second dandy brush, but neither of the students noticed Jess, Melanie and Ashley slipping past them with Trouble in tow.
The Saddle Club raced into Stevie's house up to her room. As usual, Stevie's room had candy wrappers everywhere, soft toys scattered all over her bed and clothes on the floor. But, none of the girls ever minded.
Stevie placed her things on the bed, and Carole put her bag of essentials on the floor in the corner.
"It'll be easy." Stevie was saying to the others. "Another bed against the wall, a desk under the window and it'll be a room fit for two girls. And a space in the middle, if Lisa wants to sleep over."
"Maybe I can make you a bit of a neat freak." Chuckled Carole, sitting herself in a space on the floor.
"If anyone would be doing that, it'd be me." Joked Lisa.
As the Saddle Club were chatting away, they hear voices coming from the hall. Stevie rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder.
"Chad, Alex, Michael!" She called to her three brothers. "Go to the park. We have Saddle Club business to tend to."
"You're no fun." Scoffed Michael, and the three of them moved out of earshot.
"Sorry 'bout that, ladies. Where were we?"
"Me having three extra brothers and a cool sister?" Carole grinned. "This will be great fun."
"My parents are out all the time." Stevie replied. "I've got total freedom. Once we get a bed in here, we'll be set."
"You'll have a ball at Stevie's house, Carole."
As Lisa said those words, a ball flew up the stairs into Stevie's room.
"Hey you guys!" Cried Stevie to her brothers. "You know the rule, no balls in the hall! You lose it!"
"You were saying, Lisa?" Carole giggled.
"I didn't think that literally."
The Saddle Club laughed and laughed at the ironic events which just happened, then relaxed as they tumbled on Stevie's bed.
"Hey, Carole." Stevie said at last. "Before you make your mind up, why don't you go to Lisa's house and see what you think."
Carole nodded thoughtful. "You won't mind who I pick?"
"We'll still see you at Pine Hollow and you'll be with Starlight." Lisa reminded her. "Of course, we won't mind."
Carole hugged both her friends tight. They were doing everything in their power to make sure she didn't go and would make the right choice.
By now, Rachel and Simon had finished grooming Patch, and Simon was working on the computer.
"Hey, Simon…"
"One second." Simon continued to key in a code of sorts. When the computer beeped, he nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, Rachel? What's up?"
"Jack mentioned you didn't go riding today." Rachel said. "Topside was tacked up by Jack and untacked soon after when you didn't show up. Are you ok?"
Simon nodded. "Course I am. I promised Deborah I'd update the entire IT system here at Pine Hollow."
"I admire your ambition, Simon." Rachel commented. "But… wouldn't you want to ride on a horse? That is what you originally came here for, right?"
Simon had an unsure look in his gaze and continued with the cable in his hand. "If I don't do this." He explained, "The Regnerys can't take bookings or pay wages."
"If you change your mind." Rachel called, "I'll be in the lounge. Catch you later."
Rachel strolled out the door, and Simon carried on his work, still a bit shaky from his talk.
Lisa's room was a complete contrast from Stevie's. Her soft toys were tucked at the front end of the bed, her bookshelf was neatly arranged, and a calendar marking out her weekly activities were on the wall. Of course, she had horse-riding and school, but she also did music lessons, tennis, ballet and babysitting.
"Your bed can go on that side of the room," Lisa was saying, "and I have an empty bookcase you can use for your things. We can also split the draws 50-50."
"Thanks, Lisa." Smiled Carole, settling herself on the floor. "And Stevie can sleep over in the middle whenever we organise such things."
"If you have the time that is." Stevie retorted playfully.
"I always make time for the Saddle Club." Lisa told them. "I wouldn't be in it if I didn't."
"Without you, there would be no Saddle Club." Carole reminded her. "You came up with the name, remember?"
As the girls chatted about the time they first came up with their club idea, they heard a knock at Lisa's bedroom door.
"Hey, mum." Lisa said upon opening it.
"Hello dear. Cornal Hanson called me." Mrs Atwood's voice was even and calm. "So, is Carole leaving Pine Hollow.
"Not on mine and Stevie's watch." Lisa said with confidence. "Carole's making up her mind on who to stay with."
"Oh…" Mrs Atwood trailed off. "So, she's keeping Starlight then?"
"No duh!" Retorted Stevie, walking over. "She loves Starlight and would never give him up."
"Well, if she was going…" Mrs Atwood continued, "I was hoping to get Starlight for Mel—"
"YOU CAN'T TAKE STARLIGHT AWAY FROM ME!" Shirked Carole. "I bought him with the money my mum left me when she died. He's all I have left of her!"
Carole raced off with tears streaming down her face. Stevie raced after her.
"How could you be so heartless, mum?!" Snapped Lisa. "We are trying to help Carole, and all you can think about is getting rid of the one thing she loves the most?"
Like that, Lisa raced off down the hall, leaving a stunned Mrs Atwood behind.
Stevie was hugging Carole tightly, the latter's crying echoed around the hallway. Lisa placed a hand on Carole's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Carole…"
"Don't blame yourself." Carole chocked. "It's your mum who did it, not you."
"I think you'd best stay at Stevie's." Lisa said reasonably.
"About that…" trailed the tomboy. "My parents didn't allow Carole to stay. They said they didn't have the time to find an extra bed and desk."
"She can't stay here either." Lisa shook her head. "Not with my mum trying to take Starlight…" Lisa broke off, sniffing the air. "Did someone wear their riding boots inside?"
Stevie and Carole both muttered a 'no' in unison.
"Sisters." Groaned Lisa, walking off.
In Melanie's room, she, Ashley and Jess had brought Trouble in, and he was hidden amongst Melanie's soft toys.
"Melanie! What have you got in there?! Open the door!"
Melanie went to hold the door shut, while Ashley and Jess rushed to the back of the room. They quickly sat on the beanbag, hiding evidence Trouble was there.
"It's revolting in here!" Cried Lisa when she finally got into the room. She marched to the window and opened it. "Leave it open!" She groaned. "Now, I've got business to tend to so stay out of trouble!"
"Th-there's no trouble here, Lisa." Melanie shrugged.
"Especially not a don—." Jess quickly covered Ashley's mouth on the last word. Thankfully, Lisa was too busy sorting out her own problems to pay attention.
Back in the hall, the Saddle Club were slumped on the couch.
"We're so sorry, Carole." Stevie whispered. "I thought it would work…"
"Me too." Added Lisa. "You don't deserve this treatment from our folks."
"It's ok…" Sobbed Carole. "You gave it your best shot. But…" She wiped away a tear. "Promise me two things." Carole took a deep breath. "Whatever you both do, don't give up riding… and please, look after Starlight for me."
Lisa and Stevie clung to their friend, and the three started to trek toward Carole's house.
"I don't get it." Jack was saying to Max, Mrs Reg and Deborah. "Simon didn't go to his lesson. Was I… too harsh?"
Mrs Reg shook her head. "Not at all, Jack." She said gently. "Simon probably has other interests right now. He'll come around in his own time."
"Look at this, everyone!" Max glanced at the computer and clicked on an application. A video was streaming from the computer to the stables. Megan was bringing in Eddie from a ride, and Red was cleaning one of the stalls.
"Well done, Simon." Grinned Deborah. "He's got real talent."
"Weather he rides or not." Max smiled, "that young one's an asset to this place."
Jack nodded in agreement, still a bit unsure if he was cut out for helping students around the stables.
Outside, Simon raced over to see his uncle in the car, while Rachel walked over to see her aunt.
"Hey Simon," Said Roy. "How'd it go?"
"Great. Wind in the hair, feel of the reins, sound of the hooves. Excellent."
Roy smiled as his nephew put on his seatbelt.
"We'll bring you back tomorrow."
Simon was quite uncertain as his uncle drove him away.
"How was your day, Rachel?" Asked her aunt.
"Better than I expected." She admitted. "Patch was the gentlest horse I've ever seen; the other students at the stables were lovely; and Max is an excellent teacher."
"Glad to see you got your confidence again." The two left the area as well.
Evening fell at JBs. Many of the students from Pine Hollow would gather here for a shake, smoothie or any sort of treat after lessons. One of these students was Veronica, who sat near the back.
"One strawberry shake." Called an Irish sounding voice. "with a strawberry on the side of the glass."
"Thanks, Scooter." Veronica politely took the glass and started sipping it. "Hey, Scooter, did you hear the 'big news' at Pine Hollow?"
Scooter paused for a moment. "Well, there are two new riders: Rachel Cooper and Simon Atherton. In fact, I think they are here right now." He glanced over to see them hanging around Phil at a group table. "Glad to hear they heard about Pine Hollow so fast, especially after—"
"No no no!" Veronica shook her head. "Not that news. I mean about your little singing group."
"Oh…" Scooter trailed. "Carole may be leavin'. I hope that isn't the case."
"You can still manage with Lisa and Stevie."
"Veronica." Scooter placed a hand on her shoulder. "Carole, Stevie and Lisa are like sisters. Kristi is like a sister to you. How did you feel when she left Pine Hollow?"
Veronica swallowed. It was hard to believe Kristi would leave. But she did, in favour of drawing pictures with her half-sister.
"I still see her." She said at last. "I go over to her house…"
"But is it the same?" Scooter replied. "Coming to Pine Hollow, and not having Kristi to talk to? Do you have any other sisterly figures around? Or perhaps, brotherly figures?"
Before Scooter could say anymore, both were interrupted by a voice at the stage, that being Scooter's apprentice Ashley Becker. He was nicknamed 'Chewie' by the customers because of his sweet tooth and love for toffee.
"Back by popular demand. Here they are folks, making great songs: The Saddle Club!"
The Saddle Club rushed to the front, ready to sing their signature song.
Hello world
This is me
Life should be…
But, as Carole sang, she was still chocking on words, and Stevie and Lisa had to sing louder to cover for her. As the concert carried on, their singing grew more and more terrible, to the point where Lisa had developed a cough, Stevie's voice was sore, and Carole was in such a state she could barely talk, let along sing.
"Do they… always sound like that?" Asked Simon.
"No." Phil admitted. "Something is upsetting them, especially Carole."
Rachel took a deep breath and told the boys about Carole potentially leaving Pine Hollow.
"That's awful!" Cried Phil. "Carole loves Pine Hollow, her friends and her horse."
"The Saddle Club know more about this than I do." Rachel replied. "Do you guys have any ideas on how we can help them?"
The boys sadly shook their heads.
"Guess we'll have to sleep on that…" trailed Simon.
"They both want me to stay." Carole explained to her dad, "Lisa and Stevie. But… Stevie's parents turned me down and Lisa's mum…" She shook her head. Starlight being taken from her! How could Lisa's mother do such a thing?! "I think it's best if I go."
"I understand, sweetheart." Cornel whispered to his daughter. "It's not easy to leave or say goodbye."
Carole hugged her dad tightly. "Please be safe."
"I'm proud of you. The bravest daughter I could ever have."
Cornal then went off to call Carole's Aunt Penny and arrange the plane tickets. But, Carole wasn't ready to leave Pine Hollow just yet.
At Stevie's house, she was sadly looking at a picture of herself on Belle, Lisa on Prancer, and Carole on Starlight. She almost didn't hear footsteps marching up the stairwell.
"Chad, Alex Michael, which of you is it—"
But it wasn't any of her brothers. It was Lisa, looking worriedly at her friends.
"Hey, Stevie." She said. "Chad let me in."
"That's one thing I can thank him for." Stevie sighed, and allowed Lisa to flop onto her bed too.
"We can't let Carole go." Lisa said with determination. "There's gotta be another way to help her."
At the barn, Starlight's eyes were wide open, and his ears were pricked. His companions, Belle and Prancer, were both sound asleep. He didn't want to distract them. But, a young teenage girl came toward him.
"It's only me." She whispered. Starlight bent his head toward his owner's hand and found some tasty looking crunchies there. He munched on them hungrily, even though Carole had already given him his dinner. Carole then rubbed his neck affectionately, and Starlight closed his eyes with a content, almost silent whinny.
"I'm going away for a while." Carole added sadly. "And I'm going to ask the Regnerys, Red and Jack to look after you."
Starlight gave Carole a hurt look in his gaze.
"Pine Hollow is where you belong, whoever's riding you… and you'll still be Prancer's pasture buddy." Carole continued to stroke Starlight's muzzle. "Stevie and Lisa will send me a video, showing how happy you are here. And I'll be happy knowing you are."
Carole got her scissors out of her pocket, and Starlight leaned his head forward. His owner cut a lock out of his black mane.
"Thank you, Starlight." Carole whispered. "For everything." As a parting gesture, she kissed Starlight's muzzle, and headed on her bike back home.
Next time, on the Saddle Club season 3 rewritten (Quotes may change):
"You're putting Starlight… in the military?!" – Carole
"You're doing the wrong thing, Cornal Hanson! Carole should be staying with us!" – Lisa
"Where is she?" Cornal
"We won't let your father find you." – Stevie
"We're not going back. We'll stay out here as long as it takes for them to change their minds." – Carole.
"Are you sure?" – Lisa
"Are you with me, or not?" – Carole
Notes and changes for the episode:
- Again, no Miss Amelia, so I had to work around it.
- Simon now rides Topside, the pony which Ashley, Melanie and Jess bring back from the previous episode. Or, he would, if he got on him. Note: Topside is Hugo's name in the books.
- One of Jess's sisters, Rachel, now rides down at Pine Hollow and lives with her aunt. She will mostly be hanging around Simon, Phil and (spoilers) Desi. She starts out riding Patch, but how much does she actually know about riding?
- Stevie and Lisa don't fall out in this rewrite. I doubt they would be that petty. Instead, it's external conflicts which causes Carole to move. I kept that Lisa's mother would buy Starlight for Melanie because she did that before with Raffael and Diablo.
- Chewie is Scooter's apprentice at JBs, like how Jack is Red's apprentice. I'm not sure how often Scooter will appear in this series, as he is a tricky character for me to write.
- Only Part 1 of two part episodes will have Hello World as the ending credits song. If there is a single part episode with Hello World at the end, that will change.