by Peanut, age 8

Chapter 1

“Dinner time!” Jamie McDonald shut her book and ran down the stairs to the kitchen. She stared out the window and saw her beautiful chestnut mare named Flames. Her two twin sisters came thumping down the stairs. “Could you be any louder?” complained Jamie. Her father came through the front door all muddy and wet. Her mother grabbed a towel and wiped him up. “Go have a shower,” said her mom in disgust. Jamie gobbled up her food and set off towards the stable.

Outside, a familiar figure cantered towards her. She reached out and scratched her horse’s neck. Then she got on with her chores. She walked to the feed cart and pushed it along the smooth path. At every stall she stopped and gave the horse their diet. She had to measure the scoops to make sure each horse got enough. When she finished, she led the horses that were in the paddock to their stalls, and the horses chowed down. Finally, she reached her own horse; she groomed her thoroughly and then massaged her legs. She set back to the house and went to bed.

The next morning Jamie rushed down the stairs to the kitchen. “Be back in two hours,” she called. Jamie jogged to the stable. There she saw Flames looking over the wooden stall door. She walked up and fed her a treat, and then she went to the tack room. She took all of her tack and put it on a saddle rack. Then she led Flames into the crossties. Soon, Flames was tacked up and ready to go. She led Flames outside and then mounted. She walked on the rocky trail.

Finally, she saw a big bay gelding come trotting towards them. This was Samantha and Woody, her best friend. “Hi!” they said in unison. Then they both trotted along the trail. They reached a small brook. They dismounted their horses, then sat down on a big rock. Their horses drank the fresh water while they talked.

“You know Jamie, I know a man who is selling a horse. If it is not sold soon he will sell it for the meat price!”

Maybe I could buy it, Jamie thought. “How much is it selling for?” she asked.

“Highest bid.” Sam answered.

“Can we go see him?” Jamie asked. Sam walked to Woody and silently nodded.

They rode to a small haunted house. In the backyard there was a small paddock with a skinny grey stallion. “Is that him?” she asked. Sam nodded sadly. They walked up to the doorstep. Jamie jumped down from Flames’ back. Silently she walked to the door and carefully knocked on it. What am I doing, she thought?

Slowly the door creaked open, and a small old man stepped out. “What do you want!” he screeched.

Jamie felt dreadfully scared of the little man. “I was wondering if I could see the horse that you are selling,” she said in a shaky voice.

Immediately his grumpy face lightened up. “Well of course you can!” he said. She followed the man into his small backyard. She walked up to the wooden fence. Jamie looked around — it was unsafe for a horse to live in. She had to save the horse! She thought, then spoke. “I’ll buy the horse for five dollars and no more,” she concluded.

“Sold!” he announced. She walked in and took the horse by its halter. It shied away. She took a firmer grip of the ratty worn halter and led the horse out to the front yard. Sam was waiting there holding Flames. The little man walked triumphantly into his house without even saying goodbye.

“What is this supposed to do?” Sam asked.

“I saved him,” said Jamie meekly. What in the world will mom and dad do? What if we can’t keep him? She thought. She finally reached the stable. Jamie led the horse into an extra stall, and fed him a warm mash mix. He reared up and Jamie immediately left the stall. She walked into the house and silently went to her room.

Chapter 2

The next morning she woke up to the faint sound of a little girl crying. It was coming from the barn. Oh, no! She thought. She slipped into a pair of boots and ran to the stable. There, she saw Molly (one of her twin sisters) on the floor next to the grey stallion’s door. “What’s wrong?” she demanded.

“I wanted to pet the horsey, but he bit me!” she whined. Jamie looked at her arm; it was swollen.

Their dad burst in. “Whomever that horse is, it is going to be sold this minute!” her father demanded.

“Not blue! No, no, no! You are not selling MY pony!” her sister looked very determined to keep HER pony.

“But dad, you have to let him stay,” Jamie protested.

“Yeah, Jamie is right!” said Molly. “Bluey wants to stay daddy.”

“Look, it was all my fault. I bought him yesterday for five dollars from an old man who was going to sell him for the meat price. He has had abusive owners. We can’t sell him, we just cant,” said Jamie sadly.

“I guess he can stay for however long he wants, but keep him outta trouble. Now he is your responsibility Jamie! But if he hurts some one again he is outta here!”

The two girls nodded understandingly. Blue looked at Jamie. She walked up to him and stroked his face. He trusts me she thought. Molly walked back to the house and went back to bed.

Jamie tacked up Flames. She trotted on the rocky path. She saw a big bay horse come towards her. “Hi!” Jamie said. Sam looked worried. “What’s wrong?” asked Jamie.

“Your horse is out Jamie. Jamie, your horse is gone!” she said.

“My horse is right here. Do you mean Blue?” she asked desperately.

“YES!” she said.

Where would Blue go? Jamie thought. “Come on!” Sam interrupted.

They cantered down the street in search of Blue. Suddenly they heard the shriek of an old lady. They cantered up the driveway and into the garden. There, they saw Bluey trampling Mrs. Mginty’s petunias. “Sorry?” said Jamie almost in a whisper. She grabbed Bluey’s halter and led the grey horse back home.

Chapter 3

Her mom was waiting at the gate with a disappointed look on her face. “Mrs. Mginty called me,” she said in a low voice. I guess Bluey can jump, Jamie thought. “She said that Bluey has to buy her new flowers!” her mother said. Jamie knew that she had to use her money to buy new flowers. “Yes mom” she obeyed. She put a lock on Bluey’s stall and made sure the gate was closed.

She rode Flames to the plant shop. She spent the rest of the day choosing flowers for her neighbor.

The next morning Jamie went to the stables. She checked Bluey’s stall — he was not there. Before she could even think about what was going on her dad yelled, “JAMIE MCDONALD GET IN HERE THIS INSTANT!” She ran into the house. She saw Bluey on T.V. Why is he on TV she thought? Suddenly she saw a video of Bluey rearing up and hurting people.

Jamie ran out before anyone could say anything. She jumped on Flames bareback and bridleless. She cantered down Main Street and into a small park. There, she saw Bluey in the middle of a crowd. The people were scaring him. She ran through the crowd to Bluey. She saw a police officer holding a gun to his head. “Bluey!” she yelled. The man pointed it towards her.

Jamie put her hands up. “Is this horse yours?” he asked.

“Yes.” The words came tumbling out.

“Put the gun down,” said a familiar voice. It was Sam and Woody! Bluey had a look of relief on his face. She saw him wink at Flames. Flames raced towards the man and knocked him over. Sam took Bluey by his halter, then the three horses and two girls went back to the stables. The ponies nuzzled each other and the girls hit high fives. Until…

A police car drove into the driveway. Uh-oh, Jamie thought. The same man came out. “That’s them,” he shouted. A taller man handed Jamie a long bill. She looked it over; it was paying to the hospital. “I’m so sorry” she whispered.

Suddenly, her family stepped out the door. “What is going on!” said her dad.

The taller man explained what they had done. Were they going to forgive Sam and me? she thought. She looked back at the ponies. Where was Bluey? “Sam, where is Bluey?” she asked.

Sam shrugged. She suddenly turned around. “Bluey?” she asked. Jamie nodded.

Sam mounted Woody, “You’re crazy — we can’t just leave!” Jamie whispered. But Sam trotted down the path, not even looking back. Jamie felt guilty when she got on Flames back. She cantered up to Sam and Woody. They saw a grey stallion trotting down the street with a few strands of hay in his mouth. He looked back at them and came toward Flames. “Got ya!” said Jamie.

Chapter 4

They slowly walked back home. Bluey kept pulling at his halter; he was trying to get away. Finally they reached home. She put the horses in their stalls, then snuck into the house. Her two little sisters were in the kitchen. Jamie went under the table until they left. When the coast was clear, Jamie walked up the stairs and into her room. She sat on her bed and read until dinnertime.

Jamie heard a knock on the door. “Go away!” she called.

“Dinner time Jamie!” said her mom.

“I’m not hungry!” she called. She heard her mom walk back down.

The sweet smell of pizza was wafting up to Jamie’s room. I’ll sneak a piece at night, she thought. She heard her mom tucking Molly and Jessica into bed. Her mom and dad went out to walk Willie, their sheepdog.

The coast was clear. Jamie pushed the door open and tiptoed out the door. She walked down the hallway and tiptoed by her parent’s door. She stepped on the first stair. It made a loud creaking noise so she ran down the rest of the way. A door creaked open and Jamie stared wide-eyed at the door. Phew! It was just her sister.

Jamie walked to the bathroom and came out with a glass of water. She continued her journey to get some pizza. There, on the table, lay a crusty cheesy slice. Jamie was reaching out for the slice when she heard a rustle coming from the backyard. She looked out the window and saw Blue! I’ll get the slice after, I guess… she thought.

Jamie opened the screen door and walked out in her slippers. She walked cautiously up to Blu, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly Blue reared up, knocking Jamie off her feet.

Jamie awoke to the sound of her mom talking to a nurse. “Will she ever ride again?” she heard her mom ask.

“We will see how well she recovers. I can’t determine that now!” she heard the nurse answer.

The words repeated in her head. Never ride again? Jamie thought. She slowly opened her eyes, then said the first thing that came to her mind.

“Where is Blue?” Jamie said in a weak voice.

“He is gone. We sold him at an auction,” her mom said.

“But most horses at auctions go to killers!” Jamie sat up in the cot.

Her dad came through the door. “That horse almost killed you!” he told her.

“Noooooooooooo!” Jamie screamed. Everyone else at the hospital stared at her. She did not care; the thought of Blue going to the slaughterhouse was just unbearable!

Jamie scrambled out of the room. Her leg felt terrible. She grabbed a pair of crutches that were on the door and shuffled out of the building. She did not slow down until she reached the auction. She saw a caretaker cleaning up after the event. “Hello?” he said.

“Where is the grey stallion. Sold by the McDonald farm? Do you know who got him?” she asked.

“Why yes, I do think I know. He went to Murry meat shop!” he said.

She thanked the man and ran down to Murry meat. That was where she saved Flames!

Chapter 5

She knocked on the door. A tall grumpy man stepped out. “I remember you! Savior of the chestnut!” He was not nice at all.

Jamie pulled a $100 bill out of her pocket. “May I get the Grey stally?” she asked.

The man stared thoughtfully at the sky. “Too late this time!” he screeched.

She shuddered at his words. “Dead?” she asked.

“Not yet, bad condition though. Wanna see? I will take that money.”

Jamie walked through the barn. In the stalls, she saw horses. Those horses would be killed. When she reached Blue, she shuddered. “STOP!” she yelled. As she spoke tears came running down her face. “You are mean, cruel people. I have five hundred dollars in my pocket; it’s yours if you give me every living horse in this place!”

The man stared into space. “Well then, take the horses. But the price is raised to $600. Don’t ya have that little girl? These horses are dead if you don’t!” The wicked man laughed as her face turned pale.

Jamie glared at him. She reached into her pocket and dug out a $100 bill. “Take it!” she whispered. The man snatched it out of her hand. Blue struggled while Jamie lowered the ropes. She stroked Blue’s blood-soaked coat. It was a sad sight but the horses were now in good hands!

Chapter 6

She soon came back with a safe trailer. The horses seemed relived that Jamie had come. She reached the last horse. He was a small bay pony who did not want to go in the trailer. She tried everything to load him, however, nothing worked! Finally, she took a mint out of her pocket and put it inside the trailer. The pony willingly loaded the trailer without a fuss. “Wow, funny little one!” she said. She drove the trailer back home.

Each horse walked right into the empty stalls. She filled each food bowl with a warm mash and then entered the house. What would her parents think? she thought. Her mom was waiting at the door. “Honey!” she enveloped her daughter in a hug.

“Mom, would you get mad at me if I told you that I bought all the horses from a slaughter house for $600?” Jamie asked.

Her mom let go and looked her in the eye. “You did what?” she asked. Jamie giggled as though nothing happened. Her mom marched to the stable. Jamie tried to distract her but she knew her mom was going to the barn. “Honey, you saved their lives!” Her mom had tears in her eyes. She ran up to an old paint mare. “Sandy?” said her mom. “Let me guess, that is your horse!” said Jamie with a smile. Her mom nodded. I knew this would work out, Jamie thought.

“What are you doing?” said her dad who had just came in. “My pony!” exclaimed Jamie’s mom.

Chapter 7

A couple of months later…

The horses that were destined for the store shelves were sold to good homes, except for a few permanent residents! Her mom still rode Sandy everyday. Flames and Woody made a new friend, an old grey mare that they named Tasha. The little bay gelding they named Speed Dart made two new friends in Molly and Jessica. The old gelding Gulliver now had a retirement home and was BFF with Willie. And for Jamie, she grew up to be a horse veterinarian and the manager of the stable where she grew up.

In this story there is a lesson. Something misplaced and mistreated can blossom like a flower if given the chance. And remember, miracles can happen!

The End