by Pal’s Pal, age 11

“Wow!” I said, staring in awe at the copper medallion I had just found in the antique shop. It reminded me of my horse, Shimmer’s, beautiful, glossy copper colored coat.

I looked at the price tag — five dollars. I dug in my pocket for the ten I always carried. Pulling the crinkled bill out of my pocket, I grabbed the medallion and headed to the cash register.

“Is that all for you?” the man at the register asked. I nodded. “Here’s your change little lady,” he said, handing me a five and the medallion.

“Thank you,” I said. I walked out and headed for home.

As the house came into view, I heard Shimmer whinny. I walked over to the pasture that held him, Rose and Star. Shimmer is a sturdy bay warmblood, Rose a red roan Quarter Horse and Star a palomino Thoroughbred with warm, gentle eyes.

I climbed the fence and hoisted myself on Shimmer’s back. I clucked to him and he took off. I guided him to the gate nearest the house. We soared across the pasture. Rose and Star followed closely. Rose was at the back, stepping lightly on dainty hooves. Star was like thunder. Shimmer was solid, like a metronome; he never missed a beat. I slowed him to a walk and dismounted at the gate.

“Where were you?” asked Shelby.

“The antique shop,” I said.

“Did you find anything?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said, pulling the gleaming medallion from my pocket.

“Whoa,” Shelby said in awe. “It’s colored like Shimmer and with a horse on it.”

I looked at the perfectly molded horse on it. How had I missed that? I opened my mouth but never got a chance to speak. Mandy’s mom’s car pulled up. “I’m here!” Mandy said in her bubbly voice. We headed to the pasture to grab our horses.

It had been five minutes and Mandy still couldn’t catch Rose. “Oh, let me see that,” I said.

She offered me her lead rope and I slowly approached Rose. Rose picked up her head; she was fully focused on me. I called for Chief, our cow dog, calling out a series of sharp clicks and high whistles; I told him to bring Rose to me. He did so. Rose came and I threw the rope over her neck and scratched Chief.

Walking up to Mandy I said, “That, my friend, is how you catch a horse.” Mandy smiled and slipped on Rose’s light blue halter.

We led our horses to the barn. I showed Mandy the medallion, and then it happened. We heard Chief barking and I decided to investigate. I grabbed a lunge whip and we went outside.

There in Shimmer, Star and Rose’s pasture stood a solid copper colored stallion. I was so shocked I dropped the lunge whip, causing a noise loud enough to spook the gleaming horse. He turned to run, and I realized that he was fully tacked. He had nice tack, but no rider. A cloud of mist covered the pasture.

I finished tacking up Shimmer and decided to have a quick look around the pasture. I told the others where I was going, then swung up into the saddle. I flexed Shimmer first, then trotted around the pasture. I found some hoof prints with shoes. Strange, none of our horses had shoes on.

“Come on Jess,” called Shelby. She and Mandy swung on their horses and I left the pasture.

“Let’s race!” said Shelby.

In unison, Mandy and I said, “Okay!”

I headed for the pasture, the others followed. “Okay, let’s start when the rooster crows,” Mandy said.

We all waited, then — cock a doodle doo — the rooster set off a fire of hooves, raising a thick cloud of brown dust. Shimmer set the pace, starting out in first with his steady metronome canter. Star thundered past, Rose lightly passed. I didn’t fret though; I was sawing the reins to keep Shimmer behind.

I turned back and saw the same horse; this time it had a rider!

The rider looked ghostly and mad! I turned forward and kicked Shimmer. We soared. I told my friends to follow me. I had a feeling the mad duo behind us wouldn’t stop till blood had been drawn.

I turned back again to find that Shelby had been thrown. I turned back to help, grabbed Star, and led him back. “Quick,” I said. We took off again.

The mysterious horse and rider followed only a few feet behind us. I knew we had to move!

I looked at dainty Rose and said, “If they get close to you, out-maneuver them!” Rose may be dainty, but she had serious skill. Mandy nodded.

We reached the woods and I turned back. To my horror, the rider was behind me!  The rider reached for my pocket where I had put the medallion. I stopped Shimmer. The rider pulled out the medallion and then he slowly vanished. The medallion was gone as well. I was just happy that no one was hurt.

I whistled and Chief and the others came to me. I told them what had happened. Then I said, “Want to finish our race?” We all grinned and walked our horses back to the pasture.

The rooster crowed and away we went. Shimmer was last — well, until the final stretch — then I gave him his head and we were off! Rose wasn’t happy that Shimmer was in front of her. Star lengthened his stride, but soon tired and let us pass. We flew by the gate and I raised one hand in victory! I threw my feet forward and Shimmer slowed back to a walk. I hugged his copper colored neck and grinned from ear to ear.

“Come on, at least let us win some of the time,” Shelby said jokingly.

“That would take all of the fun out of it,” I said, stroking Shimmer.

We dismounted and walked our horses to the barn. On one wall of the barn, in big letters made out of cobwebs were the words “thank you.” I heard a whinny coming from a stall. It was odd, seeing that no other horses were supposed to be in the barn.

I took off Shimmer’s bridle, put on his halter, and put him in cross ties. I went down to the stalls. In one stood the mysterious horse, a gift of thanks from the ghostly rider for returning his medallion.