Christmas Treasure (9 page)

“How’s the toy campaign coming?” Lisa asked.

“Wonderful,” Carole replied. “Dad and I have sorted about a thousand toys, and more stuff comes in every day. The Marines have done a terrific job. I bet every needy child in Willow Creek will have some toys from that warehouse.” Carole smiled as they rode along. It made her feel good to be doing something with her dad, but it made her feel even better to be helping people who weren’t as lucky as she was.

“I’m really looking forward to helping you guys out.” Lisa ducked as Prancer trotted under a low-hanging limb.

“We’ll probably need you two in about a week,” said Carole. “That’s when the really fun part will start—delivering the toys to people.”

“Hey, what do you guys think of this?” called Stevie, who was riding behind the other two. “What if I greased Veronica’s new saddle right before the next mounted Horse Wise meeting? All she would be able to do then would be fall off.”

Lisa frowned. “Well, Stevie, I think it would be really funny, but I think Veronica could get hurt and that would get you into a whole lot of trouble. Veronica’s father would probably have you arrested and put in jail. And who knows what Max would do?”

“I don’t think Max would even notice,” said Stevie, urging Belle forward a little. “He’s too busy running the stable and helping Deborah with Maxi to notice much of anything these days.”

“You know, he and Deborah really have been busy lately,” agreed Carole. “You never see them together just sitting down relaxing and having a good time.”

“I guess that’s part of having two jobs and a baby,” Lisa said.

“And two dozen horses and a chapter of the Pony Club and about a zillion riding lessons every week,” added Stevie.

“Well, yeah.” Carole laughed. “I guess that would tire you out a little.” She looked over her shoulder and grinned at Stevie. “I was amazed at the last Horse Wise. Max was even too tired to get mad at us when we sneaked in late.”

“We just got lucky,” said Stevie. “I thought he’d have me mucking out stalls for a week.”

“Good thing for you guys he was thinking about Secret Santas,” Lisa said with a laugh.

“Oh, please,” Stevie groaned. “Don’t remind me about Secret Santas. My Secret Santa situation has taken a definite turn for the worse.”

“How about you, Lisa?” Carole asked. “Have you done your Secret Santa good deed?”

“I’ve been too busy cleaning and baking at home,” replied Lisa. “Plus, I don’t have any idea what to do.”

“Me neither,” said Carole. She looked at Lisa riding ahead of her and frowned. “This Secret Santa stuff is harder than it seems.”

The girls crested the hill and began to follow the creek
that crisscrossed Pine Hollow’s property and ultimately flowed through the town. The trail was well worn at the low places where horses had crossed the creek, and the usually soft ground had frozen hard and crusty.

“Well, here goes nothing,” Lisa called as Prancer approached the first crossing.

“Try keeping her at an even trot and she might go on over before she knows she’s done it,” said Carole.

“And don’t tense up yourself,” Stevie reminded Lisa. “She’ll feel your fear and get scared herself.”

“That’s a lot to remember,” called Lisa. “But I’ll try.” She maintained her posting trot, took a deep breath, and relaxed her hands a bit. Prancer’s ears flicked straight ahead as she trotted toward the creek. The water was coming closer and closer.
Oh, good
, thought Lisa as they neared the bank.
She’s going over.

But suddenly Prancer bobbed her head. She gave a little jump as if she might rear, took two steps sideways, then came to a dead stop.

“Give her some leg,” called Carole. “Keep her moving!”

Lisa dug her heels into Prancer behind her girth. It did no good. Prancer just stood in the middle of the trail, still as a statue.

Carole and Stevie trotted up. “Let’s go on over,” said Stevie. “Her herd instinct might kick in and she might follow.”

“Be my guest,” said Lisa helplessly.

Stevie and Belle trotted across the wide, shallow creek, splashing as they went. Carole and Starlight followed. Both horses seemed to enjoy the cold water that bubbled around their feet. Prancer watched them cross with great interest, but she did not move from her spot.

“So much for awakening her herd instinct,” said Lisa as Stevie and Carole turned and saw her still on the other side.

“Walk her in a circle and try again,” suggested Carole. “Maybe when she sees us over here she’ll cross.”

“Okay.” Lisa backed Prancer up, circled once, and approached the creek at a walk. She tried to remember to keep her hands loose and urge Prancer forward at the same time. Prancer walked forward willingly until she came to the creek. Though she saw Belle and Starlight waiting on the other side, she planted all four feet on the ground and refused to budge a step further.

Lisa looked sadly at her friends across the creek. “Any other ideas?”

“We could get off and push,” suggested Stevie.

Carole laughed. “Gosh, Stevie. Prancer only outweighs all three of us by about a thousand pounds,” she said. “I don’t think we’d be able to push her anywhere.”

“Well, we’re going nowhere fast like this.” Lisa sighed and dismounted. “I guess I’ll have to lead her across like before.”

She pulled the reins over Prancer’s head and stepped to the edge of the creek. “Come on, girl,” she murmured,
giving the reins a gentle tug. Prancer stretched her neck out but did not move her feet.

Lisa stepped into the creek and splashed the water around her feet. “See, Prancer? It’s just cold water. You drink gallons of it every day.” Prancer blinked at the water.

Lisa waded out into the creek, where the water flowed over the tops of her feet. “Come on, Prancer,” she said, lowering her voice to make it sound firm and commanding. “It’s time to cross the creek!” With that she gave a sharp tug on the reins. Prancer did not budge, but suddenly Lisa’s feet slid out from under her on the slick rocks in the creek. With a huge splash, she plopped down flat in the cold water.

“Yeeeoooowwww!”
she cried. “This is freezing!” She scrambled to her feet, still holding Prancer’s reins. She was dripping wet from the waist down.

“Lisa, are you okay?” called Carole.

“I think so,” said Lisa as she clambered back to Prancer. “I’m just cold. No wonder Prancer doesn’t want to cross that creek. The water is like ice!”

Stevie and Carole recrossed the creek and pulled up beside Lisa and Prancer. Lisa’s face was bright red. Her pants and boots were soaked.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Stevie frowned at Lisa’s soggy breeches.

“Just slightly humiliated,” Lisa replied. “Not only can I
not get my horse to cross the creek, but apparently I can’t even get myself across the creek.” She looked at Prancer and began to laugh. “We’re going to make a fine team at the Fairfax trail ride, Prancer. They’ll have to build special little barges and ferry us across the streams!”

Carole and Stevie joined in Lisa’s laughter. Though they were relieved that she wasn’t hurt, they were equally relieved that she was laughing. They knew what a perfectionist she could be, and sometimes her determination to succeed could take over her life.

“Well, what now?” asked Lisa, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

“We’d better get you back to the stable,” said Stevie. “You might get hypothermia.”

“Stevie, we’re only ten minutes away from the stable.” Lisa eyed the creek again. “If I don’t get Prancer crossing creeks again soon, I’m going to have to forget about Fairfax. This may be my last chance to work with her before all my relatives come over from Scotland. They’ll be here in just a couple of days, and my mother hasn’t baked half of what she’s got planned!”

“Well, I’m going to have to go help my dad pretty soon, and since you’re soaking wet, maybe we ought to go back to Pine Hollow,” said Carole. “I don’t think there’s much we can do about Prancer this afternoon.”

“Okay,” Lisa agreed reluctantly. “I guess you’re right.” She climbed back up on Prancer, creek water dripping
from her breeches. “Ugh.” She shivered. “This feels wet and cold and really gross. A nice warm stable is sounding better and better.”

Prancer turned around and began trotting briskly after Stevie and Belle. Carole and Starlight fell in behind. Carole laughed as she listened to the squishing sound Lisa made every time she posted. Though Lisa was soaking wet and Stevie was raging mad, suddenly Carole was very happy. She had just figured out exactly what her Secret Santa gift was going to be!

I
T WAS ALMOST
dusk by the time the girls got back to Pine Hollow. Deborah and Mrs. Reg were gone, but Max was still giving adult dressage lessons.

“Gosh, it’s still busy here,” Lisa said as they walked their horses toward their stalls. Just as they turned the corner, a familiar voice rang out.

“Hi, girls. How’s it going?”

They turned. Colonel Hanson stood by Starlight’s stall.

“Hi, Colonel Hanson,” Stevie and Lisa said together.

“Hi, Dad.” Carole handed Lisa Starlight’s reins and ran to give her father a hug. “How come you’re here?”

“I knocked off early at work and came by to see if you
were here.” He grinned. “The moment I saw Starlight’s empty stall I knew I was right.”

“We took a trail ride along the creek,” Carole explained as her father held open Starlight’s door.

“Looks like somebody took a trail ride
in
the creek.” Colonel Hanson eyed Lisa’s drenched breeches.

“Actually, I didn’t fall in,” explained Lisa, her cheeks growing pink. “I was trying to get Prancer to cross the creek and I slipped on some rocks and—”

“Say no more,” Colonel Hanson said with a smile. “I understand completely. All in the line of duty.”

“Hey, Colonel Hanson,” Stevie called as she removed Belle’s saddle. “I’ve got a Christmas joke for you.”

“I was hoping you might, Stevie.” Colonel Hanson and Stevie shared a love of old jokes—the cornier the better.

Stevie leaned over the stall door and grinned. “If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do astronauts get?”

Colonel Hanson frowned a moment. “I don’t know. What?”

“Missile toe!”

“Oh, no,” Carole and Lisa groaned while Colonel Hanson and Stevie laughed.

“That’s pretty good, Stevie,” Colonel Hanson said, chuckling. “I’ll have to come up with one for you next time.” He watched as the girls put their horses into their stalls. “I actually came here for a reason. I was going to
take Carole over to do our shift at the toy warehouse and I wondered if you two would like to come along. We can grab some burgers and fries on the way, and I’ll have you home by nine.”

“Thanks, Colonel Hanson, but I’d better not.” Lisa sighed. “We’ve got company coming for Christmas and I’ve got to help my mom get ready.”

“I can’t, either,” said Stevie. “I’d love to, but I’ve got a big algebra test tomorrow, and if I don’t study hard tonight I’m sure I’ll get an F.”

“I understand,” said Colonel Hanson. “Duty comes first. We’ll have some fun distributing the toys later.”

“Right.” Stevie grinned. “We’re really looking forward to that!”

A little while later, as the horses were munching their evening hay, Colonel Hanson gave Lisa and Stevie a ride home. Then he and Carole turned toward the toy warehouse.

“Okay,” Colonel Hanson said. “Last time it was a Hanson special. How about a Nick’s double burger combo tonight?”

“Sounds great,” replied Carole. “I’m starved.”

They drove to Nick’s Drive In and ordered double burgers, fries, and two chocolate shakes. Then they headed across town. Colonel Hanson tuned the radio to his favorite oldies station, and they ate as they drove through the cold December night. One of the things
Carole loved the most about her dad was that he liked doing things most parents didn’t like to do—like eating burgers in the car while listening to fifties rock and roll.

Colonel Hanson took the downtown route to get to the warehouse. They passed lots of stores and businesses that were brightly decorated with twinkling Christmas lights.

“Christmas is so pretty.” Carole sipped her milk shake as she gazed out the window. “If only it would snow.”

“Well, there’s still time,” her father said, smiling. “You never know what kind of weather system might blow down from Canada in the next week.”

They drove through the business district and on into the warehouse area. Down here no decorations adorned the buildings, and few had lights of any kind.

“I like the warehouse, Dad, but this section of town gives me the creeps.” Carole shivered in spite of her warm parka.

“I know what you mean.” Colonel Hanson again locked the car doors. “It is pretty seedy.”

After twisting through several streets, they finally reached the warehouse. It looked darker and more rundown than ever, sitting in the middle of the deserted parking lot.

“It’s funny how so many bright, happy things are inside this gloomy-looking building, isn’t it?” Carole said as they got out of the car.

“I know.” Her father fumbled for the warehouse keys. “It’s like going from night to day.”

He found the right key, and they walked to the door. In the darkness it was hard to see. Colonel Hanson leaned down over the heavy chain that held the door shut and looked for the lock.