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Bandit. That’s why I’m sure my horse is still there.”
    Happy Trails looked deserted as we rode up the lane. I started to holler for somebody, but Kaylee put her hand over my mouth. “Don’t!” she whispered. “Let’s find Bandit ourselves.”
    I looped Nickers’ reins over the hitching post and followed Kaylee into the stable. It seemed smellier and smaller than it had the day before.
    Kaylee ran the length of the barn, peering into each stall. “Bandit’s not here!” she shouted. “Maybe we should search the grounds for—”
    I heard heavy footsteps, but I couldn’t warn Kaylee fast enough.
    â€œHey! What are you kids doing in here?”
    I squinted toward the stable door and saw the black outline of a giant. The man must have stood seven feet tall and weighed 300 pounds—about the size of Maine. His hands went to his hips. I imagined six-shooters in holsters.
    I watched, speechless, as the giant charged up the stallway, straight at us.

“Kaylee,” I whispered, “make a run for—”
    But Kaylee barged past me and ran up the stallway, charging the giant. “Where’s that buckskin?” she demanded. “What have you done with him?”
    The giant stopped. “You again?”
    Kaylee marched all the way up to him. In the light, he might not have been a giant. But he was big. One look at his nose and I knew we were facing Lazy Lenny. I moved in beside Kaylee, figuring two were better than one. Plus, believe it or not, Leonard looked a little afraid of Kaylee.
    Leonard hitched up his jeans, which would have made a perfect tent for the state of Rhode Island. Then he turned and glared at me. “If you got money for a ride, pay up. If you ain’t, go home.”
    â€œWe’re not going anywhere until I see Bandit!” Kaylee declared.
    â€œBandit?” he asked.
    â€œThe buckskin!” Kaylee shouted.
    Leonard stormed down the stallway, with Kaylee at his heels. “He’s in the last stall. You want to ride him or not?” He sounded like his vote was not.
    â€œThis is the horse you pawned off on me this morning. This is not Buckskin Bandit!” Kaylee insisted.
    I peered into the last stall. “This isn’t even a buckskin,” I said, hating the sound of my voice. I always sound a little hoarse, with a raspy voice Lizzy claims she wishes she had. But I think I just sound hoarse. And the more nervous I get, the worse it sounds.
    I cleared my throat and went on. “A true buckskin wouldn’t have this much pigment in the hairs. Duns are duller colored than buckskins. See? This one has the dun factor, dark brown or black on the back and shoulder stripes, besides dark mane, tail, and legs.”
    â€œWhatever,” the man said. “You want to ride or what?”
    â€œTell me where that horse is or I’m calling the ASPCA!” Kaylee roared.
    I’d never seen this side of her. I liked it.
    Leonard wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “That’s it. Happy Trails is closed!”
    Kaylee and I tried arguing, but the guy shooed us out of the stable and locked the door.
    Nickers and I gave Kaylee a ride back to Summer’s.
    â€œTry not to worry about Bandit, Kaylee,” I told her, as she slid off Nickers’ rump at Stable-Mart. “Those pastures are so overgrown, Leonard could hide a herd of elephants on the property.”
    â€œI’ll call the authorities tonight, Winnie. I’ve got the name—American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They’ll have to send somebody out there.”

    Dad was waiting for me at home. I got a lecture on priorities and an inventor’s single-mindedness. He didn’t want to hear about Kaylee and Bandit and Happy Trails. We invented the rest of the night, until I fell asleep with a power drill in my hands. Then even Dad had to admit it was time to go to bed.

    Sunday morning