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instance, during their visit the American girls had ridden horses named Copperfield, Pip, and Miss Havisham.
    “Well, anyway,” Tessa went on as the girls continued toward Prancer’s stall, “someone should tell Max that if the people around here are serious about this point-to-point business, he really ought to name a few kittens after famous steeplechase horses.”
    Carole chuckled. “I guess you’re right,” she said. “So far we have cats named after stars in practically every other kind of horse-related sport. There are Seattle Slew, Seabiscuit, and Eclipse for flat racing; Big Ben for show jumping …”
    “Hambletonian for harness racing,” Lisa supplied.
    Stevie nodded. “And don’t forget Rembrandt. She’s that pretty little black-and-white cat who’s named after the famous dressage horse.”
    “Adding some steeplechase stars to the menagerie is a good idea,” Lisa told Tessa. “There’s just one problem—we don’t really know any.”
    “Oh, there are plenty to choose from,” Tessa insisted. “There’s Lottery for one. He was the first to win the Grand National. Then you have Red Rum, Golden Miller, Desert Orchid, and all sorts of others.” She grinned. “I even know of at least one rather well-known American ’chaser—Flatterer. That might be a good one to start with.” She shrugged. “In fact, maybe I’ll make the suggestion to Max myself when I see him. Where is he, anyway? I can’t believe we’ve been here nearly an hour and he hasn’t turned up.”
    “Oh, I’m sure he’s around somewhere,” Stevie said vaguely. She was glad they hadn’t run into Max yet. She was in no hurry to come within range of his glare again.
    Luckily, just then they arrived at Prancer’s stall, distracting Tessa from any further thoughts about Max. “Oh, she’s gorgeous!” Tessa cried in admiration.
    Prancer was standing at the front of her stall with her ears perked forward curiously. She let out a snort when she saw Lisa, stretching to nuzzle her pockets for treats.
    “Hi there, girl,” Lisa said, giving the horse a hug. “Did you miss me yesterday? I missed you. By the way, this is our friend Tessa.”
    Tessa stroked the mare’s nose. “Hello, Prancer,” she said. “You’re positively gorgeous, did you know that?”
    Carole grinned. “Sure she does,” she replied on the horse’s behalf. “Lisa tells her all the time.”
    “I think she likes you, Tessa,” Stevie remarked. Prancer had turned her attention away from Lisa and was snuffling curiously at Tessa’s shoulder.
    “That’s no surprise, is it?” Tessa said. “You told me last night that she loves everyone under the age of twenty.”
    “Almost everyone,” Stevie muttered, thinking of Veronica.
    The four girls spent a few more minutes with Prancer, then moved on so that Tessa could meet the last few Pine Hollow residents. She also met several of the other young riders, who were starting to arrive for the Horse Wise meeting.
    “The people here are all so lovely,” Tessa remarked as they left yet another stall. “The horses, too. You have such a variety—frisky young things like Belle and Starlight and Romeo and Derby, chubby old darling Patch and grand old Nero, all those adorable ponies, elegant Thoroughbreds like Prancer and Calypso …”
    Lisa nodded. She knew there were at least two Thoroughbreds at Pine Hollow that Tessa hadn’t yet met. One of them was Danny, and Lisa, for one, had no intention of going near his stall. Veronica didn’t usually arrive early for Horse Wise—or anything else—but there was no sense in taking chances.
    “Come on,” she said. “Speaking of Thoroughbreds, you still have one very important horse to meet. And we don’t have much time left before we have to get to the meeting.”
    “Topside, right?” Tessa said eagerly. “You told me so much about him yesterday I feel as though I’ve met him already. I can’t wait to see him in person!”
    “We’re sure you’ll love