Read Magic Tree House #49: Stallion by Starlight (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) for Free Online

except for a white star on his forehead. His eyes still had a wild look, and his ears were flattened against the sides of his head. Jack thought he looked angry.
    “Hi, Bucephalus,” Annie said in a warm, friendly voice. “Boy, are we happy to see you. And I know you’re happy to see us, too!”
    “No he isn’t,” Jack said. “This isn’t going to work.”
    But Annie lifted the latch on the door and calmly stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
    “Don’t worry, Jack. I have a way with animals, remember?” said Annie. She jumped onto a bale of hay and put her leg over the horse’s back.
    “No! No! You don’t just climb on—” said Jack.
    The stallion gave a loud snort, then kicked his back hooves and dropped his head down, trying to buck Annie off.
    “Whoa!” cried Annie, clutching the horse’s mane.
    The horse hurled himself against the door. Jack barely got out of the way before the animal shot out of the stall. With Annie clinging to his mane, the horse ran through the long barn and out the open doorway!
    “Stop!” Jack shouted. He blew out the lamp and ran after the stallion and Annie.

    Outside in the riding ring, the horse reared. Annie was holding on with all her might. The stallion loomed above Jack, raking the air with his front hooves. Jack could see the whites of his eyes.
    Jack stumbled backward and fell. At the same time, Annie tumbled off the horse. The stallion galloped across the grassy ring.
    Jack scrambled over to Annie. “You okay?” he cried.
    “Yes!” She sat up. “You were right … being nice wasn’t enough…,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I made a fool of myself.… I guess I don’t have enough experience.”
    The stallion stopped near the fence. He stood against the purple-blue sky of early evening, snorting loudly.
    “Don’t feel bad,” said Jack. “It would take tons of experience to train a horse like him.”
    “Well …” Annie was still struggling to breathe. “We … you know we could be great horse trainers if we really wanted to.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Jack.
    “The … the magic,” Annie said. “We sniff the magic mist and then … then make a wish to become great horse trainers.”
    “But does this have anything to do with our mission?” Jack said. “If it doesn’t, it wouldn’t be practical to use our magic now.”
    “It might not be practical,” said Annie, “but I feel like it’s the right thing to do.”
    Jack looked at the stallion. The animal made a soft blowing sound. He stared intensely back at Jack, as if trying to tell him something. “Okay,” said Jack, surprising himself. “I guess we could give it a try. Why not?”
    “Great!” said Annie. “This is going to be so much fun!” She jumped to her feet.
    “Slow down,” said Jack, standing up. He reached into his bag and pulled out the tiny glass bottle. The silver mist from the Isle of Avalon swirled inside. “So here’s what we do—we make a wish to be two great horse trainers.”
    “Yes!” said Annie.
    “Okay,” said Jack. “I wonder what happens when you’re the greatest horse trainers ever.”
    “We’ll soon find out,” said Annie.
    Jack lifted the bottle into the air. “We wish to be two great horse trainers!” Then he uncorked the bottle, closed his eyes, and deeply inhaled the magic mist.
    A mix of wonderful smells overcame him: sweet honeysuckle with damp summer grass and leaves in sunshine.
    When Jack opened his eyes, he felt light-headed. He held the bottle out to Annie, and she inhaled the mist, too. “Ahhhh,” she breathed.
    Jack corked the tiny bottle and put it away. He and Annie grinned at each other. “All set?” Annie asked.
    “You bet,” said Jack. He wasn’t worried now. He felt as calm and relaxed as if he had tamed a thousand wild stallions.
    “Hello, Buddy,” Annie said to the stallion. “Do you mind if we just call you Buddy? It’s much easier than Bucephalus.”
    Jack laughed quietly.