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

Buddy
was
a better name.
    Buddy pricked his ears as if he were listening to her. “Do you mind if we come closer, Buddy?” Annie asked.
    The horse didn’t move.
    Annie started walking very slowly toward him. Jack walked with her. When they were close enough to touch him, Buddy backed up nervously. He swished his tail and arched his neck.
    “It’s okay, Buddy,” Jack said in a soft voice. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” Jack concentrated on the stallion. He poured all his energy, all his compassion, and all his strength into the horse … until he felt that he and Buddy were one and the same creature.
    DO NOT COME CLOSE.
    “What?” Jack said, looking around. Was he hearing the horse’s thoughts?
    “You don’t want us to come close to you, Buddy?” Annie asked.
    Oh, man,
thought Jack.
Annie
heard
him, too. This must be what happens when you’re a reallygreat horse trainer: you understand what horses are thinking!
    Jack looked deeply into the stallion’s eyes. He tried to hear the horse’s thoughts again.
    DO NOT COME CLOSER.
    “Okay, we won’t,” Jack said, keeping his voice calm and soothing. “We won’t come closer until you are ready.”
    “That’s right,” said Annie. “But tell us, why can’t we come close?”
    NO RIDERS.
    “Why no riders?” Jack asked the horse. “You once had riders, didn’t you?”
    “We won’t hurt you, Buddy,” said Annie. “We promise.”
    Buddy lowered his head.
    LOST.
    “You’re lost?” said Annie.
    LOST.
    Jack remembered what Aristotle had told them. “He used to belong to the Royal Horse Master of Thessaly,” he said to Annie. He lookedinto the horse’s eyes again. “Is it your master?” he asked the stallion. “Is your master lost?”
    The horse threw back his head and sniffed the air.
    Jack and Annie were quiet for a moment. Then Annie said softly, “I’m afraid your master is not coming back. Not ever.”
    The horse was still.
    “Do you miss him?” Annie asked.
    The stallion tossed his head. Jack thought he heard a word.
    SAD.
    The stallion’s sadness washed over Jack, filling him with sorrow, too. “I’m sorry,” he said.
    “We’re really sorry,” said Annie. She sounded like she might cry.
    Jack took another step toward the horse. Annie stepped with him. This time, the stallion didn’t back away.
    Annie breathed on the horse’s muzzle so he could smell her breath. Jack did the same. Then Annie touched the stallion’s forehead, and Jacktouched him, too. Annie moved her hand down the horse’s nose, while Jack stroked the horse’s long neck. The animal’s velvety coat smelled of grass and wind.
    “Just know this,” Jack said to the stallion. He spoke tenderly and with all his heart. “Whatever happened to your master was not your fault. Not at all.”
    The stallion lowered his head and nuzzled Jack and Annie. His whole body shuddered, as if he were sighing with relief.

S tars twinkled in the night sky. Jack and Annie were quiet for a long time. Then Annie gently rubbed the horse’s neck and said, “Hey, Buddy, let’s go for a ride. Want to?”
    The stallion stood very still for a moment. Jack wondered if the horse understood. But then he raised his head.
    YES.
    “Great. You go first,” Annie said to Jack.
    Jack grabbed a handful of the horse’s mane. Buddy didn’t move. He didn’t snort or balk. Jacktook a couple of short steps and pushed off the ground. As if he had springs on his feet, he gracefully vaulted onto the horse’s back.
    Jack reached out his hand. Annie took it. Then, as smoothly as a gymnast, she pushed off the ground and leapt onto the horse’s back behind Jack.
    Jack and Annie settled comfortably into place, balancing themselves. Jack felt as if he’d lived on the back of a stallion all his life. He grabbed Buddy’s mane again and held on tightly. He gripped with his legs and leaned forward and whispered, “Let’s go.”
    The stallion stamped the ground. Then he started walking slowly forward. Jack and