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going to fall off. The trick is getting back on.” She looked around anxiously. “Where’s Belle?”
    “She ran off,” Carole said. “I wanted to make sure you were all right before I went after her.”
    “I’m okay,” Stevie insisted. “Please find her. She was scared and could get hurt!”
    Carole thought her friend was looking awfully pale.“Don’t worry, I’ll find her.” She turned to Lisa and Zach. “You two look after Stevie. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    It didn’t take Carole long to locate Belle. The horse was standing by the edge of the woods, her reins dangling on the ground. She pricked her ears and nickered when she saw Carole on Starlight. Carole dismounted and slowly approached, talking soothingly. Belle stood docilely, making no attempt to get away.
    As soon as Carole gathered up Belle’s reins and began to lead her back to the others, she noticed the horse was favoring her right foreleg. She knew a horse’s legs were delicate and susceptible to all kinds of injury, especially from the knee down. She knelt for a closer look and was alarmed to discover a definite swelling around the fetlock. Although Carole would have preferred not to move the mare until she knew the extent of the injury, she didn’t have much choice: She had to get back to Stevie.
    Picking the easiest path and moving as slowly as she could, she returned to where Stevie was sitting on the ground under the shade of a tree.
    Lisa came to meet her. “I think Stevie may have a concussion,” she said in a hushed voice.
    Carole was immediately concerned. “What makes you think so?”
    “When she stood up she got dizzy. She said things were kind of sparkly, so we had her sit back down.”
    Carole felt her stomach tighten with anxiety. “That doesn’t sound good. Belle is hurt, too. I don’t know how badly, but I hate to move her until someone can take a look at it.”
    Zach joined the two girls. “What’s up?”
    “Belle is injured, too,” Lisa told him quietly.
    Carole bit her lip. “I wish Max were here.”
    “That’s it!” Zach cried. “I know how to get back to the stable. You two stay here with Stevie and I’ll bring back help.” He rushed over to where he had tied Barq and leaped into the saddle. “Back in a flash!” he assured them.
    “Wait!” Carole cried, alarmed at the idea of his galloping all the way to Pine Hollow, but she was too late. Zach was already urging his horse into a run.
    “Gosh, I hope he doesn’t get hurt,” Lisa said.
    Carole was also concerned. “Me too. Come on, let’s go sit with Stevie. All we can do now is wait for a rescue.”
    Lisa watched as Zach vanished around the bend at a blazing gallop. “At least he’ll get there fast.”
    “If he gets there at all,” Carole said grimly.

S TEVIE WATCHED B ELLE with grave concern. She was much more worried about her horse than herself. “How bad do you think she’s hurt?”
    Carole sighed. “I really can’t tell. There are several possibilities. But I don’t think it’s too serious—she’s favoring the leg but she doesn’t seem to be in a lot of pain.”
    Stevie’s head hurt and she felt like crying. “I’ll never forgive myself if it’s serious. I should have been paying attention to the trail, not gabbing.”
    Lisa slid a comforting arm around her shoulders. “We always chat when we ride. You were just unlucky today, that’s all.”
    “Lisa’s right,” Carole agreed. “It could have happened to any one of us, and if that fox had jumped out atStarlight, he would have reacted the same way Belle did.”
    “The difference is you wouldn’t have fallen off,” Stevie said despondently.
    “I’ve taken my share of spills,” Carole reminded her.
    “Me too,” Lisa admitted. “In fact, you’ve been there for most of them.”
    Stevie mustered a smile. “And vice versa.”
    Carole frowned. “Speaking of falls, I hope our fearless would-be hero doesn’t take one.”
    “Try not to worry. I’m sure he