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Noodles’s mane hung down on both sides to a shaggy point below his neck. Staci wondered how it would look washed and combed and braided. It would be a big job, but if Noodles were her pony she would keep him clean and pretty no matter how much time it took.… Her hands ached to touch Noodles. They twitched with wanting. She shoved them deep in her jeans pockets.
    â€œStaci,” her mother called, “come pat the pony!”
    She shook her head no and stayed where she was. Couldn’t pat Noodles, not in front of Paisley. Wouldn’t give Paisley the satisfaction of seeing how badly she wanted him.
    â€œDid you get a saddle and bridle?” Toni asked Paisley.
    â€œNo. He doesn’t have any, he’s so good he doesn’t need any. Would you believe,” Paisley’s voice rose, “that those people didn’t give him a name ? I asked them what they called him, just for fun, and they didn’t call him anything! I couldn’t believe it! A super pony like this—”
    Stirling looked up and eyed her sister curiously. “Why’d you call him Noodles?”
    Paisley glanced with a teasing smile at Staci standing off by herself.… The smile faded. Paisley looked away from Staci, looked at her pony instead. “Huh? Oh … no reason. I just liked the way it sounded. It’s a nice word, Noodles.…”
    â€œI thought it was just some dumb name he had before you got him,” Stirling complained. “I would have named him something prettier.” She backed away from Noodles suddenly and turned to Staci. “C’mon, Stace. Let’s go watch some TV.”
    â€œHey! Aren’t you guys going to help me put Noodles in his new pen?” Paisley sounded more puzzled than peeved.
    â€œNuh-uh. Not us.” Stirling led the way into the house, and Staci gratefully followed.
    They did not, however, watch TV. Without talking about it they drifted into the Fontecchio bedroom and gazed at Noodles as Paisley led him into the paddock and showed him around. Toni appeared with a bucket of water and set it inside the gate for Noodles. Paisley patted him awhile longer, lingering, then finally slipped the halter off him. Noodles at once plunged his head and started to graze.
    â€œI hope Noodles doesn’t mind chiggers,” Staci said. Her voice came out sounding harsh, as if she was being mean, but she wasn’t. She really hoped the little pony didn’t get chigger bites all over his tender nose.
    Stirling seemed to understand. “They probably had just as many bugs wherever he was before,” she said.
    Paisley had disappeared somewhere. And Toni walked in at the bedroom door. “I thought you guys were going to watch TV,” she said.
    Staci ignored that. “Tired of playing with the pony? Already?” she grumbled. Surprise; her voice still had that same harsh tone.
    â€œGet human, Sis.” Toni vaulted onto her bunk. “Paisley’s gone to the feed mill to get supplies,” she said, even though no one had asked her where Paisley was. “Brushes and a hoof pick and stuff. We’re supposed to watch Noodles while she’s gone.”
    â€œWe’re watching him, all right,” said Stirling from the window. She rolled her eyes—those big, beautiful, indigo-colored eyes—in such a funny way that all three girls looked at each other and started to laugh. They giggled, and then they whooped, and then all at the same time they stopped with a sigh. Lined up at the window, chins cupped on hands, the three of them watched Noodles graze.
    â€œIt’s going to be a long summer,” Staci said. But the hard edge was gone from her voice.
    Paisley was a good pony owner, Staci had to admit after the first long week was over. She was taking good care of Noodles.
    For one thing, even though she badly wanted to ride, Paisley didn’t get on Noodles. “All the books say to let a new horse or pony