My deepest appreciation to Doug and Glee Jones without whose help this book could not have been written Also thank you to Tina Tucker Laura Cameron Roger Smith and of course to Kathy Carter and her flying fingers
One AN you believe it Mandy shouted into the phone My very own horse She could just imagine Laura Callahan's face on the other end of the phone Rich proud Laura Callahan who had grown up with a whole stableful of beautiful horses But today on her thirteenth birthday Mandy Wilson's dream of owning her very own horse finally had come true Isn't Dad terrific Mandy asked Then she hurried on not waiting for an answer Isn't that the neatest birthday present ever I mean I had no idea He just surprised me Mandy stopped for a breath and Laura asked What breed 7A Tennessee Walker like Diablo
Mandy thought of Laura's big red gold Tennessee Walker How often she had longed to have him for her own No not a Walker Her name is Solana Dad says she's a Paso Fino For a minute Laura said nothing Then Oh one of them Something in the sound of her voice made Mandy angry But she swal lowed hard and said nothing She wasn't about to let Laura spoil her birthday Anyway Mandy continued a little less eagerly we're heading out to your house and stables in a few minutes so I can see my horse I I thought you might like to meet us down by the stalls Well of course I would Laura's voice changed and she once again seemed her old friendly self When will you be there Just then Mandy's father stuck his head into her room Ready he asked Mandy nodded her head excitedly We re leaving in just a few minutes Meet you at the stables in half an hour she said into the phone You bet said Laura and she hung up 8
Mandy leaped off her bed and threw her arms around her father Oh Dad thanks It's the best present in the whole world Bud Wilson ruffled his daughter s sandy blond hair and tapped her turned up nose Anything for you Princess he said Mandy reminded him so much of her mother Blond hair sparkling blue eyes full of life and love he shook off the memory It was hard to believe that Mandy's mother Ruth had died more than eight years before Dad Mandy asked Huh You looked so far away I said Could we go now Sorry honey Sure Let s go see your birth day present During the ride Mandy thought about the summer June was her favorite month Not just because it was her birthday month either Because school was and she out could spend every waking hour at the Callahan stables She could ride groom the horses and help her father with his veterinarian duties whenever he needed
