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
Mandy couldn t remember a when time she hadn t been around horses But now to have her very own horse was almost more than she could stand Her dad had always promised I old her one When feel you re enough to have the responsibility is what he'd always told her So today she was doubly proud Her dad trusted her to care for her very own horse A half hour later she got out of the car She swung open the big gate leading to the Callahan home and nearby stables Mandy felt like running ahead Instead she scooted back into the car and rode the rest of the way up the Callahan driveway But when they both got out and began to walk over toward one of the stable buildings Mandy could wait no longer She ran forward eagerly Wait for me young lady her dad called after her You don't even know what stall she's in Oh Dad Mandy cried You re so slow I'm so OLD he laughed It's the third stall over honey But slow down Don't scare her to death 10
Mandy looked inside at her horse Solana de Omega Mandy was sure that she had never seen anything quite as beautiful Solana had all the fine lines of the Paso Fino breed short inward curved ears large wide spaced eyes with a gentle expression and a thick arched neck all of the finest features She was a buckskin too Creamy yellow in color with a black mane tail and stockings Oh Daddy Mandy whispered she's so perfect Solana's natural curiosity brought her over to the door of the stall Mandy stroked her soft muzzle Dr Wilson looked pleased He said She's a great little horse honey Pasos are very affec tionate you know Sometimes they act more like puppies than horses She'll follow you around once she gets attached to you They re very intelligent too Can I ride her right now Mandy asked eagerly Then her face fell Oh no I don't have any tack Mandy knew how expensive saddles and bridles were That s the best part about Pasos her
