Morning Star (cont'd)
By Horse Crazy Brianna 

Chapter Four:

"Lisa, the answer is no." 

"But Mom..." 

"End of discussion.  How do you think we're ever going to be able to keep a horse?  You KNOW money's been tight since your dad left." 

"Mom, you haven't let me tell you - you won't have to worry about Star at all, because I'm the one who will pay for everything - buying her, feed and everything.  The only thing that will really be expensive is the feed, because we won't have to pay to board her anywhere." 

Mom opened her mouth to speak, and I answered the question I knew she was going to ask.  

"I'll get the money by mucking out stalls for the Johnsons.  I won't even talk to them about buying Star until I have enough to buy her AND feed for her... and..."  I took a deep breath, ''...and I have another idea.  People could board their horses at our barn."

Mom frowned.  "The Johnsons won't very much like you taking away their business.  If you try getting people to board horses here, you might lose your stall-mucking job.  Besides, there are only six stalls in our barn.  And, we don't have any pastures - just a paddock." 

"But there's a whole lot of land beyond the paddock and barn behind our house.  That land's ours, isn't it?  All we need is some fencing...'' 

"That costs money," Mom sighed, but not as firmly this time.  Was she giving in?  Oh, please, God.  Let her change her mind.

"All of which I'll save before I ever buy Star.  I don't care how long it takes for me to make the money - just please let me do it!  It'll all be my money." 

Mom sighed.  "All right." 

"Yes!  Thanks, Mom!  You won't regret anything!" 

I was relieved that she hadn't said what I was dreading: 'Sure, that sounds fine, as soon as you get your own place.'  She'd actually changed her mind!  I gave my Mom a hug. 

"I'd better hit the hay - want to get up bright and early to do any extra job the Johnsons might have for me." 

Already my mind was racing faster than a herd of wild mustangs.  I could exercise their horses - they never bothered to do that themselves.  They were so lazy that they put the horses on a hot-walker; a contraption that bores horses to death, only letting them go in little circles.  I was one step closer to Star.

To be continued...

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