Free Gold Medal Horse by Bonnie Bryant

deserve good homes. They can’t all be superstars, but they all deserve love and care.”
    The girls nodded. They couldn’t agree more.
    Nigel looked into the crowd. “Here comes Drew!” he said pleasantly.
    “Run!” Stevie whispered. “It’s Eddy!”

“D UCK ! T HERE HE IS !” The Saddle Club crouched behind a parked car. It was late afternoon. After successfully dodging Eddy that morning, they’d returned to the stables only to find him and Drew lying in wait.
    They weren’t actually lying, thought Lisa. They were playing cards on the same bale of straw that Carole and Nigel had sat on earlier. Eddy’s back was to them.
    “He’s got blond hair,” Lisa said. “I didn’t know that. I thought it would be that funny mouse color, like Drew’s.”
    “I wish we could see his face,” Carole whispered.
    “We’re about to,” Stevie said gloomily. “Mrs. Harrington and Dr. Lawrence will be here any minute, and itdoesn’t look like Drew and Eddy are going to move.” She shrugged her shoulders. “We fought a good fight,” she said.
    “We’ve been lucky,” Carole said resignedly. “I didn’t think we’d be able to go this long.”
    Lisa’s eyes lit up with an expression of mischief more usually seen on Stevie’s face. “Stevie, I’m disappointed in you!” she said to her friend. “I’ve got the greatest idea! Wait here!”
    Carole and Stevie watched as Lisa dashed toward the tents. “She’s got an idea?” mumbled Stevie.
    In a few minutes they heard the show PA system crackle to life. “Would Mr. Edwin Gustafs please report to the business office,” a voice droned through the speakers. “Ed Gustafs, to the business office.”
    Stevie’s jaw dropped. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
    Carole was laughing so hard that she had to sit down on the ground. “I can’t believe she did that! And look—it’s working!” They watched as Eddy got up and shuffled off. Drew gathered the cards and went into the stable.
    Lisa came running back. “How was that?” she asked.
    “Success!” They gave each other a high fifteen. “And not any too soon,” added Carole. “Here’s Dr. Lawrence.”
    A battered old trailer pulled up next to the stable entrance. The Saddle Club ran to open the back door andlet down the ramp, and Dr. Lawrence gently led Ghost out.
    As the horse walked down the ramp with his elegant head held high, Stevie felt a shudder go through her. He looked more like a Ghost than ever—a ghost of a truly great horse. Despite his scarred legs, his unkempt coat, and his scrawny body, Ghost stepped out as though he were a champion in his prime. He looked as though he expected to find himself in the stabling area of Kentucky Rolex. He looked as though he belonged there.
    Mrs. Harrington pulled up in her white four-wheel-drive. She got out with a smile for The Saddle Club and Dr. Lawrence and walked up to Ghost, holding out her hand. “My,” she said, “isn’t he a handsome animal?”
    Drew came out of the stable, whistling.
    Ghost turned his head toward the sound. He stood transfixed for a long moment. Then he took a deep breath and let it out in a long, shuddering whinny. Drew looked up, startled, and stared at the tall, regal horse. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. “Is it you?” Drew whispered. He took one hesitant step toward the horse, then another. “Prospero?” Drew uttered increduously. Then louder, “Prospero?”
    Ghost carefully lifted his hoof in the air and offered it to Drew.
    “Prospero!”
    Drew’s cry was part joy, part anguish. He launched himself at Ghost. He threw his arms around the horse’s neck. Tears streamed down his face. Ghost turned his head gently and nuzzled Drew’s sleeve, still waving his hoof in the air. Drew patted him, choking back sobs. “Oh, Prospero, you good boy,” he said, bending down to shake his hoof. “I don’t even have a carrot.”
    The Saddle Club stood still, shocked and amazed. “Our Ghost is
Prospero
?”