Freedom

By Angela Dorsey

Jani freaks when her parents tell her they are moving to the country, away from the home she loves, the friends she’s had since kindergarten, and all the horses at the riding stable. Her only consolation is that she can bring Keeta, her beautiful pinto mare, with her. But adventures await. While cleaning out the barn on their new property, Jani sees a swirl of movement beside the black, twisted stone in the corner. The barn is haunted! With the help of a new friend, Jani sets out to solve the mystery behind the wild, angry spirit and set it free.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Enchanted Pony Books
• Release date: Apr 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9780986847134

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FREEDOM

by Angela Dorsey

Copyright 2011 Angela Dorsey

www.aydorsey.com

Published by Enchanted Pony Books

www.ponybooks.com

License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Freedom

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Echo

Also Available by Angela Dorsey

Connect

Chapter 1

It seemed to Jani they had been driving forever.

She watched silently as the city slipped away and green fields appeared among the clumps of houses, like huge emeralds in the folds of a giant patchwork quilt.

Now the fields were beginning to blend into forests. Jani stared into the shadows beneath the trees. The trunks flashed by like spokes on a bike and once she thought she saw a deer in the darkness, but she wasn’t sure. They were moving too fast.

She let out a long, deep sigh, then glanced sideways. Her mom didn’t seem to have noticed. She was watching the road ahead with a contented expression on her face. How could she act like this was just another normal day, when Jani’s whole life was falling apart?

It’s just not fair! thought Jani, her eyes stinging with tears. She couldn’t believe they were actually driving away from the city forever, away from their cozy apartment and her best friend and the stables and almost everything she had ever cared for. She ducked her head so her long brown hair would hide the unwelcome tears and tried to blink them away. I’m not going to cry, she declared to herself. I am NOT going to cry!

Jani, I know this is hard for you, especially leaving Maria and the riding stable, her mom said gently. I hope you know we aren’t doing this to make you unhappy.

Jani wanted to say something in return but the lump in her throat was too big. If only her mom knew how much it hurt to leave all her friends, both human and horse. She felt so helpless. All she could do was peer out the window with blurry eyes.

Are you okay, honey? Her mom reached over to touch Jani’s arm. Jani couldn’t stop herself from pulling away. She pinned her eyes to the wild sweet clover slipping by at the side of the road. Not only did she feel horribly sad, she felt mean. Her mom and dad were so excited about their new business and all she could do was make them feel bad. She knew moving to Red River was a dream come true for them. They had envisioned owning a small town newspaper for years, and finally one had come up for sale at a price they could afford and in a town they liked.

They were ecstatic about the move. Jani’s mom was always smiling now and her dad had turned into an even more irritating tease -- when he had the time. In the last few months, both her parents had been incredibly busy, travelling back and forth, choosing a new house, going over the accounts and operations of the Red River Report with the previous owner, and working at their regular jobs back home. Then yesterday they had moved their furniture and other belongings to the new house.

Jani hadn’t seen the house yet, partly because school had just closed that morning for summer holidays, and partly because she hadn’t wanted to. But, unfortunately, she knew all about it. Her mom and dad had described everything to her, even though she told them she didn’t want to even think about moving. Somehow, she’d been able to keep alive the faint hope that it wouldn’t happen, that they wouldn’t move. Until today.

Quickly she listed what her mom and dad had said about their new home. A medium-sized house. Lots of gardens. In a small town. It all sounded so ordinary. But she had to admit there was one cool thing -- the land. Five amazing acres. And most of it would be Keeta’s new home.

Keeta! Her beautiful, glorious Keeta! The elegant, chestnut pinto had arrived at Megan’s Riding Stable two years before, though now it seemed to Jani as if she’d known the mare all her life. Keeta had been a skinny three-year-old then, with a dread of being shut in small places. Her former owner had kept her penned up in a stall, and the first few times Megan turned her out, all Keeta wanted to do was run. She galloped around and around the paddock, her head and tail in the air, until she was dripping with sweat and foam flecked her shoulders. Only then would she let Megan come up to her. After a few weeks, Keeta calmed down. When Megan began to train her, she was amazed at how kind and responsive the filly was.

For Jani, it was love at first sight. Time after time, she found herself outside Keeta’s paddock or stall. And soon Keeta started looking for her. She would neigh whenever she heard Jani’s voice and rush to whatever barrier was between them, calling out until Jani was beside her. Eventually, the bond between them became so strong that Megan gave Jani permission to ride Keeta. And the best time of Jani’s life began.

Jani and Keeta spent countless afternoons riding the trails at the stables, stopping under the trees to rest, and galloping through the meadows. Jani smiled when she thought of the magical way the sunlight glistened on Keeta’s shoulders as she ran, making the chestnut patches ripple like waves of molten lava. Her heavy cream-coloured mane flew back to swirl around Jani’s hands like a silken whirlwind and her flint hooves shook the earth like thunder.

Then six months ago, on Jani’s twelfth birthday, her parents had handed her a large brown envelope instead of a present. Inside was a picture of Keeta with a big red bow tied around her neck. Attached were registration papers, which listed Jani as the owner of Chikeeta Dreamsong, Keeta’s registered name. When Jani saw the papers and the photo, she hadn’t been able to speak. She just stood there with her mouth hanging open like a total dork. To this day, she was relieved her dad hadn’t whipped out his camera. It would’ve been so embarrassing! As it was, on that day there was nothing to spoil her birthday or what promised to be the best year of her life.

No, that happened a few weeks later when her parents told her they were moving. At first moving hadn’t seemed that important compared to owning Keeta. But now that the time had come, Jani felt terrible. Most of all, she was going to miss her best friend, Maria.

But Keeta can live with me now, she reminded herself. I’ve got to think of the good things. I just hope she likes it there.

Mom?

Yes, honey?

Dad said there was a barn on the property for Keeta. What’s it like?

Her mom wrinkled her nose. Her short blonde hair swung as she turned her head to glance at Jani, then looked back at the road. It’s small and very, very old. I think we should tear it down and build a new one.

Dad said it’s haunted.

Jani’s mom laughed and fluttered her hand in dismissal. She always moved with a grace Jani hoped she would inherit someday. Your dad also told you the corner store was haunted, she said.

"I don’t believe him about the barn, Jani said defensively. And I was only six when he told me about the store. Jani looked down at her hands and sighed again. Finally she spoke in a quiet voice. Mom, why do you think I’ll like it there?"

Well, there are lots of reasons, her mom replied. It’ll be wonderful to have a house and yard instead of a tiny apartment. And Keeta will be right outside the door anytime you want to see her and not a twenty-minute bus ride away. And hey, and I noticed another horse in the neighbourhood last time we were there. Maybe it belongs to someone your age and you’ll have a friend to go riding with. She paused for a moment, then continued. The school seems good, even though it’s small. Your dad and I went in and talked to the principal. He said they have a super-talented art teacher.

If the school’s that small, it means I’m going to be a total outsider, said Jani. The other kids have probably known each other since kindergarten. They won’t want to be friends with me.

Of course they will! Why wouldn’t they? You’re smart and nice and talented and athletic and gorgeous. Why wouldn’t they like you?

Jani knew when to change the subject. There would be no convincing her mom that she wouldn’t be the most popular girl in the new school. "Where is this town? she complained to change the subject, turning back to the window. We’ve been driving for hours."

Actually we’re almost there.

What? But there’s only trees!

"Well, our house isn’t right in Red River, replied her mom. And you’re in luck. It looks like we’ll get there just before dark, so you can check out the yard and paddock. I know you’ll love it. And so will Keeta. There are tons of places to ride."

The car slowed down and Jani’s mom flicked on the turn signal. They pulled onto a road marked by a leaning sign that read ‘Solomon Way.’ The side road was lined with ancient trees, their branches meeting and intertwining overhead. They passed a house, then a field, and then two more houses. A large white pony wandered along the fence of a small paddock, shining silver in the twilight.

He looks just like Captain, Megan’s Welsh Pony stallion, thought Jani, and felt tears threaten once more. Would she ever see Captain again? Or Jedi? Or Winnie?

A couple of