Rescue Princesses #6: The Magic Rings Read Free Page A

boy she’d seen earlier, leading the horse up the drive. He looked even grumpier than before. But Lottie didn’t mind that.
    “It’s OK! I’m sure the grown-ups won’t notice that I’m gone.” She grinned widely at him. “This is a great stable. How many horses are here?”
    The boy’s frown disappeared. “We have twenty-five of them. Actually twenty-six now, because one was born two weeks ago.”
    “A foal!” cried Lottie. “Where is it?”
    The boy jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Her name is Twinkle.”
    Lottie hurried up to the stall and peered over. A mare and her foal were lying down together on the hay. The foal was chocolaty brown with a white star on her forehead. She looked at Lottie and her soft ears twitched.
    “She’s lovely!” breathed Lottie. “She’s the most beautiful foal I’ve ever seen!”

“I’m Lottie, by the way,” said Lottie.
    “You mean, Princess Lottie,” said the boy, looking at her tiara and her crimson dress, which now had bits of straw sticking to it. “And I’m Peter.”
    “Why don’t I give you a hand grooming the horses? I’m sure you could use the help.” Lottie grabbed a body brush and a mane comb from a shelf nearby.
    Peter grunted, which Lottie took as ayes. She brushed and combed the horses until their coats gleamed. She had just gotten a bucket to rinse the brush in when she heard hooves drumming on the ground outside.
    She went to see which horse was galloping so fast. But Peter appeared and shooed her back into the stable.
    “It’s Lady Slyden!” he hissed. “Don’t come out or we’ll both be in trouble!”
    Lottie wanted to argue, but he seemed really anxious, so she didn’t. She hid inside an empty stall and peeked through a narrow gap in the wooden boards.
    “Quickly, boy! I haven’t got all day!” said a high-pitched voice.
    “Yes, My Lady,” mumbled Peter.
    There was a loud neighing.
    “Lazy animal! It was far too slow,” snapped Lady Slyden. “I’ll take a differentone for a ride tomorrow morning. It can be that large black horse over there.”
    Lottie caught a glimpse of Lady Slyden as she climbed off the horse. She had a haughty look in her eyes and her mouth sat in a straight line, as if she never smiled. She wore cream riding pants and a navy jacket, and had her hair twisted into a bun. She stared suspiciously at the stable for a moment and then stalked away, cracking her whip against the ground. Climbing into a large car, she drove off down a narrow lane.
    Peter came back inside. “I don’t like lending her horses. I know she whips them too hard when she gets angry.” He shuddered. “But Queen Sofia lets her borrow them, so there’s nothing I can do.”
    “That’s horrible!” cried Lottie. “If I see her using the whip too much, I’ll go and tell the queen right away.”
    A smile crept onto Peter’s face. “You’re not afraid of what anyone else thinks, are you?”
    “I’m not scared of telling Queen Sofia what I see,” said Lottie firmly. “Especially if it means I’m looking out for the horses.”
    “Well, thanks for helping me groom them,” said Peter.
    Lottie grinned. “It was really fun! Now I think the foal needs some fresh air.”
    Peter let her open the door of the stall where the mother and foal lay resting. The mare nuzzled the baby until she stood up on her wobbly little legs. The white star on her forehead showed clearly despite the dim light of the stable.
    “Come on, Twinkle,” said Lottie softly.
    “I’m going across the fields to get some more hay,” called Peter. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
    Lottie waved good-bye to Peter and watched the foal follow her mother out into the yard. Her little tail swished with excitement when she reached the grass. Then she galloped away, leaping around the meadow with her mane flying.
    Lottie laughed and went over to pet her. The foal whinnied and tried to nibble her ear.
    “So you’re name is Twinkle,” said Lottie. “You’re very