Chapter 1

1: Paula’s Problem

“I wish I didn’t have to go away over Christmas again” Paula moaned. “If only I had a brother or sister to go in my place!”

Her friend Melissa sympathized. “I never thought I’d say how lucky I am to have siblings—or parents who live nearby!”

It was Saturday in mid-December. They were brushing their horses in neighboring stalls, after taking advantage of the welcome sunshine to ride around the rural property of Farthing Boarding Stables.

The issue under discussion was the fact that something badly upset Paula’s mare every Christmas. But her owner was never here to find the cause, being expected to fly to her parents’ house three states away.

“If only I could convince them to come here,” she said with feeling, brushing her little chestnut’s flanks so hard that the mare turned her head round with ears pinned back to tell Paula that was too much.“Sorry, girl! I’m taking out my frustration on you.” She gave the horse a treat then stroked her face. Mollified, Peppi returned to ripping strands of hay out of her small hole net.

Still holding the body brush, Paula leaned across her animal’s broad back and sighed. “As much as Peppi’s colics have cost me in vets’ bills over the years, I could have had her shipped to a barn near my parents’ place every Christmas!”

Although her accounting job paid well, these costs were really hard to take. Thankfully she had colic insurance, which she could claim on if Peppi ever needed an operation. But she’d like to make sure it never came to that.

Though how could she, when she didn’t even know what stressed Peppi out so much? And how was she going to know, if she was never around to find out?

Mr. and Mrs. Newton had already called to find out when their daughter planned to be at their house for Christmas. She’d been sorely tempted to tell them she couldn’t afford the trip this year. But she knew what accusations would be hurled over the phone if she dared suggest such a thing:

“You mean your horse means more to you than your family?” (Well, duh!)

“You don’t know how much longer we’ll be around. You’ll regret it if you don’t see us at least once a year!” (My horse might not make it through Christmas and I’ll really regret leaving her!)

Paula was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She loved her parents, but…

2: Pondering the Mystery

She moved over to Peppi’s other side and began to groom her neck. “Why haven’t I managed to figure out what sets her off every Christmas, Mel? It’s happened enough times now that you’d think I could pinpoint the cause. Or at least get some idea from the staff.” The petite Oldenburg stopped eating for a moment, enjoying the brush strokes.

Melissa was combing the full tail of Groucho, her big bay Swedish Warmblood. “They have temporary staff come in to help over Christmas.”

Paula hesitated a moment; what she was about to say sounded rather silly. “You don’t suppose it’s because she misses me?”

She had often wondered whether it might be the problem, but didn’t think Peppi was that attached to herowner. Yet the only thing that happened every Christmas without fail was the trip to her parents for three days—the only time when Paula didn’t visit her horse.

Otherwise she conscientiously came to the barn daily, either to ride or simply say ‘hello’ to her equine buddy.

Melissa politely pretended to take her friend’s hypothesis into consideration. “You never know,” she said kindly. “It’s not impossible. You do spend a lot of time together.”

“Yes. And then comes that dreaded call every year.”

On Christmas Eve, without fail, the barn would phone to say that Peppi had colic and should they call out the vet? It ruined each and every Christmas for Paula. Since she couldn’t desert her parents (due to the predictable accusations they’d hurl at her) she had to rely on the barn staff and Melissa to take care of the situation. Which ruined their Christmas, too.

“Maybe a change in barn routine over Christmas upsets her?” Melissa suggested.

“I’m never around so I don’t get to find out,” Paula said miserably.

“Well, you need to find out what’s going on. Unless you want Peppi to colic again?”

“Heck, no!”

“Then get sleuthing!” Melissa commanded.

3: The Sleuthing Begins

Paula now set out to discover the truth.

First she talked to the manager, Ted Reynolds, a short, wiry, and competent man in his fifties who used to be a jockey in his youth. He really cared about the horses he was responsible for.