Magic Tree House #49: Stallion by Starlight (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

moment. “So … what do you have in mind?” he said.
    “We could try to train Bucephalus for Alexander,” said Annie. “Then maybe his dad would let him keep the horse.”
    “Are you serious?” said Jack. “You and me train him?”
    “We’ve done it before,” said Annie. “Remember when we went to the Wild West and helped save the mustangs? We learned some rules on how to treat a horse.”
    “That journey was a long time ago,” said Jack.
    “But you took notes,” said Annie. “I saw them in your notebook today.”
    “Yeah, well, we might have notes, but we don’t have much experience,” said Jack. “We weren’t there long enough.”
    “Let’s just look at your notes,” said Annie.
    Jack pulled out his notebook and found the notes he’d taken during their adventure in the Wild West. “Horse rules,” he read aloud. “Soft hand, firm voice, sunny attitude, praise, reward.”
    “Simple. We just have to be nice and kind and positive,” said Annie. “Let’s try it.” She started toward the gate.
    “Are you crazy? There’s lots more to it than that,” said Jack, following her. “Those guys in the ring have tons of experience! And they couldn’t do anything with that horse!”
    “Forget those guys,” said Annie. “We’re a million times nicer to animals than they are. And I have a sunny attitude.” She opened the gate and started across the long stretch of grass to the stable.
    “But that horse is dangerous, Annie,” Jack said as he followed her to the stable entrance. “Don’t just think you can tame him!”
    “Now you sound like King Philip,” said Annie. “Let’s find the horse first, then we’ll figure out what to do.”
    Jack and Annie peeked into the shadowy stable. It smelled of wood, barley, and hay. Contented sounds of snuffling, snorting, and munching came from the stalls. From the other end of the barn, though, came neighing and stamping noises.
    “I think he’s at the far end,” said Annie. She looked around. “I don’t think anyone’s in here now. Let’s look.”
    “Move fast!” said Jack. They stepped into the dark stable. Jack grabbed a lamp from a wooden table. The flickering light cast strange shadows as he and Annie moved past the stalls toward the end of the barn.
    Jack held the lamp high as they passed a white horse, several brown horses, and a brown-and-whitespotted horse. Bucephalus was in the very last stall.
    His coat shone in the lamplight. He was completely black, except for a white star on his forehead. His eyes still had a wild look, and his ears were flattened against the sides of his head. Jack thought he looked angry.
    “Hi, Bucephalus,” Annie said in a warm, friendly voice. “Boy, are we happy to see you. And I know you’re happy to see us, too!”
    “No he isn’t,” Jack said. “This isn’t going to work.”
    But Annie lifted the latch on the door and calmly stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
    “Don’t worry, Jack. I have a way with animals, remember?” said Annie. She jumped onto a bale of hay and put her leg over the horse’s back.
    “No! No! You don’t just climb on—” said Jack.
    The stallion gave a loud snort, then kicked his back hooves and dropped his head down, trying to buck Annie off.
    “Whoa!” cried Annie, clutching the horse’s mane.
    The horse hurled himself against the door. Jack barely got out of the way before the animal shot out of the stall. With Annie clinging to his mane, the horse ran through the long barn and out the open doorway!
    “Stop!” Jack shouted. He blew out the lamp and ran after the stallion and Annie.

    Outside in the riding ring, the horse reared. Annie was holding on with all her might. The stallion loomed above Jack, raking the air with his front hooves. Jack could see the whites of his eyes.
    Jack stumbled backward and fell. At the same time, Annie tumbled off the horse. The stallion galloped across the grassy ring.
    Jack scrambled over to Annie. “You okay?” he cried.
    “Yes!” She sat up. “You were right … being nice wasn’t enough…,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I made a fool of myself.… I guess I don’t have enough experience.”
    The stallion stopped near the fence. He stood against the purple-blue sky of early evening, snorting loudly.
    “Don’t feel bad,” said Jack. “It would take tons of experience to train a horse like him.”
    “Well …” Annie was still struggling to breathe. “We … you know we could