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as well live there, but it’s not the same, is it? You’re lucky to be able to just finish your breakfast and walk out to the barn. That’s the way it is with Kate, who lives on a dude ranch, and Christine, who has her own horse. Carole has a horse of her own, too. His name is Starlight. He lives at Pine Hollow, though, and on weekends she has to take a bus to the stable. On weekdays, of course, she can walk from school, but …”
    Lisa had the funny feeling that what she was saying wasn’t making much sense, but she didn’t seem to be able to stop talking. It had something to do with Seth being next to her.
    “I guess I’m just babbling,” she said finally.
    He grinned at her. “No, it’s okay. It’s interesting.”
    Eli saved her from the embarrassment of saying anythingelse by bringing everybody to a halt. He made them bring their horses up next to his so they could see out across the land.
    Lisa had never seen anything like it. In front of them—below them, really—lay a long, thin valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains. “This is Victoria Pass,” Eli said. “And that’s where we’re going.” He pointed to the far end of the valley where one mountain, far higher than the others, seemed to stand guard. “The next section of our ride is downhill into the pass and can be quite dangerous. Everybody”—he paused for effect—“and I mean
everybody
, has to follow my lead. You’ve got to keep your heels down and
don’t
lean forward. That helps balance the horse and you. Walk your horses and keep one and a half horse lengths between horses. Are you ready?”
    “You bet!” Amy said. The excitement practically bubbled over in her voice.
    Eli took that as agreement. “Then let’s go!”
    He turned his horse onto the narrow trail with a half dozen switchbacks that led down to the floor of the pass. The others followed in turn.
    Lisa was behind Stevie and in front of Seth. Amy was the last rider before Jeannie, who brought up the rear.
    At first the path was extremely treacherous. It wounddown the hillside, snaking back and forth. The horses needed to be given enough rein so they could pick their own ways along the rocky trail. Although Lisa wouldn’t have wanted to admit it, she was glad for the pommel and saddle horn that kept her from slipping over the saddle and onto Chocolate’s neck. She held onto it tightly.
    “Thank heaven for the saddle horn!” Stevie said over her shoulder.
    “Just what I was thinking,” Lisa confessed.
    Then, as Lisa was wondering if Chocolate could take another step down, the trail made a final hairpin turn and leveled off a little. It still wasn’t level by any means, but it was leveler than it had been. It was also still very narrow, edged by bushes clinging to the sharp drop-off.
    “Whew!” Lisa said.
    “Double that for me,” Stevie agreed. “Is everybody down?”
    Lisa looked over her shoulder. Seth was right behind her, and Amy was behind him.
    “Everybody but Jeannie,” Lisa said. “I’m sure she’s—”
    “Ya-hoooo!” came a loud cry from behind.
    Lisa turned around again. She could barely believe her eyes. There was Amy, kicking her horse’s belly as if she wanted him to win a race. He responded obediently, breaking into a trot and then a lope. Amy and her horsebrushed past Seth and were headed for Lisa, who was at a very narrow part of the trail. There was no way Amy could pass her, and no way she could stop the horse in time.
    Lisa did the only thing she could think to do. She gave Chocolate a nudge. The horse didn’t need much encouragement. She was as startled by the sounds behind her as Lisa had been. Chocolate broke into a trot, nudging up behind Berry, who had begun walking faster.
    Berry was a fast horse and a temperamental one. Lisa didn’t want to let either Chocolate or Amy’s horse get into a tangle with him. As soon as Amy’s horse drew next to Chocolate, Lisa did what she’d seen Jeannie do. She reached out across the gap