Season of Ponies Read Online Free PDF Page B

you know?”
    “Never mind. Let’s do something. Would you like to ride some more?”
    “Oh, yes. It was wonderful coming here. But first, I wish you’d explain everything to me. Who you are—and where you live, and where you got the ponies and—and—everything.” Pamela’s questions trailed off weakly because she noticed that the boy’s dark brows were tipping into a really violent frown. Suddenly he whirled and stomped off across the meadow.
    Pamela looked after him in wonder. What could have made him so angry? The boy sat down on a log at the other side of the clearing with his back to her and leaned his chin on his hands.
    Pamela stood in the midst of the ponies, not knowing quite what to do.

A Glimpse of Fear
    T HE PONIES DRIFTED BACK to their grazing until only Nimbus remained. Pamela ran her fingers through the silken mane. “I wish I knew what was the matter.” Nimbus’ gray eyes seemed sympathetic. “Do you think I ought to go ask him?” Nimbus tossed her head as though she were nodding. “I guess I will. I feel silly just standing here. Come with me, Nimbus.” Pamela tugged on the gray mane. When they reached the log, the boy’s dark slanting brows were still pulled down fiercely.
    “I guess I made you mad,” she said. “But I didn’t mean to. I think you could at least tell me why you’re angry.”
    For a moment longer the boy sat and frowned. Pamela felt very uncomfortable. Suddenly he jumped up and glared at Pamela. Then he said very slowly and distinctly, “I—don’t—like—questions!”
    “Qu—questions?” Pamela stammered. For a moment she couldn’t remember what she’d asked. “Oh, that! Well, you should have told me so. I won’t ask any more.”
    The boy looked at her suspiciously. “I’ll bet you do. You probably can’t help it. Girls are that way. I should never have brought you here.”
    Pamela sighed. If only he’d stop being angry. Then, remembering something that often worked when she had displeased her father, she hung her head and looked very meek and humble. “I’ll try not to,” she said gently.
    Glancing up under her lowered lashes, she saw it working. The boy’s frown changed to an uncertain look and then suddenly to a grin.
    “Let’s go riding,” he said.
    As he whistled for Cirro, Pamela breathed a sigh of relief. She watched with admiration as the boy vaulted onto the dancing horse, but she was glad that Nimbus knelt for her to mount. As they started out of the clearing, the other ponies stopped grazing and followed. They moved slowly through the forest, ducking branches and trailing vines. Pamela could hear the rest of the herd moving all about them.
    After a while they came out of the forest onto a grassy hillside and picked their way up a zigzag trail toward the crest of the hill. The pony herd followed single file now, working their way back and forth across the face of the hill, their heads bobbing rhythmically as they climbed. Below them valleys and hills and forest stretched in all directions.
    “That’s the way back to Oak Farm,” the boy said, pointing towards the east. “And that’s the forest we just left, down there. The valley on the other side is Shadow Glen. The ponies like to graze there.”
    The crest of the hill was all covered with rocks and boulders. It rose slowly ahead of them as they followed the narrow path. Off to the west, below the hill, Pamela could see a huge stretch of flat land, partly hidden by a low heavy fog. Through the fog she could see glimpses of crooked mossy trees and dark water.
    “We’re on Sleeping Lady Mountain now, and that’s the swamp.”
    Pamela pulled sharply on Nimbus’ mane bringing her to a stop. As she stared down at the gloomy fog-shrouded scene, she felt a wave of excitement rush over her. But the wave became a backwash filled with a surge of shapeless fear. She sat motionless, unable to take her eyes from the lonely nothingness that stretched before her. It was as though she were