Snowflake

Chapter 1 At Fox Creek Farm

Emily, Anna, and Mandy lived very close to Fox Creek Farm. After school, the three friends liked to help with the horses and the other animals that lived on the farm. Kelly and Chris were sisters who owned the farm. They kept horses and gave riding lessons. They also took in animals that had no home. One day, Emily, Anna, and Mandy saw a new horse at the farm. He was very big. He looked dirty and thin. And his mane was messy. He seemed sad. Mandy, Anna, and Emily petted the horse. "He's so skinny, I can feel his bones," said Mandy. "Where did he come from?" "His owners left him behind when they moved to the city," said Kelly. "So the animal officer brought him here just for a little while. We'll have to find him a new home." "Why can't we keep him?" Emily asked. "I'm afraid we have no more stalls in the stable," Chris told the girls. "He's so big, he might even need two stall spaces." "You could put him in the open paddock," Emily said. "In nature, horses live outside." "And we would feed him and groom him," Anna said. "I don't know," said Chris. Kelly and Chris spoke to each other quietly. "Emily, Anna, Mandy, and Chris, take him to the wash stall for a bath. He's ours!" Kelly said. "Yay!" the girls cheered. As they washed the new horse, the girls were sure they could make him healthy and strong once again.