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'I think it's chiropractic,' Lindsey said. 'The chiropractor is coming this week to look at Diablo anyway, so we can ask her then.'

The three girls were in the riding school tack room. Lindsey was sitting with the broken stock saddle across her lap. Every now and then she ran her hands across the cantle, as if stroking it would make it magically mend.

The back wall was lined with saddle racks affixed in rows. There must have been twenty-five saddles – mostly stock saddles in a range of styles and sizes, but there were also a few all-purpose saddles and ancient dressage saddles. The side wall was studded with ushaped metal bridle holders, labelled with a sticker for each of the riding school horses. The whole room was filled with the spicy sour smell of old sweat, leather and oil.

'It's more than that,' Erin said. 'She went nuts! Did you see her face, Shel? It's as if she hates you.'

'She doesn't hate me.' Shelby scowled. 'Maybe it was just because that saddle didn't fit? It might have been pinching her wither, or pressing. If she was sore then she would have done that with anyone.'

Shelby was sitting on the doorsill with her feet on the steps, making sure no one nearby could overhear them. She could see the car park. Hayley Crook and her mother climbed into their four-wheel drive and headed down the driveway. Hayley waved and Shelby raised her hand in return.

'You didn't see because you were on your bum,' Erin continued. 'Lindsey and I saw the whole thing. She charged at you! It looked like she wanted to kill you! The minute you got on her she just wanted you off.'

Shelby sulked. 'I rode her all the way up from the back paddock, remember? Besides, she's fine with me on the ground. It's not about me. She was the same with all of us bareback. It was that saddle.'

After Shelby's fall the girls had agreed to stop for the day. It would have been too tricky to get another saddle, especially since Lindsey wasn't sure how long her mother was going to be away. They'd put the pony in the paddock and walked sombrely back to the stables along the laneway together.

'What am I going to tell my mum?' Lindsey groaned.

Shelby looked around at the racks on the walls. 'Are you sure she'll notice?'

'This is Hiccup's saddle.'

'Oh,' said Shelby.

Hiccup – Blue's friend – was a shaggy, round pony with a sweet face. His stock saddle had been fitted with an extra wide gullet to accommodate his broad frame. Hiccup was a great favourite amongst the regular customers. He was requested for almost all trail rides.

'We have to get it to the saddler before the weekend,' Lindsey said. 'He'll need a few days to fix it.'

'But you can't,' interrupted Shelby. 'He knows your mum. What if he says something?'

'I'll take it,' said Erin. 'I'll pay for it, and that will make me square for my share, OK?'

Lindsey nodded. 'Deal.'

'What are you going to say to your mum?' Shelby asked.

Erin shrugged. 'Maybe I'll tell her the saddle was Hayley's and Mrs Crook said I could have it, if I got it fixed.'

'But your mum knows Mrs Crook. What if she rings her to thank her for it? And won't she see that saddle is too short for Bandit?'

Erin rubbed her eyes. 'I don't know! I'll make something up.'

'What about later when you don't have it any more? What will she say when it's missing?'

Erin sighed. 'I'll say it was stolen! Can you think of a better idea, Shel?'

Shelby opened her mouth and closed it again.

'I didn't think so!'

The three girls sat quietly for a long time. The only sound in the room was a blowfly buzzing around the window frame and crashing into the glass.

Eventually Lindsey spoke. 'I don't even want to think about what would happen if we got busted. We're making up stuff all the time, and it's only going to get worse, so it's important that we all tell each other what we've said and stick to the same story. I think it's time for us to decide what we're going to do with her.'

Erin sat forward, lacing her fingers together. 'This isn't as much fun as I thought it would be. I think we should sell her.'

'Shelby?' Lindsey asked.

She folded