Winter Wonderland #5 (5 page)

“Does he live very far away?” Preeti asked.

“No. It is only three minutes away by car. But, of course, I cannot drive to see him.”

“Why don’t you walk there and visit him?” Preeti suggested. She had a sudden brain wave. “Maybe Viren will go with you.”

Grandma smiled. “That is a kind thought. I think I will call Mr. Linford now.” She left the room and Preeti soon heard her talking to her friend.

“How is he?” she asked when her grandma returned a few minutes later.

“Mr. Linford said he is fine for now,” Grandma told her. “But he is rather
worried that he cannot get out of his house to get to the store for milk and bread. Perhaps we could visit him, in a day or two, and take him some groceries?”

Mr. Nimesh looked up from where he sat reading his newspaper. “The sidewalk is very icy, Mother. Please take great care if you go out walking.”

Grandma nodded worriedly. “Ice is a problem. Well, perhaps this cold spell will not last. Those TV weathermen do not know everything.” She shook her head slowly as she went into the kitchen.

Preeti watched her go. She hadn’t really thought about the problems that snow could bring. She realized now that this weather wasn’t fun for everyone, especially older people.

She read for a bit longer and then
stifled a yawn as she closed her book. It was getting late, and she decided to go and see Comet before she went upstairs to bed. Viren had left the room a little while ago, and she thought she had heard him going upstairs. He was probably already in bed, asleep.

But the moment Preeti went into the garden, she spotted fresh tracks in the snow that led to the barn.

Viren hadn’t gone to bed at all. He had sneaked out again to see Comet. She couldn’t suppress a prickle of resentment. It was starting to look as if she’d never be alone with Comet.

Then she had an idea. There was only one thing to do

Preeti woke with a start to find the bedroom still dark and the house silent.

She dressed quickly, being extra careful not to make any noise, and crept downstairs. Grabbing the nearest coat, she threw it on and then thrust her feet into a pair of worn old boots before tiptoeing outside.

The bright moonlight cast midnight-blue shadows across the snow and made it easy to see as she went down to the barn.

Comet gave a soft neigh of welcome as she slipped inside. “You are alone?”

“Yes, at last! Hi, Comet.” Preeti reached up to stroke his silky cheek. “We’ve got lots of time to go out looking for Destiny before everyone wakes up! Let’s go!”

“Thank you. Climb onto my back, Preeti.” Comet tossed his head with eagerness, his eyes flashing.

Preeti nervously climbed up and sat astride him. It had been forever since her last riding lesson, and anyway, she wasn’t used to riding bareback. But the moment she twined her hands in his thick gray mane, Comet’s warm magic seemed to spread around her, and she felt completely safe and secure.

Comet moved forward and in two strides reached the closed barn door.
“Wait! I’ll open it . . .” Preeti began.

Then she gasped as, with a flash of bright violet sparks, Comet gave a mighty leap and floated
through
the door in a swoosh of glittering mist that left the door unchanged. They were soon galloping across the snow, the magic pony’s shining hooves barely brushing the white surface and leaving no tracks.

Preeti laughed aloud with delight as they sped along in the silver moonlight, with snowflakes gently falling around them. Excitement raced through her. Comet was amazing to ride, so smooth and thrilling. His magic surrounded them, and no matter how fast they raced along, she felt perfectly safe.

The magic pony’s head turned left and
right as he rushed onward. His keen eyes were searching for any sign that Destiny had come this way.

“Hold tight!” Comet warned.

He flashed over silent roads in the blink of an eye, and stores and houses passed by in a blur. They shot past factories and buildings until they came to the edge of town. An expanse of snow-covered fields stretched ahead of them.

“Look!” Preeti cried after a while, pointing to a field with a shelter at one end. Tractor marks led across the snow to a bale of hay that four hardy little ponies with thick winter coats were eating. “Maybe Destiny is disguised as one of those.”

Comet checked his stride and slowed as he cantered over to investigate. But
none of the little group was Destiny. He trotted away sadly.

“I hope Destiny is hiding somewhere safe,” Comet nickered, his head drooping. “The dark horses will steal her magic if they can.”

Preeti could see that he was badly missing his twin sister. “We’ll go out looking every night,” she promised. “Maybe it will be easier to find her with no people or cars around. Everywhere is
deserted because of the snow.”

“That is true.” Comet gave a long soft blow as he looked around with renewed interest. His breath hung in the freezing air like twinkling clouds of steam.

Slowing his stride, he moved at a gentler pace. Preeti rose to the trot as they checked out some woods. Soon they emerged opposite a deep railway cutting before moving onward again. But they didn’t see any other ponies.

Preeti noticed a faint rosy light beginning to wash across the sky. Dawn was approaching.

“I think we’d better head home. Grandma gets up really early,” she said reluctantly.

“Very well.” Comet took a circular route that eventually brought them back
across the fields and to the road leading into town.

It began to snow more heavily, making it difficult to see far ahead. Preeti shivered, wishing now that she’d taken the time to put on her warmest coat with the fake fur–trimmed hood and her newest boots.
The coat she’d picked up in a hurry was a very light spring one.

“You are cold,” Comet whickered.

Preeti felt a faint tingling feeling in her fingertips as Comet’s mane twinkled with tiny violet sparkles. A clear bubble spread around her, keeping her warm and dry. The snowflakes melted as they touched the bubble’s surface, so she could also see where they were going.

“That’s much better. Thanks, Comet.” Suddenly, Preeti caught a movement from the corner of her eye. “Hold on. Look! Over there. In that ditch.”

“Is it Destiny?” Comet neighed urgently, rocking onto his back legs as he halted.

Preeti clung tightly. Just beyond the roadside, the ground sloped sharply away.
Comet stood looking down into the ditch, which seemed to be filled by a big lumpy snowdrift. But there was no pony sheltering there.

“What’s that?” Preeti frowned, puzzled, staring at the pile of snow. “It looks like part of a door and back window.” Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh my goodness! There’s a car under there! And I think someone’s inside it!”

“We have to help!” Preeti cried.

Comet nodded. “Lean against me. We will climb down together.”

Quickly dismounting, Preeti put one arm around Comet’s neck and braced herself against his strong shoulder as they slid and stumbled down the deep bank until they reached the ditch.

Luckily the car seemed to have just slid
down and landed the right way up. The front of it was sloping slightly downward.

Preeti began frantically trying to clear snow from the side windows. “If I can just brush some of this away, we’ll be able to see inside the car!” But in just seconds, her hands were numb with cold.