Chapter 1

Janet Drogue was in the stable giving the Arabian mare, Clover, a good brushing. It was spring. Janet was very excited. Clover would have her foal any time now! A voice broke her thoughts. "Janet! Janet!" It was Rosalyn Carson. Janet had made friends with Rosalyn last fall. Clover belonged to Rosalyn and her mother, Marina. "What is it, Rosalyn?" Janet asked.
"Mom entered me for a show tomorrow, and she entered you too!" Rosalyn cried happily. Janet gasped. "Oh, Rosalyn!" she said. "I've always wanted to be in a show, and it's so hard watching you!"
"Mom thought you wanted to be in a show, so she entered you. Do you want to go for a ride?" she added. Janet nodded, and the two girls went to the tack room. Soon they were on their way. Janet wasn't riding Clover, like she usually did. She was riding the new horse Marina had bought, Leaper. Leaper was a Morgan. "What horse are you going to ride?" Janet asked.
"Oh, I think I'm going to ride Leaper's sister, Jumper. You're going to be riding Leaper. Oh yeah," she added. "I don't know how we're going to get there, though. Mom's going to stay home and keep and eye on Clover."
"Cathy can take us." Janet said. Cathy was Janet's 20-year-old sister. "I'll call her when we get home." Rosalyn's home was like Janet's home now. Janet stayed there every night because Cathy and her parents couldn't drive her there every day. "Ok, I hope she says yes." Rosalyn said.
"Oh, she will." Janet said. "Actually, she'll be thrilled. She's never been to a show before."
"Oh, it's not a show. It's a jumping contest."
"Oh, that's even better! I love jumping contests! It's so much fun! I hope one of us wins!"
"We better get home. Race you there!"




Chapter 2

"Hello?"
"Hi Cathy, it's me, Janet." Janet said through the phone.
"Hi Janet, do you need anything?"
"Yeah, I was wondering if you could watch Rosalyn and I in a show."
"Of course!"
"Pick us up tomorrow at around eight in the morning, ok?"
"Ok, see you tomorrow then, bye!"
"Bye." Janet hung up. "Well," she said. "She said yes!" Rosalyn hugged Janet. "I can't wait!" she said.
"I think you can, Rosalyn." The two girls turned around. "Hi Mom!" Rosalyn said, and Janet said at the same time, "Hi Marina!" Marina sat down. "I'm tired." She said. "I'm going to rest upstairs. I'll be down to make dinner."
"Ok, Mom." Rosalyn said. Marina started walking upstairs. "Oh yes, Mom." Rosalyn added. "Janet's sister Cathy is taking us to the show tomorrow."
"All right." Marina walked upstairs. Janet and Rosalyn went into the stable and started grooming the horses. As usual, Janet went to Clover first. "Hi girl," she said, giving Clover a hug. "You're so big. It's so hard not to ride you." As the two girls groomed the horses, they talked. "I do think Four-Leaf Clover is a good name." Rosalyn said. "It will be the fourth Clover."
"I'm glad you think so." Janet said. "I don't have any other names."
"Do you think the foal will be a bay, too?"
"I hope. Of course it'll be an Arabian. We bred her to an Arabian."
"Yeah, and I hope she's just like her mom, and doesn't get spooked easily."



Chapter 3

It was time for the show. Janet mounted Leaper. Finally she heard her name called. She urged Leaper into a trot. Leaper cleared the first jump perfectly, but on the next she hit against the rail on the way over. After that everything went fine. At the end of the contest, Janet and Rosalyn both waited breathlessly for the results. Finally they came. "Janet!" Rosalyn cried. "We tied for second!" They were both awarded ribbons, and then they ran up to Cathy. "Good for you!" Cathy said, giving them each a hug. "You were amazing!" Cathy dropped the two girls off at Marina's house and than drove away. The two girls talked away about the contest. "I thought everything was going to be perfect," Rosalyn told Janet. "But then Jumper jumped two feet higher then she was supposed to, and when she hit the ground she almost fell! But other than that, everything was perfect."
"Same with me." Janet said. "Everything went fine except on the second jumper Leaper knocked against the rail on the way over. That really scared me. We lost some extra time there, she thought something had hit her, and she lost her way for a bit."
"Yes, I saw her get confused. It must have been tough getting her back on the right track."
"It was kind of tough. But she loves jumping, so as soon as I got her facing the next gate, she decided she would do it."
"I'm glad she did it. It would have been terrible if we hadn't tied."
"Yeah… Hey!" Janet said frantically. "Where's Clover?" They both looked at each other and then ran outside. They went into a barn for mares that were having foals. There they saw Marina standing by one of the stalls, looking in between happy and worried. "What is it?" Janet asked as the two girls went over.
"It's Clover's foal." Marina answered.

Chapter 4

"I'm not sure if the foal's all right." Marina continued. "She hasn't stood up yet, not for two hours." Marina nodded to the two girls. Janet slipped into Clover's stall. Rosalyn followed her. The two girls lifted the foal up, and then let go. It stood there, looking proud. It took a few steps towards Clover. The girls helped it, and soon it was drinking it mother's milk. "I think it'll do ok." Marina said. "It just needed some help. And," she added. "It's a filly." As soon as Marina left, the two girls said together, "Four-Leaf Clover!"
"Oh, this is perfect!" Rosalyn said happily. "The name fits perfectly!"
"And she's a bay." Janet said. "Oh, this is just like we planned!"
"What do you hope she'll grow up to be?"
"A jumping horse!" Jane said. "Then I could ride her, and we'd win ribbons together… and-"
"Come on!"
"What?"
"Didn't you hear Mom say dinner was ready?" Janet shook her head and followed Rosalyn into the house.

Later at dinner Marina asked, "So how'd you do?"
"We tied for second place!" Janet said happily.
"That's good." Marina said. "I had plans for the filly. I wanted her to be…" Janet listened in breathless silence. The foal belonged to Marina, and if she chose it to be something other than a jumper that's what it would be. "I wanted her to be a jumper." Marina finished. "I thought you could ride her in contests, Janet."
"Oh, Marina, that's I wanted to do!" Janet said happily. "I was waiting for you to tell what you wanted the foal to be, and I knew I couldn't stop you if you chose something else. I promise I'll take care of her, just like I do with Clover!"

Chapter 5

Janet kept her word. She took care of Four-Leaf Clover every day. Soon the foal was jumping over things that were in her way, even sticks she could just step over. Janet could see that the foal was a born jumper. Janet called Four-Leaf Clover Leafy for short. Leafy grew fast. Soon she was in training. They had to hire an experienced trainer, because they wanted to have all their horses trained the best they could possibly be. One day Marina told Janet, "I want you to ride Four-Leaf Clover today." Janet gasped. It couldn't be true! "Did you ask me to ride Leafy?" she asked unbelievingly.
"That's what I said, isn't it?" Marina asked. Janet nodded. "When?" she gasped.
"Now." Marina said firmly. Janet leaped up and ran outside, towards the stables. Leafy nickered when she saw her. Marina came running after Janet. They tacked Leafy up, and then led her out of the stables. Janet clipped a helmet on her head and mounted up. Leafy turned her head, and looked at her rider. She let out a long whinny. Janet laughed. Then she walked Leafy around in a circle. Then she went over a jump. Leafy jumped perfectly! Janet was so excited! "Oh, Marina!" She cried happily. "Leafy is a perfect jumper! She was born a jumper!" Marina smiled and nodded. That night Janet couldn't get to sleep. She kept thinking about tomorrow, and how much fun she'd have with Leafy. But she got tired, and she shut her eyes and went to sleep.

The next morning Janet was up very early to check on Leafy. She went into the stable, but she didn't see Leafy in his stall. "Maybe he's still outside." Janet said to herself. She went outside to check. Leafy wasn't there either. Then she saw it. The fence was broken. Leafy and run away! Janet ran into the house, shouting, "Marina! Leafy ran away!"


Chapter 6

Janet and Rosalyn were waiting for Marina to come back. She had gone to look for Leafy. "Oh, I hate waiting!" Rosalyn cried. "We couldn't we go?"
"It's best that we stay here." Janet said. "For one, we can think about where Leafy would be, and for another, if Leafy comes home, someone will be here."
"I guess you're right." Rosalyn agreed, sinking into a chair. "But I just don't like waiting!"
"I know that!" Janet said with a laugh. Last fall when Janet had made friends with Rosalyn, there was a fire, and later they were flooded. They were stuck for weeks in a fireproof barn. Rosalyn had explored, and found an indoor riding arena. Rosalyn and Janet had started a secret horse club. "What do you want to do?" Rosalyn asked. Janet looked up. "What?" she asked.
"I said, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I'm content just staying here looking for Leafy, thinking about-"
"I know what we can do! We can go look for her ourselves!"
"Marina would be mad."
"We'd get back before her. I'll saddle up the horses and we'll go."
"All right." Janet sighed. She secretly did wish she were looking for Leafy too. It would be better if I found her, because, after all, she was my responsibility. It's best if I go look for her… alone. Janet slipped out the door, and saw to her relief Rosalyn was in the stable. She went into the foaling barn, where Clover was staying for awhile. She tacked Clover up, led her out, and mounted. They galloped off together, and Janet looked back every so often to make sure Rosalyn wasn't following them. "We have to get Leafy back." Janet whispered to Clover. "No matter what."



Chapter 7

"The horses are ready, Janet!" Rosalyn said as she walked into the house. No answer. "Janet?" Rosalyn looked around. "Maybe she's with Clover." Rosalyn said to herself. She went out into the foaling barn. "Janet?" Janet wasn't there, and neither was Clover! Rosalyn looked around wildly. Clover's tack wasn't there either! "She went and looked without me!" Rosalyn cried. "Now what?"

Janet was in someone else's property. But this was where she had to be, because, looking at her over the fence, was Leafy! "Leafy!" Janet cried, urging Clover into a trot. She stopped over by the fence, and dismounted. She put on Leafy's halter, and then clipped the lead rope on. She opened the gate, and led Leafy out. She mounted on Clover and was about to ride away when someone came out of the house. "What are you doing with my horse?" he asked in a gruff voice. "Give him back, now!"
"Why give back my horse?" Janet asked.
"He's mine! I bought him today!"
"It's a filly, and she's mine!" Janet shouted back. "And this horse here I'm riding is her dam!"
"Give my horse back!" the man shouted, walking forward. But just then Marina came riding out of the woods riding Blazer. "Marina!" Janet cried. "This man stole Leafy!"
"He's my horse!" the man said angrily.
"Sorry, sir," Marina said calmly. "We're taking our horse home." She beckoned to Janet. The man roared and then ran at them. Marina turned Blazer and urged him into a gallop. Janet followed them. As soon as they were home, the phone wrung. Marina picked it up. "Hello?" she asked. She listened for a long time, and then put the phone down. "What was it?" Janet and Rosalyn asked at the same time. "The pack station," Marina replied. "Wants to buy Leafy."

Chapter 8

"Oh no!" Janet cried. "You're not going to sell her, are you?"
"I don't know." Marina replied. "I do need money…"
"Leafy is one of the best horses," Janet said. "She's so calm-"
"And that's the kind of horse you want for a pack station." Marina said. "I've haven't said I'll sell her yet, but I'm thinking about it. You think about it, too," she added.
"All right." Janet said. She went out to the stable, and went to Leafy's stall. "What can we do, girl?" she asked.

Later Janet came out of the stable, and went over to where Rosalyn was sitting on the grass. "I can't think of anything." Rosalyn said.
"Me neither." Janet sighed. The two girls thought for a long time. "Hey," Rosalyn said finally. "Why don't we go for a ride."
"Good idea." Janet said as she got up. "I'll ride Leafy."
"I'm going to ride Whisper." Rosalyn replied. Whisper was Rosalyn's Thoroughbred mare. They tacked up the horses and went towards the stream. "I can't believe it!" Janet said, rubbing Leafy's neck. "Last fall I was working as hard as I could to ride horses once or twice a week, and now I ride them every day!"
"You're missing something." Rosalyn said. "You might not have a good horse to ride if you don't think about how to get more money."
"I am thinking. But saying things like how much fun it is to ride Leafy makes me think harder!"
"Oh well, whatever you like." Rosalyn said. Suddenly Janet looked up. "I know what." She said. "I have a plan."
"What?" Rosalyn asked.
"You'll see!" Janet cried, as she turned Leafy around and galloped him towards home. "Wait!" Rosalyn cried, and turned Whisper, and tried her best to keep up with Leafy.


Chapter 9

"Marina," Janet said at dinner. "I have a plan for earning money." Marina looked up. "What is it?" she asked.
"It wouldn't make very much money at first." Janet said slowly. "But after awhile it would make lots of money."
"What is it?" Marina repeated.
"Well, Rosalyn and I were going to start a club. A horse club. We do crafts and ride the horses, that part could be two dollars per person. And then you could give everyone a riding lesson afterwards, and that part could be twenty dollars per person. That means it would be twenty-two dollars per person. And it could be once a week." Janet finished talking, and looked at Marina hopefully.
"Well…" she said. "How would we get people to join?"
"By asking all the kid's parents after a trail ride." Janet said.
"I'll think about it." Marina said as she got up, but then she stopped, and added, "It's a very good idea." Janet smiled at Rosalyn. "It will be a lot of fun for us, too." She said. Rosalyn nodded. "Why don't we go outside and make some more plans." She said.
"All right." Janet said, and they went outside. Soon they were called in for bed. As Janet went upstairs to her room, Marina said, "I'm going to give your plan a try, Janet."
"Oh thank you!" Janet cried, as she ran upstairs.

The next morning, Marina left to go to the pack station, leaving the two girls a piece of paper, giving them instructions. "Ok," Janet said as soon as Marina left. "The first thing to do is to make some sandwiches and cookies. Then we have to groom all the horses and saddle them. Then we have to get colored paper out, pens, and white paper."
"All right!" said Rosalyn. "Let's get to work!"


Chapter 10

Marina came home with three girls, who said their names were Mary, Angela, and Faith. Janet and Rosalyn quickly made friends with the three girls, and they had lots of fun at the club. Afterwards, Marina gave the three girls a riding lesson, and Rosalyn and Janet helped her. As soon as the girls went home, Janet sighed with relief. "Are you happy their gone?" Rosalyn asked in shock.
"Oh no." Janet said happily. "But look, we've got three new friends, Leafy, and sixty-six dollars for Marina!"
"You're right." Rosalyn agreed.

Marina brought back the three girls again, along with two others. Janet and Rosalyn were always busy, but it always paid for the hard work. They had so much fun! Soon they had ten members, but after that they didn't get any more. But it was still two hundred and twenty dollars each week! One day at dinner, Marina said, "You two girls are making me richer then I need to be! How did you think of it?"
"Oh, it was easy." Janet said happily. "I just remembered when we were stuck in the fireproof barn, and the club we had then."
"This one costs money though." Rosalyn said.
"It does!" Marina said. "Why, if we get another member, I'll have so much money I won't know what to do with it!"

After dinner Janet went out to Leafy. "Oh, Leafy," she sighed happily. "I'm so glad you're still here." She looked at the beautiful filly. "You always will be, too." She added.


THE END