What a beautiful day at Mariposa Ranch thought Skye, a young lady who was one of the proud owners of the new ranch. Cocoa, the brown Hanoverian she had fallen in love with, was doing as beautifully as always as she practiced her jumps. Skye took her smoothly over the final jump, a red one, and asked her to halt. She could see April grooming Preacher just outside the barn, and if she turned around she could see Josh sitting on a hay bale mending a bridle and watching them practice. Josh gave her a friendly wave, and Skye smiled. Yes, it was a beautiful day indeed.

If Skye had asked her what she thought, April would have agreed. It really was a nice day. She finished grooming Preacher, putting him back in his stall. With a great heave she loaded a hay bale onto a wheelbarrow, preparing to take it to Sundrop, the palomino Shetland living in the paddock alongside the barn. She lifted a hand in friendly greeting as Josh passed by her, and then pushed the wheelbarrow towards Sundrop's paddock.

April received quite a shock when she reached the paddock. She let go of the wheelbarrow and peered inside. There was no sign of Sundrop. The wheelbarrow fell to the ground with a crash, but April paid it no heed. Where in the world was Sundrop? It was as if Poof! the mare had disappeared. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she wiped them away. Maybe one of her friends had moved the gentle pony into the barn.

Poof!

April hurried over to Josh, who set his bridle down after seeing her worried face. "What's wrong April?" he asked. Skye trotted up with Stormy.

"Whoa girl!" she patted Stormy when the mare tried to keep moving. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Sundrop is missing!" April exclaimed. Her friends' eyes widened.

April led them over to Sundrop's paddock. The gate was still locked. From her vantage point on Stormy's back, Skye surveyed the fence for cracks. Josh slid under the fence to inspect the ground for holes or any other means of escape. There were none.