Madeline has always loved animals. She grew up on a farm in North Carolina, where she learned to ride a pony at four. Madeline wanted her daughter Suzy to have a similar childhood. She saved her money for years to buy a lovely home in the countryside. But she didn’t know what was going to happen. 

Madeline and Suzy took a few weeks to settle in, and then they went to choose a pony for Suzy. Suzy ran into the green fields, where a group of horses were grazing peacefully. She picked a beautiful brown horse, but something about it felt strange…The horse had very blue eyes, and as Madeline got closer, the brighter its eyes got.”Her eyes look like stars, mum!” Suzy loved the horse’s eyes. “Let’s call her Starlight.”Madeline didn’t want Suzy to choose a horse but rather a pony. But seeing how happy the horse made her, she had no choice but to pick her. The pair went home with their new horse, Starlight. Starlight was not as aggressive as most Mustangs usually are. The horse was also more petite, with rich, soft-to-the-touch hair. The ranch must be asking too much for such a beautiful animal. There was something strange about the situation.

Madeline was told that Starlight had only recently arrived at the ranch, and the staff were still working on her medical records when Madeline bought her. They said it was wrong not to tell Madeline immediately, and the ranch offered to take Starlight back. Nobody was in the vet’s office when Madeline, Suzy, and Starlight arrived. The receptionist booked them in for the next hour, and after a short wait, the three of them were in the consultation room. After a quick rundown, Madeline and Suzy left the vet to run their tests on Starlight. He returned after an hour. He’d found more than Madeline expected.”I think you should hire a bodyguard,” the vet whispered, smiling. “These records say Starlight is a Mustang, but that’s wrong.”What?”Madeline stood up. “Starlight is an Arabian horse,” said the vet.”They are costly and in very high demand.”

“One last thing,” the vet said, walking over to Starlight and gliding a small device over her shoulders.”I need to check her microchip to make sure it’s working.”Madeline’s heart fell.

He pulled up the information on the screen. The vet read the information from the microchip, and his eyes grew wide. “This horse is not registered to the farm you bought her from,” he said suspiciously.

It turned out that this horse had been reported stolen a few months earlier. The Ladner family was shocked to learn that she’d been taken right out of their field.

The vet called the local police, who were on their way to get Starlight back. Suzy was very upset and shouted that they couldn’t take her horse.

Suzy saw how much the other little girl loved her horse and went very quiet. 

James quietly told Madeline that he had bought Shadow for Grace two years ago, just a few months after his wife had died.

At first, Madeline is determined to keep their horse, but seeing Grace makes her realize they must do the right thing.

James was very grateful that his daughter’s horse had been found, so he gave Madeline and Suzy $5,000 as a “finder’s fee.”

The amount was more than Madeline had paid for the horse! But James thought his daughter’s happiness was worth more than money. But that wasn’t all the happy dad offered.

He also told Suzy that she could visit Shadow (the horse’s real name) whenever she wanted.

James had a great idea that would make everyone happy because he knew that Suzy loved the horse as much as his daughter did.

Even though Madeline and her daughter could buy another horse with the money he gave them, he decided to do something even better. He touched Shadow’s side and said something that surprised everyone.

As Shadow was pregnant, James promised that Suzy could have her baby as a replacement.

A few months later, Starlight gave birth to a healthy foal. Madeline and Suzy were pleased. They named the horse Crystal because her eyes were brighter than her mum’s.

For Madeline, moving to the country was so Suzy could grow up in a meaningful world. Everything that came after was a happy surprise.