Chapter 1

The Runaway Racehorse

CHAPTER 1 Josh picked up a French fry, dipped it in ketchup, and drew his initials on his plate. When he ate the French fry, a glob of ketchup plopped onto his shirt. "Rats, this is my favorite T-shirt!" Josh said. Dink put down his book and grinned at his freckle-faced, redheaded friend. "Was your favorite shirt," he said. Josh, Dink, and Ruth Rose were taking a train to Larchmont, New York, to visit their friend Forest Evans. Forest and Dink's uncle Warren had bought a racehorse together. The kids were invited to watch the horse, Whirlaway, run in a race in Saratoga Springs. Josh picked up a napkin and wiped at the red stain. He only made it worse. "Josh is finger-painting," Ruth Rose said to Dink.

"Someday I'll be a famous ketchup artist," Josh said. He gazed out the window. "When do we get there?" "In a few minutes," Ruth Rose said, checking her train schedule. "I can't wait to see Whirlaway," Dink said. "I've never met a real racehorse before. All I can think about is horses! That's why I'm reading this." He held up his book. It was The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. The cover showed a beautiful black horse with wild eyes and a flowing mane. Dink Duncan's real first name was Donald, and his middle name was David. But when he first started to talk and tried to say "Donald David Duncan," it came out as "Dink." Dink had been his nickname ever since. "Look what I brought," Ruth Rose said, pulling a book from her backpack. The cover showed a girl on a horse. The book's title was Learning to Ride.

"Josh, did you bring a horse book?" Dink asked. Josh grinned. "Nope. I figured you guys will tell me anything I need to know." He dropped a few sugar cubes into his backpack. "Still hungry?" Dink teased. "They're for Whirlaway," Josh said. Just then the conductor walked through the dining car. "Larchmont is next," he told the kids. "Oh, wait!" Ruth Rose said, digging in her backpack. She brought out her new camera. Ruth Rose liked to dress all in one color. Today everything was white, from her headband down to her sneakers. Even her camera was white! "Would you please take our picture?" she asked the conductor. "My pleasure," said the man. He took the camera and focused it on the kids. "Say 'cheese'!" "Cheese!" they all said.

The conductor handed Ruth Rose her camera. "Have a great day," he said. The train slowed, then stopped. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose grabbed their backpacks and walked to the end of the car. The conductor lowered a set of stairs, and the kids climbed down to the platform.

Dink heard someone call his name. He saw his uncle Warren and Forest Evans walking toward them. Dink's uncle was short and round and wore glasses. Forest Evans had a trimmed brown beard and wore jeans and a T-shirt. "Why, it's Wink, Gosh, and Tooth Toes!" Forest said. The kids had met Forest when his painting had gotten stolen from Uncle Warren's apartment. "Hi, Mr. Evans!" they all said. "Please call me Forest, okay?" he asked. Dink hugged his uncle. "How was the train ride?" Uncle Warren asked.