Starlight's Courage

This sequel to Miranda and Starlight reveals further adventure and bonding between ten-year-old Miranda Stevens and the two-year-old black stallion, Starlight. In this volume, Miranda once again takes it upon herself to rescue Starlight from a madman, not once, but twice. When the Shady Hills Ranch groom, Higgins, is injured in a fall, Mr. Taylor hires a stranger named Hicks to take his place. Miranda finds Hicks abusing Starlight, but it's her word against his. Mr. Taylor seems willing to get rid of Starlight because the stranger says the horse is loco. In order to save Starlight, Miranda steals him away at night and hides with him in a cave. She later learns that she was wrong about Mr. Taylor. He has fired Hicks and then helps find Miranda. A stiff horse competition at the State Winter Fair pits Miranda and her friends against the "Magnificent Four," Miranda's classroom nemeses. Just before Miranda is to ride Chris's horse Queen in her event, Hicks, seeking revenge,tries to poison Queen. Once again, Miranda fights to save Starlight. In the end, Starlight saves her from Hicks, whom, they learn, is an escapee from a mental institution.