The vet gave Casper an injection.

  “Poor horsey,” said Callie.

  Casper lay on the ground and was very still.

  Eventually, the family returned to the farmhouse. The four girls stayed behind. Everyone was very sad.

  Normally Crissie hated crying but now she couldn’t stop. Carla gave her a hug.

  “Do you think he’ll become a ghost now?” asked Cassie after they had been sitting there awhile.

  Crissie stopped crying and for the first time that night she felt a spark of hope.

  “Maybe,” she whispered. She watched Casper very closely but she couldn’t see any movement.

  “He’d suit his name if he did,” said Callie. Her eyes brightened and she also watched Casper very closely.

  “I don’t know,” said Carla. “We’d have seen more ghost animals then, wouldn’t we?”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Maybe we just have to wish it hard enough,” said Crissie, and she climbed down to where Casper was lying on the ground.

  Just like she’d done so many times before, she tried to put her hands on the horse. At first nothing happened. So she focused harder. Harder than she ever had before. She focused so hard and wanted it so much that she thought her brain would break.

  “You can’t change anything by wishing,” said Carla.

  But Carla was wrong because this time Crissie could feel something underneath her hands. She could feel the fur of a horse.

  As the girls watched in amazement, Casper got to his feet and shook himself as if to break free of his earthly connection.

  “The spots are kinda see through now,” said Callie, “Just like Carla’s spots. Spot! Spot! Spot!”

  “I can touch you!” said Crissie to Casper.

  But her cry frightened Casper and he reared backwards in surprise.

  “Oh no no, it’s okay,” Crissie said, copying the tone of voice Benjamin usually spoke to the horse in.

  Casper stamped his foot three times.

  Crissie patted his neck gently, just like Benjamin always did.

  Casper nudged her twice.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t have any treats,” she said. She rubbed his forehead, just like Benjamin always did.

  Casper calmed down.

  “How do we get him back to the house?” asked Cassie.

  “I’m going to ride him,” decided Crissie. “Can you please give me a boost? There aren’t any fences nearby.”

  Carla cupped her hands together and held them down low.

  Crissie put her foot in Carla’s cupped hands.

  “Three... two... one...” Carla counted down. Then she lifted Crissie up and over the horse.

  This time, Crissie didn’t fall through the horse at all.