As the time for her appointment with Regan drew closer, Trixie sat in her bedroom and checked through her materials one more time. Earlier in the week, she had made printouts from several web sites to bolster her confidence in the validity of her idea and to show the always wary Regan that she really was thinking things through.

"Well, that's it." Trixie muttered to herself. "I can't be any more prepared, so let's try this one more time."

Looking carefully in the hallway outside her bedroom door, she saw that the coast was clear. She continued to carefully check each area of the house on the way to the door. Trixie made it safely to the door and called out, "Moms, I going to see Regan."

"Ok dear, have a good time, just make sure your home in time to help with dinner."

"I will Moms." And with that Trixie was on her way.

Once again Trixie found herself nervously approaching the stable doors. At least this time I have some material to back me up. Regan has to be impressed with that.

She found Regan sitting at his desk and reading the newspaper. "I'm not interrupting you am I Regan?"

"What?" Regan put the paper down and turned around. "Of course not Trixie. Remember, I was expecting you."

"Oh good! Well, I mean, I don't think its good that you can't keep reading your paper, it's good that you're expecting me, oh you know what I mean!" Trixie felt the familiar wave of heat creep up her face."

Regan couldn't restrain a good natured chuckle. "Thank goodness I'm used to you and Honey or I'd need a translator whenever you two come to visit. So, are you ready to tell me about your big idea? I see you have some papers with you. Is that part of what you want to tell me?"

Trixie was nervously clutching the printouts in her hands, and she now looked down at them. "Yes, they are. Remember the other day when I told you I was trying to do things right? After I left you I realized that even if we had been able to finish talking, that you might have some questions that I couldn't answer. So I went online at school during my study hall to do some research."

Regan picked up the newspaper he had just put down and moved it off the top of the desk. "Ok, I've made some room for you, why don't you go ahead and finish telling me about this plan of yours."

"All right, here goes." Trixie paused for a moment and made a grimace. "You know I've said this part so many times this week, I think I'll have it memorized soon. But anyway, what got this whole idea started was watching the Rose Parade earlier this week and listening to Bob and Stephanie, the hosts, talk about the different horse units. A couple in particular actually. You see, they mentioned a group called the Wonderful Outdoor World, and there were a bunch of kids riding horses in the parade, and what was so neat was that kids are from the city and didn't know anything about being outside and having fun like the Bob-Whites do."

Trixie stopped in her rambles for a moment and looked at Regan to see if he was understanding her. He nodded at her to go on.

"And then later on in the parade when another horse unit came through, I don't remember which one it was, Bob mentioned again how great it was that kids could work with horses, and what it difference it could make in their life. Oh Regan, he made it sound so wonderful! I remember he even mentioned that it never fails, a kid works with a horse, and it's like magic the difference it can make!"

"Hmm, I think I can see where this is going. You thought of doing something like that here with these horses."

"Oh gosh Regan, I know it sounds like a lot! That's why I wanted to talk to you first. I mean, it wouldn't have been fair to make a bunch of plans when a lot depends on you."

"Not just on me, young lady, but on Mr. Wheeler. After all, these are his horses and his property. Not to mention what Mrs. Wheeler would think about having all those extra kids here."

Trixie looked crestfallen. "I know. And I did think of everything you said. So I was thinking that if you didn't mind, then maybe Mr. Wheeler wouldn't mind, and then Mrs. Wheeler would probably agree too."

"Well now, that's an awful lot of maybes there."

"I know Regan, but would you at least take a look at the stuff I brought." Trixie gave him a saucy wink. "You could always change your mind."

"Hey, I'll have you know that I haven't made up my mind yet. I just wanted to make sure that you knew of the potential problems. So go ahead and show me your stuff."

Trixie eagerly placed her papers on the desk and spread them out. "Ok, take a look at this one. I just got so excited when I was printing them at school, I could hardly sit still."

Regan rolled his eyes. "Somehow, I don't doubt that."

"Smarty. Anyway - look what it says right here, 'With the magic of horses and our expert volunteers, our kids are transformed. They change right in front of your eyes. They forget about color and concentrate on what's in front of them -- a magnificent animal.' Come on, doesn't that get you interested even a little?"

"Remember what I just said--it's not that I'm not interested, you just need more details to persuade the boss."

"Ok, then look at this." Trixie jabbed at another sheet on the desk. "This program teaches kids how to ride, and teaches them responsibility. See what it says, 'The program is free but the kids have to do work to ride. The kids feed the horses in the morning, clean their stalls and if there’s equipment that needs to be taken care of, cleaning and such, they'll take care of that also.' So don't you see, once something like this gets started, it really wouldn't cause that much extra work for you."

"Well…" Regan stroked his chin and put on a thoughtful air. "That part sounds pretty good. Keep going."

Trixie pulled out her trump card that she had been saving. "Maybe this will help convince you." She read dramatically from the final sheet. "The Police Activities League (PAL) of the Lexington-Fayette volunteers to select inner-city children, transport them to the Horse Park, and supervise them.' The first person I thought of was Dan. You know how much he enjoys working with kids. And how he wants to be a police officer. And remember what a difference coming here was for him? It wasn't just the wood chopping that changed him."

"No, you're right, it wasn't. It was spending time with good kids like you and the rest of the Bob-Whites. And no, I'm not disagreeing that working with horses wouldn't help kids. I'm also wondering how you kids would manage to fit this into your busy schedules."

"Ah hah! I knew you were going to ask that!" With a flourish, Trixie pulled out one more sheet. "In Los Angeles, they have a program called 'Saddle Up Saturdays.' I was thinking that we could start out small like that. Maybe not even every Saturday, just once a month, to see if it works. Oh please Regan, say you'll consider it!"

Regan sit silently for a moment, and it took all of Trixie's patience to control her squirming. At least one time, she was going to prove to Regan that she was growing up. And now to make matters worse, Regan was staring at her, almost as if he was trying to decide if he could truly be sure of her. At last he appeared to make up his mind. Trixie was sure she was going to gasp for air, and then it dawned on her that she had been holding her breath the whole time.

"All right, I have to admit that your idea does sound good. But…" Regan shook his finger at Trixie, "you still have to convince Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. And you have to see if the rest of the kids would really want to become involved in something as major as this."

Trixie threw herself at Regan and gave him a crushing hug. "Regan! You're the most wonderful, most magnificent person in the whole wide world! I knew you'd come through, I just knew it!"

Regan looked down with wonder at the diminutive spitfire in his embrace. It never ceases to amaze me how she manages to convince us every single time. This girl would surely make a great politician. Heaven protect the world if that ever happens! "What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good cause."

"You most certainly are not a sucker, Regan." Trixie pulled away and gave him an emphatic look. "No one who cares about people as much as you do should ever, ever be called that. You are one of the most decent human beings I know."

"Enough with the love fest already kiddo." Regan ruffled Trixie's curls. "You've got a lot to do you know. I was easy, the Wheeler's won't be."

"Don't I know it." Trixie grinned ruefully. "But now that I know you're onboard, I can call a meeting and tell the whole plan to the gang. Together we'll be able to come up with a great presentation, I'm sure of it!"

"I have no doubt about that, Trixie, none whatsoever. You let me know when you're ready to take the plan in front of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. I'll come along, if you like, to lend my support."

"Would I? Are you kidding Regan? That would help us out sooo much. I know everyone else will be glad too. Wow, I can't wait to see everybody to tell them the good news!"

Trixie was skipping as she left the stable. "See you later Regan - you're the greatest!!" With a final wave, she practically flew down the path towards home. I did it! I did it! Regan actually said yes! Oh tomorrow can't get here soon enough!