Look! Maggie heard Bella in her head. She squinted into the darkness of the trees, trying to see what her pony could see. There! She saw it! Just a few yards away in the darkness of the woods stood a dragon! He snorted as he realized that Maggie saw him; his body glimmered a deep bronze in the shadows. She could swear that smoke came from his nose. Bella was frozen in fear. Maggie's eyes moved up and locked on to none other than Stephen! They all stood absolutely still for a few heartbeats. Then Stephen gave a crooked smile and raised his sword up in a mock salute. The dragon backed slowly into the shadows of the woods. THE SECRET OF THE NEW RIDER, the second book in the Blackwatch Stables series, brings changes to the barn that no one—not even Ms. Cavalieri—saw coming. Rumors of a new rider create excitement among the girls but also introduce new challenges, and growing tension with Stephen and his dragons tests their courage and strength. In the midst of these changes, Maggie and Bella together must cope with the memories of Dragon Mountain and with the consequences of a mysterious birthday present. Friendships new and old provide comfort and guidance as the story of Blackwatch Stables continues to unfold.