First published in 1998 by Usborne Publishing Ltd, Usborne House,
83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England.
www.usborne.com
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2003, 1998 Usborne Publishing Ltd.
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This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Epub ISBN 9781409555032
Kindle ISBN 9781409555049
Batch no. 01490-01
CONTENTS
Maps
1. Rows and remorse
2. Shocking news
3. Horse in hiding
4. Treasure hunt
5. A guilty conscience
6. The lying starts
7. Friendship develops
8. Cause for alarm
9. Near misses
10. Shocks in store
11. A grave mistake
12. Back to Sandy Lane...
13. Secret’s out
14. Confrontation
15. A plan is hatched
16. Keeping watch
17. Back at the yard
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1
ROWS AND REMORSE
Rosie Edwards woke early on Saturday morning. As the sun streamed under her bedroom curtains, she got out of bed, feeling despondent. It was the first day of half term, and she usually looked forward to spending the whole week at Sandy Lane Stables, but with things the way they were at the moment, she didn’t feel much like going down there. She and her best friend, Jess Adams, just weren’t getting on and it didn’t make for a very comfortable atmosphere.
It had been like that for some time now. The start of a new school year had brought vast changes to their friendship. Jess had gone and got herself a boyfriend and as much as Rosie hated to admit it, things just weren’t the same any more.
Rosie frowned as she thought about it all. Jess was hardly around these days and whenever they did get a chance to meet up it usually ended in a niggling row. Though she tried to hide it, Rosie couldn’t help feeling upset about it. She hadn’t got on this badly with Jess for as long as she’d known her.
Bold, daring, impulsive Jess...and stubborn too. Never in the wrong. And that was what had caused their latest argument. Jess’s pony, Skylark, had taken a bit of a knock and Rosie had thought Jess should let her rest. Knowing best, Jess had ended up taking Skylark out for a ride after school, and the pony had been lame for a week. Rosie hadn’t been able to stop herself from saying something about it. She knew she shouldn’t have. Jess had already had enough of a telling-off from the owners of the stables, Nick and Sarah Brooks. Rosie knew she had completely mishandled the situation. Jess had gone mad and had cut her dead ever since, making Rosie feel even more miserable.
Sighing as she got out of bed, Rosie crossed her bedroom and pulled her fair hair back into a ponytail. Maybe she should skip Sandy Lane today. There again, she’d told Nick she’d help with the horses. She’d be letting him down if she didn’t turn up. Making her way down the stairs, she walked into the kitchen, stopping to put a piece of bread into the toaster.
“Morning,” her mum called. “Off to Sandy Lane today?”
“Why do you need to ask?” Rosie snapped.
“Is there something wrong, Rosie?” her mother asked. “You’ve been so grumpy lately.”
“I’m not grumpy,” Rosie said.
“Have you quarrelled with Jess again?” Rosie’s mum pressed her, gently trying to pry the information out of her daughter.
“No, I’m OK, just leave me alone.” Rosie wasn’t ready to confide in anyone just yet. Then, seeing the hurt look on her mum’s face, she felt guilty. “I’m sorry I bit your head off.” She reached up to give her a quick kiss. “It isn’t anything...really.”
“All right then.” Her mum shrugged her shoulders. “But if you do find you want to talk, then–”
“I’m just fine,” Rosie groaned.
“Well, if you’re sure,” her mum answered. “Off you go.”
Rosie shot out of the door before any more difficult questions could be asked. She didn’t want her mum interfering. Rosie still hadn’t forgotten the time she was being bullied at school and her mum had come in and complained to the headmaster. Big mistake – he’d hauled up the girls in question, only making matters worse. The bullying had gone on for another six months until Jess had stepped in. Jess...again her friend wasn’t far from Rosie’s thoughts and, in spite of all the arguments, Rosie found herself smiling.
Quickly, she collected her bike and set off down the lane. It was a cold October day and the burnished leaves blew up in the wind. Rosie stepped up her pace and pedalled hard as she made her way to the stables. Freewheeling into Sandy Lane, she turned the corner to the stables and sped past the duck pond. In no time at all she was drawing to a halt in the stable yard.
Rosie was pleased to see that her friend, Tom Buchanan, was there with his horse, Chancey. She hadn’t seen him for the last few weeks and she had missed him. He was two years older than she was and she really looked up to him. He was the star rider at the stables and yet modest with it.
“Hello Rosie,” he called across to her.
“Hi Tom,” she called back. “Where have you been?”
“Revising – I’ve got mocks coming up at Christmas. Mum’s had me working away.”
Rosie grimaced. “Yuk. Well, I’m sure you’ll do brilliantly. Any sign of Nick and Sarah?” she asked, glancing across to their stone cottage on the left of the yard.
“Not yet,” Tom answered cheerfully. “We could make a start on the morning’s jobs though.”
“Good idea,” Rosie answered and, picking up a broom, she began to sweep the yard. Anxiously, she looked across to Skylark’s stable to see if Jess had arrived yet, but there was no sign of her. Skylark lifted her head high over the box and whinnied loudly. Rosie smiled at the pony’s greeting.
“Seen Jess?” she asked Tom casually.
“Nope, but Nick’s going to be cross if she’s late again.”
Rosie nodded, looking thoughtful. Jess had won Skylark back in February in a “Win a Pony” competition and Nick had only agreed to stable the pony on the understanding that Jess looked after her. Jess got the stabling fees at a reduced rate and in return, Nick used Skylark in lessons. It was a system that worked pretty well...when Jess was around.
Hmm, Jess might find herself coming in for another telling-off if she isn’t careful, Rosie thought to herself. Then she stopped still. Maybe she’d groom Skylark as a peace offering to Jess. Nick wouldn’t say anything then.
Sliding back Skylark’s stable door, Rosie made her way into the grey Arab’s box and patted her shoulder.
“And how are you this morning, madam?” she asked. “Did you sleep well?”
Skylark snorted, as if in respon
se, and Rosie laughed out loud. “Well, let’s get you cleaned up anyway.” Quickly Rosie set to work on grooming the pony. Just as she was leading Skylark out of the stable, Jess rode into the yard on her bike.
“Hi.” Jess nodded at Tom, and then she noticed Rosie holding Skylark. “Oh I see...taken to cleaning my pony now, have you?”
Rosie was flabbergasted. That just wasn’t fair. She’d only been trying to help and already Jess was jumping down her throat.
“Look Jess,” Rosie started crossly. “I just thought that if I got Skylark ready it’d stop you from getting into trouble again. How was I to know you were going to bother turning up today?”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Jess answered curtly.
“Well, you haven’t exactly been around much lately, have you?” Rosie turned away and bit her tongue to stop herself from saying any more. She could kick herself. All she wanted to do was sort things out and now she’d gone and made matters worse. Furiously, Jess grabbed Skylark’s head collar out of her hands and yanked the pony off across the yard. Just at that moment, Tom appeared at Rosie’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Jess is just in a foul mood today.”
“She’s always in a foul mood at the moment,” Rosie said, grateful for Tom’s kind words. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
“She’ll calm down,” Tom answered. “It’s not you, it’s just that her pride’s been dented.”
“What do you mean?” Rosie asked, puzzled.
“Oh, just something I heard,” Tom said. “I think she’s been dumped by her boyfriend.”
“Oh dear.” Rosie felt sympathetic, but she was also a little hurt that Jess hadn’t even bothered to tell her. Hesitantly, she approached Skylark’s stable.
“Jess,” she called quietly. “Are you OK in there?”
“Go away,” a muffled sob answered her. And that was too much for Rosie to bear. She couldn’t stand to see anyone hurt. Quickly she rushed into the box and put her arm round her friend.
“Oh Jess, Jess, come on,” she said. “Tom’s told me what happened, but you’ve still got me and Skylark.”
“I know, I know.” Jess sniffed miserably. “I’m so sorry, Rosie,” she said. “I know I haven’t been a very good friend to you lately. I don’t know why you put up with me.”
“Neither do I,” Rosie said jokingly, offering Jess a grubby hanky.
Jess looked up and smiled through her tears.
“It’ll be all right.” Rosie gave Jess’s shoulder a squeeze. “Now come on, let’s get tacked up.”
“OK,” Jess answered. “Never again am I going to get so worked up over a stupid boy,” she said determinedly. “Not when I’ve got you and Sandy Lane and Skylark. Can we give things another try?”
Rosie smiled tentatively. “I should think so.”
“Friends?” Jess questioned.
“Yes,” Rosie grinned. “Friends.”
2
SHOCKING NEWS
The yard was busy that morning and Rosie and Jess found themselves mucking out endless boxes and holding pony after pony for riders to mount. It wasn’t until 11 o’clock that they actually found time for a break. Just as all the chores were being finished off, Alex and his sister, Kate, arrived at the stables.
“Hi there,” Rosie called as they crossed the yard.
“Hi,” Kate answered. “Are we in time for the cross-country training?”
“Just about.” Rosie grinned, surprised that Alex had turned up. Although Kate spent every day of the holidays at the yard, her brother was more of a fair-weather rider. Still, it was good to see them both, and soon Kate had tacked up Feather and Alex had tacked up Hector and they joined Rosie and Jess on Pepper and Skylark. The four riders stood in the middle of the yard, anxiously waiting for Nick to appear to take them out over the cross-country course. He’d set it up two years ago as practice for the team chases and trials that dominated the winter season, but recently some of the jumps had been damaged in the storms, and he’d only just got them fixed.
“Oh, hi you lot.” Nick’s voice echoed around the yard as he stepped out of the cottage. “Look, I know you’re going to be disappointed, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to take you out this morning after all. I’ve just had a call from a new rider. She’s booked twelve private lessons and the only time I can slot her in this week is now.”
The riders groaned and looked despondent, but they understood Nick’s reasoning. Private lessons brought in a lot of money and, although Sandy Lane wasn’t exactly struggling, Nick could ill-afford to turn down any extra income that might come his way. Rosie looked around her. Sandy Lane was well laid out, but it could do with a lick of paint, and she knew that Nick and Sarah had plans to renovate the cottage...plans that they’d had to put on hold for the last few years. But now Nick was starting to talk again.
“I will take you out over the cross-country as soon as I can,” he said. “But for now, I’d rather you stuck to a hack. I hope you don’t mind, I’ve asked Tom to take you out instead.”
“At least that sort of makes up for it.” Rosie smiled as Tom appeared leading Chancey out of his stable. “And all the gang’s together now.”
“Well, not quite – Izzy and Charlie aren’t here, are they?” Jess said.
“Izzy’s back tomorrow,” Rosie reminded her.
Izzy Paterson had started at boarding school in September, so she and her horse, Midnight, were no longer around during term time. But she was coming back for half term and they couldn’t wait to see her.
“Has Izzy entered the treasure hunt?” Jess asked Kate.
“You bet,” she answered. “She’s my partner.”
Nick had organized a treasure hunt ride for the next day and everyone was looking forward to it.
“What about Charlie? Does anyone know if he’s going to make it back?” Rosie asked.
“I don’t think so,” Tom answered. “It’s too far for him to come.”
“What a shame.” Rosie looked disappointed. Charlie Marshall was away at racing school and his friendly face and lively conversation were sorely missed. Still, Rosie was sure he’d be back to visit them.
As the riders made their way down the lane, they chattered eagerly. There was a cold nip in the air that morning and Rosie was glad that she’d remembered her fleece jacket. She leant down to pat Pepper’s piebald neck.
“Come on you lot,” Tom called. “Let’s trot.”
And quickly the string of horses headed off in single file towards Bucknell Woods until Tom turned them left down the coastal track that led to the beach. The wind blew up in Rosie’s face. Suddenly all the upset of the past few weeks disappeared as they hit the open stretches of grass. Here she was riding – her favourite thing of all – without a care in the world.
“This is great!” she cried.
Tom smiled at her enthusiasm. Soon they were cantering along the scrubland that led to the sands. Not until they reached the top of the cliffs did the five riders pull their horses to a halt and look down at the sea beneath them.
Tom led the way down the track and, once they were down on the sand, he signalled for them to canter. Eagerly the riders swept along the beach, their bodies bent double to shield themselves from the wind.
“That was brilliant,” Jess whooped as she pulled Skylark up beside Chancey.
“How about we head over to the bottom of those cliffs over there? Then we’ll turn round and make our way back,” Tom called.
The other riders all nodded and set off at a trot. Rosie stared out to sea, then she turned and trotted after them. This was her favourite place to ride and she was determined to make the most of it.
As they reached the end of the beach, Tom signalled for them to turn and they cantered back along the sand, up the track and across the scrubland, stopping only as they neared the woods. They all knew they’d ridden a little too fast, but there had been no harm done and they were all in high spirits. Tom led the string of r
iders back down the track and out by the woods, and soon they were making their way up the lane in the direction of the stables.
As they trotted up the driveway to the yard, they were surprised to see Nick talking to a man they’d never seen before. From the rapid hand gestures, they were obviously discussing something important. Nick turned round as the riders dismounted.
“Ah, you’re back,” he called. “Come over here.”
The riders tied up their horses before hurrying over.
“These are my regular helpers,” he said, introducing the five riders to the small, wiry man that stood in front of him. “This is Mr. O’Grady – head lad at the Elmwood Racing Stables – where Charlie trained last summer,” he reminded them.
The riders all nodded, waiting for Nick to explain what was going on.
“Well,” Nick started again. “You probably won’t be aware – it’s the first I’ve heard of it – but Silver Dancer’s been stolen.”
Rosie was shocked. Silver Dancer was a famous racehorse – a local celebrity. When she’d won the Tatford Handicap, Charlie hadn’t been able to stop talking about it, and then she’d gone on to win the Malvern Stakes and that had made national news.
“She was taken last night,” Mr. O’Grady’s voice interrupted Rosie’s thoughts. “She’s entered for a big race a week on Monday, so it’s important to get her back before then.”
“Mr. O’Grady thinks she’s been stolen by one of the stable lads,” Nick explained.
“Too much of a coincidence that he’s missing as well,” Mr. O’Grady snorted. “I had to have words with him a couple of days previously. His work wasn’t up to scratch. He didn’t like it one bit...but to take the horse...well, the worst of it is that our trainer, Josh Wiley, is away on holiday at the moment...won’t be back for a week. I thought I’d do a tour of the stables in the area in case anyone had seen her.”
The regulars all looked from one to the other, but none of them had seen the prized racehorse anywhere.
“Have you spoken to the police?” Nick asked.
Horse in Danger Page 1
