The Palomino Pony Wins Through

by Olivia Tuffin

  As Georgia brought Secret in to continue his handling lessons, she noticed that his head collar, hanging on the hook in the tack room, was done up. That was strange, Georgia always left the strap undone when she hung it up, no matter how many times Melanie reminded her to fasten it. No one else had caught Secret. And yet it was hung up so neatly, the lead rope coiled round in the way only experienced horsey people knew how to tie it.

  Shaking herself, Georgia pushed it to the back of her mind. Paranoia was running high in the yard, but there was no reason to suspect the Redgrove ponies were in any danger! Even so, safe in his stable, Secret kept looking curiously towards the barn doors leading to the internal stables, as if he expected someone to walk through at any minute. Despite the sunshine, and the spring birdsong, it suddenly felt as though a shadow had crossed the stables.

  Humming one of her favourite songs, Georgia scolded herself for being so stupid, concentrating instead on trying to teach Secret to lift a foot for a hoof pick by running her hand down his leg. Secret had been a little cheeky up to now, playfully pawing when Georgia tried to teach him, and occasionally just pretending he couldn’t understand or hear her. This time, however, he lifted the foot perfectly, and held it quietly in place for her.

  Georgia frowned. “Clever boy,” she said to the little colt, who gazed at her, blinking slowly. “It’s almost as if someone taught you to do that…”

  Knocking on Dan’s front door later that evening, Georgia hopped from foot to foot as she waited for him to answer. She had finished earlier than normal so she had texted him on her way home to see if he was free, but he hadn’t replied.

  Eventually Ben answered the door, looking smart in a red jumper, jeans and loafers.

  “Oh, hi, Georgia,” he said. “Looking for my bro? I’m afraid he’s out. Didn’t he let you know?”

  “Um, no.” Georgia fumbled for her phone. No message. “Is he going to be long?” she asked.

  “I dunno.” Ben shrugged. “Some party. Someone from your year. Becky, is it?”

  Georgia shook her head. She hadn’t heard of any party. She felt a lump rising in her throat.

  “OK,” she said, trying not to sound upset. “Tell him I called by, will you?”

  “Sure. See you, Georgia,” Ben said, closing the door. Dejectedly, Georgia picked up her bike and headed for Emma’s house.

  It didn’t take long to cycle there. Georgia propped up her bike and knocked on the front door.

  “Hey, Gee!” Emma looked gorgeous in a sequinned miniskirt and vest, her hair piled up on her head.

  Georgia smiled. “Hey, Em. You’re a bit dressed up for a Thursday evening!”

  Emma looked confused. “Yeah, I’m off to Becky’s party. Aren’t you coming? The whole year will be there—” Emma suddenly stopped in her tracks, catching sight of the expression on her friend’s face. Trying not to be upset, Georgia looked down at her yard boots and jodhs flecked with shavings. “Um, no,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about it.”

  “You mean Dan didn’t tell you? He was going to— Oh…” Emma suddenly looked guilty.

  “It’s all right, Em.” Georgia suddenly felt shattered. “I’ve been so busy at the yard, I haven’t really seen him. He probably just forgot.”

  “Then come with me?” Emma cocked her head to one side as Georgia smiled wearily.

  “I think I’ll leave it, Em,” said Georgia. “I feel like I need an early night. You go on though.”

  “Are you sure?” Em looked at her friend with concern.

  “Completely sure. Have fun!” Georgia said, turning away quickly so that Emma wouldn’t see the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes.

  Feeling hurt and confused, she jumped on her bike and headed home. Then, once she had grabbed something to eat, Georgia went up to her room. She put on her PJs and climbed into bed. She was exhausted, but instead of crashing out she ended up lying awake, thinking. She wondered if Dan had got fed up with waiting around for her. Maybe he had decided it was more fun to hang out with Becky instead. But Georgia was starting to realise she really liked Dan! What a mess.

  After what seemed like hours of tossing and turning, Georgia saw her phone flash on her bedside table. Groggily she picked it up, opening the message. It was Dan.

  “Sorry G, Em said you were a bit upset, talk to you tomorrow. PS I thought you’d be busy at the yard, sorry X”

  Georgia didn’t blame Dan – after all, he had asked her to go to the cinema and she had said she was busy. It was so hard to get the balance right between showing you were keen but keeping your cool. And she felt hurt that she was the only one who hadn’t known about Becky’s party. Clearly the popular girl was making a play for Dan. She wondered if Dan had just gone off to the party for something to do or if he really liked Becky. And maybe he thought that she just wanted to be friends now. It was all so complicated!

  More confused than ever, Georgia drifted into a fitful sleep.

  The next show was a long way away from the Smalleys’ yard and would mean an even earlier than usual start. The lorry needed to be ready to leave at four a.m! It was so early that Josephine had asked Georgia’s mum if Georgia could stay in the grooms’ quarters with Shelley, which her mum had gratefully agreed to. Georgia didn’t think she had ever been up at that time of the morning and, astounded, told Dan, who just laughed.

  “That’s only an hour earlier than Dad and I get up every day, Gee!” he had teased her.

  It was still slightly awkward between them. Georgia realised she hadn’t been making enough of an effort to see him lately. It was over halfway through the holidays and they still hadn’t sorted out their cinema date. Dan was being perfectly friendly but there wasn’t the usual easy banter between them.

  Georgia sighed as she placed her overnight bag in the room above the stables, in Shelley’s little flat. She was a bit nervous, not used to being away from home. Sleepovers at Emma’s didn’t really count – the girls lived in the same village and they’d been going to one another’s houses for years. Oh, and there had been the two occasions she had slept in the stables with Lily – her first night at Redgrove, and the night that Secret had been born. As well as a couple of times when she had camped with her friends. But none of those counted. This was grown up, staying away from home without her friends.

  “Got everything you need, Georgia?” Shelley called up the stairs.

  “Yes, thank you!” Georgia called back politely.

  The little flat was perfect, set in the eaves of the stable block, with low wooden beams criss-crossing the room. Josephine had done a good job of making it homely, from the green and white striped curtains to the photos of ponies in frames. It was only for one night, Georgia reminded herself, and with a three a.m. start the following morning, it was only really half a night before she had to be up and ready to go. The ponies were already sparklingly clean and munching on hay nets in their stables. Their close proximity was reassuring – in fact, if Georgia opened the window she would be able to hear them!

  “I’m putting a pizza in the oven,” Shelley called through to her room a few minutes later. “Fancy some?”

  “Oh yes, please,” Georgia answered, suddenly realising she was absolutely starving! She walked into the lounge and plonked herself down on the sofa. Riding four ponies a day gave her quite an appetite!

  After they’d finished their slices of pizza, she and Shelley sat on the sofa and watched TV together, with Shelley’s little terrier, Edward, nestling between them.

  “Right then,” Shelley yawned finally, looking at her watch. “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early!”

  “Sure,” said Georgia. “I’m going to bed now too.”

  Flicking off the TV, Georgia cleaned her teeth and got into bed. As she lay there, thoughts rushed around her head, keeping her awake. What if Lucy was at the show again tomorrow? What if she did something to Lily?

  Suddenly she felt her breath catch in her throat. There was a little sound coming from o
utside in the stables, just loud enough for her to hear. Georgia felt all the hairs on the back of her arms stand up, a tingling feeling running through her body. She held her breath. Shelley was fast asleep, and Edward only opened one eye as Georgia tiptoed past his basket in the kitchen, yawning and rolling over to expose his pink freckled tummy.

  Georgia put a finger to her lips. “Shhhh,” she whispered to the little terrier. She was sure the noise was probably just an owl, or the wind, but she wanted to check. She pulled on her wellies over her pyjama bottoms and tugged on her coat before quietly opening the door and slipping into the yard. Most of the ponies were asleep, either standing at the back of their stables resting their legs or lying down. A couple blinked and stirred, but mostly they didn’t notice Georgia as she crept past them towards the corner of the yard where the Redgrove ponies were stabled. Lily whinnied softly as she approached.

  Georgia crept a little closer to the stable block, relieved to see that Lily didn’t look stressed or worried. She gave a low throaty whicker as Georgia approached.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” she whispered.

  Just then Georgia heard a small sound coming from Secret’s box. Different scenarios flashed through Georgia’s mind. Maybe it was Lucy, coming to steal the ponies? Or doing something horrible? She felt her anger grow as she tiptoed round and peeked over Lily’s stable door so she could see over the divide into Secret’s stall.

  She gave a small gasp. Secret was standing perfectly still, all of his usual bounce and exuberance calmed, but there was a small figure standing next to the roan colt, with her arms around his neck. Her eyes were closed. It was Alice!

  Georgia watched as the girl stroked his flecked neck, totally unaware she was being watched. Georgia felt as though she had interrupted something beautiful and private, and her heart pounded.

  “Alice,” she whispered, not wanting to startle her.

  Alice’s eyes flew open and she backed away as if she had been stung, which caused Secret, unused to sudden movements, to half-rear in fright. Alice gave a frightened cry.

  “It’s all right, it’s all right…” Quick as a flash, Georgia was inside the foal’s stable, calming him down, and putting herself between the frightened pony and young girl. She turned to Alice, who was cowering in the corner of the stable.

  “Please,” Alice whispered. “Don’t tell Mum. She would only worry about me being out here so late.”

  Georgia nodded. Her heart went out to the frightened girl. “Don’t worry,” she reassured her. “I won’t.” She frowned. “But what are you doing here in the middle of the night, anyway?”

  Alice moved forwards now that Secret was calm again, and gently stroked his muzzle. “I come out every night – ever since your ponies got here,” she said, looking embarrassed. “At first it was because I was convinced that Lily was H … Honey…” She struggled saying the pony’s name. “But then … then I realised that she wasn’t, but it made me realise how much I missed ponies. Lily made me feel calm again. And then when I was brave enough, I started stroking Secret. When he responded to me I started to teach him things.”

  “To pick up his feet and lead quietly?” Georgia asked, everything suddenly starting to fall into place.

  Alice nodded. “I’m sorry, Georgia.”

  “It’s fine,” Georgia smiled. “It’s actually a relief. You see, I thought…” She didn’t want to say that she thought Lucy had been up to no good.

  Alice smiled. “He’s amazing, you know,” she said, moving closer to Secret again, as he pricked his ears and burrowed his face into Alice’s elbow. She chuckled and scratched behind his ears, as his lips drooped. Georgia had never seen Secret act so affectionately!

  Ignoring the tiny bubble of jealousy rising in her throat, Georgia said good night to Alice, who promised she was about to go back to bed, and crept back to Shelley’s flat, where she lay awake for the next couple of hours, thinking about what she had just witnessed. It was remarkable. The strong bond that had grown between Alice and Secret was clear for anyone to see.

  Georgia kept her word and didn’t say anything to Josephine about Alice. It stayed as her and Alice’s secret. Alice still avoided the yard at all costs during the day, but Georgia knew she was visiting Secret at night, when the rest of the yard slept. One day she could tell because Secret’s mane had the slippery feel of having been sprayed with canter spray; on another, Alice had neatly plaited his mane. One thing was for sure, he was happy and relaxed and evidently enjoying the extra attention.

  A couple of days later, Georgia was making her way across to the tack room to put away Lachlan’s tack. She was also going to fetch her phone to text her mum for a lift home. The yard was deserted except for her and the ponies, who were either in their stables, quietly munching on their hay nets, or grazing out in the fields, tails swishing away the first of the flies. She wasn’t sure what it was, but something made her stop and check on the Redgrove ponies. Secret had been a little restless earlier, and she wanted to make sure he was OK.

  Scanning the paddocks, Georgia could only account for Wilson and Callie. Where were Lily and Secret? They definitely weren’t in their stables. Squinting into the late afternoon sun, Georgia felt a bubble of rising panic as she looked, and looked again. There was no sign of either pony.

  Georgia felt her blood run hot and cold as she climbed the fence into the paddock, sprinting over towards the field shelters.

  “Please, please let them be there…” She crossed her fingers as she skidded to a halt in front of the open barns. But there was no sign of the ponies. Wilson eyed her curiously and Callie gave a small whinny.

  “Oh my goodness!” Georgia’s heart was now beating at a hundred miles an hour. Not thinking straight, she didn’t even consider going for help. Instead, she ran as fast as she could back to the tack room, cursing her jodhpur boots for slowing her down and wishing she was wearing trainers instead. She grabbed the ponies’ head collars and a bucket of feed before heading off down the drive behind the paddocks.

  Maybe Secret had jumped out? Perhaps Lily was being a protective mother and had followed him? But what if someone had just let them out? Josephine’s fences were in perfect condition, and she had never seen Secret jump before. The main road was nearby and terrible scenarios were already running through Georgia’s mind.

  “Please let them be all right. Please let them be all right…” she repeated to herself as she searched. Her breath was ragged, her lungs burned and her hair flew behind her as she ran faster still, calling Lily’s name over and over again. She half sobbed as she reached the top of the fields. Beyond that lay the busy main road, the traffic humming in the distance.

  “Lily, Secret, where are you?” Georgia’s voice came out as a raspy sob. Don’t let them be gone. Not now, not after everything they had been through.

  Climbing over the fence that bordered Josephine’s fields, Georgia pushed her way through the thick undergrowth that lay beyond the immaculate fields. The downs were criss-crossed with thick hedges and deep ditches. Georgia prayed Secret hadn’t fallen down one of those, but as he was still so flighty on his feet it was a distinct possibility. Suddenly she heard the faintest whicker.

  “Lily!”

  Scratching at the branches that hung overhead, Georgia raced blindly towards where the sound was coming from. The whicker turned into a throaty whinny.

  Lily was standing in a clearing, her sides slicked with sweat, pawing the ground and half-rearing on the spot.

  “Easy, girl, easy, easy…” Georgia tried to calm the frightened mare. “Where’s your baby, my darling?”

  Then, to her horror, she caught a glimpse of a small roan pony struggling in one of the deep, water-filled ditches. Her heart in her mouth, Georgia climbed down next to Secret, who was trying desperately to clamber back up the steep sides.

  It took a few seconds to realise that they were not alone. Slightly to the left of Secret, a figure lay with her leg horribly twisted and her face grey with pain.

&n
bsp; “Lucy?” Georgia gasped as the girl winced, raising her head. A flash of rage tore through Georgia. “You did this?” she shouted furiously, but Lucy shook her head, struggling to speak.

  “Georgia, no, I didn’t, please believe me…” Her voice, weak with pain, was sincere, and she looked in agony.

  Swallowing her anger, Georgia thought fast. Icy fingers crawled down her back as she realised her mobile was exactly where she had left it – in the pocket of her bag in the tack room. She should have fetched it when she’d picked up the head collars. She could have kicked herself. Lucy needed an ambulance and somehow Secret needed to be freed from the ditch.

  “OK,” Georgia said, moving closer to Lucy and taking off her jacket to put around the injured girl’s shoulders. “I’m going to have to go back for help.”

  “No … no … please don’t leave me,” Lucy gasped, and suddenly Georgia could see why.

  As Secret struggled to free himself, in his panic his flailing back legs came perilously close to kicking Lucy. Georgia needed to keep the young colt calm in order to save Lucy, but she wasn’t strong enough to drag her out of harm’s way, and the banks were too steep. Sweat dripping from her forehead, she put her fingers to her temple, trying to think, trying to keep calm. Just then, like a miracle, a small voice called out her name.

  Georgia’s eyes sprang open. “Alice?” she called back. “Alice, is that you? We’re over here!” The younger girl must have followed Georgia as she raced out of the yard.

  Alice pushed her way through the bracken and undergrowth, her eyes widening in horror as she took in the situation. They grew even wider when she saw Lucy, who was lying up against the bank close to Secret.

  Reading her thoughts, Georgia shook her head. “I don’t think it was Lucy who let the ponies out.” Georgia didn’t know exactly why, but something made her believe Lucy.