The dark-green lorry pulling into the yard at the Smalleys’ a few days later filled Georgia with relief. The Redgrove ponies, standing in their stables, with their belongings neatly packed in their trunks, whinnied in unison. Melanie climbed down from the lorry steps and Georgia practically ran into her arms.
Melanie laughed. “All OK, Georgia?”
“Fine,” Georgia grinned up at her. “I’m just happy to be going home.”
“Has everything been OK?” Melanie asked, looking concerned.
“Well,” Georgia took a deep breath, “it’s been eventful. I guess I’d better tell you everything…”
Sitting round Josephine’s table a short time later, Melanie listened quietly as she and Georgia recounted the tale of Secret’s ditch rescue. As Josephine leapt up to answer the telephone, interrupting their conversation, Melanie turned to Georgia.
“I’m so sorry,” she said in a quiet voice. “I honestly didn’t know all that had been going on when Josephine approached me at the show. I vaguely knew her daughter had had an accident but I didn’t know the details.”
“Don’t be silly!” Georgia smiled and shook her head. “I learned a lot – not just about horses, but about people too.” She didn’t want Melanie to feel guilty at all. She had had a great time at the Smalley yard, and even Secret’s accident had brought Lucy and Alice back together. She had to admit it had been a bit stressful riding at shows, what with wanting to do her very best and with Lucy’s threats, but now that it was resolved she was fine – just looking forward to getting back to Redgrove.
Once Josephine had finished her phone conversation, they went outside and started to load up the ponies. Just as it had been three weeks earlier, getting them and their gear into the horsebox was a military operation, and even harder without Dan’s help. Georgia missed him and really hoped she could see him that evening.
Melanie’s husband, Simon, took Wilson and Callie into the horsebox, Callie squealing furiously at having to leave Lachlan, who neighed forlornly as the lorry pulled out of the drive and on to the main road, behind.
“Lachlan is always the same,” Lucy chuckled. “He falls in and out of love the whole time!”
Everyone laughed, apart from Alice, who was standing a little way from the group, watching as Secret was loaded into the trailer. He walked up the ramp quietly behind Lily before glancing behind him and gazing at the young girl. Once all the goodbyes had been done, Melanie and Georgia climbed up into the four-by-four and everyone waved and smiled as they pulled out of the drive. However, as Georgia took one last look at the Smalley yard in the rear-view mirror, she noticed Josephine gather Alice up in her arms as she dissolved into tears.
Georgia hated seeing Alice so upset, but she didn’t want to think about that now. Selfishly, she wanted to get back to Redgrove and for things to return to normal.
It took them about twenty-five minutes to drive home – the longest twenty-five minutes of Georgia’s life! Redgrove was exactly the same place as it had been three weeks ago, but to Georgia it looked like paradise. The ponies seemed delighted to be back too – they unloaded happily and were soon settled into their paddocks as if they’d never left at all, heads down, grazing in the spring sunshine.
Once Georgia had helped Melanie and Simon put the ponies’ tack away, she let herself in through the paddock gate. Wilson, a little plump from his holiday, looked up from the grass and happily gazed around his familiar field, and Lily blew gently into Georgia’s hair as she nuzzled against her. Only Secret seemed restless. Ordinarily, he would try to play with Callie or Lily, but instead he stood apart from the other ponies, his eyes searching.
Georgia patted his red neck. “What’s up, boy?” she whispered. But it was as clear to her as it must be to everyone else. He was missing Alice.
He nudged her hard, as if demanding answers.
Melanie came over to the gate and leaned on the top crossbar. “He’s grown so much, Georgia, even in the last three weeks.”
“He seems … sad,” Georgia said as she continued to stroke his neck.
“Georgia.” Melanie’s voice was a little hesitant. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear but we need to have that talk about Secret.” She reached over and tickled the colt under his chin, struggling to find the words. “You know Lily has a home here for the rest of her life, as does Secret. I wouldn’t get rid of him without your say-so.” She looked straight at Georgia. “But with two ponies there would be a lot of hard work ahead, and what with you at school, it might be too much to cope with. You don’t want to get behind again, like you did last year. Remember, you promised your mum that your schoolwork wouldn’t suffer?” Georgia nodded. “And two ponies,” Melanie continued, “can get very expensive.”
“I know,” Georgia said glumly.
“Well, have a think about it, Gee,” said Melanie.
“I will,” said Georgia. She felt quite sure she would think of little else over the next few days.
Melanie’s words played over and over in Georgia’s head later that night as she lay in her bed. Pip yawned and blinked sleepily at her as she turned on her bedside lamp and pulled out her photo album, full of treasured memories of her times with Lily and Secret.
There was the first few days at Dan’s farm, where Secret had lived in the goat stable, following his dramatic birth during the Redgrove floods. A Christmas pic showed Lily bedecked with tinsel standing proudly next to her foal, who was being hugged by Emma. Then there was Secret’s first show with Lily, when Dan had led him. It seemed like years ago now, but in reality it had only been a few weeks.
Georgia adored the boisterous little colt, but as he was nearly six months old, she had to make a decision. Melanie would never be able to keep him as a stallion – she didn’t have the facilities, and with two mares around, it would be unfair. Yards like Josephine’s were better suited for that.
Her thoughts drifted to Alice. And Secret. She had seen the bond between him and Alice so clearly, but equally she loved him herself. And because he was a part of Lily, it made it even harder for her to think about letting him go. Melanie was right though – she had her school work, and Lily, to concentrate on, and she knew her mum would never be able to afford another pony.
Sighing and patting Pip, she turned her lamp off again and stared at the ceiling until she dozed off.
It was early morning when Georgia woke up with a start, sitting upright in bed, her mind already racing. She knew Melanie would already be up with the horses and there was no doubt now in her mind about what she needed to do. Georgia took a deep breath and reached for her phone. She was ready to make a very important call!
The lanes felt very familiar as the trailer wound its way between the high hedges, which were just coming out in brilliant-green buds. Georgia felt the same nervous, stomach-churning feeling she normally felt on the morning of a show, only this was different.
Picking up on her nerves, Melanie smiled. “It’s the right thing to do, Georgia,” she said gently.
Dan squeezed her hand.
She smiled at him, pleased he was with her. She knew she had been distracted over the last few weeks and busy with her job at Josephine’s, but Dan had stood by her. She vowed to make it up to him. She took a deep breath as the four-by-four pulled into the smart drive and past the high wrought-iron gates.
Everyone was there waiting – Josephine, Fergus, Shelley and Lucy, and Alice, who was looking slightly confused at seeing the Redgrove trailer.
However, realisation soon dawned on her face, as slowly Georgia and Melanie pulled down the ramp of the box, and Secret gave a cheerful whinny and stepped out. Alice gasped, her hands over her mouth. “Mum?” she said in a trembling voice.
“Yes, Alice. If you want him, he’s yours,” Josephine said proudly.
Alice looked from Josephine, to Secret, and back again. Tears had started to fall down her cheeks, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
A lump was forming in Georgia’s throat, her face felt
hot and her eyes started to sting. This was really happening. She was letting go of Secret – the little colt who had come into her life in such a dramatic fashion, but who had never really been hers. She knew Alice would love him just as much as she loved Lily, and although he would never replace her beloved Honey, it was a start.
That didn’t stop the hot tears, though, that were now flowing freely down Georgia’s cheeks as she handed Secret’s lead rope over. Alice, in turn, flung her arms around both Georgia and Secret.
It’s the right thing to do, Georgia told herself again, but it didn’t make it any easier.
Secret nudged her playfully. He wasn’t as sensitive as Lily was when it came to picking up on moods, but he could tell that Georgia was upset about something.
“He’s going to be fine.” Josephine smiled at Georgia. “I promise we will never, ever sell him. He’s the pony that taught Alice to smile again. He and Lily are very special.” Then, chuckling, she said, “And I’ve already organised to have special bolts fitted on every gate this afternoon – so he can’t do any more wandering! And, Georgia,” she continued gently, “he will be much loved.”
“I know…” Georgia stumbled on her words, her throat catching every breath. “I know he is going to be the happiest pony, but…”
“It’s hard,” Josephine said quietly. “You have made a very brave decision.”
As if sensing it was time to say goodbye, Secret turned and gently rubbed his head on Georgia’s arm, blowing his sweet warm pony breath through her hair.
Georgia scratched the little spot he loved just behind his ear, and chuckled as he closed his eyes, fluttering his pale eyelashes. She gave him one final pat as Alice hugged her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For bringing him back to me.”
At that moment, Georgia knew without doubt that she had made the right choice. Sometimes ponies crossed a human’s path for a reason. Lily had appeared on the Welsh mountainside to enter her own life, and now her son had cantered into Alice’s heart as well. And if Lily could say goodbye to her foal, then so could she. She smiled remembering the scene when they had left Redgrove earlier. She had explained to Lily what was happening to Secret, but she hadn’t expected the mare to understand. Yet somehow it seemed as if the palomino could sense exactly what was going on. She nuzzled the little colt and the two of them stood for a moment nose to nose before Secret had whinnied excitedly and Lily had nudged him towards the ramp.
“You’re welcome, Alice,” Georgia said, looking at the younger girl, whose eyes were shining with happiness. “Secret belongs here, with you.”
“I’m really sorry,” Georgia said later to Dan just as they were leaving Redgrove.
After an enjoyable day spent mucking out and grooming the ponies, they had decided that as the evening was still light they would walk back together, cutting across the fields towards Dan’s dad’s farm.
“What for exactly?” Dan asked cheerfully, standing still and turning to face her.
“For being so busy these holidays and not having time to, um, you know – go to the cinema with you.” Even saying the words caused Georgia to blush crimson with embarrassment! She concentrated very hard on her boots, not wanting to look Dan in the eye.
He chuckled good-naturedly. “Georgia, it’s fine. The truth is that every time I’m with you it just feels right, even if we haven’t seen each other for a while.” Now it was his turn to blush. “I love helping you here, and going to shows, and just hanging out.”
Lightly, Dan touched her arm, and Georgia felt her skin tingle all over.
“Tell you what,” he grinned, unzipping his rucksack and producing a bag of crisps and a fizzy-drink can. “Let’s have a date right now!” And with a flourish he placed them on the grass and laid out his wax jacket for them to sit on.
They both giggled a bit as they sat down next to each other, a little awkward about their close proximity. Luckily, Lily chose that moment to canter up to them from the other end of the paddock where she had been grazing. She nudged Dan hard in the back until he laughed and offered her a crisp. Then he stroked her muzzle as she chewed.
“Now, this is my kind of date,” Dan said, putting his arm around Georgia and drawing her in close.
Nestled close to him, with Lily beside them, Georgia had to admit it was her kind of date too, and after the drama of the last few days she couldn’t think of anywhere she would rather be.
“It’s quiet out here,” said Emma a few days later as she helped Georgia sweep up the yard after school. Now that the evenings were getting lighter, Emma had resumed her lessons and was enjoying spending time with the ponies. She had always joked that she was a “fair-weather rider”!
Georgia leaned on her broom. Emma was right. It was quiet. The three ponies had settled back into their routine really easily, but every now and again they would gaze around the field, as if looking for the bouncy roan colt who used to try and cajole them into playing. Even grumpy old Callie had looked a little forlorn the first night Secret had been gone, despite the fact that now she would be able to graze in peace again! And although Lily clearly missed him, she seemed happy enough to have a quieter time without her boisterous foal.
Thinking about Secret, Georgia felt the familiar lump rising in her throat. She missed him loads, even though she knew he was in the right place. Alice had texted her a photo of him the previous night, all tucked up in a stable. He had apparently made a new best friend in the form of a young Dartmoor colt and the two of them had already been causing mischief! In spite of a tinge of sadness Georgia couldn’t help but smile when she thought about that.
“Georgia?” Melanie called, walking across the garden, waving a piece of paper. She looked really happy, and excited too. “Georgia, did you win a class on Lily when you were with Josephine?”
Georgia frowned; it seemed like ages ago. “Yes,” she said. “A ridden class, right in my first week.”
“Well,” Melanie said, her eyes shining as she handed Georgia an official-looking letter, “that class was a qualifier, for a Championship. And not just any Championship – the winner of it will qualify for the Horse of the Year Show! Georgia, do you see what this means?”
Georgia did see. She saw very clearly. She felt a bubble of excitement welling up inside her.
“We have to get you registered for that class, Georgia,” Melanie cried. “This could be your and Lily’s big chance!”
The show was scheduled for a week’s time, which wasn’t long to prepare. The post had arrived while Melanie was away and so they had missed the official deadline. However, Melanie put in a late entry and it was accepted due to the circumstances.
After that, the week had been filled with frantic practices and extra grooming, with Georgia schooling Lily in the half-light after school. Dan and Emma promised to come and watch her class, which was going to be held at a famous county showground. It was the biggest event Georgia would have competed at, bigger even than the hunter championships she had won with Wilson during the previous autumn.
When the day of the competition arrived, Lily couldn’t have looked better. Fit, muscled and shiny, she was in peak condition. Even Melanie had given a little gasp as Georgia had led her into the horsebox earlier that morning. To Georgia’s delight, Sophie had come home from university for the weekend to cheer the team on, so it was a full and happy lorry that wound its way to the show early in the morning.
Georgia thought back to the times she had competed for Josephine. They had been fun, but nothing compared to being able to ride her beloved mare, and be with her best friends too. There was no Lucy to worry about either, and no pressure to win for Josephine. Georgia was really looking forward to this show!
“You’re so un-nervous!” Dan grinned at Georgia as he patted Lily’s neck.
They were waiting to enter the ring, and Georgia was sitting astride the palomino looking completely relaxed.
“Dan!” Emma laughed. “Is that even a word?”
“No, proba
bly not!” Dan replied good-naturedly. He looked up at Georgia, a genuinely warm smile reaching from ear to ear, his handsome face glowing. Georgia felt her tummy flip over. She wasn’t sure if show nerves had suddenly arrived or if it was Dan that was causing the butterflies to dance!
Sophie and Melanie were standing on the sidelines, paper coffee cups in their hands, giving her a thumbs-up sign. Sophie, more glamorous than ever, had seemed thrilled to come and cheer Georgia on. “Good luck!” she called as Georgia rode into the ring.
It didn’t matter how they did, Georgia thought to herself, she was just going to enjoy it. She had Dan, and Lily, and anything else would be a bonus!
Lily must have picked up on her happy vibes, because she was cantering beautifully around the arena, ears pricked and mouth soft.
“Go on, Lily; go on, Georgia!” Melanie called.
“Now, that’s a pony destined for the top,” boomed a large lady in a bowler hat, waving a programme.
Several spectators had now stopped by the ring, entranced by the palomino mare and the pretty blonde rider, who couldn’t stop grinning.
Lily performed a foot-perfect figure-of-eight canter before Georgia asked her to gallop the long side of the arena, her strides eating up the ground, her hooves barely touching the spring grass underfoot.
As Georgia lined up with the rest of the class, bursting with pride at Lily’s performance, she was aware of quite a crowd watching the results. The judge was taking an agonisingly long time to call out the places, and had to call them backwards from fifth place to first. There were over fifteen ponies in the line, all seriously gorgeous, so Georgia sat quietly, just enjoying the moment.
She leaned forward as the judge called out the second-placed rider, a smart chestnut, whose owner looked a little disappointed; no doubt she had wanted to win. A girl on a big bay stallion started to move forwards, and then hesitated as the judge cleared his throat and peered over his spectacles at the waiting line. “Number 474,” the judge said in his clipped tone, but he was smiling.
The Palomino Pony Wins Through Page 7
