The Palomino Pony Runs Free

by Olivia Tuffin

  “Tell you what, Georgia,” Melanie said, sounding exhausted as they led Callie, Wilson and Lily back in from the fields that afternoon. “Why don’t you take Lily out for a nice ride this evening, before it gets dark? There’s not much more that can be done here.”

  “Really?” said Georgia.

  “Yes, really. You need some time-out,” said Melanie firmly. “A good canter always clears away the cobwebs. Enjoy yourself. I’ll phone you straight away if there’s any news. And, Georgia…” Hesitating, Melanie suddenly looked really sad. “I’m so sorry we can’t go to the championships. Thanks for being so understanding.”

  Nodding sadly, Georgia set off to get Lily. Really, the championships didn’t matter, in comparison with what was happening here. Carefully, she took her tack down from its position in the tack room and, looping the bridle over her shoulder, walked down to Lily’s stable, where the palomino was standing, stock-still, occasionally thrusting her head forwards, her amber eyes catching the light. She did seem a little on edge.

  “Easy, my beauty…” Crooning to her, Georgia quickly tacked up the little mare. She was so clean from the rigorous grooming and bathing routine Georgia had been giving her that she only needed a quick dust off.

  In no time at all, Georgia was ready, scarf pulled up over her nose, clattering over the cobbles and out through the gates on to the heathland beyond the yard. It was a glorious late afternoon, and the trees bordering the neat cobbled yard were starting to change to deep reds and golds. It was still quite cold, though, and Georgia was grateful to her mum for making her dress up warmly before she had left that morning.

  Lily shied uncharacteristically at a sign on the small lane, snorting and plunging.

  “Hey, girl…” Georgia gently scratched the little mare on her withers, calming her down. It was probably due to the fact that Georgia hadn’t ridden her for a couple of days and she was super-fit and fresh. The cold weather could make ponies a little skittish.

  Once they were out on the heath, Georgia let Lily have her head. It felt amazing, Lily’s strong legs eating up the ground and her champagne-coloured tail streaming behind her. It was a real shame, Georgia reflected, that the judges wouldn’t see her in the ring, looking her best. Now she was unable to go, it seemed so silly that she’d got in such a state about it. She should have just enjoyed the build up to the Show instead!

  Continuing up the long ridgeway that sat above the pretty village of Redgrove, Lily was still pulling forwards, fresh and eager. The valley below them, one side sloping away towards Dan’s farm, and the other down towards the neighbouring villages, looked magical in the cold, late afternoon light, with the houses and cars like little toy models.

  “Come on, Lily.” Eager to get her pony back to her warm stable and rugs, and to get a hot drink for herself, Georgia gently guided the little palomino back towards home, softly shifting her weight in the saddle and easing her right rein towards the track that led back to Redgrove.

  Expecting Lily to quietly head towards home, she relaxed in the saddle, letting her reins slacken, but the palomino stopped suddenly and threw her head towards Georgia, catching her smartly on the nose and instantly causing it to bleed.

  “Ouch, Lily!” Georgia cried. Her nose started to sting, and she felt a warmth trickle down her chin. Holding the reins in one hand, she wiped away the blood with the back of her gloved free hand, and tried to ignore the pain. But she was worried – Lily never behaved like this. Remembering how Jemma had frightened the little palomino by forcing her to go forwards with a whip when she had been reluctant and scared, Georgia did her best to remain quiet and calm.

  “Come on, girl,” she said as gently as possible, again trying to guide the little mare back towards the stables.

  It was starting to get dusky now; the evening sky was awash with pink and grey clouds. Again, Lily planted, backing up so suddenly that Georgia was nearly unseated. It was no good; Lily didn’t want to go forwards at all. She tossed her head, snorting, the sound carrying across the quiet valley.

  “Would you rather I led you?” Patting her, Georgia slipped out of the saddle and placed a reassuring hand on Lily’s neck, drawing the reins over her head, trying to soothe her. It was very rare that she needed to get off and lead Lily, but something had obviously worried the little mare and, with the evening drawing in, Georgia wanted to get her home as quickly as possible. “Come on, sweetheart.”

  Clicking her tongue, Georgia started to lead Lily forwards towards the gate that took them off the hill and on to the path towards home.

  Reluctantly, Lily followed her. Stopping at the gate, Georgia struggled for a minute with the heavy, fiddly clasp, placing the reins back over the mare’s head and into one hand as she did so. And that was all it took. Lily suddenly pulled back and in that moment she was free from Georgia’s hold.

  “Lily!” cried Georgia. Time seemed to stand still. She made a grab for the reins, just as Lily tossed her head into the air and trotted a few steps away.

  Alarmed, Georgia pleaded with her little mare, willing her to stand quietly. It would be a total disaster if she was loose on the heath, which led to a main road at the bottom of the valley. Thinking fast, Georgia stepped forwards quietly, rustling a sweet paper in her pocket to try and get the palomino’s attention. But it was no good. Lily hesitated, before spinning round and cantering a few paces away from Georgia, who was feeling increasingly panicked. Thank goodness she had put the reins back over her head, so Lily couldn’t trip on them, but even so, anything could happen, and the worst would happen if she got on to the busy road.

  Lily slowed a bit but was still steadily moving away from Georgia, towards the bottom of the valley and the main road. Crossing her fingers, Georgia prayed that the gate on to the bridleway was shut. Maybe Lily would stop there if it was, or maybe she would try and jump. She gave a small sob of fear as she hurried behind Lily, trying not to startle the little mare, whose head was as high as she could carry it and who was trotting like a hackney pony, her knees striking the air.

  Taking care not to break into a run behind the palomino and frighten her even more, Georgia followed as quietly as she could, still rustling the sweet wrapper. Lily didn’t gallop off, as she could have done, but equally she stayed a little way ahead of Georgia the whole time. They continued like this for a few long minutes.

  Starting to cry, Georgia tripped and stumbled a couple of times as Lily descended down the chalk path, further and further from Redgrove. “Please, Lily!” she wailed, wishing they were back at the yard, Lily safely tucked up in her stable. There was just no way she could catch up with her pony, and the road was only a few hundred metres ahead. Lily was trotting at a steadier pace now. Exhausted, Georgia slowed. She was panting hard, her breath hanging in the cold, crisp air. She had to keep going.

  She had a flashback to the day that she and Dan had followed Lily over the Welsh mountainside, when they had attempted to rescue her from Jemma, her former owner. But that was different; Lily had been running in a blind panic, full of fear. She seemed much calmer this time, never going too far from Georgia. It was totally out of character. It was almost as though she knew where she was heading.

  Rounding the final bend, Georgia’s heart was in her mouth as she heard cars and lorries whizzing by on the road. Although it was a country road, it was one of the main routes towards Redgrove and the surrounding villages, and it could get very busy. She cried with relief when she saw that the big wooden gates leading on to the bridleway were firmly closed, and even better, that Lily had come to a trembling halt in front of them.

  “Lily!” Georgia’s breath was coming out in great heaving rasps now, tears streaking her face as she stumbled towards her pony, her legs buckling beneath her. Despite the chill, she was boiling hot under her jacket, but shivering with shock. Quickly getting hold of the little palomino’s reins, she leaned her head against Lily’s neck and cried for a few seconds into her creamy mane, feeling sick. She would never have forgiven herself if
anything had happened to her beloved pony.

  Lily blew into her hair before raising her head again and gazing into the distance. Every hair on her body seemed to twitch as she waved her delicate head from side to side, snorting.

  “Lily, my darling…” Whispering gently to her, Georgia decided it would be safest to get back on, rather than risk losing the pony again if she plunged away. Swinging herself back into the saddle, her legs still trembling violently, she was just about to nudge the little mare back up the hill, when all of a sudden Lily quivered and let out a shrill high- pitched whinny, her nostrils flaring. And there, in return came a shrill answer, almost like an echo. Dancing from side to side, Lily repeated her call and, again, the same urgent cry came back. It was another pony, and it didn’t sound far away!

  Trying to get her bearings, Georgia looked around her. She knew that Redgrove lay on the other side of the hill, and that she wasn’t far away by road. It looked familiar. Suddenly she realised: she had been here before, on the way back from the saddler’s – the day Melanie had bought her the lucky silver tie pin. The cottage, beyond the road on the opposite side, was Will’s old house! And what’s more, the shrill whinny was coming directly from the property.

  Thinking fast, Georgia checked her jacket pocket for her mobile phone. Thankfully, she hadn’t left it in the tack room. Nudging Lily forwards, she leaned down and opened the gate that led them on to the bridleway, and on to the verge. Steadying the little palomino, Georgia waited, her heart in her mouth, for a clear moment to cross the road.

  A car zipped by them at speed, followed by a van. Lily backed up nervously. Eventually the road was clear and Georgia urged Lily on at a trot, crossing over and reaching the long drive, just as another car flew past.

  “Good girl, good brave girl.” Georgia praised Lily as much as she could, knowing that the little mare was still nervous about roads. Yet now it was Lily who was eager to continue, her stride lengthening as they walked purposefully down the drive towards the cottage, and towards the shrill whinny that sounded much clearer now.

  The house was still deserted, as it had been the day Georgia had passed it with Melanie. Straining her ears, she realised the whinny was coming from the outbuildings, which lay further back. Dismounting and leading Lily forwards, Georgia called out.

  “Hello?” Her voice echoed around the old stone buildings, bouncing off the cobbles. Then she heard it, loud and clear – horse’s hooves against concrete. A pony was moving around in one of the buildings, and from the way the hooves were clattering, the pony was agitated! “Hello?” Georgia repeated, but again, there was no answer.

  Looping Lily’s reins over her arm, Georgia tried the door into the barn, where the whinnying was coming from. It was old and heavy, and seemed to be fastened from the inside. Peeking through the crack, Georgia gasped when she caught sight of a familiar dark-brown pony in one of the stalls at the far end. It was Santa!

  But if Santa was here, where was Will?

  Georgia pulled at the door again, widening the gap so she could peer into the barn. Old hay bales were stacked up next to the stall, plus a few bits of rusty machinery. Looking closer, Georgia saw a flash of bright blue under the hay. It looked like it was some sort of material, but what? Then she recognised it as Will’s logo jacket – the one he had been wearing the day he had ridden past Georgia on the heath. To her horror, she realised Will was slumped awkwardly against the old bales, almost hidden by hay, and his eyes were closed. Immediately, Georgia could tell that Will was only just conscious. He needed help, and fast!

  Reaching into her jacket pocket, adrenalin surged through Georgia. Hurriedly, she rang 999. She had never done this before, and felt a bit shaky, not knowing what she was meant to say.

  “Police, fire or ambulance?” A kindly-sounding woman spoke on the end of the phone. Georgia tried to remain calm as she answered, thinking fast.

  “Ambulance … and police as well!” Explaining the situation as clearly as she could, she told the woman that it concerned a missing boy and pony. Once the call operator had taken details, and promised an emergency vehicle, Georgia then rang Melanie – who answered hurriedly before the first ring had even finished.

  “Georgia?” she said in an anxious voice. With a rush of guilt, Georgia realised that she had set off on her hack quite a while ago and that Melanie had probably started worrying about where she was too.

  “Oh, Mel, I’m fine, but there’s no time to explain!” Georgia said. “You need to come over to Will’s old house as soon as possible. He’s in trouble!”

  The seconds seemed to drag by like hours. If only Georgia could get into the barn. Pulling at the old door again as hard as she could, she realised why she couldn’t open it – there was a bolt high above her head on the inside. Will must have barricaded himself in. Maybe someone a lot taller than Georgia would have been able to reach the bolt, and undo it if they pulled the doors open a little, but there was no way she could – she was too short. Grimacing with frustration, Georgia stepped back. Lily, calm now that she had found her friend Santa, nudged her on the arm, as if to say, “Hey, I could help!”

  Looking from Lily, to the barn and back again, Georgia suddenly had a brainwave. “Right, my beauty.” Georgia patted Lily gently. This had to work, and Lily had to trust her as much as she needed to trust Lily. Positioning the little mare right next to the barn doors, the palomino seemed to sense what Georgia wanted. Quickly, Georgia climbed back into the saddle, and then, very carefully, she started to stand so that she could perch on Lily’s back like a circus rider and reach the bolt. Being small and light, Georgia had good balance, but it was still very tricky. Gradually raising herself up to her full height, she teetered for just a moment, wavering, her knees trembling. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if she fell now and hurt herself.

  “Easy, girl.” Georgia soothed the little mare, praying she wouldn’t move – and Lily, listening to her young mistress, stood as still as a statue, flicking her ears back and forth. Hardly daring to breathe, Georgia just managed to reach a hand through the crack in the barn door to find the bolt. She pulled it across and pushed open the heavy doors. She was in!

  Jumping down from the palomino, she led Lily into the barn and quickly tied her up next to Santa. Lily was pleased to see her friend, and the mares whickered a greeting to one another before snuffling noses, ears pricked and eyes shining. Georgia hurried over to Will and crouched down beside him. It looked as though he had been trying to get some hay down from the hatch above the stables and judging from the loose bales piled next to him, some had fallen on top of him. He stirred and gave a small groan, his face pale and his forehead cold and clammy.

  “Will, are you OK?”

  To Georgia’s horror, as he turned his head, she saw a deep cut above his right eye that was bleeding heavily. Looking around her and thinking desperately, Georgia suddenly remembered the first aid lecture at the Pony Club rally. She knew what to do! Tearing off her cotton scarf she folded it and pressed it against his forehead, trying to stem the bleeding. Will placed his hand over hers to keep the pressure on the cut, realising what she was doing. His hands were icy cold. He was only wearing a T-shirt underneath his thin riding jacket and the inside of the barn was like a freezer.

  Taking off her own jacket, Georgia wrapped it around Will’s shoulders, and again, remembering what she’d learned at the Pony Club rally, took care not to move him in case he was seriously injured.

  “Thanks, Georgia,” Will whispered weakly, his teeth chattering with cold.

  Georgia felt dizzy with relief when she heard the distant wail of sirens and the familiar sound of Melanie’s 4x4 storming up the rutted path towards the barn. The vehicle screeched to a halt and she heard footsteps running across to the barn. Two figures appeared in the doorway. She recognised the man from his pictures – it was Will’s older brother Jasper, the famous show rider!

  There wasn’t time to think, or even say hello. Melanie and Jasper were quickly followed by two param
edics who rushed in, carrying their bags of equipment. Georgia was only too happy to let the grown-ups take over and she sank to the floor in shock, her legs finally buckling underneath her. All the stress of Lily getting loose on the heath, and then finding Will in this state had been a bit much. She was aware of lots of activity around her – Will being taken into an ambulance, and Melanie wrapping another jacket around her shoulders, but she felt one step removed from it, as though she were watching a drama on the television. Lily nudged her hand, concerned for her mistress, and Georgia nuzzled her mare back, breathing in her sweet, reassuring scent.

  The short journey back to Redgrove was quiet. Simon had followed Melanie with the horsebox and she and Georgia loaded a calm Santa and Lily, ready for the journey back. It would have been pitch black by now, if not for the bright white moon lighting up the old stone barn. Staring out of the window at a night sky studded with stars, Georgia couldn’t help but think they might have just arrived at the Horse of the Year Show by now, ready to bed Lily down in preparation for her class tomorrow. She shook herself. Will and Santa were safe. She just hoped Will would be OK. Not just after his accident, but when he found out that Santa had already been sold.

  As if reading her thoughts, Melanie turned to her and smiled. “You did a very brave thing, you know, Georgia,” she said kindly. “The paramedics said that if you hadn’t found Will, it could have been far worse, especially on a freezing night like tonight. Poor boy, how unlucky life has been for him recently.”