“And I had better tell you,” he said in a kindly voice, removing his bowler hat. “Your confirmation mark was the highest of the day. You have a pony with real star quality, young lady. Well done.”
Georgia could have fainted with pride! The lap of honour was a teary blur, the rosettes streaming through Lily’s mane as the proud palomino revelled in the moment and lapped up the crowd’s adoration.
As Georgia hugged Lily over and over, the evening’s events began to sink in. She rugged up the little palomino and, still feeling dazed, settled her back into her temporary stable. People were congratulating her left, right and centre, but Georgia couldn’t quite take it in yet – her head was still spinning.
“That’s Ellen Whittaker!” Emma clapped her hand over her mouth, giggling, as a pretty blonde girl in a flashy red jacket paused to pat Lily and chat to Georgia. Dan just couldn’t stop grinning.
Everyone was in a party mood – Sophie danced around with Melanie and stuffed Lily full of carrots at the same time. Even Janey, who was normally brisk and firm, was teary-eyed and lost for words. Georgia was thrilled to see Josephine Smalley and her daughter, Alice, who had been competing in the show hunter pony class.
Just then, other riders turned to gawp as two familiar faces joined the celebrations. It was Will and his older brother Jasper. Georgia half expected Jasper to be dressed in breeches and shiny black boots, like his photographs, but he looked quite normal in jeans and a checked shirt. He certainly had charisma though, and she suddenly felt quite shy.
However, she was delighted to see her friend Will looking back to normal other than the stitches above his right eye.
“Will!” she exclaimed, wondering how he was going to be after the dramatic events of the last few days. She needn’t have worried – Will instantly gave her a huge hug, swinging her round and grinning.
“Hey, Georgia,” he said warmly. There was no trace of arrogance and no awkwardness in his voice.
“How is, I mean, how are you … how … what about Santa?” Georgia didn’t know where to start.
Will laughed. “Well, first I’d better thank you for saving me … the doctors said that if you hadn’t showed up when you did…” For a minute the smile faded, and he looked totally vulnerable.
“It was all Lily,” Georgia broke in, running her hand gently over the little palomino’s ears, who leaned in to her as she spoke. “One thing I’ve been wondering about, though – how did she know to head towards your old house?”
Will patted Lily’s neck as he explained. “You know when Mel asked me to ride Santa and lead Lily?”
Georgia thought back and remembered the day that she and Melanie had gone to the saddler together. She nodded.
“Well, I rode that way,” Will continued, looking thoughtful. “To visit the cottage where my brother and I grew up. I thought I would check it out, just in case I needed…” He paused.
“To get away from everything?” Georgia said gently.
“Well, not exactly,” Will said with a rueful smile. “But then I heard from Jasper – the night we had the fish and chips in the tack room – that we had definitely lost the sponsorship. Even though Melanie told me everything would be OK, I didn’t know if it would be. It was certain that Santa would go and I just couldn’t stand the thought of her being sold. So I left in a hurry, but only to hide her. I knew Ryan wouldn’t waste any time picking her up, so I thought if I moved her from Redgrove, it would buy me some time…”
He paused again. “I was trying to settle her in, then I slipped getting down some hay. I was rushing, panicking…” He turned to his brother, looking slightly unsure, and Jasper cleared his throat.
“It’s my fault,” Jasper said, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have put all that pressure on you. The loss of the yard, and our sponsorship, that’s my responsibility, not yours.”
“But what will you do now?” Georgia couldn’t help but ask. “And what about Santa? Oh, Will – you love her so much.”
“It’s all OK, Georgia.” Will grinned. “It’s going to be fine. Just ask Melanie!”
Georgia turned around to look at Melanie, who was smiling happily.
“I bought Santa back,” she said. “Not for me, of course! Will and Jasper are going to pay me back when they can, a bit at a time.” She stroked Lily. “When I heard that Santa had been with the boys for over ten years, I couldn’t bear the thought that she might end up somewhere horrible. She’s an old girl who deserves a good retirement after all the prizes she’s won for them and their sponsors.”
For a moment, Georgia was speechless, and then she gave Melanie a huge hug. Melanie was so kind and always thought about the ponies first. “Wow,” she said, totally in awe of her. “You really are the best, Mel!”
Melanie chuckled. “I could see how Will loved Santa – just like you love Lily, and then I thought about Wilson and Callie… I know that I want to keep them forever after all they’ve done for me. Santa deserved that as well.”
Georgia turned to Will and Jasper. “So what will you do now?”
Smiling, Will turned to his older brother. “Can I tell them, Jasper?” he said.
“Of course,” his brother said. “It’s going to be public knowledge soon enough anyway.”
Turning back to Georgia, Will smiled. “We’re moving back to Redgrove,” he said happily.
“So you’ve lost the yard?” Georgia blurted out before she could stop herself.
“Yes,” Jasper said, in a regretful voice. “All those years of hard work, riding some of the best ponies money could buy, and now nothing. Just one pony left, but, without doubt, the most loyal pony I’ve ever ridden.”
Then, smiling, he explained that Janey had heard about their predicament and had offered him a teaching position within the Pony Club. They needed someone young and vibrant, and Jasper was a hero among his old club. He also had a couple of young ponies lined up that he was going to bring on for their owners, and earn a small salary.
“But where will you live?” Georgia asked.
Will grinned happily. “Back at our old house!” he said in an excited voice. “It never sold and so Mum has agreed to rent it to Jasper – for just a small amount at first, until he finds his feet.”
Pausing, his smile grew even wider. “And even better, I’m going to go back to school – your school! Now we’re not always showing and jumping, Jasper doesn’t have to home-school me any more. And I can still do shows with Santa, if I want. She’ll do brilliantly in the veteran classes.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t thank you enough, Melanie.”
Melanie just smiled. Georgia thought she couldn’t admire her any more than she did at that very moment – first, helping her rescue Lily, and now ensuring that Santa’s future was safe. She decided that if she didn’t make it as a famous show rider, or a veterinary nurse, she would be perfectly happy owning a yard like Melanie and helping ponies in need. In fact, maybe she could do both, or all three. After all, Lily had been a rescue pony and now she had won second place – technically joint-first! – at the most prestigious horse show in the country. At that moment, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar cry, as her mum pushed her way through the crowds and into the stable area.
Flinging her arms around her daughter, she wiped tears from her cheeks as she congratulated her over and over again.
“Thanks, Mum.” Georgia hugged her mum back, clinging to her for just a few seconds. “And sorry I’ve not been myself recently – everything was getting to me…” Her voice trailed off.
“I know, darling.” Mrs Black smiled at her daughter. “And next time you need to tell someone!”
“I will, Mum, I promise,” Georgia said solemnly.
Lily nudged her at that point, as if to say “Hey!” and Georgia chuckled, putting her arms around the little mare’s elegant neck. “And you can have a holiday now!” she said, hugging the beautiful palomino all over again.
Georgia’s phone was beeping madly with te
xt messages from her friends at school and even from Harry and Lottie and the other Pony Club members – good news travelled fast. With everyone still buoyed up by the celebrations, and the stable for Lily booked for the night, Melanie suggested pizza at a nearby restaurant to carry on the party.
Dan, Emma and Sophie whooped and cheered. Will and Jasper would join them as well, and Janey, too. Georgia had a funny feeling Will would become a good friend of the group now that he was moving back to the area for good.
A night celebrating with her friends and her mum would be amazing but first Georgia just wanted a few minutes alone with Lily, to thank her. As everyone drifted off to get ready for supper, Georgia slipped into Lily’s stable and placed her arms around her neck. The little mare stood quietly, enjoying the attention.
“I promise I will never let my nerves get to me again,” she whispered into her ear.
Now they had finished the Show, she felt as though she could do anything with Lily. Maybe they would qualify for the Horse of the Year Show next year, and who knew what would happen then!
Georgia thought about what she had said to her careers adviser. She decided that she definitely did want to have her own yard, but only with ponies that needed rescuing, like Lily. She felt a moment of pride at how far Lily had come. She knew Lily trusted her more than anyone, and it was the best feeling in the world.
Looking up, she saw Dan leaning over the stable door, smiling and wearing her rosettes like earrings. Georgia laughed. “Hey,” she said, slightly shyly.
“You were brilliant, Georgia,” Dan said warmly.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you how nervous I was,” Georgia stammered.
“That’s OK,” Dan smiled. “Tell you the truth, I was a bit worried you fancied Will, and that’s why you were being so off with me. I thought you secretly liked him…” His voice trailed off and he looked a bit embarrassed, as Georgia laughed in amazement.
“No way!” she said sincerely. “I never thought of him like that! It was only that I knew you could tell how nervous I was, but I just didn’t want to face up to it, and … oh … well…” she stammered, as Dan grinned.
“Friends again?” he said.
“Always!” Georgia cried, then chuckled as she gestured for Dan to look at Emma, who was giggling and flirting with Will over by the entrance to the stables. They both laughed.
“Now, that looks like trouble!” Dan said in amusement, and then softened as he turned back to Georgia. “Ready to celebrate?”
“Sure,” Georgia grinned, gathering up her jacket and hat, but reluctant to stop hugging her beautiful little mare. “Wish she could come as well!” she said.
“Tell you what,” Dan said. “Let’s go and have pizza with everyone, then come back and see Lily – just you and me.” Taking her hand, he led Georgia out of the stable and she glanced back at the palomino, who gazed at her with her soulful amber eyes.
Dan was right. Georgia would go and celebrate with all the people who had helped her get this far, and then come back for a goodnight cuddle with her pony, who was the bravest and sweetest creature Georgia had ever known.
And then they would drive home to Redgrove where Wilson and Callie and Santa would be waiting. They had crisp winter rides, rallies and shows to look forward to, and Lily was hers, now and for always.
And nothing would ever be more important than that!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Nosy Crow would like to thank Katy Marriott Payne for letting her lovely palomino pony star on the covers of this series.
“Shove up a bit.” Emily squished herself on to the bench between Maya and the arm. “Oooh, it’s cold. I thought this was supposed to be the summer term? I wish I’d brought my gloves.”
Poppy nodded. “I know. I took Billy for a walk down by the canal yesterday after school and I nearly froze.”
“Is it looking OK?” Izzy asked anxiously. “I haven’t been down there for weeks.”
“There was a tiny bit of litter – it’s OK, Iz, I picked it up! – but no one had dumped anything. And the mural under the bridge still looks great, Poppy.”
The four girls had organised a clean-up weekend down by the canal, after Poppy and Izzy had taken Billy down there and he’d got caught up in an old bicycle that someone had thrown into the water. They’d even been on the radio, appealing for people to come and help.
“How could you be cold when you were out with Billy?” Maya asked, nudging Poppy. “He goes so fast, you must have been running to catch up with him.”
“I know!” Poppy shivered. “So just think how cold I would have been on my own.”
Emily suddenly let out a massive sigh, and the others wriggled round to look at her in surprise.
“What’s the matter?” Maya asked, and Emily shrugged.
“Sorry. It was just hearing Poppy talk about Billy. You’re so lucky having him. He’s gorgeous.”
Poppy sniffed. “Some of the time he is.”
Izzy giggled. “What did he do?”
“Only ruined one of my sketchbooks,” Poppy said grumpily. “I still love him, but it was a close thing for five minutes there.”
“How? What happened?” Maya asked, trying not to grin. Billy was a very accident-prone bull terrier, and he always seemed to mix Poppy up in his mess too.
Poppy rolled her eyes. “I was sitting at the kitchen table, just doodling a bit, and I had a couple of biscuits…”
“I get the feeling I know where this is going.” Izzy wrinkled her nose.
“Exactly.” Poppy sighed. “Well, I wasn’t thinking – it was the drawing, it was really nice, and I sort of forgot, and I left the biscuits at the edge of the table. Billy sniffed them out – he’s got a nose like a bloodhound, for food anyway. We could use him to track biscuit thieves, no problem.”
“So he ate your biscuits,” Emily said, frowning. “I don’t see what that’s got to do with the sketchbook. Unless he thought that was a biscuit too.” Billy was well known for being a bit stupid. Poppy’s brothers called him the dumb blond.
“He didn’t eat the biscuits.” Poppy shook her head. “He tried to. But he missed when he jumped up, and he thumped his head on the underneath of the table.”
“Oh no! Was he all right?” Emily gasped.
Poppy smiled at her reassuringly. “He was fine. He’s got a skull made of wood, Dad says. He was just a bit confused about where his biscuits had gone. But he shook the table up – almost tipped it over. You know how strong he is. And the vase of flowers fell over, and spilled water all across my sketchbook. And me.”
“I wouldn’t mind. I’d still love a dog like Billy,” Emily said, staring into the distance. She was dreaming about her ideal dog, the others could tell. “Or a cat. A big soft furry one, with a tail like a scarf… Or even a hamster. Well – maybe I wouldn’t like a hamster so much, you can’t really cuddle a hamster. But any sort of pet would be nice…”
“Jake and Alex have got a friend who wants to sell his pet tarantula,” Poppy said brightly.
Emily glared at her. “Any sort of pet with fur,” she added.
“Oh, Sam says it’s very furry. And affectionate,” Poppy promised her. “It likes to sit on your shoulder.”
Emily shuddered. “You know what I mean!”
“Your mum and dad won’t let you have a pet at all?” Maya asked sympathetically. She had a huge black cat called Henry, who liked to curl up next to her when she was doing her homework. He was Maya’s mum’s cat really, but she was off touring or filming so much of the time that he had adopted Maya instead.
“No.” Emily shook her head. “I think Dad would quite like to have a dog, but Mum says she would be the one who ended up having to look after it, while he was at work, and we were all at school. She reckons she’s got quite enough people to look after, with me and Toby and James and Sukie. And when I tried to explain about it being different, and wanting something to curl up with, she said I was welcome to curl up with Sukie, especially when Sukie woke up at
two o’clock in the morning.” She slumped down a little on the bench, sighing disgustedly. “And she says if I want to take something for a walk, that’s not a problem either, I can just put Sukie in the pushchair.”
“Isn’t it nice having a little sister?” Maya asked, frowning a little. She was an only child, and quite fancied having someone else around to play with. “You could dress her up. It would be fun…”
Emily stared at her. “You have no idea! Sukie won’t wear anything except her wellies. And I mean just her wellies. It’s a complete battle getting her to wear anything else. She’d rather live in a nappy, her wellies and maybe a woolly hat if she feels a bit cold. I’d love to see you trying to dress her up.” Emily snorted with laughter. “She’d probably bite you.”
“Oh…” Maya sounded rather downcast. It wasn’t what she’d imagined at all.
“I can sort of see your mum’s point, though,” Izzy said quietly. “There’s an awful lot of you in your house already. Have you got room for a dog?”
“A small one…” Emily held out her hands, just a little way apart. “A nice little dog…”
Poppy nodded. “You’d just have to make sure it was really well trained. Not like Billy,” she added, before any of the others could say it for her. “Dad took him to lots of training classes, but he never really got the hang of it. You’d need a dog that was very small, and very sensible.” She frowned. “I don’t know what breed that would be.”
Emily shook her head. “Me neither.”
“Maybe your mum will let you have a dog when Sukie gets a bit bigger,” Maya said, trying to be comforting, but Emily smiled at her lopsidedly.
“I know what she’ll say then – that we’re all a bit bigger, and there’s even less room. I’ll just have to keep visiting Billy.”
“He can come and have a holiday with you if you like,” Poppy volunteered, a bit too eagerly.
The Palomino Pony Runs Free Page 8
