The Palomino Pony Comes Home

by Olivia Tuffin

  “This is all your fault!” Jemma turned on Georgia, who was sobbing now. Dan steadied her arm. “Leave the pony,” she said to the two boys. “She would have only gone for meat anyway. She’s evil and vicious.”

  “No, she’s not,” sobbed Georgia. “You are. You’re the evil and vicious one! She could injure herself at that pace.”

  Jemma laughed. “Well, let’s hope she does.”

  And with that, Jemma and the two boys clambered into the truck, pulling away fast, leaving great welts in the damp ground.

  “What can we do?” Georgia cried out. “We can’t just leave. Lily was clearly frightened and she could be hurt. We have to go after her!”

  “OK,” Dan said hesitantly. “But look, why don’t you call Melanie first? See where she is.”

  “OK.” Georgia pulled out her phone and pressed a button. “She must still be driving, Dan,” she said when there was no answer. “Come on, let’s go.”

  The two of them broke into a run, following the trail of hoof marks. They ran around the side of the hill and down into a wooded valley. The ground became boggier, with large tussocks that they had to scramble over, but soon they were in the woods, and there were still clear hoof marks in the ground.

  After they had been following them for about a quarter of an hour, Dan held up his hand, panting. “Georgia, I’m out of breath. Let’s just have a five-minute rest, OK?”

  “OK,” she agreed, leaning heavily against the nearest tree. Her lungs were on fire and her heart was hammering in her chest. Georgia doubted she could have gone much further either.

  The rain started then – big, fat droplets that fell slowly at first. Then the sky opened completely, quickly soaking Georgia and Dan through. Georgia’s thin trousers clung to her legs and her hair was plastered against her head, rivulets of water running into her eyes. She started to cry silently. This was hopeless! Lily could be lost in the mountains or, even worse, she could have been run over on the main road. The thought of the beautiful palomino pony being hit by a car twisted Georgia’s heart with fear.

  Just then Dan touched her on the arm, a finger to his lips. “I heard something,” he whispered urgently. “Come on, down towards the river!”

  They ran as fast as they could without losing their footing, down to the edge of the bank that dropped steeply to a torrent of water swirling far below. Georgia gave a gasp of horror. She could see a pony. It was Lily! She was trying to cross the river! The water was already up to her hocks, and she was hesitantly trying to edge into the deeper water.

  Georgia flung herself down the bank, sliding partway and cutting her hands. Dan was close behind her. Lily gave a start and panicked. Before Georgia had a chance to stop her, the pony had launched herself into the water, paddling furiously against the current.

  Dan put a hand on Georgia’s shoulder. “She might be able to cross by herself, Georgia. And look, it’s fenced the other side, so if she makes it, she won’t be able to go any further.”

  Georgia watched in silent anguish, willing the little pony to get over safely.

  “Look – we can get over there.” Dan indicated a fallen tree trunk a little further up that spanned a narrow part of the river.

  Without further ado, Georgia scrambled along the bank to the trunk and tentatively edged her way across it, not taking her eyes off the palomino. Once Dan was safely across, the two of them raced along the bank so they were adjacent to Lily, who was about two thirds of the way across now, her nostrils flaring with the effort and her eyes huge with fear.

  “Come on, Lily,” Georgia cried, willing her on. “You can do it!”

  But at that moment the pony suddenly disappeared from view, losing her footing in the strong current. Georgia gave a cry of terror.

  Then Lily resurfaced, trying frantically to paddle against the strong wall of water, but she was growing weaker, drifting now, as she was pulled along.

  Georgia and Dan ran alongside her as she was pulled downstream until they reached another narrow section of water. Georgia immediately began throwing off her mac and shoes.

  “What are you doing?” Dan yelled.

  “I’m going in!” Georgia replied, sliding down the bank to the cold water.

  “No, you don’t,” Dan replied. “I’m the stronger one!”

  And before Georgia could stop him, he had waded in until he was chest deep.

  Lily had stopped drifting now and was struggling to the bank, but then she collapsed in the shallower water. Dan reached her quickly, his strong body fighting against the current. Lily was too exhausted to panic as he grabbed her mane, forcing her to keep her head above water. Urging her with every bit of strength that he had, he dragged her towards the bank.

  Just then, Georgia heard her mobile ring. Quickly she made a grab for it, but her hands were freezing cold and as she pressed the receive button, she dropped it.

  “I’m nearly there!” the phone crackled. It was Melanie on speakerphone. “I’m following your directions. I’m on the main road out of Brecon.”

  Georgia reached for the mobile again, trembling as she put it to her ear. “You’ve got to get here quick!” She looked around her, trying to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. “It’s the pony! She’s stuck. She’s in the river!” Georgia could make out the faint hum of the traffic on the road above and hoped it was the route Melanie was taking. “I don’t know where we are,” she sobbed. “Somewhere below the main road, in some woods.” She looked frantically around for landmarks. “There’s a sort of barn with a metal roof to the left of me. Please hurry!” she added.

  “All right, Georgia, I’m coming. Just be very careful!” As Georgia snapped her phone shut, she heard Melanie putting her foot on the accelerator.

  Just then Dan called out, his voice panicked. “Georgia, Georgia, come quickly. I can’t hold her any longer!”

  Without a second’s hesitation, Georgia plunged into the water. Although she could touch the stony bottom of the river bed, the current was strong and the shock of the icy water made her gasp. Her clothes clung heavily to her frame as she struggled across, half swimming, half wading, coughing as the water swirled around her face.

  Reaching Dan, she put her arms around Lily’s neck, steadying her as Dan once again tried to pull the pony out.

  At last, Lily seemed to realise that Georgia and Dan were helping her and stopped fighting against them. She flailed in the shallows before lurching to her feet and clambering towards to the bank. Once she was only fetlock-deep, she stood with her head low and her sides heaving. Her beautiful mane and tail were bedraggled and soaked, and her breath was coming in loud gasps.

  Georgia and Dan pulled themselves up the bank before collapsing on the damp mossy ground next to the pony.

  “Georgia! Georgia, where are you?”

  After what seemed like ages, Georgia heard Melanie’s voice in the distance. “Over here!” Georgia yelled back, her heart leaping. “We’re over here!”

  And then Melanie was scrambling down the riverbank towards them. She was clutching a head collar in one hand and within moments of arriving had caught Lily, who was too weak to run away again. Keen to get her warm and dry, Melanie carefully led the mare up to the main road where she had parked the lorry.

  Melanie’s appearance had given Georgia renewed energy and, grasping Dan’s hand to steady herself, the two of them slowly made their way up to the road. The sight of the Haydens’ familiar horse lorry felt like the best thing Georgia had ever seen, and even more so when Melanie produced three woollen rugs.

  She rugged Lily, then passed blankets over to Georgia and Dan, who gratefully wrapped themselves up. “OK, so what’s been going on here?” she asked as she looked Lily over, carefully checking each leg for cuts.

  Quickly, Georgia explained everything that had happened – about Jemma turning up, and the heated exchange, before finishing on how Jemma had gone to hurt the little pony and how that had made Lily run off.

  “Phew, that’s quite a story,” said Me
lanie, shaking her head. “Lily seems OK now, but we’ll have to get her to a vet to be checked out.”

  “But what about Jemma? What about buying her?” said Georgia. “If we just take her, isn’t that stealing?” The words spilled out.

  “We’ll sort out buying her once the vet has looked at her and Lily’s settled,” Melanie said firmly. “For now, what’s important is this pony’s safety, and that you two get warm and dry. Come on, try not to worry. Everything will be fine. But we need to move fast now.”

  “Thanks, Melanie,” Georgia said gratefully, relieved that an adult was taking control of the situation.

  Once Lily was safely loaded and settled in the horse lorry, the three of them climbed in and Melanie turned on the engine.

  Just then reality hit Georgia. “School!” she gasped, horrified.

  Dan gulped. “Do you think they’ll have discovered we’ve gone?”

  “Hmm,” said Melanie, wrinkling her forehead as she thought. “Call your parents now and see if they mind if you come home with me early – you were going home on the coach tomorrow morning anyway, weren’t you? Then we’ll swing by the centre, pick up your bags and explain. Can’t see it being a problem, can you?”

  Dan and Georgia gazed at her in wonder. Georgia couldn’t imagine anyone ever saying no to Melanie, but she wondered what her mum was going to say about her having got herself involved with a pony rescue when she was supposed to be concentrating on schoolwork. She shook the thoughts from her head. She wouldn’t have done things differently even if she could have, and she would just have to make it up to Mum and show her that she was going to keep her promise and work hard next term.

  “As for Lily,” Melanie continued, her smile vanishing. “How are we going to trace this Jemma who owns her? Hmm.” She looked thoughtful. “I know – when I’m home, perhaps I can ring the sales. They should have the pony listed in the catalogue, so we’ll be able to narrow it down to the ponies who haven’t shown.”

  “Thanks, Melanie,” Georgia smiled. “You won’t let Jemma take her though, will you? She was so cruel.”

  “No chance.” Melanie turned to Georgia and smiled. “Lily’s not going anywhere, not after what you told me about how she was being treated. Don’t you worry!”

  They stopped at the summer school to explain and to change into dry clothes and gather their things. Then they pulled in at a service station on the motorway on the way home for some reviving hot chocolate.

  When they went to check on Lily, they found her standing quietly in the back of the horse lorry. Georgia gently reached out to stroke her muzzle and although the pony flinched, she didn’t pull back. Georgia was able to run her hand down the palomino’s cheek, still slightly damp from her river adventure.

  Melanie looked through the cab door. “She’s definitely a beauty,” she said. “In spite of the grime and dirt.”

  Luckily the motorway was quiet as they got underway again and a few hours later the horse lorry was pulling into the drive of Redgrove Farm.

  Sophie came out to greet them, a look of curiosity on her face. To Georgia’s relief there was no sign of Tory.

  As they pulled down the ramp, Lily gave a startled whinny. Georgia approached her slowly and led her out, taking her to a stable where she filled up the water buckets and fluffed up the deep straw bed.

  “I’ve called the vet,” said Melanie, poking her head over the stable door a few minutes later. “He’s coming round to check her over in the next half an hour.”

  “Thank you,” Georgia said. “Please can I sit with her, just so she’s not frightened?”

  Melanie smiled. “Of course, but take care. Remember she’s nervous so she may do something unexpected.”

  “Sure,” Georgia said quietly. Wilson and Callie had come in for the night, so Lily wasn’t in the yard alone. They stood staring in fascination at the new arrival.

  Dan yawned. “You know, I think I’m going to get home now,” he said. “I need a hot bath.”

  “Of course,” said Georgia. “I can’t ever thank you enough, Dan.” She stood up and smiled at her new friend.

  “OK, well, see you tomorrow?” said Dan, looking a bit embarrassed. “Maybe I could stop in after I’ve seen to the cows?”

  “That’d be great,” Georgia said, grinning from ear to ear. “You saved Lily’s life. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see you.” She put her head down and murmured the rest into Lily’s mane. “And I’d love it too…”

  As she waved Dan off, a battered old Land Rover turned into the yard and a tall, wiry man got out. The vet had arrived.

  “Hi there,” he said as he unbolted the stable door. “So who do we have here?”

  “Lily. She’s very nervous,” Georgia explained.

  “She certainly is, isn’t she?” he said, running his hands down Lily’s legs and listening to her heart before finally taking her temperature. Lily trembled violently, but she didn’t resist. She obviously sensed that the vet’s intentions were good.

  “She’s fine, but you’ll need to keep an eye on her tonight after the shock she’s had today,” the vet advised. “I’ll come out tomorrow and check on her again.” He smiled at Georgia, who was still wrapped in the pony rug. “You look exhausted. If I were you I’d go to bed too. Have a warm bath and an early night.”

  Georgia started to protest but Melanie, who had appeared behind him, agreed. “Come on, Georgia. You must look after yourself. And your mum is desperate to see you.”

  “All right.” Georgia sighed. “As long as I can come back first thing in the morning.”

  “Of course you can,” said Melanie. “And in the meantime, we’ll take good care of her.”

  Georgia let out a deep breath as she submerged herself in the bath. Luckily, once her mother had heard all about the little pony and why Georgia had felt compelled to save her, she had understood. Although she was still concerned about Georgia’s schoolwork, she could not bear to hear about an animal being mistreated.

  Georgia had never been so grateful to have a hot bath. She must have lain in the hot water for at least an hour, revelling in being warm and clean again. She washed her hair and was just drying it, wrapped up in her fluffy dressing gown, when her mother called up the stairs, sounding anxious. “Georgia, Melanie’s on the phone.”

  Quickly Georgia bounded down the stairs and grabbed the receiver. After a few moments of listening she spoke firmly. “OK, I’ll be right there.”

  Her mum looked at her as she put down the phone. “Georgia, you are not going out again at this time of night! You need to go to bed.”

  “But it’s Lily!” Georgia wailed. “She’s sick! Melanie’s had to call the vet back! Oh, Mum, I have to see her!”

  After persuading her mum to let her go, Georgia pulled on some clothes and sprinted out of the cottage, grabbing her bike. Quickly, she cycled down the roads and up the lane until she arrived at the yard. There she found Melanie leading Lily round. Lily’s sides were slick with sweat.

  “She’s colicking, Georgia.” Melanie sounded worried. “I didn’t want to call you after the day you’ve had but I thought you’d want to know. The vet should be back any minute.”

  Georgia’s whole body felt cold. She knew that colic, although fairly common in horses, could be fatal in some cases. Not this, not after everything that Lily had already been through!

  “She must have swallowed some river water,” said Melanie. “Or perhaps it’s delayed shock. Carry on leading her round. I’m going to see where he is. Don’t let her roll, whatever you do.”

  Georgia took the lead rope that Melanie offered and continued to walk Lily round. The little pony’s tummy gave an ominous rumble. She was obviously in serious pain and kept trying to paw at her stomach. She looked at Georgia with enormous frightened eyes and began to sink to her knees.

  “No!” Georgia begged the palomino, pulling on her with all her strength. She was afraid that Lily was trying to roll, which was the most dangerous thing that a horse with colic coul
d do.

  “Please, Lily. Don’t give up!” Georgia sobbed, pushing against her shoulder and nudging her to continue around the yard. Just when she thought her legs were going to buckle, the vet appeared, running through the wrought-iron gates. Taking one look at Lily, he snapped open his briefcase and produced a syringe.

  “Keep her moving!” he instructed as he measured up a dose of painkillers.

  After quickly administering the drug, the vet grabbed the lead rope and took over from Georgia. Lily’s eyes were wild now, her ears pinned back with pain and fear. Georgia felt a sob rising in her throat, choking her. The vet was much stronger and managed to keep the little pony walking and, after what seemed like a lifetime, Lily started to calm.

  “I’m going to give her some charcoal to soak up whatever’s still lurking in her tummy,” he explained to Georgia as he listened to Lily’s stomach with his stethoscope. “I think she’s going to be OK. Luckily Melanie noticed in time before she could roll and twist her guts.”

  Relief flooded through Georgia.

  “She’s not completely out of the woods,” the vet warned, “but she’s a strong pony, and young and fit. Now, put her back in her stable and I’ll get going.”

  One long hour later, Lily was starting to show some signs of improvement. Georgia kept her warm with a wool rug. Although it was the middle of summer, the night still had a slight chill and Lily had been sweating heavily. Melanie raked over the floor as Georgia stroked Lily’s golden neck, gazing at her white eyelashes and tiny ears.

  “You’re so perfect,” she whispered, and the pony made a quiet nickering sound.

  “She’s been through a rough time, the poor girl,” said Melanie as she filled up Lily’s water bucket.

  “Let me stay with her tonight!” Georgia begged. “I can keep an eye on her!” She looked at Melanie pleadingly.

  Melanie hesitated. “I’m not sure about that, Georgia. We’d need to see what your mother thinks.”