The Palomino Pony Comes Home

by Olivia Tuffin

  “Look,” the boy continued, his voice growing more impatient as he coiled the heavy rope in his hands. “I suggest you just get out of our way before we have to make you.”

  Lily was still behind Georgia, and as the boys stepped forward, she reared. The boys, who were clearly not horsemen, retreated nervously.

  “Get out of my way,” the older of the two boys growled at Georgia, suddenly lunging at her. She screamed as his rough hands grabbed her arm. Pulling backward she took a handful of a now-terrified Lily’s mane, kicking out with both feet.

  Before he could react, Georgia had swung herself on to Lily’s back. Closing both legs tightly around her sides, she entwined her hands in the white mane. “Go!” she yelled.

  The palomino leapt forward into a half-rear before galloping straight between the two boys, forcing them to jump sideways to avoid her flying hooves.

  Girl and pony thundered across the length of the paddock, a flash of gold as Georgia gripped on for dear life. Wilson and Callie were following in a cloud of dust, their manes and tails streaming behind them.

  As Georgia reached the fence that divided the paddock from the meadows beyond, she whirled Lily round to face the boys. They were running now, their faces red with anger, as they shouted instructions to a third boy who had suddenly appeared and was approaching from the other side of the field. To Georgia’s horror, he was twirling a lunge whip in his hands and what looked like a piece of hessian, which he clearly intended to use to blindfold Lily!

  Looking frantically around, Georgia spotted a cattle trailer parked in the lane and for the first time ever she wished that the Haydens lived a little closer to a main road. There was no way anyone in the village would be able to hear the commotion.

  Where was everyone? Georgia hoped that Emma had found Dan and prayed that they weren’t in any danger.

  Just then, as Georgia wheeled Lily round to face the yard, she heard a muffled scream. It was Emma! Georgia could just make out that it had come from the tack room and through the gloom she could see a tall, dark-haired girl pressing against the door and fumbling with the padlock.

  Tory! What on earth was she doing here?

  But there wasn’t time to think about that now. One of the boys was trying to herd Wilson and Callie back into the yard so that they could close in on her and Lily. They were trapped.

  “Are you going to hand her over? Or are we going to have to pull you off?” the younger boy asked again.

  In one last desperate attempt, Georgia turned Lily again and squeezed hard on her sides, aiming her at the post and rail fence. The palomino burst into a canter and quickly covered the ground. Then, for one moment, Lily hesitated, but before Georgia had time to think about how high the fence was, the little pony had tucked her hooves into her chest and soared over, clearing it as gracefully as a bird.

  Laughing with delight despite her terror, Georgia and Lily galloped through the meadow, the long grasses brushing Georgia’s feet as they raced and raced. They were safe! They just needed to reach the footpath and they’d have a clear run round to the front of the house.

  All of a sudden, headlights dazzled Georgia and a four-by-four descended fast upon them. Lily veered sharply to the right and Georgia fell hard to the ground. She was aware of shouting and of Lily’s frightened whinny, and then the faint wail of sirens. After that, everything went black, and she sank into darkness…

  Georgia felt as if she was swimming in treacle. Everything was thick and heavy and it was hard to move. She could see the sky above her and she knew she was lying on the ground, but she didn’t have the energy to get up. Her whole body felt like lead and pain was flooding through her left arm. She was swathed in darkness but there was light ahead, and what was that? Was it Dan’s voice? Suddenly everything was so bright, it hurt her eyes, piercing her senses. Dan was shouting now, his voice was loud and he sounded upset.

  “Georgia! Georgia! I’m here.”

  “What?” Georgia’s voice was groggy.

  “Don’t move her!” said another voice, an older voice that Georgia didn’t recognise.

  “Georgia, you’re awake!” Dan was gripping her hand now. “It’s OK, the ambulance is here! It’s going to be OK!”

  Ambulance? A jolt ran through Georgia but she was too weak to move. “Lily!” she gasped, her lips cracked and dry.

  “Lily’s fine,” Dan said firmly. “Sophie has her. She and Melanie got home early. I’ll explain when you’re OK!”

  Georgia felt herself being loaded on to a stretcher at this point, but even in her dazed state, relief flooded her body.

  Two hours later, Georgia was sitting up in hospital. Miraculously, her head was fine, even though the doctors had suspected concussion. She had an angry purple bruise across her cheek and her wrist was broken. The room was full of people – her mother, gripping on to her good hand, Dan, Emma, Melanie and Sophie.

  “You did it, Georgia!” said Emma. “You scared them off!”

  Georgia’s mother laid a hand on her daughter’s arm. “Slowly, Em,” she breathed. “Tell her slowly.”

  Emma nodded and then carefully fitted together the puzzle of the night’s events. First of all, Melanie and Sophie, made suspicious by Tory’s behaviour and concerned for everyone’s welfare as Simon was away, had headed home early. En route to Redgrove Farm, they had received a frantic call from Tory’s mum who had overheard her daughter discussing the night’s plans with her new boyfriend.

  Sophie, who had long suspected that Tory was dating one of the boys that Jemma hung round with, called the police.

  Then, when Emma had gone to find Dan, Tory had managed to lock both of them up in the tack room.

  “Those boys fled at the sight of the police cars. And me and Em were very pleased when the police let us out!” said Dan, smiling at Georgia.

  “It sounds like a TV drama!” she managed to joke, now that she knew everyone was safe.

  “A drama that ended well, thankfully,” Georgia’s mum said, her eyes full of concern. “Things could have turned out terribly. I had no idea that you were going to be there without Simon otherwise I’d never have agreed to let you camp. I shall pay a lot more attention to things from now on…” She trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Mum,” Georgia croaked, squeezing her mum’s hand. “You’ve been so busy, I haven’t wanted to bother you.”

  “Well, it’s all turned out for the best,” Lucy Black smiled weakly. “And if you hadn’t been there, Jemma would have been halfway back to Wales now, with Lily.”

  Jemma! thought Georgia in panic.

  “It’s OK, Georgia,” Dan said quickly, as if reading her mind. “The police caught Jemma heading to the railway station! She thought she could hide there and catch the first train back to Wales.”

  Georgia felt a wave of relief wash over her. The police had Jemma! There was no way now that she would be able to take Lily!

  Melanie, who had waited patiently while everyone said their piece, spoke for the first time. “I’m going down to the police station tomorrow with the letter I have from Jemma’s grandfather and Lily’s documents. It’ll prove she belongs to me and Jemma won’t be able to bother us again. They take this kind of theft very seriously, especially as those boys threatened you.”

  Georgia shuddered, remembering how they had closed in on her and Lily, and the palomino’s brave leap for freedom.

  “You know, Lily didn’t leave your side after you fell,” Melanie added gently. “She must really love you.”

  Georgia’s mother gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “Melanie and I have been planning something.” She smiled. “We were going to wait, but now is as good a time as any.” She turned to Melanie. “Why don’t you tell her?”

  “Tell me what?” Georgia looked from one woman to the other, totally confused.

  “I’d like you to have Lily on loan,” said Melanie. “She can stay at the yard but essentially she’s yours.”

  “Really?” Georgia blink
ed, unbelieving. This was beyond her wildest dreams.

  “Yes, really,” said Melanie. “You are so dedicated to that pony. You deserve it and it’s all been decided. You can earn her keep by helping with the ponies.”

  “And my paintings are selling OK now,” said Georgia’s mum. “So we can afford her feed and shoes.”

  Georgia didn’t know what to say. Her own pony – on loan! “Thank you so much! That is the best news I’ve had in my whole life!” Georgia attempted to sit up to hug Melanie, but she felt too weak.

  Melanie patted her hand. “You two have formed such a special bond,” she said. “She still needs to regain her full confidence, but I think that you can help her do that and eventually she’ll make a top-class show pony. So what do you think?”

  Georgia could barely speak; her throat felt lumpy, and tears pricked her eyes. “It’s the best,” she whispered. Then she turned to her mum. “And thank you so much too. I promise I won’t let you down – with my schoolwork, I mean.”

  Georgia’s mum smiled and squeezed her hand, her eyes full of tears too. “I’ll hold you to that, young lady. And maybe actually having your own pony will help with that – you’ll have to be focused and responsible; no more daydreaming! Now, I think you should get some rest, darling,” she said, getting to her feet. “I think Dan has one last thing to say to you though.” She turned to Dan. “Don’t stay too long, will you? She’s very tired.”

  “I won’t, Mrs Black.” Dan nodded as Georgia’s mother, Melanie, Emma and Sophie filed out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.

  Georgia swallowed hard. Her palms were sticky. She didn’t know why, but suddenly she felt a swirly feeling in the pit of her stomach as Dan turned towards her.

  “You did amazing, Georgia Black, you know that?” he said as the door closed.

  Georgia smiled weakly.

  “And I’ve got something I wanted to ask you,” he said in a soft, low voice.

  Georgia looked puzzled.

  “The midsummer dance is next week,” he said, looking embarrassed. “I wondered … well … if you’re better and all that. Well, would you, maybe, would you go with me?”

  There was a moment’s silence before Georgia nodded shyly.

  “I take it that’s a yes then?” Dan said.

  “Yes,” said Georgia. “Definitely!”

  It was a couple of days before Georgia was allowed to leave hospital, her wrist plastered in bright pink, the doctor’s advice ringing in her ears. Georgia’s mother picked her up with a delighted Pip sitting on the front seat of the car, thrilled to see her again.

  “Can I go to the yard, Mum?” Georgia asked as soon she got in.

  “Somehow I thought you might say that!” Lucy laughed. “I’m guessing that there’s a certain pony you’d like to visit?”

  Georgia hugged her mum, who turned the key in the ignition and swung the car out of the hospital car park. Soon they were driving slowly through the familiar lanes, flanked by thick green hedges laden with early blackberries.

  As the car drove up the drive to Redgrove, Georgia could already see all the ponies. Lily was in her field, Callie was dozing beside her and Wilson was in the yard being groomed by Sophie, who smiled and waved as she got out of the car.

  Georgia waved back, hurrying towards the paddock, desperate to see the little palomino. As soon as Lily caught sight of her, she whickered a greeting and trotted over to the fence.

  Carefully, so as not to hurt her plastered wrist, Georgia let herself in through the gate and slung her good arm around the palomino’s golden neck, closing her eyes and breathing in the little pony’s heavenly scent. Lily was safe and, even better, she was hers! She might be just on loan but that was good enough for Georgia. She couldn’t stop herself grinning from ear to ear.

  Just then, Melanie came out of the house, the terriers yapping noisily at her heels. “She’s looking really good considering what she’s been through, isn’t she?” She nodded in Lily’s direction as she strolled over.

  “She really is,” Georgia agreed enthusiastically.

  Sophie was still brushing out Wilson’s tail as they walked back to the yard. She looked a bit sheepish and upset. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am,” she said quietly.

  “Why?” Georgia asked in surprise. “What for? It wasn’t your fault!”

  Sophie smiled sadly. “No, but Tory is – sorry, was – my friend. I should have realised what she was really like. She kept rushing off to meet this new boyfriend, and I was so mad at her, I just never listened to what she was actually saying. And all those questions she asked – I didn’t realise she was using me to get inside info about Lily. I think she just wanted to impress that boy – he’s older than her and stuff – and get in with the cool crowd who hang out at all the shows. Who are far cooler than me, apparently. Anyway, it backfired – she’s in loads of trouble now. I think her mother is going to ground her for life.” The words came out in a rush.

  “Tory has never been very nice to me,” said Georgia, “but she’s not totally bad either.”

  “I know,” Sophie said. “But I’m going to try and pick my friends a bit more carefully from now on.”

  Georgia gave Sophie a big hug. She had always looked up to Sophie and thought she was pretty cool – popular and amazing at riding – but Georgia would hate to have been betrayed by someone she thought cared about her. She felt very lucky to have two such loyal best friends in Emma and Dan.

  “Hey, you and Lily can come showing when your arm’s better!” Sophie said brightly, changing the subject. “I think I’m going to concentrate on ponies for a while now – they are so much more reliable than people!”

  Georgia laughed. “I’d love to start showing Lily, but I think there’s a lot of work to do before we’re at your standard. Still, you never know – one day!”

  That day turned into one of the happiest of the whole of Georgia’s summer holiday. She hung out with Sophie all day, watching her jump Wilson, and although she couldn’t actually ride Lily because of her broken wrist, she put a lead rein on the palomino and had fun trotting her over a course of poles that they’d laid out in the paddock. Lily had such a lovely movement – bold and free, her tail held high and her hooves not even grazing one of the poles as she floated over them.

  Georgia sighed. Life was pretty perfect.

  As she led the little mare back into the yard for a rubdown, Em came rushing down the lane.

  “You’re not going to believe it, Georgia May!” she burbled. “Matt’s just invited me to the midsummer dance!”

  Georgia felt her heart lurch. The midsummer dance. It was this weekend!

  “Matt?” Georgia puzzled. She couldn’t think of anyone in their year with that name.

  “You know, Matt Harris,” she grinned. “From the year above.”

  Georgia smiled and raised her eyebrows.

  “He’s so cool, Georgia!” Emma gushed, her pretty face glowing. “I just don’t know what to wear!”

  Georgia just couldn’t get as excited as her friend over clothes. She hated dressing up and her hair hadn’t been cut for ages. Still, in a strange sort of way, she was looking forward to the dance. She listened to Emma’s plans for dresses and hair styles, and tried to be as enthusiastic as possible.

  On the evening of the midsummer dance, Georgia found herself sitting anxiously in the kitchen, trying to calm her nerves. Her mum had helped her get ready and she was waiting for Dan, who was due to come round at seven. Nervously, she played with a lock of hair.

  “Georgia!” her mother chided. “Careful! It took me ages to do!”

  “Sorry, Mum!” Georgia laughed. She had to admit her mother had done a great job of blow-drying it long and straight, before curling the ends. The summer sun had lightened it into a pale wheat blonde, and she had arranged a silver clip at the side that shimmered under the kitchen lights. Georgia actually felt pretty good, even if she was far happier in her T-shirt and jodhs.

  Her mother had taken h
er shopping that morning to pick out a new dress, insisting she should choose whatever she wanted. Together they had decided on a light-pink dress that floated just above Georgia’s knees, teaming it with a soft silver shawl. Finally she had chosen a pair of silver wedges, which she was admiring now, that set off her tanned feet and coral nail polish. The only blemish was the plaster on her wrist, but Mum had even decorated that with stick-on silver stars.

  “Dan won’t recognise you!” her mother said, smiling. “He’s the luckiest boy in the school!”

  “Mum!” Georgia exclaimed as the doorbell rang. “We’re just friends!”

  Dan – apparently feeling as awkward as Georgia, but looking good in his dinner jacket and bow tie – was waiting on the doorstep. Georgia smiled shyly at him.

  “You look really nice, Georgia!” he said, breaking into a grin.

  “Thanks, so do you,” Georgia whispered back.

  Mrs Black dropped them off at the dance, which was being held in the school grounds. There was a marquee decorated with gold balloons and fairy lights, a flashing dance floor and, to Georgia’s delight, a chocolate fountain and a delicious-looking buffet!

  Emma came rushing up the minute she saw them, with her date in tow. She was grinning from ear to ear. “Isn’t this the coolest, Georgia!” she said excitedly.

  “I guess,” said Georgia.

  Emma looked lovely in a bright-yellow dress. She waved her white beaded bag about enthusiastically. “Come on! We have to dance!” she exclaimed.

  She whirled Georgia off to the dance floor with Matt and Dan following behind. The whole school was there, it seemed, and Georgia was immediately surrounded by her friends, all curious to know why her wrist was in plaster. Then she became caught up in the music – she’d never realised dancing could be so much fun before!

  Finally, when she couldn’t dance any longer, she collapsed on the lawn outside with Dan and they shared a plate of canapés. The evening was warm, and the night sky enveloped Georgia as softly as the silver shawl slung loosely around her shoulders. After giggling for a while at the sight of their teachers hitting the dance floor, Dan turned to Georgia.