The Palomino Pony Rides Out

by Olivia Tuffin

  Sophie kept listening closely as she stroked Lily’s golden neck. “Listen,” she said once Georgia had stopped speaking, “we all go through these stages. I believe in you. Mum believes in you, or she’d never let you ride Wilson. And just think of the future you and Lily are going to have.” She smiled warmly. “Next time that I’m home for a few days, why don’t I give you some lessons, just you and me?” She paused, thoughtful. “Sometimes Georgia, you have to let go of any worries and just ride. I’m sure the problem is that you’re over-thinking things.”

  Georgia grinned at her friend gratefully. “You could be right. And thanks, Sophie. That would be amazing!”

  “And in the meantime, I think it’s time you had a change of scene, don’t you?” said Sophie. “Come on. Let’s go and tell Mum to plan that trip to Wales.”

  Melanie tried and failed to look cross as the girls bounced noisily back into the kitchen, talking at the tops of their voices.

  “When are you going to take Georgia to Wales, Mum?” Sophie asked.

  Her mother smiled. “What about next weekend? Georgia – what do you say?”

  Georgia nodded gratefully. Sophie was right. A break was exactly what she needed.

  True to her word, the following Sunday Melanie drove the four-by-four up the motorway towards the Severn bridge with Georgia in the front seat. Georgia remembered her last journey up to Wales in the school coach, before she had the chance encounter with Lily on the mountainside.

  “What have you got there?” Melanie asked her.

  “Photos,” said Georgia, clutching a handful of photographs ready to show Eric Williams, Lily’s breeder.

  Melanie smiled. “That’s nice,” she said.

  Lily had been Eric’s star pony before he’d retired. He’d expected great things from her, but that was before his granddaughter, Jemma, had got hold of her and ruined her by treating her cruelly. It would be lovely to show him how Lily was getting on – and share her secret with him. Lily held a special place in Eric’s heart.

  Finally, after driving over miles of twisty mountain roads, they reached Eric’s small cottage on the side of a hill just outside a small mining village. Georgia was pleased to be getting away from Redgrove, but she hadn’t been that keen to leave Dan. Now that the agent had put in an official bid to Dan’s dad, it looked more likely than ever that he would have to sell the farm.

  Eric was leaning on his stick in the doorway as the car pulled up to the cottage, a yellow Labrador by his feet. Any fears Georgia had about coming to Wales vanished when he gave her the widest smile she had ever seen. Georgia remembered how much Lily had adored her former owner.

  “Come in, come in.” Eric beckoned them into the cottage where the warmth was welcome relief from the October chill. The small, cosy kitchen was covered in old photos of ponies in the show ring, rosettes and sashes, most of them bearing the words “supreme champion”. Georgia was immediately drawn to a photo that took pride of place on the sideboard, a gorgeous palomino mare and a tiny champagne-coloured foal. Georgia knew straight away it was Lily, whose coat had darkened slightly with age. The huge eyes and the small neat head gave her away even at such a young age. “Magical,” she breathed.

  After two cups of tea and a lot of catching up, Georgia produced her own photos of Lily. One was from before they knew she was in foal and showed Georgia astride her in the long meadow band, and another showed her rugged up in her stable with Callie next to her.

  “So she’s pregnant, you say?” Eric gazed and gazed at the photos in silence before balling his thumbs into the corner of his eyes. When he could finally speak, his voice was thick with emotion. “She really was my favourite,” he whispered. “I’m so glad she’s with you.”

  “We love her,” Georgia said simply.

  They smiled at each other – an understanding passing between them, young and old.

  Melanie cleared her throat. “Is everything OK here, Mr Williams? I mean, with your family.”

  Eric gave a rueful smile. “Well, after all the unfortunate goings-on with Lily, Jemma did a month in a young offenders’ institution,” he said sadly. “Her mother’s still running the stud, but once word got out, you know –” His voice tailed off and he gazed at the photos on his lap again, no doubt thinking back to the glory days of Carlamu, when he was a strong young man.

  Suddenly, with a speed that defied his age, he was on his feet, his dog barking in excitement. “Anyway,” he cried, clapping his hands together. “My girl’s in foal! There’s only one stallion around here and he’s a real champ. I think you’ll be pleased. Do you have walking boots?”

  Tripping and stumbling over the rough grass, Melanie and Georgia followed Eric and his dog as he limped ahead with his stick. Finally they reached the top paddocks surrounding Carlamu, the beautiful cobbled yard a jewel in the valley below them. Eric leaned on his stick and gave a long low whistle.

  Georgia held her breath as the sound carried over the fields, causing all of the ponies to lift their heads in unison and prick their ears. Then a muscular red roan whinnied and pawed the ground before thundering towards them, and Georgia knew in an instant it was him.

  “Easy boy, easy, easy,” Eric crooned as the roan slid to a stop next to him, whickering gently and snuffling at his hands.

  “Carlamu Rowan,” Eric said proudly, rubbing his hand down the pony’s face.

  “Wow…” Melanie and Georgia spoke in unison.

  Rowan was confirmation-perfect, so handsome and strong but with the kindest eyes. “This is your stallion,” Eric continued as Rowan stood quietly next to him. “I bred Rowan eight years ago, from another line to Lily,” he explained. “With Lily’s heritage and Rowan as the sire, your foal can’t be anything but a champion!”

  As Melanie and Georgia climbed into the four-by-four to leave, Georgia turned to Eric. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for letting us come, but more importantly, thank you for letting us keep her.”

  Eric smiled. “She’s special, that girl.” He leaned against his stick. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Still, I can sense things aren’t right for you at the moment. Are there troubles at home?”

  Georgia nodded, taken aback that he could be so perceptive. She hadn’t mentioned anything about Dan or her falling out with Emma.

  “Well, mark my words,” Eric continued. “Everything will come good. Lily came into your life for a reason. She’ll bring the answers, you’ll see.”

  “Do you really think so?” asked Georgia.

  “Think so?” said Eric. “I know so. Goodbye Georgia. Melanie.” He smiled and closed the door, tapping the roof of the car as they drove off, leaving Georgia completely speechless.

  The next few weeks passed in a blur. Sophie was as good as her word, and on a break from university, she had taken time to coach Georgia patiently in the bottom field.

  “You can do it, G,” she said, encouragingly, as Georgia trotted round in a perfect circle on Wilson. “You just have to forget about everything else when you ride.”

  It was true, Georgia knew. As she and Wilson flew around the Working Hunter course they’d set up in the growing dusk, riding felt better than it had for ages.

  She’d been able to carry this confidence to the team practices and now, here she was, the morning of the Autumn Championships with the Team Challenge ahead of her. Georgia groaned as she rolled over and turned off her alarm clock. She opened one bleary eye. 4.30 a.m. It was so early! But she had to get up to make sure everything was ready.

  Georgia pulled the duvet back over her head just for a moment. It was raining again, and her window rattled as the wind whistled in and out of the small gap in the frame. It sounded most uninviting!

  When Georgia eventually emerged downstairs, her mum was up as well, already dressed in jeans and a jumper, feeding Pip a bit of toast at the kitchen table and nursing a coffee. Her mum had desperately wanted to come along and support her, but an important client had asked for a meeting to discuss a new commission
and he was only in the vicinity for one day. Mrs Black had wanted to postpone the meeting but Georgia had convinced her not to. She knew she had her mum’s unwaivering support and they couldn’t afford to miss out on potential customers for her mother’s paintings.

  “All right, sweetheart?” Mrs Black said, glancing in concern at her daughter, who was looking smaller and paler than ever. Georgia nodded, her stomach flipping over with nerves.

  They drove the short distance to Redgrove Farm in silence, Georgia feeling sicker and sicker. To her astonished delight, Dan was waiting for her outside Lily’s stable.

  “Dan!” she gasped, once her mum had given her a final good-luck hug and she’d jumped out of the car.

  “Hey, Georgia.” He managed a weak smile.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him. “Not that I’m not pleased to see you, of course!”

  “I wanted to come and support you, of course,” said Dan.

  Georgia was so touched, she couldn’t speak. Instead, she threw her arms around him in gratitude. He clung to her for just a few seconds, and Georgia felt him trembling.

  “Delta Developments are taking over the farm tomorrow,” he whispered into her shoulder.

  “Tomorrow!” Georgia gasped. She pulled back and looked into his face. She knew that it had been on the cards but she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

  “Yes,” Dan nodded. “Dad’s fighting to the bitter end but there’s really nothing he can do now.”

  There was a pause. Georgia didn’t say anything but gave Dan another long hug.

  “Now then,” he said eventually, drawing back and giving Georgia the full benefit of his smile. “Haven’t you got a championship to win?”

  As Melanie loaded Wilson into the lorry, Georgia heard a little whicker coming from the stable that Callie and Lily shared. The two horses were watching the preparation for the show with interest. Georgia stroked Lily’s nose. There was something different about her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  “Mel?” she called anxiously.

  Melanie came over and looked at the little palomino mare. Her tummy had certainly got a lot larger in the last couple of weeks, and her udder had also started to enlarge, but according to the vet’s calculations, she wasn’t due for at least two weeks.

  Patting Lily, Melanie let herself into the stable and took a closer look. “She’s fine, Georgia. She looks nice and relaxed. I’d say she was still a way off.”

  “But Simon will keep an eye on her today, won’t he?” Georgia was twiddling her fingers anxiously. She hated to leave her pony, even if it was for an important competition.

  Melanie smiled. “Of course,” she said, nodding in the direction of her husband, who they could see through the kitchen window frying bacon and eggs and chatting to the terriers at the same time. “She’s in good hands. Although I think we’d better leave Callie and Lily in the stable today. What do you reckon?”

  Georgia looked at the sky. The earlier storm was passing, but the morning was still pitch black. It was going to be a wet, stormy day, of that she was sure. She nodded, giving Lily a final hug. “I think that’s a really good idea!”

  It was a long journey to the championships. Dan fell asleep almost immediately but Georgia was too nervous, sitting bolt upright. Her phone bleeped and she pulled it out. It was from Sophie.

  Remember what I told you the text read. We all believe in you – Lily most of all! Ride for her and like nothing else matters.

  Georgia felt a little warm feeling in the pit of her stomach and her confidence grew, just a little. One thing was for sure. She was going to do her very best.

  The Show Pony Autumn Championships were being held at a prestigious venue that was often used for international dressage competitions. Flags from countries all over the world lined the long drive, which was accessed by electric gates. A security guard sitting in a booth buzzed them in as they arrived, smiling through the open window.

  “Good luck today!” he called.

  Dan and Melanie grinned and thanked him. Georgia just nodded mutely. She had the distinct feeling that if she opened her mouth she might be sick!

  Harry’s box was already in the lorry park ahead of them. Lexie’s, the familiar DD logo on the side, was next to it. The area was quickly filling up with huge horse boxes, trailers and shiny four-by-fours. Friends and family of the competitors milled around under golf umbrellas, drinking coffee from paper cups and chatting excitedly. As they parked up next to Harry, Georgia was amused to see him leap out from the cab, green to the gills and pressing his hand to his mouth. So he did get nervous after all!

  The Fishers’ trailer soon pulled in and Lottie, as smiley as ever, gave Georgia a wave and a “I’m-so-nervous” grimace, which just made Georgia feel even more terrified. Now the team had all arrived, although she hadn’t actually laid eyes on Lexie yet.

  So where was she?

  Settling Wilson into his day stable, Georgia was just lugging his hay net from the box when she collided with a panicky figure running in the opposite direction. It was Emma, her face pale and her hair a tangled mess.

  “Emma?” cried Georgia. “Whatever’s the matter?”

  Emma was panting hard. “It’s Lexie!” she gasped, and leaned against the side of the box to steady herself. “She’s disappeared!”

  “Disappeared? What on earth do you mean?” Melanie guided Emma into the living area of the horsebox. “Sit down,” she ordered, as Dan poured her a tea from the thermos mug and Georgia gave her a blanket to put round her shoulders. “And then you can tell us everything.”

  Emma accepted it gratefully. Her clothes were dripping wet and she looked freezing cold.

  “Well…” She took a deep breath. “We got here really early. I helped Lexie stable River and she said she was just going to get a drink, but that was over half an hour ago. No one has seen her since!”

  “Who are you with today?” Melanie asked, getting things straight in her mind.

  “Just Jason,” Emma said. “Lexie’s stepdad isn’t here. He’s got some business to attend to or something. Lexie told him she doesn’t want to ride any more, but Joe won’t accept it and has been pushing and pushing her and now she’s just had enough! Georgia, I’m really scared she’s done something stupid!”

  Georgia reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.

  “Don’t be silly.” Melanie was on her feet now, thinking fast. “She’s frightened of jumping, that’s all. It’s been coming for a while.”

  “What do you mean?” said Emma.

  “You must have noticed how terrified she looked at practices,” Melanie replied. “It was blindingly obvious.”

  So I was right, Georgia thought to herself. Why didn’t I just say something?

  “Does she have a mobile?” Melanie continued.

  “Yes,” Emma said, fishing her own phone from her pocket. “I’ve tried to ring her at least twenty times – it just goes straight to answerphone.”

  Dan suddenly spoke up. “What about the team?”

  Melanie looked grim. “We need four riders – we can’t compete without the fourth. We’ll be eliminated.” She looked sadly at Georgia. “And you guys have worked so hard.”

  “She was like this when she was younger,” Emma said, typing furiously into her phone as she spoke. “When her mum and dad split up. She used to just take off back then too!”

  When they went to find Janey and the rest of the team in the temporary stable area, Georgia noticed that River looked skittish and unsettled in comparison to Wilson, who was munching on his hay net, and Hector, who was snoring on the floor, oblivious.

  Melanie had quickly filled everyone in on the situation and Janey was now deep in discussion with a bowler-hatted steward. Harry paced up and down angrily, waiting for the verdict, and Lottie sat slumped on a hay bale, clearly devastated. Emma perched herself next to Georgia and immediately began trying her phone again, her face pale with worry.

  Although Georgia fe
lt absolutely crushed at the prospect of going home without competing, at the moment she was more concerned about Emma, who seemed to be somehow blaming herself.

  “You just have to be a four, madam.” The steward’s voice broke into her thoughts. “It’s the rules and there is nothing I can do about it.”

  “Well, that’s it, then.” Harry immediately started to toss things into a trunk that stood outside Hector’s stable. “It’s all over.”

  Lottie started sobbing quietly and Georgia’s heart sank.

  Suddenly, Emma leaped up from the hay bale. “It’s Lexie!” she cried. “She’s texted back!”

  “And what does she have to say for herself?” Janey asked impatiently, turning away from the steward.

  “Um, she says she’s sorry and that she’s back in the lorry now, getting changed.” Emma scrolled down the message, gazing intently at the screen. “She says she’ll meet you all in the ring!”

  Georgia’s heart leapt and Harry let out a whoop.

  “Right,” said Janey, beaming, “there’s no time to lose. Let’s get tacked up and warmed up.”

  As everyone starting rushing around, Georgia noticed Jason come into the stable block with River’s bridle and saddle. He declined Emma’s offer of help and she stood for a moment looking uncomfortable and out of place. As Georgia buckled up Wilson’s girth, she tried to catch her friend’s eye.

  Emma didn’t look at her directly but mumbled, “I’ll just go and see Lexie,” and hurried off in the direction of the trailer.

  Georgia shook her head. Something wasn’t quite adding up with all this but there was no time to think about it now. Promising herself that she would talk to Emma properly at the first opportunity, she turned her mind to the competition.