“So, let’s get this straight,” said Dan’s dad. “Lexie’s father owns Delta Developments and at the same time as take over the farm, they were also trying to discredit us?”
“Exactly,” replied Georgia. “After you said you weren’t interest in selling, they had to find a way to force your hand.”
“Apparently Joe only intended to hold on to the land for a matter of days before he sold it on,” Emma explained.
“It’s a lot to take in.” Mr Coleman sighed heavily as he brought the teapot over to the kitchen table. “The trouble is, the bank’s never going to let me keep the farm now. I still have to sell, otherwise we have no means of paying all the bills.”
“Not so.” A face appeared around the kitchen door.
“Dad!” Emma jumped up.
“Hi, darling,” he grinned, putting his briefcase on the table. He was dressed smartly in a pinstriped suit and a red tie and looked as though he meant business. “I’ve been looking into the company’s dealings,” he said, launching straight into an explanation for Mr Coleman. “As you heard, Lexie came to see me yesterday. She got a taxi all the way to our house when she was supposed to be jumping. It didn’t take me long to verify what she told me.” He looked a little crestfallen for a second. ‘I’m very disappointed that someone who has been a long-term business associate and friend of mine could operate so dishonestly, but he has. I’ve got the proof and, with your permission, Mr Coleman, I should be able to help you out of this sticky situation.”
Dan’s father was about to speak when there was a commotion out in the yard. A black saloon had pulled up, scattering the chickens and sending Hattie into a frenzy of barking. It was the agents. Quickly, Emma’s dad tapped a number into his mobile and, excusing himself, went into the hallway and started talking in hushed tones.
The two visitors knocked on the kitchen door, and without waiting for it to be opened, brazenly let themselves in.
Extending a hand towards Dan’s father, one of the men spoke. “So, Mr Coleman, I hope you’re ready to sign the papers?”
Dan’s father declined the handshake and shook his head. Calmly he got to his feet and in a level but firm voice said, “Gentleman, I would like to show you the door. There will be no deal today.” The agents both looked indignant and one opened his mouth to object. Mr Coleman waved him away as Emma’s dad re-entered the room. “Or if you’re intent on staying, perhaps you might be interested in what my friend here has to say.” He gestured towards Emma’s dad who had removed a small black file from his briefcase.
For the first time, Georgia saw the arrogant looks on the agents’ faces turn to ones of uncertainty.
Emma’s father smiled a cool, hard smile. “I think the police might be interested in the contents of this, don’t you?” he said, opening the file. “False rumours started to keep buyers away, a break-in, oh, and not to mention the current financial situation of the company and your deal with the supermarket.”
Speechless, and looking increasingly awkward, the two men started to back away towards the kitchen door, gathering up their briefcases as they went.
“Please don’t hurry, gentlemen,” Mr Clark added, as a police car drove slowly up the drive, blocking in the black saloon’s exit. “I think someone wants a word with you…”
“High five, Dad!” Emma whooped once the police had escorted the agents off the premises with the promise that Delta Development’s dealings were going to be fully investigated, and Mr Coleman wasn’t going to lose the farm.
Lexie and Sophie had come up to the farmhouse together just in time to hear the good news, and Dan and Ben were hugging everyone. There was a real celebratory mood in the kitchen and only Lexie remained quiet, huddled in the corner with her arms around Hattie. Georgia went to sit down beside her.
“What you did was really brave, you know,” she said gently.
“Not brave,” Lexie shook her head. “Just the right thing. I don’t know how Mum’s going to take it, that’s all,” she said. “She’s used to the high life and there’s no doubt about it – it’s going to be downhill from now on.”
“It will all work out,” Georgia said, hugging her. “Things always do when you do the right thing.”
Lexie bit her bottom lip and buried her face in Hattie’s fur. “All I really care about is being able to keep River, but I think I’m going to lose him as well…”
As with most villages, it didn’t take long for the news to spread like wildfire – not only about the saving of the farm but of the dramatic rescue of Lily and her unborn foal too. By mid-morning a few curious customers were pulling up the drive to the Colemans’ Farm to take a look and see the miracle foal and Lily. Ben was soon opening up the shop and dishing out hot soup. Melanie and Simon were among the visitors, coming over to check on Lily and her foal as well as Callie and Wilson.
“Sorry we weren’t here a bit earlier,” Melanie said, looking Lily over. “The water didn’t reach the house, thank goodness, and it’s subsided now, but the yard’s in a bit of a mess.” She smiled, looking tired.
Simon reached a hand out to the little colt. “But at least we got all the horses out just in time and we’re fully insured.”
“That’s good news,” Georgia said. Then she spontaneously hugged Melanie. “I’m so happy for Lily! We watched her nearly all night. She’s the best mum in the world!”
Simon beamed.
“She couldn’t ask for someone better to look after her than you, Georgia,” Melanie told her, tousling her hair.
Georgia blushed with pleasure as Dan came over to join them.
“If your dad’s OK with it, Dan, we’ll move her back in a few days when the foal’s a little stronger,” Simon said.
“I’m sure that will be just fine.” Dan grinned. “Lily’s welcome here and there are lots of people eager to meet her!”
At that moment a small girl tugged on Georgia’s arm and gazed up at her. “Are you Lily’s owner?” she asked, grinning a gappy grin.
“Sort of!” Georgia laughed.
“Then please can I have your autograph?”
The girl’s mum smiled. “As soon as she heard about the foal being born in the floods she wanted to come straight over here,” she explained.
“See!” Dan said laughing loudly. “Lily’s going to bring the business back!”
“She’s the best,” Georgia smiled. “The very best…”
After that the days flew by in a whirl. There must have been at least a hundred people who came to the farm to see Lily and her foal. Ben and Dan were in their element serving all of their returning customers. The farm shop had never been busier – especially as the news spread about the failed takeover. There were still bills to be paid, of course, but the bank had given them an extension on a loan and it looked like things were going to work out.
One evening, when all the ponies had been moved back to Redgrove and Lily had settled her foal into his new home, Georgia slipped into the stable to see how they were getting on. She placed her arms around the little palomino and Lily whickered with pleasure. Even the foal nuzzled her, before skipping around excitedly once more.
Dan, who had come to visit, had just turned Wilson and Callie out into the small paddock next to the yard. Neither of the ponies strayed far from the fence, their eyes never leaving Lily’s stable door as they kept an eye on their friend.
“Hey, clever girl,” Georgia whispered and Lily sighed in contentment.
Just then, Dan leaned in over the stable door and chuckled as the foal nudged his hand, wiggling his fluffy tail. “He really is perfect,” he said.
Georgia smiled, sitting down on the straw next to Lily as Dan let himself in and settled down beside her.
“I still can’t believe we get to stay at the farm,” he said, shaking his head.
“I know.” Georgia grinned. “It’s amazing.”
“Does this one have a name yet?” Dan stroked the foal’s nose as the little pony curiously sniffed the welly boots Dan was wear
ing, before skipping back to the safety of Lily who nudged him gently.
“His name is Secret,” Georgia said proudly. “I thought it was appropriate, somehow, with everything that’s gone on. I told Eric that was what he was called when I sent him those photos, and he thinks it’s a great name.”
“It is a great name,” Dan agreed and together they sat, watching Lily and the newly christened Secret until the sun set once again on Redgrove Farm, and another day.
“I hope she’s going to be OK,” Georgia said, talking about Lexie as she and Emma hacked down the country lane the following weekend. The Haydens had cleared up the yard and, despite there still being some flood damage to sort out, true to her word, Melanie had organised a loan pony for Emma to ride – it was a cob gelding that needed exercising regularly.
Lexie hadn’t appeared at school on the Monday following the flood weekend or for the rest of that week. Nor had Emma been able to get hold of her.
“So do I,” said Emma. “She’ll contact me when she can.”
Word had spread that Joe was facing a hefty fine for failing to stop the actions of the board, possibly even a jail sentence, and that his company was facing financial ruin. A “For Sale” sign hung outside the gated entrance to Seven Birches, and the yard looked deserted and empty.
“It’s good news about the Colemans’ farm,” commented Emma.
“It sure is,” replied Georgia.
The local newspaper had been full of the story all week, and this time Dan had been proud to see the headline on the stand in the little newsagents. Mr Coleman had never had so many letters or cards, all full of support for his farm business.
As Emma and Georgia headed up to Redgrove Farm together, the ponies’ hooves kicked through the piles of fallen leaves that carpeted the drive up to the yard.
They turned the corner to find a surprise there ahead of them. Sitting on the stonewall, a familiar figure gave them a little wave. There was a small horsebox parked in the drive with the words “EB Horse Transport” emblazoned on the side, and a woman with blonde hair sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Lexie?” Emma gasped and rushed forward to hug her old friend.
Lexie was wearing jeans and an old hoody and looked like a normal teenager rather than someone on their way to the Horse of the Year Show as she normally did.
“Hey,” she said, smiling at them both. “I’ve come to say goodbye.” She gestured at the horsebox and her mum, before opening the side door.
An appaloosa pony, bandaged up and wearing a dark green rug, surveyed them calmly, munching on a hay net.
“River!” Georgia gasped. “You’re keeping him!”
“Yes, I am,” Lexie said proudly. “Once Mum found out about Joe and his debts, that was it. It’s been over for a long time between them, actually. Once Mum and I had a really good talk about everything she decided to take over ownership of River. But we’ve lost everything else.” Her eyes clouded over. “Herbie’s been sold and the others, but Janey helped us find really good homes for them.” She traced her shoe around in the dust. “Joe wasn’t all bad, you know,” she said. “Deep down he was a good person but things spiralled out of control and he always wanted more. I hope he’s going to be OK.”
There was a moment’s silence between the three girls and then Emma broke it by asking, “Where are you going now?” She had noticed the suitcases piled up in the living compartment of the horsebox.
“Back to Yorkshire,” Lexie said. “Staying with Mum’s parents in their cottage till we find our feet. River’s staying at a DIY livery yard that sounds really nice. I can practise my natural horsemanship and I don’t ever have to jump again.” Lexie smiled a small sad smile before hugging them both tightly. “Keep in touch, won’t you?” she said, as she climbed into the horsebox next to her mum, who gave them a little wave as she started the engine.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Emma mused later as they tidied the yard for the evening, sweeping the last few shavings off the cobbles. She leaned on her broom and gazed at the ponies in their stables – Wilson in his hood, Callie with a fluffy winter coat, and Lily and her foal both wearing navy rugs. They were peacefully finishing up their suppers and had full hay nets waiting. Secret was suckling from his mother, his eyes closed. He had already grown loads! “I mean, how someone can have so much, but so little really…”
Georgia nodded, understanding immediately and remembering her own thoughts about Lexie on the night that Secret had been born.
She gave her best friend a hug. It was so brilliant to have Emma back on the yard regularly and to be able to share everything with her again.
At that moment, Dan came strolling through the gates, a huge grin on his face. He was always in an extremely good mood these days.
As it was a Friday night they were going to go to the cinema together and then for pizza afterwards, and Georgia couldn’t wait to spend some time with her two best friends.
“Come on, Georgia!” Emma said, stowing the yard brush. “Your mum will be here in a minute to give us a lift.”
“I’ll meet you out front in a sec,” Georgia said. “I just want to say good night to Lily and Secret.”
“No change there then,” Emma laughed, pretending to roll her eyes. “Race you to the gate, Dan!”
And the two of them were off, their laughter filling the air.
Georgia let herself into Lily’s stable and hugged her pony. Secret bounded over and nudged her hand playfully. Georgia could hardly believe he could stay upright on his skinny little legs but he seemed so full of energy!
The palomino snuffled her gently, breathing sweet, warm pony breath into her hair.
“Thank you, Lily, for everything,” she whispered. “Eric was right. You did come into my life for a reason … a very special reason… And like he said, no matter what happens, however bad it seems, somehow, you always help me find my way through.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Nosy Crow would like to thank Katy Marriott Payne for letting her lovely Palomino pony star on the covers of this series.
Copyright
With special thanks to Michelle Misra
For my Lara, such a special summer – O.T.
THE PALOMINO PONY RIDES OUT
First published in the UK in 2014 by Nosy Crow Ltd
The Crow’s Nest, 10a Lant Street
London, SE1 1QR, UK
This ebook edition first published 2014
Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and / or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd
Text © Olivia Tuffin, 2014
Cover photography © Rebecca Lupton, 2014
The rights of Olivia Tuffin and Rebecca Lupton to be identified as the author and photographer of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author's imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblence to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978 0 85763 366 8
www.nosycrow.com
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The Palomino Pony Rides Out Page 9
