Palomino Pony On Parade

by Olivia Tuffin

  “Georgia?” he said, his voice full of a hundred questions.

  “No time,” Georgia said urgently. “I don’t know anything about sheep, but I think these two need some help.” She gestured to the weakening lambs lying quietly across the saddle.

  Mr Coleman nodded. “Ben,” he ordered his older son. “Get heat lamps and blankets, and make up some bottles.”

  Ben hurried off to the house as Mr Coleman gently lifted the weak lambs off the saddle and cradled them. “Where’s the mother?” he said, looking at Georgia. “We need to get them back together.”

  Georgia shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, hanging her head, and Mr Coleman understood straightaway.

  “I’ll go and collect her,” he said quietly. A farmer for his whole life, Mr Coleman could be tough at times but he adored his animals.

  With the rest of the flock safely back in their barn and Lily in the old goat stable, Ben set up the heat lamp in the smaller stable next to her. Lily hung her head over the low stone partition and watched with interest as Ben set to work rubbing the babies down with a blanket, trying to warm them up. Mr Coleman had managed to find an old stable rug buried under a pile of junk in the outside garage. It was a bit musty but Georgia was just grateful that Lily would be warm after her ride to the rescue in the snow. The little mare had once again shown how brave and willing she was, even after a long day at the mock hunt. Placing her arms around Lily’s neck, she silently willed the two orphan lambs to survive.

  “Dad? Ben?” A quad bike roared into the farmyard and Dan leapt off and ran into the stable, taking in the sight of Lily and Georgia, as well as Ben crouching down beside the two lambs.

  Ben placed a finger to his lips. “They’re OK, Dan,” he said as Mr Coleman joined them carrying two warm bottles of milk. “It’s all thanks to this very brave girl,” he said, winking at Georgia, who blushed.

  “W–what?” Dan shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  “Sit down,” Ben said, handing him one of the bottles. “Georgia will tell us everything, but we need to get these two fed.”

  As Georgia recounted the tale, from finding the barn open and the sheep missing, to discovering poor Hattie locked in, Dan listened quietly, cradling the smaller of the lambs as it eagerly suckled the bottle of milk. Georgia told him straightaway about the ewe’s death. She stumbled over the words, her voice catching as she described the friendly sheep falling to the ground. Dan lowered his head over the lamb lying in his arms. He didn’t say anything but Georgia could hear him quietly sniffing.

  Feeling desperately sorry for him, she placed her hand on Dan’s shoulder, offering silent comfort. Finally, after a long moment, Dan lifted his head, wiped his eyes and gave a rueful smile. “Suppose I should be tougher, as a farmer,” he said, his voice wavering. “But she was my favourite.”

  He was interrupted by his dad, who was resting his arms on the stable door. “Just gone to pick the old girl up,” he said gently. “Poor thing. Died of shock, I expect.” Then, turning to Georgia, he asked if she had caught sight of the men and the vehicle used. Georgia nodded, ready to give Mr Coleman an account of what she had seen, but Dan exploded.

  “You didn’t tell me this bit!” he said, sounding furious. “Georgia, you shouldn’t have gone after them! You put yourself in so much danger!”

  Georgia hung her head, scuffing her boots against the straw. “I know,” she mumbled, “but I just wanted to get the sheep back for you.” Looking up slowly, she saw that Dan’s eyes were warm.

  “It’s OK,” he said, gently this time. “I don’t know if you are an idiot, or brave, but … thank you.”

  “It was mostly Lily.” Georgia put her arms around the palomino’s neck. “And Hattie.”

  Mr Coleman smiled weakly. “That wonder pony of yours,” he said. “Saving the day again.”

  The lambs were now on their feet, looking stronger, their fleeces warm under the lamps and their tummies full of milk. Lily gazed down at them. She was a maternal mare, and Georgia wondered if she remembered giving birth to Secret in the very same stable. Satisfied that the sheep in the barn and the orphan lambs were doing well, Ben and Mr Coleman set off back to the house, leaving Dan and Georgia sitting next to each other in the straw.

  “Georgia, I—” Dan began, just as Georgia opened her mouth to say Dan’s name. They both laughed a little awkwardly.

  “You first,” Georgia smiled, but before Dan could answer, the mobile in his pocket rang, making him jump.

  “Hello?” he said, pressing the phone to his ear. “Oh … hi, Joss…”

  Georgia sank back on the straw as Dan continued his conversation. He was frowning. “Well, yes, they’re OK, no thanks to you,” he said before continuing. “No, I don’t think so.” There was a few moments’ pause as he listened to the conversation, before ending with a terse, “Bye.”

  Dan looked straight at Georgia. “You didn’t tell me Joss left you on your own to deal with the break-in?” he said, his voice stern.

  “Well…” Georgia tried to think of an answer. “She said she had a party to go to … and she was pretty tired…” Her words trailed off as Dan gazed at her. “Anyway,” she mumbled. “You should probably check she’s OK, seeing as she’s your girlfriend.”

  “Girlfriend?” There was a stunned silence, before Dan started laughing. “What on earth made you think that?” he said in amazement.

  “Oh come on, Dan,” Georgia said crossly. “It’s fairly obvious!” And before she could stop herself she told him that she knew he had told Joss that he only saw Georgia like a sister. Plus there had been all the time that Dan and Joss had spent together at Olympia.

  Dan shook his head, the laughter dying. “She said that? A sister?” He sounded angry, and Georgia nodded in reply, feeling embarrassed.

  “Georgia!” Dan continued. “Joss told me that you were hoping to get together with Will at the Pony Club party!”

  There was a moment of awkward silence as they both tried to absorb what they had been led to believe.

  Georgia spoke first. “But you did like her. You couldn’t make that up.” And it was Dan’s turn to look embarrassed.

  “I’ll admit it was flattering at first, and I was so pleased about being in the film,” he mumbled. “I just thought she was being friendly, but it started to get annoying. She’s not like you, Georgia.”

  “So the time she was here,” Georgia pressed, trying to ignore the last bit of Dan’s answer. “At the farm?”

  “I promise you,” Dan said seriously. “She just turned up and invited herself into the shop. Ben was there. He thought she was rude. And you were acting so off and distant with me…”

  Then Dan started laughing and, as mad as she was with Joss, she couldn’t help but join in. She felt mortified but relieved all at the same time. Dan wasn’t going out with Joss, and he did still like Georgia, maybe!

  “But she’s so pretty, and fun, and glamorous,” Georgia said miserably, pulling apart a piece of straw.

  Dan laughed, but his voice was warm as he spoke. “Maybe,” he said sincerely. “But no one else I know would have done what you did tonight, Georgia,” he said, drawing her in close.

  Dragging her eyes upwards, Georgia could only see warmth on Dan’s face.

  “Going after my sheep like that, bringing the lambs back here… It was mad, but brave and amazing. You’re brave and amazing.” Reaching up, he patted Lily’s muzzle as the little mare dozed with her head hanging over the partition. “You and Lily!” he chuckled. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Blushing, Georgia could only grin as Dan spoke. She couldn’t think of the words to reply, but luckily any awkwardness was diverted by the smaller of the two lambs bleating as she tried to right herself on her long legs. “I think they’re going to be OK,” Dan said happily. “I can never thank you enough.”

  Dan and Georgia smiled at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The lambs seemed calmer in the pres
ence of Lily, who whickered softly as they tottered underneath her muzzle. She couldn’t get in with them, but the partition between the stables was low enough for her to reach down and gently blow her sweet warm pony breath over the two tiny bodies.

  At that moment there was the muffled sound of wheels crunching up the farm drive and, peeking out, Georgia saw Melanie driving up in her 4×4. Emma and Will were sitting in the passenger seats, and as the vehicle came to a stop Sophie jumped out as well. Melanie was carrying an armful of rugs and, to Georgia’s huge relief, a clean dry fleece jacket and a bobble hat.

  “Georgia, I’m so sorry.” Melanie opened the door of the stable. “There’s no way we could get the lorry or the trailer off our yard.”

  Melanie explained that she had spoken to Mr Coleman, who had agreed that Lily could stay the night and Georgia could ride back in the daylight next morning, over the fields.

  “A Christmas Day ride.” Georgia smiled. “Perfect!”

  News of the attempted theft had travelled fast. With Georgia’s description, the police had stopped a suspicious-looking farm vehicle, heading slowly out of Redgrove on the roads Dan’s dad and Ben had cleared, and arrested the two men. Georgia was pleased she had been able to help, but hoped the little collie was safe; it wasn’t its fault that it was owned by criminals.

  The Pony Club party at the manor house that was to follow the mock hunt had had to be cancelled due to the sudden snowfall but everyone was in a celebratory mood anyway, so Mr Coleman invited the group into the kitchen of the farm bungalow for a Christmas toast. Even Mrs Black was able to join them, chauffeured up to the farm by a cheerful Ben in the old farm Land Rover.

  With her mum listening, Georgia decided to skim over some parts of the sheep rescue when describing her adventure; she didn’t want to worry her. Looking back, she realised she had been a little reckless going after the sheep all by herself, but she had only been doing it for the sake of the animals, and for Dan. Whether or not they were just friends, or something more, Georgia would always go to his rescue if it was needed. Thinking of the sheep, she decided to go and check on the lambs and Lily as the impromptu Christmas party was in full swing.

  Putting Sophie’s bobble hat on over her ears, she stepped out into the freezing night. The snow was crunchy underfoot but the sky was illuminated by a thousand stars and there was no need for a torch as the moon lit up the yard. Switching on the light in the stable, she crouched down next to Lily, who was curled up on the straw bed. The lambs, tucked around one another, were asleep under the heat lamp and twitched slightly, their eyes closed. The stable was completely quiet.

  Lily blinked as the light was turned on but stayed down even as Georgia sat beside her, placing her arms around her neck. There was something quite magical about sitting in a stable with her beloved pony on Christmas Eve.

  Giving a low rumbly whicker, Lily looked up as Dan quietly approached, letting himself in and sitting next to Georgia in the straw. They sat in contented silence for a while, as Lily closed her eyes and lay her head in Georgia’s lap, the distant sounds of carols from the village church carrying over on the cold night air.

  “What a month!” Dan smiled, breaking the silence. “Actually, scrap that – what a year!”

  “I know,” Georgia said, gently rearranging the little palomino’s thick cream forelock. “I don’t know how Lily will be able to top what she’s achieved this year.” She felt a little awkward all of a sudden.

  Dan grinned. “We’ll think of something,” he laughed. “And whatever you do, you know I’ll be here for you both.” Leaning forward, Dan’s lips gently grazed Georgia’s as he gave her the sweetest, softest kiss. “Merry Christmas, Georgia Black.”

  Georgia felt a tingle run down her spine. Life couldn’t get more perfect than this!

  A few days into the new year, and with the new school term looming, Georgia was in a reflective mood. What did the future hold for her and Lily? She thought back to her time at Josephine Smalley’s yard, and remembered Josephine suggesting Lily should try her hand at dressage. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. It would be a new area for them to try. Georgia was still thinking this over as she rode back into Redgrove Farm on a loose rein after a brisk hack in the bright but chilly sunshine.

  Tying Lily up outside her stable, quickly untacking her and putting her rug back on, her eyes were drawn to a pink sparkly parcel propped up against the stable door, and addressed to her. Curiously she tore the paper off, and to her surprise found the most beautiful framed headshot of Lily in her crystal bridle on the film set.

  Turning it over, she found it had been signed by the entire cast, with an invitation to go to the premiere of the film. There was a scrawled note accompanying it from Joss.

  “Dear Georgia,” it read. “Thank you so much for saving me when Topper bolted on Christmas Eve. He’s at Hyde Park now and I’m having regular lessons to try and build the same relationship you and Lily have. I know it might take a while!

  Love, Joss

  P.S. Say hi to Dan. He really likes you, you know.”

  A bemused smile crept on to Georgia’s face. She had a strong feeling that Joss would have forgotten all about Dan in a few weeks. She was the kind of girl so used to having her own way – choosing Lily, buying Topper, but she hadn’t got Dan!

  Laughing out loud, Georgia gave her little mare a hug. What a Christmas it had been – one she would never forget. Lily had proved her champion status, but, most importantly, now the film had finished and Olympia was over, things were back to normal. Georgia didn’t know what the next year would hold for her and Lily, but she knew one thing – she could achieve anything with the palomino pony by her side and Lily’s golden ears firmly pricked towards the future.

  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 Lara, as always – O.T.

  THE PALOMINO PONY ON PARADE

  First published in the UK in 2015 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow’s Nest, 10a Lant Street

  London, SE1 1QR, UK

  This ebook edition first published 2015

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and / or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text © Olivia Tuffin, 2015

  Cover photography © Rebecca Lupton, 2015

  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 557 0

  www.nosycrow.com

  Ten years before

  The child toddled down to the bottom of the garden and gazed at the grassy hill rising up on the other side of the gate. She looked through the bars and giggled. Black-winged figures flew over the top of the hill, outlined against the setting sun. They swooped and hovered as if they were dancing in the air. Spellbound, the little girl pulled at the latch and the gate creaked open.

  A woman in a red dress ran down the path and scooped her up. “What are you doing out here, baby?”

  The girl flapped her arms. “Fly, Mummy!”

  The winged
figures swooped even faster. A bright flash shot through the peaceful air and one of them crumpled before spiralling to the ground.

  The woman ran inside, carrying the child with her, and locked the door. She set her daughter down gently and peered round the edge of the curtain, her face pale.

  The little girl tugged at the hem of her mother’s skirt. Fine hair curled in wisps round her face. “Fly, Mummy?” she asked.

  “Maybe one day, Laney.” Her mother hugged her. “One day when we’re far away from here.”

  Laney opened her water bottle and took several big gulps. The water was warm and tasted sour like lemon juice. She lowered the bottle. For a second it looked as if the water was boiling, with big, fat bubbles rolling up to the surface. Then it was still.

  Laney blinked. That was weird.

  “Running round the track should be banned on the last day of term.” Steph picked up her sports bag and stuffed her clothes into it. “Typical Miss Roderick, queen of PE torture.”

  Laney grinned and pushed back the fair hair that curled in wisps round her face. “Maybe they put that in her job description: Must own a disgusting red tracksuit and enjoy making people suffer!”

  “They got exactly what they wanted then,” said Steph.

  The changing-room door banged as some of the other girls left.

  Still thirsty, Laney decided to try another tiny swig of water to see how it tasted. As she tipped up the bottle, she caught a shadowy movement from the corner of her eye. The bottle was knocked out of her hand. Water splattered over her face and dripped down her clothes on to the changing-room floor.

  “Oh, Laney!” said Jessie with mock sweetness. “Did I bump into you? I’m so sorry!”

  Laney glared. “What did you do that for?” She should have known it would be Jessie, and the gleam in the other girl’s eyes showed exactly how sorry she was.

  “It was just an accident.” Jessie shook back her dark curls and flounced out of the changing room.