And he sighed and said, “I should by now, shouldn’t I? But I still like you, that’s what’s so funny.”
Phantom walked into the trailer after me, but Killarney stopped and started to shake in every limb.
“Oh no!” cried Angus. “He’s never going to box again.”
“He thinks he’s going to the abattoir again, poor old fellow,” replied Mr Barnes, fetching a bucket of oats from the trailer.
We lifted his hooves one by one on to the ramp. We talked to him. We pushed him from behind. We coaxed and wheedled, until only Mr Barnes was steady on his legs and the rest of us were shaking with exhaustion.
“Mother’s put some sandwiches and a flask of coffee in the Land Rover. Go and eat. Leave him to me,” said Mr Barnes.
We ate in silence, too tired for words.
“We’ve won. You do realise that, don’t you?” asked Angus after a time. “Geoff Craig will never sell horses to an abattoir again.”
I nodded. We could hear Killarney’s hooves walking into the trailer and Mr Barnes talking in a soothing voice, praising him. The coffee revived us.
“Well done, Dad,” said Dominic.
Mr Barnes started the engine. He smelled of tobacco. The day seemed to have lasted a thousand years.
“Go to sleep,” said Mr Barnes. “There’s nothing to worry about now.”
It was warm in the Land Rover. The heater was on, and the next thing I knew was that we were home. Dad let down the ramp. Mum said, “There’s supper waiting.”
Phantom backed out, looked round and gave a sigh of pure contentment. The orchard looked beautiful beyond words in the moonlight which had appeared while we slept.
“We don’t know how to thank you, Mr Barnes,” began Dad.
“I don’t need any thanks,” he said.
Dominic leaned on the yard gate. “Perhaps we’ll see more of you now, Jean,” he suggested.
“Without a doubt,” I answered.
Phantom was rolling, his legs silver in the moonlight, while Killarney looked at the orchard as though seeing it for the first time.
“I’m fetching them feeds,” said Angus.
“Hang on, there are some carrots inside,” cried Mum, running to the cottage.
“I’m going to pay for the petrol, at least,” announced Dad.
“Don’t be silly,” replied Mr Barnes, getting into the Land Rover and slamming the door.
“I’ll see you, then,” said Dominic.
“Thank you for everything,” I answered. “You saved us and our horses. We owe everything to you.” It sounded more dramatic than I meant, because suddenly I felt overwhelmed by the events of the day. “We would be dead if you hadn’t helped,” I added.
“Don’t be daft,” answered Dominic, walking towards the Land Rover.
“Our horses would be, anyway,” I replied. “And you can’t deny that!”
Angus returned with two buckets of feed in his hands. “I think they are better out, don’t you?” he asked.
I looked at the sky. It was still dark and velvety, without a cloud to be seen.
“Yes. They’ve been shut in long enough,” I answered.
We went across the orchard together. Our horses lifted their heads and whinnied, their ordeal over. Phantom pushed me with his head and sighed again before plunging his nose into the bucket.
They are home, I thought. And horses need homes, too.
Mum was calling, “Supper!” We could see the lights of the Barneses’ Land Rover bumping along the lane to the farm.
“You can’t sell Killarney, not ever,” I said.
“Only lend or give,” answered Angus. “And you know to whom …”
Dad stood in the doorway calling, “Will you come in at once.”
And then it was like any other evening. Our nightmare was over. We were home, tired but triumphant. I stopped to listen to Phantom munching before I went inside, and it was one of the most wonderful sounds I had ever heard, better than all the music in the world. All I wanted was to sleep and to wake up in the morning and know that our horses were still here, and that Phantom would live here until he died.
But I knew it would not be that easy – nothing ever is …
MORE PHANTOM HORSE ADVENTURES
We hope you enjoyed this Phantom Horse ebook. You can discover more of Jean and Angus’s exciting adventures with Phantom, their beloved palomino horse, by following the link below.
View the catalogue and buy Phantom Horse ebooks online.
1. Phantom Horse
I gazed in wonder at the view. Suddenly I saw something moving below us. It was a horse, riderless and alone. He moved beautifully and with tremendous grace. It was a wild palomino.
After Jean’s family moves to America, her life is soon changed forever when she encounters the wild horse, Phantom.
2. Phantom Horse Comes Home
“I’m not going to leave without Phantom! I refuse to leave!”
When Jean learns that her family is soon to move back to England, all she can think about is Phantom, the wild palomino horse she has tamed. Will she have to leave him behind?
3. Phantom Horse Disappears
“You’re fools! Why couldn’t you leave things as they were? Why did you come here?”
When Jean and Angus discover the terrible secret of Aunt Mary’s house, they are caught up in a dangerous plot to kidnap their beloved horse, Phantom.
4. Phantom Horse in Danger
I imagined Phantom twisting, kicking, rearing, ropes round his quarters, a blindfold over his eyes. The thought sent tears running down my cheeks like rain.
When their horses are in mortal danger, Jean and Angus hatch a desperate plan to save them. Will they be in time?
5. Phantom Horse – Island Mystery
The idyllic island where Jean takes Phantom with her on holiday hides a dangerous mystery. Why have most of the inhabitants left, and why are horses being secretly flown to the island?
When Jean is plunged into another perilous adventure, can Phantom save her?
6. Phantom Horse Wait for Me
“Jean, darling, there’s no point locking yourself in your room. It won’t bring Phantom back …”
When Phantom goes missing, little does Jean suspect that her horse is the bait in a plot to capture her. In a race for their lives, will they escape in time?
COMING SOON
The Pullein-Thompson Treasury of Horse and Pony Stories
by Josephine, Christine and Diana Pullein-Thompson
(Available February 2012)
A bumper collection of 38 stories by the world's best-known horse storytellers. Packed with exciting adventures on horseback, and illustrated throughout.
Phantom Horse 4: Phantom Horse in Danger Page 10
