by Stacy Gregg
“Is he really dead?” Stella asked nervously.
Cameron bent down to examine the black cat. He looked back up at Stella and nodded. “I’m afraid so. It looks like one of the bullets went straight through his heart. It would have killed him instantly.” Cameron sighed. “It’s a terrible shame. I wish I’d had a choice, but when he began to attack Diablo and Aidan I knew I had to shoot…”
Issie looked at the Grimalkin. “He’s even bigger than I remember him, that night on the fence behind the stables…”
“He’s huge!” Stella agreed. “What sort of animal do you think he is?”
“He looks a bit like a black panther,” Ben said, leaning closer and giving the cat a nervous stroke to feel his soft black fur.
“Yes, I think that’s exactly right,” Cameron said. “Panthera Niger – that’s the Latin name for them. They’re a type of leopard really – see, underneath the black pigment if you look closely you can make out the spots or rosettes in the fur.” Cameron shook his head. “Remarkable! I’d always heard that rumour about one escaping into the hills from that wildlife park a few years back, but I never thought it was true – until now.”
“Why did he attack now? Stella asked.
Cameron looked over their heads at the pohutukawa trees.
“Panthers sleep in the trees during the day. He was probably taking a nap and we disturbed him.”
“Blaze was so brave fighting him off like that,” Stella said.
“Ohmygod, Blaze!” Issie looked over to where Avery was checking the mare’s wounds. “I’d better go and see if she’s OK.”
Avery gave Issie the thumbs up as she headed towards him. “It looks like really good news, Issie,” he called out. “A few superficial claw marks and puncture wounds where the cat clung on to her back, but not too bad considering.”
Issie gave her pony a hug, wincing a bit as the pain in her arm reminded her of her injured wrist. “Good girl, Blaze! That cat should have known not to mess with you!”
“You see, here,” Avery continued, “on her rump… there are a couple of deeper cuts that will need a few stitches. We’ll get a vet to come and check on her, but it’s nothing to worry about. Blaze is a fighter – she’s proven that many times now and she showed it again today. She’ll be fine.”
“Hey!” Aidan called out to them, “there’s still one space in the horse truck, Issie. Blaze is probably a bit too sore to walk all the way back to the manor. She can ride home with the Blackthorn Ponies.”
“What about the rest of the ponies?” Kate asked. “We still have ten wild horses trapped in here with us. What are we going to do with them?”
“I think we can help you with that,” Cameron said, looking grave as he unslung the gun that was strapped to his back.
“Cameron, please…” Issie began.
The ranger smiled at her. “Don’t worry. I don’t mean like that, Issie. The cull is cancelled. We have no plans to shoot any more animals today.” He turned to his men. “But since we’re all here now, I’m sure my rangers would be happy to give you a hand. Do you have a few spare halters in that truck of yours?”
Issie nodded.
“Tell Aidan to keep the truck parked there a little longer and we’ll help you to corral the rest of the horses and get halters on them. It’ll be easier to get them back to the manor if they’re all on lead reins.”
“Oh, Cameron, that would be amazing. Thank you!” Issie said.
“Let’s get a move on then,” Cameron said, “before those ponies in the truck get too restless.”
With the help of the rangers it didn’t take long at all to catch the stragglers. While the others put halters on the Blackthorn Ponies, Issie was busy loading Blaze into the horse truck.
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. I’ll take care of her, I promise,” Aidan said. Then he gave the riders a wave and revved the truck into gear, driving off up the Coast Road with the thirteen Blackthorn Ponies and Blaze onboard.
“Are you going to be OK to take it from here?” Cameron asked Issie as the riders prepared to head home.
“Uh-huh, I think so,” Issie said. “We’ve only got nine Blackthorn ponies left. And six of us. Which would be fine except I can’t lead a pony with my wrist in a sling like this. I guess the others are going to have to lead two ponies each.”
“I can manage two at once on Diablo,” said Avery.
“I think I can take two as well,” Kate said.
“So can we,” Dan and Ben offered.
“Then I bagsy leading that pretty strawberry roan one if I’m only leading one!” Stella said.
“Ohhh. I was going to choose her,” Kate sighed. “All right. I’m having that lovely dapple-grey and the silver roan.”
“I’m taking the chestnut with the white star and the buckskin,” Ben joined in.
“I’ll take the two bays,” Dan added.
Avery cocked an eyebrow at them. “I didn’t realise we were all picking our favourites. I thought we were herding ponies – not choosing chocolates from a box!”
The riders all laughed. Then they laughed even harder when Avery picked the last two skewbalds in the herd to lead home. “Their patches kind of match yours, don’t they, my lad?” he said to Diablo, giving him a slappy pat on his black and white neck.
As the riders tied the ponies’ lead ropes to their saddles and prepared to ride out, Cameron strode back over to them. “We’re all packed up ready to leave too,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder towards his men who were waiting in the jeeps. “I’ll call ahead to Hester on the car phone and let her know you’re on your way home.”
“Thanks, Cameron… for everything.” Issie smiled at him.
Cameron smiled back. “You’ve got some beautiful ponies here, Issie. You did a good job here today.”
He turned to Avery. “I hope you’ll find good homes for them.”
Avery nodded. “The ILPH are already talking to potential owners. We’ll get the ponies broken in and schooled up. They’re very clever and bold jumpers. The way those ponies jumped that tree the last time we were here, well, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them become eventing superstars one day.”
With nine wild horses to manage, the journey home to Blackthorn Manor was a slow ride. By the time the riders came down the long, leafy driveway they were all exhausted. Still, their spirits lifted when they saw the huge banner Hester had painted and strung over the balcony. It read: WELCOME HOME BLACKTHORN PONIES – SAFE AT LAST!
Hester was there waiting for them of course. She was joined on the lawn by a welcoming committee that included Aidan, Nanook, Taxi and Strudel, several of Hester’s neighbours and members of the Save the Blackthorn Ponies group, a reporter from the local Gisborne Gazette and a pretty blonde in jodhpurs with a photographer in tow.
The sight of the riders leading the wild ponies down the driveway caused an outbreak of spontaneous clapping from the crowd, and the photographer began to snap furiously like a red-carpet paparazzi trying to get the perfect shot.
“Isadora! Isadora!” the pretty blonde woman with the jodhpurs raced forward. “I’m Cinnamon Lane from PONY Magazine. Can I get an exclusive with you about the Blackthorn Ponies? How did you catch them? What will happen now?”
“Cinnamon, dear!” Hester beamed. “I’m sure my niece will be more than happy to give PONY Magazine the exclusive story. You’re welcome to stay and interview her over dinner. Right now let’s get these ponies into the field with the others, get these riders unsaddled and get the kettle on for a nice cup of hot tea. You must all be exhausted!”
It was the best homecoming the riders could have imagined. Down at the stables the riders went out to the paddock to let the new ponies loose and watched as they all happily greeted one another.
“A real family reunion at last!” Hester grinned.
“I can’t believe we really saved all of them,” Stella said as she leant over the rails to watch the ponies. “They’re all together again!”
�
��Not for long, though,” Kate added. “Tom and the ILPH are finding them new homes, remember – they’ll have to be split up eventually.”
“Well, at least a few of them will be staying together,” Hester said. “I’ve been talking to Tom. He’s agreed that Destiny and the two mares with their colts at foot will stay here at Blackthorn Manor with me.”
“Really?” Issie said. “Aunty Hess! That’s wonderful.”
“Well, I couldn’t let Avignon’s son and his grandchildren go off and live somewhere else now, could I?” Hester said. “Destiny belongs here at Blackthorn Manor and so do his children. Besides,” she added, “I think Tom is right. Those two colts may be future superstars. If they have Avignon’s bloodlines and that Blackthorn spirit then there will be no stopping them!”
Issie looked over at Destiny. The black stallion had been put in a separate paddock from the rest of the horses. He was high-stepping now in a swift trot along the fence-line, his head held high. He gave a shrill stallion’s call and ran at the fence where Issie was standing, heading straight for her and then swerving at the very last minute with a playful buck.
“Show off!” Issie yelled at him, making Stella and Kate laugh.
“I still can’t believe I actually rode him,” Issie said softly under her breath.
“I can, my dear.” Hester smiled at her. “You’re quite the horsewoman. But then, you’ve got good bloodlines too, you know. I wouldn’t expect anything less from my favourite niece.” And with that, Hester threw her arms around Issie, smothering her once more in a tight, Chanel-scented hug.
It turned out that Issie’s arm was badly sprained, but thankfully not broken.
“Thank goodness! Your mother would have killed me if I’d sent you home in a cast,” Hester said. “Still, I don’t suppose she’ll be any more pleased when you turn up wearing that bandage and a sling.”
Issie was hoping that the last few days at the farm would have been enough time for her arm to heal before she had to face her mother. But the doctor said she needed to keep wearing the sling for another week – and it was time to go home.
“The holidays are over and my leg is on the mend. I’ll be getting the cast off next week,” said Aunt Hester. “I’ve called your mother and she’s expecting you home tomorrow. Tom is going to borrow my horse float to take Blaze back with you too. You can leave as soon as she’s had her vet check in the morning.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be leaving,” Issie said. “I love it here so much. And I’ll miss you, Aunty Hess.”
“Well of course you will, darling! But you’ll come back again, won’t you? Blackthorn Manor is your home too now.”
Dinner that night was a celebration and a farewell. All the riders had helped in the kitchen so that Aunt Hester could have a night off cooking. “This is the best meal I’ve ever had at Blackthorn Manor!” Aidan said as he tucked into a perfect piece of roast beef and mashed potato.
That night, for the last time, Issie went to sleep staring at the painting of Avignon opposite her enormous four-poster bed. When she woke up the next morning Strudel was sniffing around her feet and the sun was streaming in through the windows.
Issie had already packed her bags the night before. Now, as she pulled on her jersey and jeans, she decided to say goodbye one last time to the manor menagerie before breakfast. In the kitchen she found a bag of carrots to take with her as a goodbye treat for Butch, Blossom and the rabbits, throwing in a few apples as well as a farewell gift for the ponies.
The early morning light was golden and warm as she walked across the lawn. The rest of the house was shrouded in sleep and the air was still. She stopped off to see Butch, feeding the greedy pig four big carrots, then walked on past the duck pond to Destiny’s paddock.
Issie was surprised when the stallion didn’t hesitate, but came straight up to the fence to greet her. As the horse poked his elegant neck over the rails of the fence to take a carrot Issie put out a hand to stroke his glossy, jet mane.
“We would never have saved the ponies without you, Destiny,” she said softly. Destiny gave a nicker as if he understood. Issie was about to say something else when a low, feline growl behind her made her jump.
“Meow!” Aidan grinned. “I can’t believe you’re still falling for that old trick, Issie!”
“Aidan!” Issie scowled at him. “I knew you weren’t the Grimalkin – you just startled me, that’s all.”
“Sorry,” Aidan said. Although he didn’t look sorry at all. He was still smiling as he came over to the fence, took a carrot out of Issie’s bag and fed it to a buckskin mare who had finally summoned up the courage to come close enough to the railing.
“Do you think they’ll be OK? The Blackthorn Ponies, I mean,” Issie said to Aidan.
“Yeah, I do. They’ll be just fine – thanks to you,” Aidan said.
“Me? No… I didn’t do anything…”
“Of course you did,” Aidan said. “You were amazing, Issie…” Aidan went quiet and looked at his feet. “Listen, I’ve been trying to tell you something since the first day you got here.” Aidan’s bright blue eyes were almost hidden beneath his black fringe as he looked up at her.
“What is it?” Issie asked.
“This,” Aidan said. And without another word he stepped forward and kissed her.
Issie felt her heart skip a beat as Aidan’s lips brushed against her own. Then she jumped back in shock. “You kissed me!” she said.
“I know!” Aidan said. “I was hoping that, well, that you wouldn’t mind.”
“I don’t… it’s just, well, I’m just kind of surprised…” Issie felt the butterflies in her tummy fluttering like crazy. Aidan had just kissed her!
“I didn’t mean to… I… I’d better go…” Aidan said, his face glowing with embarrassment.
“No! Don’t!” Issie yelled after him. But it was too late. Aidan was already racing off back across the lawn towards the manor. She was about to run after him when a voice from the stable doorway startled her.
“Isadora! There you are!” Tom Avery called to her. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. The vet has some very important news about Blaze. You’d better come in here immediately.”
The warmth of Aidan’s kiss disappeared as if someone had poured ice water all over her. Issie broke into a run and followed Avery back in through the stable door to the very last stall in the row where Blaze’s nameplate was now hung from the carved wooden horse head on the door. Inside the stall the vet was bending over the mare. He had a syringe of blood in his hand and a worried expression on his face.
“What’s wrong with Blaze. What is that for?” Issie asked, looking at the vial of blood that the vet was now putting into a plastic bag in his hold-all.
“This must be the mare’s owner, yes?” the vet said to Avery.
“Yes, Andrew, this is Isadora. You’d better tell her what you just told me.”
Issie felt the blood drain from her face. “Tom? What is it? What’s wrong with Blaze? What is all this about? I thought you said her wounds weren’t that bad. She just needed stitches…”
Issie was panicking now; she could feel her heart racing. She felt like she was going to be sick.
“Isadora, no! I’m sorry. I’ve gone and given you the wrong end of the stick here.” Avery smiled. “Blaze is just fine, but, well, you’d better explain Andrew…”
The vet stepped forward. “I came in to treat your mare this morning and when I was checking her wounds I noticed a few things about her that seemed odd. I’ve given her a thorough check-up, and I’m pretty sure that I’m right. I’ve taken blood tests which will confirm it once I’ve got them back to the lab but in the meantime you just need to make sure she’s well fed. Just treat her normally and she should be…”
“I’m sorry… you still haven’t told me… what is wrong with my horse?” Issie couldn’t stand it any longer. “What is the matter with Blaze?”
“Nothing’s wrong with her,” the vet said. �
�Your horse isn’t sick, Issie, she’s in foal.”
“In foal? You mean Blaze is going to have a baby?”
“It certainly looks likely,” the vet said, popping the last of his equipment into the hold-all and giving Blaze a pat. “Your mare is about to become a mummy.”
“Blaze!” Issie squealed, throwing her arms around the mare’s neck. “Ohmygod! That’s wonderful!”
The news that Blaze was in foal came as such a shock to Issie that the drive home to Chevalier Point was a total blur. She was so overcome, she didn’t know what to think. Blaze, her own special pony, was going to have a foal!
“Isn’t this the most exciting news you’ve ever heard in your whole life!” Stella squealed in the back seat of the Range Rover where the three girls were crammed in together.
“Can you still ride her?” Ben asked. He and Dan were sitting up the front with Avery for the ride home.
“The vet said it was fine – at least until her tummy gets really big,” Issie nodded.
“And Destiny is the father, right?” Kate said.
Issie shook her head. “The vet couldn’t tell me that for sure. He needs to check the blood tests first. I guess we’ll know in a day or two.”
“Ohmygod! Imagine how beautiful the foal is going to be!” Kate beamed. “What do you think she’ll have, Issie? A filly or a colt?”
“I hope it’s a girl,” Stella said. “A little baby Blaze running around. How cute would that be?”
For the whole trip they talked on and on about the foal, what it would look like and what they were going to name it. Issie was so excited, she almost forgot all the other events of the past few weeks: breaking in Destiny, making the Flying Angel leap from Mystic, saving the Blackthorn Ponies and her kiss with Aidan that morning…
It was late afternoon when the Range Rover pulled up at the pony club. Avery pulled the horse float to a stop underneath the magnolia trees in the first paddock and Stella jumped out to help Issie lower the tail flap.
“Here, you can’t do that with your sore wrist. I’ll help you put Blaze’s rug on while you get the feed sorted,” Stella told Issie.
