Princess of the Sands: Trickstars 6

by Karen Wood

  When the horses stood with the water past their shoulders, the megaphone boomed out again. ‘Face the beach!’

  From the breakers, Lexie could hardly hear what was happening on the sand. But she could see Coalfire snorting and spooking at the waves. Loretta nudged him with her legs and held her reins forward so he could sniff at the water. But the gelding leapt away every time the water rushed towards him.

  ‘Here we go again,’ sighed one of the riders beside Lexie. ‘He doesn’t want to get his feet wet.’

  Lexie watched as Mr Barnes approached the horse. He cracked a long whip and it split the air with a sound louder than the crashing waves. The gelding reared up high and turned away from the man. Loretta clung on tight and seemed to be yelling at the trainer to stop.

  Lexie gasped. ‘What is he doing?’

  Mr Barnes cracked the whip again, but rather than go into the ocean, Coalfire spun on his hindquarters and bolted back up the beach with Loretta trying to stop him.

  ‘I can’t believe he did that,’ said Ruby. ‘He just totally spooked her horse.’

  ‘Grampy would never do that,’ said Kit, sounding just as shocked.

  The director yelled through the megaphone again. ‘Everybody out of the water.’

  There was a collective groan among the sea ghosts. They all rode back to the sand, dripping wet and shivering.

  Lexie had waited with the other riders on the beach for what seemed like hours, when she felt a rush of cold water over her foot. ‘Oh, Featherfoot!’ she scolded. He had knocked his water bucket over.

  Lexie handed her reins to Kit. ‘Can you hold Featherfoot for me while I find some fresh water?’

  She picked up the bucket and walked off through the soft sand, past crew members sitting around in deckchairs, their cameras resting unused on their tripods.

  In the car park, Lexie looked around for a tap but couldn’t see one. Eventually she asked a groom passing by.

  ‘Down behind the dressing rooms,’ said the man, pointing to the row of square white tents.

  Lexie carried her bucket towards the tents. She could hear voices coming from within. When she got to the end tent, she heard someone crying. The back window flap was rolled down and inside, Lexie caught a glimpse of Loretta Lusk. She was talking on a phone.

  Loretta’s golden hair fell over her face and her shoulders heaved as she talked. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong. He’s never done this before ... But the trainer is so cruel, I don’t want to ... Dad, please, no ... ’ Loretta started crying again.

  Lexie quickly looked away. This was a private conversation and she shouldn’t be listening. But as she turned to go, Loretta looked up and saw her. Lexie hurried to the tap a few metres away. The water blasted into the bucket and filled it quickly.

  As Lexie carried it back along the row of tents, Loretta opened the flap and stepped outside. ‘I suppose you heard that,’ she said. Lexie noticed that her nose was red and her eye make-up was smudged. She knew Loretta was twelve years old, but the actress looked younger in real life than she did on the television.

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,’ Lexie stammered. She didn’t know where to look. ‘I was just looking for some water for my horse.’

  ‘Please don’t tell the other people on set what you heard,’ Loretta said. ‘They’re already laughing at me.’

  ‘I’m sure they understand,’ Lexie said, as convincingly as she could. ‘Horses get frightened all the time. Coalfire will work it out. Maybe he just needs more practice.’

  ‘I don’t have time for more practice,’ said Loretta. She sounded worried. ‘The producer said I have to shoot this scene today. If Coalfire doesn’t go in the water, Mr Barnes will force him in and chain his feet together to get the shots they need.’ Loretta started crying again. ‘If I don’t let them, they’ll find a new actress.’

  ‘But you’re the star of the show,’ said Lexie. ‘They can’t do that!’

  ‘The producer said he would kill off my character and have a sister princess take over the role.’ Loretta sniffed. ‘One with a braver horse.’

  Lexie gasped. ‘That’s horrible.’

  ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with Coalfire,’ said Loretta. ‘Usually he’s fine around water. But nothing I do will make him go near it.’

  ‘Maybe something is hurting him,’ Lexie suggested. ‘When horses play up, sometimes they’re trying to tell us something.’

  ‘But what?’ said Loretta. ‘It’s only water.’

  ‘My sister is very good at listening to horses. She has a special ... ’ Lexie thought twice before telling Loretta about Kit’s magical bracelet. It worked with Kit’s natural compassion to help her sense the wellbeing of others. ‘My sister is very good at healing animals,’ she corrected herself. ‘Would you like her to look at Coalfire? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.’

  ‘The vet has already looked at him,’ said Loretta. ‘But I’m willing to try anything.’

  ‘I’ll be back soon,’ said Lexie. ‘Just let me water my horse!’ She shuffled off as quickly as she could, lugging the heavy bucket of water.

  While Featherfoot took a long guzzle, Lexie told Kit and Ruby what had just happened.

  ‘Of course I’ll look at him,’ said Kit. She sprang onto Kismet’s back and bounced into a canter up the beach, followed by Lexie and Ruby.

  Lexie introduced her sisters to Loretta. ‘And I’m Lexie,’ she said. ‘You’re my favourite actress and Horses of the Sands is my favourite show and ... ’ She heard herself gushing and stopped talking. ‘Sorry.’

  Loretta smiled. ‘Thank you, Lexie,’ she said. She led them to where Coalfire was tethered, and turned to Kit. ‘Do you know what might be wrong with him?’

  Kit adjusted her golden bracelet on her wrist and deep concentration crossed her face. She placed her hands on Coalfire’s shoulder and stroked him gently. The horse shifted about. He held his head high and the muscles on his neck tensed. ‘Easy, boy,’ said Kit quietly. ‘Something is annoying you.’

  ‘Is he in pain?’ asked Loretta.

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’ Kit looked confused. She ran her hand down Coalfire’s front leg. The horse lashed out suddenly with his foot and pinned his ears back.

  Loretta held him steady. ‘Easy, Coal,’ she said. ‘He’s not normally like this. Usually he’s so calm.’

  Kit nodded as she ran her hand down his leg again. This time she was extra gentle. Coalfire nodded his head up and down, rustling his mane over his shoulder.

  ‘He’s itchy,’ said Kit. She brushed the fur back on Coalfire’s leg. ‘See, his skin is all red under there. The sea water has given him a rash.’

  ‘He does have very sensitive skin,’ said Loretta. She turned to Coalfire and threw her arms around his neck. ‘My poor boy. I knew there was something wrong.’

  ‘I could make you a remedy for it, but I don’t have any herbs with me,’ said Kit. ‘I grow them all at home. I could bring you something tomorrow.’

  Loretta looked back at Lexie and Kit. ‘Really? Thank you so much.’

  Loretta took Kit’s hand in gratitude, and was suddenly transfixed by the gold bracelet. Her eyes roamed over the coloured stones embedded in it. ‘That is a beautiful piece of jewellery,’ she said to Kit.

  It was indeed an amazing bracelet. As well as the stones, it was adorned with a tiny key, a sapphire butterfly and ruby hearts. It also had a tiny swirly letter B engraved on it.

  ‘Oh, this thing?’ said Kit. Lexie could tell she was trying to deflect attention from it, as Grampy had always made them promise to do. ‘It’s just a cheapie that I bought with my pocket money.’ She pulled her sleeve down to hide it.

  Loretta smiled. ‘Well, I’ll go and tell the production manager about Coalfire. They’ll have to shoot a different scene today.’

  Lexie was pleased to have helped Loretta. And she was secretly relieved to have a bit more time before shooting.

  ‘We will have to wait until tomorrow,’ said Grampy, as they loaded
the horses back onto the truck.

  ‘I just want to have a shower and wash this sea gunk out of my hair,’ said Kit. ‘I’m all prickly.’

  ‘Make sure you hose the horses’ legs off when we get home,’ said Grampy. ‘Or they might get itchy too!’

  That night, Lexie, Kit and Ruby lay stretched out on the floor of their bedroom, reading through their grandmother’s diary. Levinia Trickett had died after a trick-riding accident many years ago, but she had left this stack of handwritten notes, all encased in a leather cover that closed with a little button and loop.

  Every time one of the girls turned a page, they heard the faint jingle of Levinia’s bracelets. Sometimes they even heard her voice as her spirit whispered words of encouragement.

  Levinia had poured her heart into the diary, as well as all her knowledge. She had been a whiz with healing herbs and potions, and recorded many helpful recipes. By the end of the night, the girls had cooked up a large pot of muck that resembled peanut butter but smelled like oatmeal and toothpaste.

  ‘I hope it works,’ said Kit as she looked at the mess in the kitchen.

  Before going to bed, Lexie carefully folded Grandma Levinia’s diary closed. A slip of paper fell out and she stooped to pick it up. It was a drawing of two riders doing a double death drag off the back of a galloping horse. Beneath it, Levinia’s handwriting said:

  Courage is about being scared

  but saddling up anyway.

  Lexie heard the familiar sounds of tinkling bells and rustling silk. She held the piece of paper to her chest for a moment. She had been so taken up with helping Loretta today that she hadn’t had to face her nerves yet. But now, as she lay awake thinking about tomorrow, she wondered what it would be like when the cameras finally got rolling.

  She fell into a restless sleep.

  Back at the beach the next morning, the girls watched as Kit smeared the soothing paste over Coalfire’s legs. ‘This should soothe his itch, and it will also form a barrier to protect his legs from the salty water,’ she said. ‘It has some special herbs in it to help his skin heal, too.’

  Coalfire lowered his muzzle and sniffed at Kit while she worked.

  ‘He seems to like it,’ said Loretta. ‘I hope it works quickly.’

  ‘It looks a bit messy,’ said Ruby.

  ‘I don’t care, as long as it makes him better,’ said Loretta. As she stroked Coalfire’s neck, her eyes wandered to Ruby’s necklace. ‘That’s lovely,’ she said, admiring the golden coins and etched symbols. ‘I must get the name of your jeweller.’

  ‘Looks like Kit’s finished,’ said Lexie, deliberately distracting her before Ruby could answer. Loretta didn’t need to know that it was an antique made by the famous Boswell goldsmiths in Europe, and one of only a handful of their pieces still in existence.

  ‘We’d better hurry and get to the set,’ Ruby smiled.

  The girls jumped onto their horses and rode down to the water’s edge. ‘Good luck,’ Lexie called back to Loretta.

  The star smiled and waved. ‘Thank you,’ she called back.

  They rode towards where the crew and stunt riders were gathering. The sea sparkled silver and cold, and the waves splashed on the sand. Seagulls glided in circles over the water. Featherfoot tossed his head playfully, and his long mane flapped in the wind. It was hard not to feel exhilarated.

  But the sea ghost riders were still unhappy.

  ‘This is the last time I’m doing this,’ said one of them. ‘If we have to wait around all day again, I’m walking off the set.’

  ‘Me too,’ said another one.

  There was a rumble of agreement.

  ‘Just give her one more chance,’ Lexie said. ‘Coalfire will be better today. I’m sure.’

  The wardrobe people came and dressed everyone again. It wasn’t as exciting the second time. Lexie took the grey costume and did her hair with sand and shells. She let a woman smear the greasy make-up over her face and someone draped seaweed over Featherfoot’s neck and back.

  When all the riders were ready, Lexie saw Loretta riding across the sand. She kicked Coalfire into a trot. The wind pulled at her hair and dress, making her look even more dramatic than yesterday.

  The crew were waiting with their cameras and boom microphones.

  ‘Yes,’ whispered Lexie. ‘She’s going to do it!’

  ‘All riders into the breakers,’ the director shouted.

  Lexie turned Featherfoot into the waves. ‘This is it,’ she said shakily to Ruby and Kit. ‘We’re going to be on telly!’ When Featherfoot was up to his chest in the waves, Lexie checked her hair. ‘Are my shells still in place?’

  ‘Yes, but I think my rusty tuna can is falling out,’ said Kit, adjusting the rubbish in her hair.

  On the shore, Loretta rode Coalfire into a canter. She drew her sword. Lexie held her breath as the magnificent horse approached the water.

  ‘Action!’ echoed the megaphone.

  There were gasps from the extras as Loretta and her horse neared the water’s edge. ‘Go, Loretta!’ whispered Lexie.

  ‘Go, Coalfire,’ whispered Kit beside her.

  ‘Uh-oh,’ said Ruby.

  Coalfire began to slow. Lexie could see Loretta urging him on, but the big black horse snorted and braced to a stop. He rolled his eyes at the waves. Loretta kicked his sides and pleaded with him. But no amount of coaxing would make him go near the water.

  ‘That’s it,’ said a voice beside Lexie. It was the girl on the brown horse. ‘I’m not waiting out here anymore. This is ridiculous.’ She rode back to the shore. All the sea ghost riders followed.

  A minute later, Lexie stood dripping on the beach with Kit and Ruby.

  ‘I think he’s just frightened,’ said Kit. ‘He doesn’t realise the water won’t sting him anymore. Horses are very sensitive creatures, even the big powerful ones. Once they’ve been hurt, some never forget.’

  Lexie touched the belt around her waist. ‘Maybe I could lend Loretta my buckle for the day,’ she said. ‘It might help Coalfire.’ Lexie’s special amulet brought extra courage to the wearer.

  Ruby and Kit looked horrified. ‘Grampy would have a fit,’ said Kit.

  ‘I don’t like the way she’s been staring at them,’ said Ruby. Her special necklace was now hidden under her leotard. ‘You know what can happen when people see them.’

  Grampy had been hesitant about giving the girls the amulets; something about them always seemed to inspire jealousy and greed. But it had been Grandma Levinia’s dying wish.

  ‘We can trust Loretta,’ said Lexie.

  Both Ruby and Kit shook their heads.

  ‘Okay, it was a bad idea,’ Lexie admitted. ‘But what else can we do? I feel so sorry for her. Her film career might be over.’

  They led their horses further up the beach and saw Mr Barnes talking to Loretta. He held a short length of chain in one hand. On each end was a thick leather cuff.

  ‘Hobbles,’ gasped Kit. ‘They’re going to force Coalfire into the water!’

  ‘Surely Grampy could help,’ said Lexie. Her grandfather could teach horses to do anything. But he never used force.

  ‘We have to go and find him,’ said Ruby.

  ‘We’d better hurry,’ said Kit, ‘before he drives back to the farm. He said he could only stay for a short while because he had to work today.’

  Lexie, Kit and Ruby sprinted through the car park, shouting and waving to Grampy just as he was driving towards the exit gate. To their enormous relief he slowed the truck to a stop. ‘What is it?’ he said through the open window.

  They hurriedly explained what was happening with Coalfire. ‘I soothed his itchy legs with some herbal mud,’ said Kit.

  ‘But he’s still frightened,’ said Lexie. ‘He doesn’t realise the sea water won’t hurt him anymore.’

  ‘We can’t interfere,’ said Grampy. ‘Every trainer has their own methods, whether you like them or not.’

  Ruby touched the necklace around her throat. For a moment he
r face went blank and Lexie sensed that she was having a vision. Moments later, her sister spoke. ‘His future is full of trauma,’ she said. ‘I saw it. Someone will be put in great danger.’

  Lexie felt Ruby take her hand. Kit took the other. When they came together like this, they thought with one mind. The three girls gave Grampy a determined stare. Grampy stared back, then gave a deep sigh. ‘Ja, ja,’ he said, putting the truck into reverse. ‘I will see what I can do.’

  Lexie could hardly breathe while she waited for Grampy to talk to the production crew. ‘If you give me two days to work with him, I think I can help,’ said Grampy to a small gathering of official-looking people. One was the director, Mr Johns.

  Mr Barnes, the head animal trainer, looked frustrated. ‘We’ve wasted enough time,’ he said. ‘Now let me do my job and get this horse performing properly.’ He still held the chain hobbles and the whip in his hands.

  Loretta stood next to Grampy, holding Coalfire. ‘Please, Mr Barnes. He needs to be shown that the sea water won’t sting anymore. Can we film a different part of the series while Mr Trickett works with Coalfire?’

  There was a tense silence.

  ‘I won’t let you be cruel to him,’ said Loretta. ‘I’d rather leave the show.’

  ‘You can work with him for two days,’ Mr Johns said to Grampy. ‘Two days. But if you can’t get him in line by then, we’ll have to think about using a different horse.’

  Lexie swallowed. A new horse would also mean a new rider. They would kill off Loretta’s character. Loretta seemed defiant now, but Lexie knew her new friend would be heartbroken to leave the show.

  Mr Barnes turned on his heel and walked away. Loretta put her arms around Coalfire’s neck. ‘I know you can do this,’ she said to her horse.

  ‘We should get started immediately,’ said Grampy. ‘Two days is not very much time. Analita has already gone home to pick up some toys.’

  ‘Toys?’ said Loretta.

  ‘Toys,’ said Grampy. ‘Coalfire needs to start enjoying his work. Learning should be fun.’