by Wood, Karen
The police horse truck was parked across the field. Ruby could hear a horse carrying on in the back. She held her breath.
Shadrak Hexley appeared in the park. Next to him walked Silvanus, leading Chance.
‘What’s happening?’ said Kit, excitedly.
‘I don’t know,’ said Lexie.
Chance started whinnying. From inside the truck a horse whinnied in reply.
Grampy dashed back to the truck window. ‘Destiny is here! That officer was on his way to bring us to this place. He traced Chance to the Hexleys, too,’ he said. ‘The commissioner couldn’t handle him, said he could go back to me or his mother. Whoever he goes to will take him home.’
Everyone in the truck squealed with excitement. Surely that would be Grampy. Then why did he look so nervous?
Chance let out another long whinny.
‘What if he goes to Chance? Does that mean …?’
Grampy nodded and looked grim.
‘You mean Silvanus Hexley will own him?’ all three girls said at once, aghast.
Grampy nodded.
The truck ramp lowered and the commissioner led the dancing colt out of the truck. He was magnificent, with his shiny coal-black coat. His silver mane and tail made him look even blacker. His feathered white feet ruffled with every high-stepping prance.
As soon as his amber eyes caught sight of Chance, he reared and tore away from the commissioner.
Ruby watched as Destiny nuzzled and trotted around his mother joyfully. Chance nuzzled back.
‘He chose to go with Chance,’ said Lexie sadly.
But just outside the truck, Grampy let out a soft whistle.
The colt stopped in his tracks and waggled an ear. He snorted loudly and looked all around, searching for the noise.
Grampy whistled again.
Destiny screamed loudly and galloped towards Grampy. His tiny hooves pounded over the grass. He whinnied all the way across the field until he braced into a hard, sliding stop. Grampy smiled and put a hand on the colt’s neck.
Destiny lowered his nose and gave Grampy an almighty shove. Grampy reeled backwards, laughing. Destiny shoved him again.
‘Hey!’ laughed Grampy.
Destiny did a small rear and trotted in circles around Grampy.
The commissioner walked across the field to join them. He put his hands on his hips and shook his head, giving Destiny one last look. ‘Devil of a thing; just like its mother!’ he said, but there was a smile on his face. He shook Grampy’s hand, then walked back to his truck and drove away.
Grampy placed an arm around the colt’s neck and gave his forelock a quick scruff. ‘It seems you are my Destiny,’ he said, in a quiet, happy voice.
Shadrak Hexley dipped his hat before turning to walk away.
But Silvanus rode Chance over to Grampy’s truck. ‘I wanted to say thank you, Mr Trickett,’ he said shyly.
The girls wrapped their arms around the mare’s neck, glad to have the chance to say goodbye. Destiny nickered softly and the two horses blew gently in each others’ nostrils.
Then Silvanus turned Chance about and trotted her away. Her tail swished contentedly from side to side.
‘Something tells me we will see them again,’ said Grampy, as he led Destiny to the truck to go home.
About the Author
Karen Wood is a mother of two and the author of the popular Diamond Spirit books, as well as rural romance books, Jumping Fences, Rain Dance and Under the Flame Tree. She is mad about horses but is also a qualified horticulturalist with a degree in Communications. She has a menagerie of animals on her small acreage in New South Wales and spends her free time with her children and horses.
