A Friend in Need

by Olivia Tuffin

  “Did Secret get out?” Finn sounded anxious. “We should catch him before Ella does some damage to him.”

  Alice looked at the ponies again. They were starting to groom each other over the fence, and Ella’s ears were forward, her eyes soft.

  “You said she hadn’t bonded with any of your ponies, right?” said Alice. Finn nodded. “So … Secret is the first pony Ella’s allowed near her since she arrived in England. Isn’t this a good thing?”

  A smile crossed Finn’s face. “I didn’t want to risk any of your ponies getting hurt, but if Ella trusts another pony, that will really help her confidence,” he said. “Horses are herd animals; they’re not meant to live alone.”

  “What about moving Secret in next door?”

  Alice turned round, startled. She hadn’t realised her mum had been quietly observing.

  “I’ve felt sorry for poor Ella out here alone. Secret’s a brilliant companion,” Josephine added.

  Alice looked at her mum in surprise. It was one thing singing to Ella and taking over her care, but moving ponies around was a big deal for her. She realised that her mum had grown fond of Ella.

  “Great,” Finn enthused. “If that’s OK.”

  And so Alice and Finn made up a bed next door to Ella. Alice smiled as Secret bustled into his huge stable. The isolation stables were the biggest on the yard and Secret looked as though he was in heaven, taking a mouthful of his hay net before going to check on Ella, who looked the most relaxed Alice had seen her. The evening had closed in, a blanket of stars overhead. It was going to be another freezing night.

  “Oh no, I’ve missed my bus,” Finn said, looking at his watch and frowning. “I’ll have to get Sash to collect me.”

  Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he texted his sister. Alice was secretly pleased to have a bit more of Finn’s time, and even more pleased he wasn’t heading over to Hannah’s house! However, twenty minutes later, it was Angus who pulled up in the old Landrover.

  “Hello, Alice!” Angus said warmly and she smiled in response.

  Then Angus looked up as Josephine came out of the house, and the atmosphere changed. The two grown-ups nodded to each other briskly.

  “It’s great that Secret is next to Ella,” Angus said.

  Alice blushed. “Yeah. Secret sort of escaped and I couldn’t catch him,” she explained. “And then he came over to see Ella.”

  “Fantastic,” Angus said. “That should really help. A mini herd!” Then he added, “Alice, I’ve got a bit of time this week, if you fancy a private session. Just so you’re ready for the next pony club lesson? It would be good to have it over at Hilltops so Secret’s in a new environment. Call it a thank-you, for Secret’s help with Ella!”

  Alice didn’t even pause. “Yes please!” she said enthusiastically, and then she glanced at her mum, who had a face like thunder.

  Chapter 12

  It snowed on and off for the next couple of days, flakes drifting down and settling on the frozen ground, before everything seemed to stop, and the temperature plunged even further. The yard thermometer had recorded minus thirteen degrees overnight, the coldest it had ever been.

  When Alice got back from school one afternoon she saw Fergus peering up at the sky as he stamped his feet to keep them warm. “It’s too cold to snow properly,” he said. “Once it warms up a few degrees, then we’ll be in big trouble.”

  “What about the ponies?” Alice said in a worried voice, and Fergus grinned.

  “Al, I’m from the Highlands,” he said with a chuckle. “Believe me, anything we get down here will be nothing compared to up there in winter. Will it, boy? Do you remember the snow that fell when you were just a foal?” He gave Lachlan, who had been listening with interest, a friendly scratch.

  Alice smiled at Lachlan and Fergus. She knew the big Highland meant a lot to the groom. Fergus’s late dad, a big name in the Highland showing world, had bred Lachlan. She loved listening to Fergus talk about Lachlan’s first year up in Scotland, and tell the story of how her mum had fallen in love with him from a photograph.

  “I’ll tell you what, though,” Fergus lowered his voice, “your mum seems to have fallen in love with Ella. I actually heard her singing to her the other morning!”

  Alice smiled. “Don’t tell her you heard that!” But it was true; her mum seemed besotted with the little mare.

  “By the way, Finn’s over; he’s in with Ella.” Fergus gestured towards the isolation stables and Alice felt her heart flip. He was early. Ashamed that her first thought was that she hadn’t had time to change out of her dreaded school uniform, she raced round to Secret and Ella’s stables, before slowing down as Finn put a finger to his lips. Secret was standing next to the adjoining fence in his small turnout paddock, and next to him, one leg resting contentedly, was Ella. She was outside!

  “She was like this when I got here,” Finn explained.

  “That’s amazing!” Alice whispered. “Well done, Ella!”

  “It’s thanks to Secret really, and you,” Finn smiled. “What do you say to us trying some new things this weekend? Are you about?”

  “There’s a pony club lesson on Saturday morning, but I’m free afterwards. What do you have in mind?” Alice said, intrigued. Finn had said ‘us’, she noted with pleasure.

  “I thought we could take her out in hand, with Secret,” Finn explained. “Just try a short loop away from her stable at first, so she knows her safe place is nearby.”

  “Go on?” Alice said.

  “If Ella’s confident about going out, we can take them round the tracks, find some tiny logs to step over, that sort of thing,” Finn continued. “The aim is to get Ella to think about something else. It will really help build up her confidence.”

  “And you think Secret will help?” Alice asked, looking at her pony who was gazing adoringly at Ella.

  “Absolutely,” Finn explained. “Once she’s confident going with Secret, we can even try her on her own.”

  “Can’t wait!” Alice enthused, and it was true. She had never been so excited about not riding Secret before!

  “Right, I’m off to Hannah’s now,” Finn said.

  Alice felt her heart sink. She had hoped she’d have some more time with Finn. Then she saw him looking at her closely.

  “You just made a weird face, Alice. What’s up?”

  “Nothing!” Alice blushed. “What do you actually do there, anyway?”

  “I’m not meant to say,” Finn said after a pause. “We’re working on something for her party.”

  Alice’s imagination went into overdrive. What was Hannah getting Finn to help her with?

  “Hannah always asks after you, you know,” Finn continued.

  Does she now? Alice thought bitterly. Maybe she had the wrong idea about Hannah… Finn seemed to like her, didn’t he? Maybe Alice was the problem!

  “You only need to ask if you want me to give you a one-on-one jumping lesson.” Her mum frowned as she drove Alice and Secret over to the equestrian centre later in the week. “I don’t have Angus’s qualifications but I do know a bit. And I know you and Secret. Angus doesn’t…”

  The statement hung in the air.

  “I know, Mum, and we love our flatwork lessons with you,” Alice said slightly guiltily. “But it is useful to have different opinions and group lessons, as well.”

  “Well, I can’t argue with that, and Angus has impressed the pony club,” Alice’s mum said, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. “But remember what I said, if I’m unhappy about anything he suggests…”

  Alice nodded. For all his good work recently, her mum still couldn’t forget that Angus’ advice had led to Blue’s accident.

  Alice gazed down at her carefully chosen outfit. Normally when she schooled she rode in tatty jogging bottoms and old fleeces full of holes. But Alice wanted to look grown up and professional and like a budding showjumper. She had used the last of her Christmas money to buy a pair of breeches from the local saddlery. She still
wasn’t quite sure about them, but she’d been talked into them by the girls in the shop – they had bright checks with a silver flash down the side. Alice was also wearing a red shiny jacket covered in diamante that had been reduced in the sale. She hoped she looked OK, or better than OK! She didn’t feel like herself at all.

  Finn was in the school with Hannah and her pony when Alice arrived. Peeking her head round the door, Alice watched for a moment, unseen. Finn seemed to be showing Hannah how to draw Barney into her by using body language. Alice bristled as Hannah smiled up at him, not looking at Barney. She couldn’t look any less interested in her pony, but Finn seemed oblivious. Alice recognised the faraway look he had when he got really absorbed with his work. Then Hannah spotted her and a sly grin spread across her pretty face.

  “Alice, how are you?” she said, waving. “Come in!”

  Sidling in, Alice wished she had stuck to her normal outfit. Hannah looked so pretty and understated in jeans and cowboy boots and a cropped Puffa jacket.

  Finn gave a start as he looked at Alice, and a confused expression crossed his face.

  “What?” Alice tugged self-consciously at her coat, trying to pull it down over the breeches. Outside they seemed even brighter.

  “You look … um, different.” Finn was still staring at her sparkly coat with a strange look on his face.

  Alice felt a rush of anger. “And? What’s wrong with different? It’s OK for you, isn’t it, Finn Cutler? Always so cool. Well, I LIKE my new clothes, so there!”

  Suddenly aware of Hannah smirking, Alice flushed, the adrenalin from her outburst fizzing through her.

  Finn looked mortified. “That’s not what I meant…”

  But Hannah had now burst into peals of laughter and both Finn and Alice turned to her.

  “Oooh,” Hannah said, opening her green eyes very wide. “You and your mum certainly share a temper, don’t you?”

  Alice gaped at Hannah, the blood rushing to her ears. She couldn’t think of a reply.

  Realising Barney had wandered over to the far end of the school, Hannah headed off to catch him, but not before laying a hand on Finn’s arm.

  “Thanks for another great lesson,” she said, smiling up at him. “I feel our connection is just getting so much deeper, you know?”

  Your connection with Barney or your connection with Finn? Alice thought sourly, noticing that Hannah was just the right height to peer cutely up at Finn. Unlike Alice, who would be taller than him if she ever bothered to wear boots with heels. How could Finn not realise what was so obvious? And what were they working on?

  Finn turned to Alice. “I’m so sorry, Alice,” he said, looking right at her. “That came out all wrong. Your new clothes are nice; I was just surprised. They’re quite, um, shiny, and I’ve never seen you wear anything like that. The truth is…” He held her gaze, and Alice dropped it first. “The truth is I think you always look great, really great. Whatever you’re wearing.”

  Alice opened her mouth to argue back when the enormity of what Finn had just said hit her. That was the first thing he had ever said that hinted that possibly, just possibly, he liked her. She felt herself blush ever harder, cursing her pale skin, which reddened easily.

  “Yes, well.” She stuck her nose in the air, wishing that Hannah had overheard that bit of the conversation! “I like the shininess, and I don’t care what you think about my clothes.” And that, she realised, was the truth.

  Finn smiled, his dark eyes twinkling. “Good for you.”

  Feeling newly confident, Alice strode back to Secret and tacked him up, swinging herself up into the saddle and heading back to join Angus. She was pleased she had stood up for herself, and had butterflies over Finn’s compliment. Clothes didn’t matter one bit. She had something far more important to think about. Her relationship with Secret.

  Chapter 13

  Angus stood in the centre of the arena watching Alice and Secret canter a circle. Secret’s natural impulsion and self-carriage meant Alice really didn’t have to do a huge amount to look impressive on the flat. When Secret was going forward he looked amazing.

  “Lovely, Alice,” Angus said. “Now pop that cross pole, and let’s see what we need to do.”

  Alice’s mouth went dry as she turned Secret towards the jump. It wasn’t that she didn’t love the jumping; it’s just that she knew that it could go either way – Secret could either jump nicely, or launch himself over. Clinging on to the neck strap as Angus had instructed her, Alice felt Secret start to bounce sideways. It was going to be one of those days. She tried to check him, to get him back under her control, but Secret was already bounding towards the jump and cleared it by miles.

  Unseated, one stirrup lost, it was all Alice could do to stay on as she circled the arena. They jumped a couple more times in much the same fashion, before Angus put his hand up to stop them. Secret was bright-eyed and his ears were pricked as he nuzzled Angus’s shoulder. Alice bit her lip. She would never make the showjumping team if she couldn’t control Secret.

  As if reading her thoughts, Angus smiled. “OK,” he said in a kind voice. “Secret’s a talented pony and, Alice, you are a lovely rider. But I think what’s happening is that you’re anxious about each jump session, and Secret picks up on that. Do you know what would help?”

  Alice shook her head.

  “Not jumping at all,” Angus said. “Secret needs to relax, to focus. What I’d suggest is just hacking, finding little things to pop over on your rides, and NO jumping in the school. Instead, I want you to put some poles down: walk, trot and then, when you’re confident, canter over them. Play around with them with Secret loose in the school and you on the ground. Go out on your farm, if you feel up to it. If you focus on your groundwork and flatwork, then the jumping falls into place. Here, look.”

  Angus quickly dismantled the cross pole, laying the poles around the arena. Then Alice rode over them at walk. At first, Secret bounded sideways, leaping the poles but, encouraged by Angus, Alice concentrated on her seat and her breathing. After a few minutes, Secret started to settle down and walked over the poles. By the end of their lesson she had managed a calm and controlled canter on both reins, with no leaping about. It felt brilliant – harmonious and relaxed.

  Angus praised Secret as the little gelding rested his muzzle on his shoulder. “And that’s what you need to do, Alice,” he said. “We’ll have jumping lessons with pony club, but at home just ride him. If you must school him, do it on the flat around the jumps, so he doesn’t get excited every time he sees the coloured poles. With a pony like Secret it’s important you don’t let him burn out.”

  Alice nodded. It made sense. She noticed her mum was sitting on the mounting block watching.

  “Well done, Alice, and well done, Secret,” Josephine said, strolling towards the pair. “He reminds me of Blue.” Her voice stumbled on her pony’s name. “I hardly jumped Blue at home either, because of how he could be.”

  Her expression was thoughtful, reflective even. As if she was thinking about happier days with Master Blue.

  The pony club group lesson, a few days later, was less successful.

  “OK, Alice, your turn!” Angus called, and Alice’s stomach somersaulted as she took a deep breath. Snatching at his bit, Secret cantered on the spot before plunging down the line of jumps, and then he circled the arena at such speed that he almost hit Jordan’s pony, who put his ears back and spooked to the side.

  “Hey!” Jordan steadied his pony, giving him a pat as Alice apologised.

  Humiliated, Alice stood aside for a bit, trying to calm Secret down. To make matters worse, Hannah, the best rider in the group, jumped beautifully, her skewbald pony calm and relaxed as he popped neatly through the grids.

  “Good boy,” Hannah said loudly as she patted her pony. “You’re not worried about any silliness, are you?”

  This comment was clearly aimed at Alice and Secret. Alice reddened, and Secret chose that exact moment to whinny loudly and dance on the spot, keen
to get going again.

  Finn came over to the arena fence. He’d been watching from up in the gallery.

  Alice made a face. “I can’t control him,” she said miserably.

  Finn leaned over the fence. “Of course you can,” he said firmly. “You need to relax!”

  After that things did improve a bit. Angus let Alice jump right at the end once the others had finished and Secret had calmed down. As they jumped through the grid, taking off perfectly, landing and cantering away in one smooth movement, Alice started to once again believe that they had a chance at making the team.

  Alice hoped to have a proper chat with Finn after the lesson, but Hannah reached Finn first.

  “Any chance you can stay a bit?” Hannah said to Finn in a pleading voice, totally ignoring Alice. “I really want to practise a bit more.”

  Finn shrugged. “OK,” he answered to Alice’s disappointment.

  Hannah gave Alice a triumphant smile. Then her tone changed.

  “I can’t wait for my party now,” she said. “Can you?” She coyly dropped her eyes, fluttering her long lashes. “With you by my side it’s going to be amazing.”

  Finn looked slightly bemused. Not for the first time Alice wondered if he was so wrapped up in his ponies that he didn’t even notice when girls flirted with him… But what did Hannah mean? Was Finn going with her to the party?

  “Yeah, it should be good,” he said vaguely. “Alice, you’re coming, aren’t you?”

  Hannah glared at Alice, before her expression changed. Giving Alice a huge smile, she placed a hand on her arm. “Of course Alice is coming!” she cried, tilting her head to one side.

  “Well,” Alice cleared her throat, feeling awkward. “You mentioned it a little while ago, but I didn’t get an invitation.”

  “Oh! Well, do come, won’t you? You must!” Hannah said in the sweetest voice, but her eyes told a different story.

  Chapter 14