A Friend in Need

by Olivia Tuffin

  Alice thought about the party a lot over the next few days. She didn’t have anything to wear and Hannah had told everyone they had to go all out on their Winter Wonderland themed outfits. Suddenly Alice had a great idea. Samantha had a dressmaker friend who helped out with the Flying Fillies costumes. Maybe she could make something for Alice? If she was going to go to the party, then she wanted to look her best. And it would be nice to dress up for once!

  At least Alice had the chance to spend some time with Finn over the weekend. They were going to walk Ella out in hand, with Alice leading Secret. Finn explained that they would start with a short walk away from the yard in a petal shape, so that Ella would know the safety of her box was near. There were plenty of walkways in between the paddocks, making short routes around the farm, even in winter.

  As they were heading out of the yard, Alice’s mum came out to say hello to Ella. Alice noticed the little mare crane her neck to greet her, ears pricked and eyes soft.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, sounding interested, and Finn briefly explained.

  “What a good girl.” Josephine gave Ella’s neck a gentle stroke. “Have fun!”

  Alice held her breath as she and Secret walked on, with Ella and Finn almost level with them. Secret was excited to be going out in the direction of the summer paddocks, where he enjoyed cantering around with his friends.

  “No, Secret.” Alice gave his lead rope a tug as he jogged, trying to get ahead of her. Glancing at Finn, she noticed the long rein was almost slack in his hand, as Ella walked to his shoulder.

  “Secret still tows you to the field?” Finn said with a smile. “When it snows you can put skis on.”

  Alice glared at him. “Oh, funny.”

  “You need to establish your body space,” Finn said. “He knows he can completely invade your space and that’s why he literally walks all over you.”

  Alice grimaced. “How? He’s so strong.”

  “Here, stop a minute,” Finn said. “You need to get your adrenalin levels down. Stand in front of him, look at him, but keep your hands down. If he steps into your space, make him go back. Not by slapping him or anything like that, just make a sound or step towards him. Just relax and breath out. It will all help to bring Secret down. You’re getting wound up every time you lead him out.”

  “I thought we were here for Ella, not Secret,” Alice replied miserably.

  Finn grinned. “I think it’s good for all of us!”

  As they headed back down the track towards the yard, their breath like clouds in the freezing air, Alice realised Finn was right. By establishing her body language with Secret, he was actually walking beside her rather than dragging her along.

  “It’s what I’ve been doing with Hannah,” Finn said out of the blue. “Working on body language and stuff. She’s trying out for the showjumping team. Are you going to try? Dad thinks you should.”

  Hannah again. Alice frowned. She always seemed to get mentioned.

  “Hopefully,” she said shortly.

  Finn give her a strange look. “So, I think that’s enough for today,” he said. “It’s a really big step for Ella to just walk out this far.”

  “Mum will be proud,” Alice replied. “She likes her.”

  “I’ve noticed. Ella seems to make her happy.”

  Alice nodded. “You should see her with Ella in the mornings. Singing to her, taking ages doing her stable. And she’s always asking about what you’re doing next with her. I’ve only ever seen her like that with Lachlan.”

  “She’s got something special about her,” Finn said, placing a hand on Ella’s white mane. “Her movement is out of this world; she would have made a good dressage pony. You can tell someone loved her.”

  Alice imagined Ella in her previous life. Had she belonged to a girl, just like Alice, who adored and doted on her? Had she been a champion, or just someone’s best friend?

  Alice and Finn took Ella and Secret out for longer the next day, completing a whole loop of the tracks between the paddocks. Encouraged by Finn, Alice had unclipped Secret’s lead rope for a bit. She’d expected him to just eat, or run away, but he’d trotted alongside Ella, following Alice as she zigzagged between branches and skipped over a couple of fallen logs.

  Alice’s cheeks were flushed with cold and happiness as they reached the top track. When Alice had been younger she and Honey used to ride the same loop, making jumps out of twigs and small branches she found, and she felt like she was eight years old again, out playing with her pony.

  “This is so much fun!” she enthused, leaping over a small log herself, and then blushing as Finn grinned at her.

  “You make me laugh!” he said, his voice warm, and Alice felt the closest they’d been in a long while. She smiled back at him, and for just a few seconds they gazed at each other before Finn moved in a step closer, and Alice felt her heart thud.

  Then Finn’s phone beeped and he pulled it out. Typing something in reply, a smile spread across his face. Alice felt as though she had been punched in the stomach, the happiness of the previous half hour gone, the moment shattered. It was Hannah; it had to be. Alice might make him laugh, pretending to be a pony, but he never smiled like that with her.

  Chapter 15

  The showjumping team was now the main topic of conversation between the riders – with everyone wondering who would make the final four. Angus’s lessons meant all the riders had a renewed enthusiasm for jumping, and with the prospect of intensive training and area competitions, everyone wanted to make the team. Alice even found herself daydreaming about wearing the blue jacket with Hilltops Showjumping Team emblazoned on the back!

  Her dad took her to the next lesson as her mum was away, and Alice was looking forward to showing him how much she and Secret had progressed.

  As Alice rode into the arena she felt confident, but although the lesson started well it soon began to unravel. Secret was bright and alert as he snorted and spooked at the jumps. As he grew more flighty, her confidence faded.

  “Sit up!” Angus called as they flew round the corner to the last fence on the course: a simple spread with a brightly coloured filler. Feeling Secret look at the jump, Alice tensed, pulling back on the reins without realising.

  “Neck strap!” Angus called but it was too late.

  Taking off from two strides away, Secret cleared the small jump like it was the puissance wall, his back feet catching the poles and sending the whole jump tumbling down. The wing crashed to the ground and Alice was unseated. The soft sand came up to meet her as she rolled on to her side, with Secret’s hooves missing her head by millimetres. Then, as if he realised Alice was no longer on board, he slowed, and turning a circle came back to her, eyes bright, reins trailing as he nudged her.

  Alice’s dad rushed into the arena looking panicked, but Hannah rolled her eyes. “She’s fine,” she called in a bored voice as Angus knelt down next to Alice’s dad.

  Tears pricked Alice’s eyes. It was no good; they weren’t ready for this, Alice thought miserably.

  Her dad put an arm round her shoulder. “You and your ponies!” he said in a kind voice, and Alice started to cry.

  “Hey,” Angus said gently. “Don’t be like this! You’re tougher than that.”

  “I thought this was going to be our thing,” Alice said with a sniff, as the other riders chatted among themselves. She was horribly aware of Hannah. This was the second time in a row Secret and Alice had disrupted the lesson.

  “I think it is!” Angus said. “Secret has the talent. We just need to work on your confidence.”

  It sounded simple, Alice thought, as she clambered back on board.

  Then it was Hannah’s turn to jump. Barney, her skewbald, was very well schooled and Hannah sat beautifully, tiny in the saddle, her glossy dark ponytail swinging out behind her as she and Barney soared over the jumps and landed in perfect harmony. They were almost guaranteed a place on the team. She’d never seen them put a foot wrong.

  When it was he
r turn to jump again Alice took a deep breath, and this time she managed to jump the spread perfectly, so at least they ended on a good note. But even when things went right Alice felt the weight of the trials on her shoulders. It had seemed such a good thing to aim for, but what if they – she – wasn’t good enough?

  “Shall we head for a drink in the café?” Amy said as they all warmed down together.

  Hannah glanced at her watch. “If I’ve got time,” she said in a superior voice. “I’m meeting the party planner. Shame Angus had to spend so long on certain people today.” She gave Alice a pointed look.

  “Don’t be mean,” Sam said. “Remember when you first got Barney? You fell off him, like, six times in one lesson.”

  Hannah glared at him, then she smiled a cool, smug smile. “Whatever. Our relationship is so good now,” she purred. “Finn has been amazing. Like really involved, you know? He totally gets me.” She glanced at Alice as she said the last sentence.

  Amy tried to change the conversation. “Party planner?” she said. “Exciting! What are you going to be talking about?”

  “Well,” Hannah said grandly, as everyone gathered their ponies around her. She reminded Alice of a queen holding court. “You won’t recognise the indoor arena! I’m going to keep some of it as a surprise, but expect BIG things. I’m talking ice sculptures, ice rinks, fake snow, the works. Dad’s got a band as well as a DJ, and a reporter from Teen Mag is coming to cover it. So you’d all better be looking amazing!”

  Alice thought back to her own birthday party. A barbecue in one of the farm fields, with the ponies nearby. But she was looking forward to Hannah’s party despite the forced invite. Samantha had helped Alice find the most amazing sequinned material that her dressmaker friend was going to make into a slinky gown. Alice had been into town and found some cheap jewellery and face glitter, and Samantha had shown her how she could pin her hair up. She couldn’t wait for Finn to see her all dressed up! Then her face fell. Hannah had said Finn was going with her to the party. But what did that actually mean…?

  Soon the long cold January was over and, as they entered February and the new show season dawned, the yard became a hub of activity.

  Alice and Secret attended a couple more group lessons, and another fun show with mixed results. They managed to come second at the fun show, but in the group lessons Secret was still strong and excitable. Every time Alice thought they’d made progress with their groundwork there would be a moment in a lesson when she felt completely out of control. The trials were just round the corner, and she had to decide whether to put them forward for a place in the team. And with both the trials and the party on the horizon, Alice felt the pressure starting to build.

  Chapter 16

  One morning Alice was woken by white light shining through her window. Pulling back her curtains, Alice gasped. It had snowed overnight and Park Farm had been transformed into a winter wonderland!

  “School’s emailed,” her mum called up the stairs. “It’s closed. The heating has packed up.”

  No school! She could spend a whole day in the yard, Alice thought joyfully. Ella, whose stable door had been left open as usual, stood in the doorway, pulling at her hay net. Secret, on the other hand, rolled with joy in the snow, all four legs off the floor. Encouraged by Secret, Ella took a hesitant step forward and snorted as she buried her muzzle in the snow, before trotting a circle, powder flying and her tail fanned out. She was enjoying it! Alice wished Finn was there to see the ponies play.

  “Does it remind you of the Highlands?” Alice asked Fergus, who chuckled.

  “This is nothing!” he snorted. “The roads are still fine. You wait until it snows again, then we might be in trouble. I can’t believe they shut the schools!”

  “I’m not complaining!” Alice grinned. And she really wasn’t, especially as Finn’s school was also closed and he was coming over to see Ella.

  They both looked up as a Landrover crunched up the drive: Angus, Finn and Sasha. With a faux-fur hat on top of her mass of blonde hair, Sasha looked like a model, Alice thought, glancing down at her own sludgy green overtrousers.

  “Hey, Alice!” Sasha said. “I haven’t seen Ella in a while so I wanted to say hello.”

  A second four-by-four crunched up, driven by Samantha.

  “Hello, hello!” Samantha called, waving. “Alice, I’ve got your dress!”

  Samantha enveloped Alice in a hug, before embracing Angus, Sasha and Finn.

  “Oh, Alice, Finn!” Samantha said a short while later as Finn proudly showed off Ella. The change in the grey mare was clear to see. Ella’s eyes were bright and she was relaxed as she came out to greet the visitors. Secret, on the other side of the fence, whickered lovingly. Then Ella gave a rumbly whicker of delight, looking beyond the group as everyone turned to see who she was welcoming. It was Josephine.

  “Hello, girl,” Josephine said softly, extending her hand.

  “Oh, Josie!” Samantha said in delight. “She seems to love you.”

  “She’s sweet,” Alice’s mum said with a smile. “Finn has done a great job.”

  “And Alice,” Finn piped up, putting a hand on Alice’s arm. Despite the cold Alice could practically feel her skin burning. “But we have Josephine to thank: once we realised Ella liked Secret, Josephine let us move Secret in next door. That was the turning point.”

  “Oh lovely,” Samantha said happily. “Ella making friends. And how is Secret coming along?”

  Alice smiled. “He’s good. He can still be tricky sometimes, but I feel like we’re making progress.”

  Angus, who had been listening to the conversation, turned to Alice. “Look, I know things are up and down for you. But when you and Secret are good you’re really good. I think you have a chance of making the team. You should try out.”

  Alice glanced at her mum, who, to her surprise, nodded. “I think you should too, Alice.”

  So that’s that hurdle cleared, Alice thought. Her mum was on side. Alice had fought so hard to go her own way with Secret, and the next steps were down to her.

  “Shall we ride out? I’ll take Lachlan?” Finn asked, once his dad and Sasha had gone.

  “In the snow?” Alice said hesitantly.

  “Why not?” Finn said. “There’s no ice; it’s soft powder. So if we stick to the tracks we should be fine.”

  To Alice’s surprise, her mum agreed, as long as they promised not to leave the farm. Alice felt her excitement grow. She’d seen photos of ponies being ridden in the snow, and now she was going to do it!

  Fergus had grown up riding in the snow in Scotland, and so Alice showed Finn something she’d learnt from the older groom. Together they greased up Lachlan’s feet so the snow didn’t ball up in his hooves. Secret, being unshod, was well equipped for the conditions.

  “Now we’re really ready to go!” Finn grinned.

  Once they were on board the ponies moved easily through the powder. Alice laughed with delight as they climbed up through the fields, taking out her phone and snapping a photo between Secret’s ears so she could remember the moment. Then she nearly fell off her saddle as Finn moved in closer, placing an arm round her and turning the phone around so she could snap a photo of the two of them.

  “Cheese!” he grinned good-naturedly, and Alice knew she would keep that photo for ever and ever.

  She was still smiling as they reached the top of the farm. The downs beyond looked like a magical landscape, and even though the snow barely covered the grass it still dazzled under the weak winter sun. Alice breathed in, her worries over Hannah and the showjumping team slipping away. If she could just stay in this moment, Secret relaxed and happy, Finn on Lachlan by her side, life would be good.

  Alice’s bubble was burst later that afternoon when Hannah’s dad came to collect Finn.

  “Hannah was keen that the snow didn’t stop you coming to us…” Alice heard Hannah’s dad say.

  I’ll bet, she thought sourly. Still, nothing could take away their ride that mornin
g, the two of them in the snow on Alice’s two favourite ponies. She scrolled through her photos again, smiling to herself.

  A little later as Alice cleaned tack, her phone beeped. She frowned as a picture appeared on her screen, and in one second she felt her heart break.

  OMG, Amy, check this out! the text read. It was Hannah’s number. Such a special moment!

  It was a photo of Hannah riding Barney and Finn walking beside her on a snow-covered track. Alice recognised the other side of the downs in the photo. Hannah, rosy-cheeked and looking exceptionally pretty, was smiling with happiness at Finn, who had his arm draped over Barney’s neck as the pony snuffled at his hand. They looked like the perfect couple. Alice blinked away angry tears. Even though her name probably appeared next to Amy’s in Hannah’s phone contacts, she was willing to bet it hadn’t been a mistake. Hannah had wanted her to see that photo.

  “Riding in the snow looked fun,” Alice’s mum said the next morning as they ate breakfast. “I’ve been impressed with all the different things you’ve been doing with Secret recently.”

  Alice nodded, her mouth full of toast and marmalade, wondering if that was her mum’s way of complimenting Angus. Still upset over the photo of Hannah and Finn, she stayed quiet, her eyes red-rimmed after a bad night’s sleep, and she lowered her head as she noticed her mum peering at her.

  “All OK, Alice?” her mum said gently.

  “Yep.” Alice feigned cheerfulness but her mum frowned.

  “Alice,” she said. “If you’re worried about the showjumping, don’t be. I’m happy for you to try out, but if you feel it’s too much for you…”

  Alice shook her head. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Probably caught a bit of a cold yesterday.”

  “I think I might ride Lachlan today,” her mum continued, still not looking convinced. “Just around the fields, like you did. It looked so wonderful, and the snow won’t be here much longer.”