Ponies at Owls' Wood

by Scilla James

  Jess was more talkative today, and Hannah was glad that her new friend was beginning to trust her. She realised that she felt more relaxed, too.

  The two girls got Polly’s tack off and led her through the farmyard and round the back. Hannah was nervous about leaving her. What if she got taken by mistake?

  ‘Will she be all right?’ she asked Jess. ‘Sorry, but I’m really jumpy.’

  She told Jess about Charley’s pony being stolen and added, ‘I’m terrified that something might happen to Polly.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Jess, ‘we’ll be able to see her from the back of Gran’s caravan. I was going to take you to meet Auntie Cyn as well,’ she said, ‘but she’s not feeling too good so we’ll just stay at Gran’s.’ They crossed the yard together.

  ‘Don’t mention the ponies,’ Jess warned.

  ‘Is that you Jess?’ A woman’s voice called from inside the caravan as Jess opened the door without knocking and signalled to Hannah to come in. Hannah looked round, curious to see what the inside of the caravan would be like.

  It was bright, warm and welcoming, but very small. Hannah had never seen so many china horses. They seemed to be on every surface, some in full harness with carts behind them. Horse brasses and pictures were all over the walls too. There was just about room to move.

  ‘This is the friend I told you about,’ said Jess, presenting Hannah to her gran.

  The old lady was sitting in a comfortable chair near the window, which, as Jess had promised, looked out over the paddocks where they had left Polly. Hannah held out her hand politely.

  ‘Hello, I’m Hannah.’

  ‘And I’m Grace,’ said the old lady. She smiled, and shook Hannah’s hand. Hannah looked at her. Grace was extremely fat, appearing to be more or less jammed into her chair by her size. Hannah wondered how she ever managed to move. She had a cheery face and a lot of white hair. A complicated-looking hearing aid was currently tangled up in it.

  ‘Sit down love,’ she said, gesturing towards a small table and three chairs. ‘Jess, you go and put the kettle on. There’s some cake in the tin.’ Grace turned to Hannah. ‘I’ve a sweet tooth you know. It doesn’t help my figure but an inch or so of butter icing on top of a good cake is a cheering thing, don’t you think?’ Hannah warmly agreed.

  ‘There’s less to do in this caravan than there was in the big house, but my daughter and her boyfriend have that now. I suppose I should get out more, and walk about a bit. But I can’t seem to be bothered. I’m glad Jess has met you,’ she went on, ‘she has a lonely time of it here, with just me and Cynthia. Pete’s no parent to her, and she misses her dad. It’ll be good for her to get down to the village and meet other people. I expect you’ve got a lot of friends down there?’

  ‘Not really,’ said Hannah, ‘my best friend Charley went off to live in Derbyshire a few weeks ago and I really miss her. There’s a new family moved into the house opposite my pony’s field, and Tom, that’s the son, is about my age. But he’s a boy.’

  ‘Oh dear,’ said Grace, ‘but is he nice?’

  ‘I’m not sure yet,’ said Hannah, ‘I can’t make up my mind about him.’

  To her surprise, Hannah found that she could talk easily to Jess’s gran. The old lady listened to everything she said, and had a kind expression. Hannah went on to explain about Delia being stolen and how worried she was, not just for Delia but for Polly too. Hannah was sure from Grace’s manner that she knew nothing of Pete’s business.

  Jess came back with the tea and the three of them sat companionably watching the ponies through the window by Grace’s chair.

  ‘Gran taught me how to ride,’ Jess told Hannah. ‘She knows all there is to know about horses.’

  ‘Hardly all,’ said Grace. ‘But my father had shire horses after the war and I grew up with them. There was always a pony I could ride as a child and I wanted Jess to have that, too. She’s a good rider Hannah. You should see her jump bareback!’

  ‘Wow!’ said Hannah. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing that.’ She turned to Jess.

  ‘Could we go and have a ride together?’

  ‘I could take the mare,’ said Jess, ‘Pete said it would be OK when I asked last week, and I’ve been on her already. What do you think Gran?’

  ‘I think you’d better go,’ the old lady laughed. ‘There’s always plenty of tack in the barn. I’m very pleased to have met you Hannah and I hope we’ll see a lot of you here this summer.’

  The girls were crossing the yard to look for head-collars when Hannah heard a knock from one of the windows in the big house.

  ‘Is that your aunt?’

  ‘Wait here!’ said Jess, and ran off towards the house. ‘I won’t be a sec.’ But before she got to the doorway a woman appeared in it. Hannah reckoned she was about the same age as her own mum, somewhere in her forties, but she looked terrible. Her hair was unkempt, her clothes rumpled and not too clean, and even outside she smelt heavily of tobacco. Hannah noticed broken veins in her face, and lines around her eyes. She appeared tired and stressed.

  ‘I’m Jess’s Auntie Cyn,’ she said, transferring her cigarette to her left hand as she held out the right for Hannah to shake. She smiled, which immediately improved her looks. Hannah noticed how, in stark contrast to Grace, Cyn was as thin as a rake.

  ‘Don’t stay out too long,’ she said to Jess, ‘Pete will be back by four and he wants an early tea tonight.’ She said this kindly, and Hannah warmed to her as she realised that she was trying to save Jess from trouble. But why on earth was she letting that horrible Pete live here? With her poor mother driven out from her house and living in a caravan? It didn’t make sense to Hannah.

  The two girls planned to ride down by the river, with Hannah stopping off at her field on their way back, leaving Jess to come home alone. Polly seemed pleased to have the company of yet another new pony. Jess thought the mare’s name was Bridget, but wasn’t sure. Hannah wondered how Jess could cope with getting fond of different horses and then losing them. She asked her about it.

  ‘It’s just the way it is,’ said Jess. She was quiet for a few moments then said, ‘I’ve got used to them coming and going. I think Gran would get me my own pony but I wouldn’t want Pete near it so I always say no.’

  Hannah wanted to ask lots of questions. Like why was Cyn looking so rough, and why did they all put up with Pete when he was so horrible? But she sensed that Jess didn’t want to talk about it. Her new friend wasn’t much for words, except when she talked about the ponies and the plan to rescue them.

  As if she had guessed that Hannah was thinking about her family Jess said, ‘Gran and Cyn are kind.’

  They rode in silence for a while, as Hannah tried to take in how bad things must be for Jess. She felt guilty at having complained so much about her own mother going off for a few weeks and promised herself that she’d never moan again. And she thought about her dad; he might be scatty but he was never mean.

  ‘My sister’s a pain,’ she told Jess, breaking her own promise almost straightaway. ‘She used to be nice but these days she just spends all day texting her mates. They’re all into boys. It’s really boring. She says I’ll look like a horse when I grow up.’

  ‘What’s wrong with that?’ asked Jess.

  ‘She’s pretty, like my mum. Mum never used to go out much, or at least she was always there when I got home, and she’s a brilliant cook. But then she got into this singing thing and now she’s gone off for weeks with her choir. She wanted me to join it – they do have some kids to do choruses and bits, but I said I’d rather die. Anyway, I’ve got Polly to look after. Dad’s nice, but he’s useless in the kitchen.’

  ‘Sounds like you like food,’ said Jess, and Hannah wondered if she was trying to be funny.

  ‘Well, don’t you?’

  ‘I don’t really care that much,’ said Jess.

  It was a lovely day, and the girls were thrilled to be able to have a canter together along the river path. Polly kept up with Bridget and the
y all had a great time. When a group of ducks flew up from the water and Polly spooked, she soon settled again in the company of Jess’s older mare, and on they went again. Hannah couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a ride so much – not since Charley had gone, she supposed. Only when they slowed down to chat again did both their minds turn to the job they knew they had to do.

  ‘It’s got to be tomorrow night,’ said Jess, raising the subject first.

  ‘OK,’ said Hannah, her stomach giving a lurch as she thought of what was to come. ‘But what shall we do about Pete?’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ said Jess. ‘Pete often stays up long after Cyn’s gone to bed, so getting out of the house without him hearing me won’t be easy. I’m thinking that if I could get them both over to Gran’s caravan for the evening I could come out to meet you before they get back. Gran would need to give them enough to drink so they forget about me.’

  ‘Won’t they expect you to go with them?’ asked Hannah.

  ‘I’ll be ill,’ said Jess, ‘I’ll get a stomach ache and go to bed early. I can start looking bad during the day and try and suggest it might be catching. I can’t think what else to do.’

  ‘Right,’ said Hannah with a confidence she didn’t feel, ‘we’ll try that. And I’ll leave home at eleven. Dad should be fast asleep by then and Talia and Liam won’t notice. Should be simple!’

  They laughed, but both knew that it was not a laughing matter and that it wouldn’t be simple.

  By the time they got back to Hannah’s field it was already half past two. Grace’s cake had long worn off and, as usual, Hannah was starving.

  ‘You’d better get back,’ she said, ‘and I suppose I’d better go home. Will your gran and Cyn mention me being with you today?’

  ‘I should think so,’ said Jess, ‘or Cyn will anyway. But he can hardly complain that I’ve got a friend.’

  Hannah felt uneasy. ‘But if Pete sees me he’ll know me from when we met in the wood,’ she protested.

  ‘He won’t see you,’ said Jess with confidence.

  As Jess and Bridget trotted off, Hannah took Polly into the field and led her over to the shed for a good rub down and a treat or two.

  ‘You’ve been a great pony today,’ she said, ‘and I love you very, very much. Actually,’ she went on, looking at Polly with a critical eye, ‘you’re looking thinner too.’

  She turned to where Jack was standing by the hedge.

  ‘Thanks to you, Jack, for helping to eat the grass. Now, both of you, please, please keep out of sight of the gate. And don’t talk to anyone wearing lycra shorts.’

  Neither pony looked worried. Polly wanted her supper and Jack was happy to have her back in the field with him again.

  8

  Distracting Pete

  Hannah had forgotten Tom, who came out and stood by the gate.

  ‘You’ve been hours,’ he complained. ‘I thought that man must have got you and put you in a box.’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Hannah, and then she thought, help, what shall I tell him? She’d forgotten his very existence whilst she was with Jess, but now remembered promising him an explanation and also happily suggesting he should spend some of his day talking to Jack.

  ‘How did you get on with Jack?’ she asked, her mind spinning as she also remembered that she hadn’t consulted Jess, or even mentioned Tom to her at all.

  ‘We’re friends, as a matter of fact,’ said Tom, ‘it’s lucky we weren’t waiting for you for our lunch though, wasn’t it?’

  ‘All right,’ said Hannah, ‘I’m sorry.’ She hesitated. ‘I do want to tell you about today,’ she said, ‘but I need you to promise to keep quiet and not keep talking about calling the police. Really, I mean it. If you won’t promise I can’t tell you a thing.’

  Tom looked at her with interest, his cool expression disappearing as he smiled. It crossed Hannah’s mind that he was actually quite good looking.

  ‘I promise,’ he said.

  ‘Well,’ Hannah began, ‘first, have you got anything to eat?’

  Tom sighed. ‘Why don’t you come over to mine? Mum’s not in, but there’ll be drinks in the fridge and I think there are some crisps.’

  Hannah was curious to see Tom’s house. They went in the back door, and as they went Hannah decided just to tell Tom everything and hope Jess would forgive her. It would be harder to tell half a story and then have to remember which half she’d told.

  The kitchen was big, and tidier than Hannah had ever seen a room before. Gleaming surfaces and stainless steel cupboards. Microwaves and shining ovens. A fridge the size of a phone box. Hannah thought of her own comfortably untidy kitchen with affection. She didn’t think she’d like to live anywhere quite so clean. She realised that she’d never actually seen Tom’s parents, except as shadowy and insignificant figures, driving off to work or to the shops. He seemed to have a solitary time of it.

  They brought the drinks and crisps back over to the field, and sat on the verge outside.

  ‘Go on then,’ prompted Tom.

  So Hannah started from the point where she’d got Jess’s note and biked over to meet her in the wood. When she came to the bit about the ponies in the shed Tom’s eyes grew wide and he stared at her in horror. But when she told him of her meeting with Pete on the way back, he was angry.

  ‘How dare he grab you like that! That’s outrageous! You wait till I meet him.’

  Hannah didn’t like to point out that Tom already had.

  ‘So we’re going tomorrow night,’ Hannah finished her story, ‘we’ll bring them back here then call the police. They’ve got to believe that the horses are stolen, and don’t belong to Pete. Do you want to come with us?’

  ‘Try and stop me!’ cried Tom, ‘I’ll wait for you coming up after eleven then I’ll get out of my window and join you. I’ve climbed out before and it’s a cinch. Have you had any news about your friend’s pony?’ he asked.

  Hannah hadn’t spoken to poor Charley all day, but she’d thought about her and hoped she might ring with some good news.

  ‘I’ll ring her this evening,’ she said, ‘but I know she’ll contact me if she hears anything. And if I don’t get home soon they’re going to come looking. I’ll see you in the morning, OK?’

  ‘No,’ said Tom, ‘Mum wants me to go out with her again tomorrow. She’s decided she should be doing stuff with me and has taken a few days off work – it happens every year. She’ll spend most of the day on her iPhone but I’ll have to go. I’ll be back in loads of time though.’

  ‘See you tomorrow night then. Text me if there’s a problem.’

  Hannah had a lot on her mind as she cycled down the hill to her house. First of all, she was surprised at how Tom seemed to be changing into something like a normal human being. That was good. Then she thought about Charley and the anxiety and fear she was suffering. That was bad. Finally, she worried about the fact that she’d told Tom all about Jess and the horses, without consulting Jess at all. That was particularly bad, because it made her feel guilty. Life had become more and more complicated.

  For the second day in a row Hannah was late home from the field, and she was seriously hungry in spite of Tom’s crisps. She longed for some real food. Her sister met her at the door.

  ‘You’ve missed Mum ringing,’ Talia said. ‘I told her you were with Polly and that that’s all you ever do these days. Mum says to email her and let her know what you’re up to. She can pick up messages in her hotel. And,’ Talia added, ‘we’d like to know what you’re up to as well. You never used to be at the field for so long.’

  ‘I’m not up to anything,’ said Hannah. ‘Is Dad back and has he got my lock?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ said Talia.

  Hannah went into the kitchen to find her father putting an instant fish pie onto the table, which was laid with knives and forks. He’d also got some oven chips. Pleased, she sat down. Liam left the sofa for long enough to collect something to eat. He made a beeline for Hannah’s plate.<
br />
  ‘That’s mine!’ she said. ‘Get off.’

  ‘There’s something on there for you pet,’ said her dad, pointing. Hannah reached back and took a package off the kitchen unit. Inside was a good sturdy padlock, a chain and two sets of keys. At last.

  ‘Thanks Dad,’ she said, ‘I’ll put it on first thing in the morning, or,’ she hesitated, ‘do you think you could run me up there tonight?’

  ‘Sure,’ said her dad. ‘I think we’ll all feel happier if we’ve done our best to make Polly safe. Have you spoken to Charley today?’

  ‘No,’ said Hannah, ‘she said she’d contact me if there was any news, but I haven’t heard anything. I’m going to ring her tonight anyway.’

  After the meal was over and the plates stacked by the sink, Hannah and her dad were about to drive up to the field when Hannah remembered that her father had no idea about Jack. What can she have been thinking of, asking him to take her up the hill in the car? Even with his clueless attitude to ponies, he would surely notice there were two in the field instead of one.

  She tried to sound convincing as she said, ‘Oh it’s OK Dad. You sit down and have your whisky. I’d rather bike I think. It’s such a nice evening.’

  Her father looked surprised, but put the car keys back on the table and left her to it. Though exhausted, Hannah got her bike out yet again and set off up the hill.

  She didn’t see Tom when she got there, but noticed that his parents’ cars were both parked outside, and a light was on in the room overlooking the field. She wondered if that was Tom’s bedroom but she couldn’t see anyone. She fixed the chain around the gatepost and locked the gate with relief. She was turning to go when her mobile rang. It was Jess.

  ‘I’ve got a problem Hannah,’ she said. ‘Gran’s fine about inviting Pete and Cyn over tomorrow night, but she said that last time they came Pete made a big thing about there not being enough booze and also that her DVDs were all rubbish. She said she’d need something to make the evening sound more interesting and also that he wouldn’t just come for cake, which is all she’s got. We wondered if you could get hold of some meat, then she’ll cook them a proper dinner. Even if I bike down to your village tomorrow they mainly sell doughnuts and beans and washing powder in your shop don’t they? No proper meat and stuff. I just wondered if you’ve got anything in your freezer?’