“Keep in touch.” Alice meant it as she hugged Cora tightly. Both lorries were packed and both ponies were on board, ready to return home to opposite ends of the country.
“I will,” Cora promised her. “Thank you. For everything.”
Alice smiled, and they both nodded. There wasn’t much more that could be said. Alice hoped her new friend would remember the joy of the beach ride, and would go home and talk to her family, especially her sister. Alice had no doubt that Cora and Bluebell would still compete at the top levels, but she hoped Cora would have a healthier attitude to it now.
Alice hoped that she would continue to compete at a top level too, despite missing the trials. She tried to hold on to Devon’s words of a couple of days ago, about how another opportunity had arisen after Devon’s pony had gone lame and she had missed a chance. But, whatever happened, Alice knew she wouldn’t have done anything any differently. She had learnt so much that week, and not just about riding!
*
The call came just as Alice’s mum turned on to the road that led to their village. It had started to rain and the landscape had changed from sea views to motorway, then to the familiar rolling hills of home.
Alice had been asleep, and the shrill ring of her mobile jolted her awake as her mum turned down the radio. It wasn’t a number Alice recognised.
“H-hello?” she said sleepily.
“Hello,” a man’s voice replied. “Is this Alice Smalley?”
“Yes, it is.” Alice frowned at her mum, who was mouthing at her, asking who it was. She shrugged.
“Super!” the man said cheerfully. “My name’s David Roberts, and I’m part of the British pony team selectors. Devon told us all about the drama of this morning, and of course we quite understand why neither you or Cora felt able to jump. I do hope your mum and dog are OK?”
“Yes, thank you.” Alice automatically patted Poppy, who was curled up next to her. “They’re both absolutely fine.”
“We hear that pony of yours had quite a part to play in the rescue,” David Roberts said. “Perhaps when he retires from jumping you should write a book all about his adventures.”
Alice smiled. “Perhaps I should.”
“So, the reason for my call,” David Roberts continued, “is that we obviously still need to get a team together for the friendly, which is in only two weeks’ time. We’re short of a fifth rider. So we’ve offered the spot to Cora Davies and her mare Armada Bluebells.”
Alice slumped slightly, but she didn’t feel as upset as she thought she would. Cora more than deserved the spot. Hopefully now she would relax too and just enjoy her riding, and Alice knew it would mean the world to both Cora and her sister for Bluebell to jump in the British team. David Roberts was still talking but she wasn’t taking in anything he was saying. She was going to go home and just enjoy Secret. The way she always did.
“So we’ll be in touch shortly,” David Roberts then said, cutting through Alice’s thoughts, “and we look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks, if you accept our offer.”
“Sorry?” Alice nearly dropped the phone. What had he said? They’d offered the spot to Cora. What was going on?
David Roberts chuckled. “I know it’s probably a bit of a shock, especially after the day you’ve had,” he said, “but, like I said, Cora Davies turned the place down. I have every confidence in you, as does Devon. We would love you and Secret to jump for Great Britain. What do you say?”
*
Alice was still shaking as they pulled up into Park Farm’s yard. She could hardly believe it. She and Secret would jump in just two weeks’ time in a friendly representing Great Britain. Exactly as she had dreamed and hoped against hope she could achieve.
She unloaded Secret in a daze. It felt so good to be home to the whicker and whinnies of welcome from Ella and Porridge and the other ponies on the yard. Secret dragged her round to each stable in turn, enthusiastically greeting all his friends. And then Alice saw Mia pushing a wheelbarrow back from the muck-heap.
“Hey,” she said, waving, and Mia narrowed her eyes, coming over.
“Hey,” she muttered.
“How are you?” Alice asked. She totally understood why Mia was grumpy with her, but she could also see that the younger girl was itching to know how the day had gone!
“Well?” Mia demanded, her smile starting to show. “How did it go?”
“Well,” Alice said, “we got our place. But not in the way I expected!”
“Awesome!” Mia gave her a hug. “I knew you would. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
Alice nodded. “I will, but first –” she gestured to Mia’s riding boots – “are you about to ride, or have you already?”
“I’m just about to school Lacey. She’s amazing.”
“I’ll come and watch her first,” Alice said. “And then I need a favour.” She smiled as Mia folded her arms, giving her a suspicious look. “Do you know how to bake a cake?”
*
“You make me laugh,” Mia chuckled a little later in the Smalleys’ kitchen. They were both wearing aprons and Alice’s cheeks were smudged with flour. “All that big jumping and you can’t make a simple cake?!”
It had been good to watch Mia ride. Mia’s gentle approach to the young pony had worked wonders and the beautiful grey Welsh had trotted and cantered round the arena in perfect balance. One of the future stars, Alice thought with pleasure. Her mum would be thrilled. Then, as Alice retold the dramatic clifftop rescue of Poppy, Mia’s eyes grew wider and wider. Alice couldn’t help but shudder. What if she had chosen not to take Secret for a canter that morning? It didn’t bear thinking about.
Now, standing in the warmth of the kitchen, the rosettes and photos on the walls making it feel cosy, Alice knew there was something else she had to talk to her friend about. She took a deep breath.
“This cake is for my dad,” she said, “because I owe him an apology, and Mum, and you.” She bit her lip. “I got carried away when I was at Devon’s yard and pushed everything else aside apart from jumping. I know I was ignoring you and I’m sorry.”
Mia tilted her head to one side and smiled. “It’s fine,” she said. “Actually, we were all just worried about you. We knew something was up.”
Alice nodded. “It was. I thought I needed to change to get better results. But actually I don’t need to at all.”
“Was it worth going then?” Mia questioned. “I know how excited you were about it all.”
Alice nodded again. “Yes,” she said, thinking about the amazing instruction she’d received from Devon and Nina, the chance to ride their horse, the hints and tips she had picked from the running of the elite yard. And even the not so great bits, like the constant comparisons with Cora and the instruction with Miguel, had been lessons in their own way. “I’m glad I went…” She paused and gazed out of the window at the yard, at the stable lights throwing a soft glow across the cobbles, at Fergus whistling as he finished up the mucking out, at the content and happy ponies munching on hay nets. “But I’m even gladder I’m home.”
*
Alice’s dad was delighted with his birthday cake, which Alice had to admit looked pretty good! It had turned into an impromptu celebration, as Angus dropped by to congratulate Alice on making the team and Mia’s mum Dominique stayed on after coming to collect her. Fergus had finished for the day and joined them with his new girlfriend, so there was quite a crowd. As Josephine cut huge slabs of the cake, everyone chatting and laughing around the big kitchen table, Angus turned quietly to Alice.
“I know it wasn’t as you imagined,” he said, “but you and Secret more than deserve your place.”
“Thank you,” Alice mumbled.
Genuine praise from Angus was rare, and he really meant it. He looked so proud.
“Obviously you’ve just been at a top yard,” Angus continued, “so I’m happy for you to suggest how we spend the next two weeks. What do you think? Extra sessions? Another instructor brought in? Th
is is the big time now. What’s the plan?”
There was a pause.
“Actually,” Alice smiled, “can we do what we normally do? I’m just going to ride Secret. He doesn’t need anything more, and nor do I.”
Angus nodded, his face relaxing into a huge smile. “That sounds like the best plan of all.”
Chapter 14
Secret’s canter was as powerful as ever two weeks later as Alice warmed up in the huge school at Netherborough Arena. The big international centre was decorated with the flags of all the nations taking part in the friendly competition, and the atmosphere was electric, with music pounding into the huge outdoor space as Alice trotted and cantered round with all the other pony riders. They had spent the last couple of weeks since arriving home just riding out with Mia and various ponies, and one session with her pony club friends at Hilltops. As a result, both Alice and Secret felt relaxed and happy. She had met the other teammates, the same ones she and Cora had studied videos of during their week at Devon’s, and they had all been really nice.
There was quite a crowd who had made the journey up to support Alice: Amy, Jordan and Holly from pony club, Mia and her mum, and, of course, Alice’s mum and dad and Fergus. Mia had made her own special banner and was waving it proudly at the ringside. Devon and Nina had made the trip up, and Devon had given Alice the biggest hug.
“Doesn’t everything just work out in the end?” she’d smiled, referring back to her conversation with Alice when she had told her about her own experiences with team selection.
“You were right.” Alice hugged her back. “Thank you.”
Angus had been helping Alice in the warm-up, but had now disappeared. Alice wondered where he was, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Checking her phone, her heart skipped a beat as she read a text from Finn wishing her luck. Contact with him had been sporadic over the last fortnight. Not only was Finn somewhere deep in rural Spain with limited phone signal, but Alice felt as though they hadn’t quite cleared the air after their arguments. She swallowed hard, suddenly wishing he was in the audience too.
Giving Secret a pat, she flicked her wrist round to look at her watch. She had already walked the course, and had some time before her round. Walking the perimeter of the arena, concentrating on keeping Secret calm and focused, she looked up as she heard a familiar voice.
“Alice, over here!”
Alice grinned in delight as she saw Cora, dressed casually in a jumper and jeans, with her brother and an older lady who Alice guessed was her mum.
“We had to come and watch you. My dad has stayed back with Lauren,” Cora explained, “but they’re watching it on the live stream. I’ve told them so much about you and they’re cheering you on.”
Dismounting, Alice hugged her friend tightly.
Adam and Cora’s mum were chatting to a man in breeches, obviously familiar with many of the people at the show, so Alice drew Cora aside.
“It’s so nice to see you. How are you?” she asked quietly.
Cora smiled. “I’m in a good place,” she said, squeezing Alice’s hand. “We’ve all talked as a family, and it is such a relief to confess how I’ve been feeling.” Her voice stumbled. “All anyone wanted was for me and Bluebell to be happy.”
“Oh, Cora.” Alice felt a lump rise to her throat.
“And,” Cora continued, “I’ve rejoined pony club! Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be jumping against you in the future –” and for a second Alice saw the familiar spark of competitive fire flash through Cora’s eyes – “but for now I’m taking a step back. Just enjoying Bluebell. Just enjoying my riding.”
Alice hugged her again. “I’m so glad.”
She knew she and Cora would always be friends. They’d shared so much in just a week!
Giving Alice a big grin, Cora clapped her hands. “Well, come on then!” she laughed. “Get back on. You’ve got a Union Jack on your saddlecloth and a course to jump!”
*
As Alice entered the vast international arena to a burst of applause, and a distinct woo-hoo from Mia, she didn’t feel a trace of nerves, only adrenalin surging through her veins. The course was solid and challenging but well within Secret’s capabilities and she couldn’t wait to jump it. Angus had reappeared for a final run-through of the course, and, after giving Secret a pat, had grinned up at Alice.
“You’ll remember this for the rest of your life,” he’d said. “Enjoy it.”
Alice was going to. Giving Secret a scratch on his withers and gathering up the plaited reins, she nudged him into canter.
“Let’s do this,” he seemed to say as he bounded forward. “Let’s do this together.”
And for the next couple of minutes it was just Alice and her red pony in a world of their own. The crowds disappeared, the music faded, and all Alice knew was the rush of sheer joy she felt as Secret took off perfectly over the first brightly coloured showjump, his neat, pale hooves whisking clear over the poles as he landed as lightly as a cat, turning towards the next fence, a big red and white spread. As he took off elegantly, Alice grinned as she felt him stretch in the air. Then on to the next: the wall, imposing in size but no match for Secret.
Alice became aware that they were probably not going to have the fastest time. Instead she’d been savouring the round, enjoying every hoofbeat on the soft sand, every leap over the enormous jumps. His soft leather saddle, the familiar plaited reins, his silky mane flying in front of her – it was home; Alice could have carried on jumping him forever. As they sailed over the big black and white upright, cantering on joyfully round the arena before Alice could even try to pull him up, there was a huge round of applause, and Secret tossed his head, his ears pricked as though recognising the praise. Alice’s face was wet with tears, her heart full of love for her amazing red pony. The pony who had given her so much. Her pony of a lifetime.
*
A sea of well-wishers greeted Alice as she left the arena on a long rein. David Roberts was the first to congratulate her.
“Well done, young lady.” Immaculately dressed in a pinstriped suit, David Roberts didn’t seem to mind one bit that Secret had nudged him, leaving a trail of froth on his navy and white shoulder. “I’m sure there will be more of that to come.”
And then everyone was crowding round, Secret almost disappearing among all Alice’s family and friends.
Mia hugged her tightly. “I mean, you’ve only gone and jumped clear for GREAT BRITAIN!” she cried. “You’re amazing!”
“Secret’s amazing,” Alice smiled.
And suddenly it felt like the right time to talk to her friend about something she’d been pondering over the last few weeks. She had kept the thought in her mind, rolling it over and over in the night when she couldn’t sleep.
“I’d love you to take over the ride when I finally outgrow Secret.” She took a deep breath, but the words felt totally right as she said them out loud. “Pony club, jumping, just hacking over the downs, he’d love it.”
For a few seconds Mia fell silent, her eyes glossing over with tears, before her face lit up with an enormous smile. “That would be incredible,” she said. “I’d love to.”
Alice reached down and hugged her red pony. His future was always safe, but Alice knew how much he loved to jump, hack and gallop. If Alice couldn’t ride him, then Mia was the perfect choice.
“Alice?”
Another voice, and Alice’s tummy flipped right over. It was a voice she knew so well, but for the last few months had only heard on the end of a phone. A voice that belonged to someone that she had missed more than she realised.
“Finn?”
Spinning round, Alice gasped as Secret whinnied in delight, dragging her over to greet their friend.
Tanned from the Spanish sun, his leather boots more worn than ever, a red-checked shirt setting off his dark hair, there he was standing in front of her. He was home. Before Alice could say anything else, he enveloped her into the tightest hug, and with Secret by
her side, and back with her best friend in her arms, Alice didn’t think anything had ever felt so right.
*
“Race you!”
A few days later, Alice and Finn had just reached their favourite canter spot on the downs. A clear, bitterly cold morning had made way for the most beautiful autumn day. Finn laughed and nudged Horatio, his snow white Highland gelding, and Alice let Secret go. Thundering up the hill, side by side, the ponies’ manes and tails streaming behind them, Alice laughed out loud in delight. As they reached the crest of the hill, they slowed, pausing for breath. Alice’s cheeks were rosy, her eyes sparkling, and she blushed as she caught Finn glancing at her with such warmth in his eyes.
Gazing around at the downs, Finn smiled. “I loved Spain, but it’s good to be home.”
“I can’t believe you got back to watch me jump!” Alice grinned.
Finn and Angus had told her that it had been a crazy scramble to get Finn on to a plane on time after seeing Horatio off on the international horse transporter. That had been why Angus had disappeared at the show for a while; he had been desperately trying to organise a taxi after Finn’s plane had been delayed.
Finn grinned back. “There was no way I was going to miss it.”
“I didn’t think I would see you there.” Alice hesitated. “I worried we’d fallen out.”
Finn shook his head. “No,” he reassured her. “It’s hard, isn’t it, trying to talk on the phone? It would have been better if I could have just seen you like we chat at home, face to face. I know how much the team meant to you. I was worried about you, that’s all.”
Alice nodded. “I think everyone was,” she said. “But I learnt so much.”
“What’s next then?” Finn asked. “Did you talk to David Roberts again?”
Nudging Secret, Alice walked on as Horatio and Finn fell in step beside them. “Uh-huh. He said he’ll be in touch soon. There’s another international in the new year but I don’t have to decide yet whether I ride or not.”
A Pony Called Secret Page 9
