A Dream Come True

by Olivia Tuffin

  “Leah?” she said, her voice quiet and urgent. “Leah, I just found this in Nick’s handwriting. He must have dropped it.” And she handed over a crumpled receipt for two coffees with scrawled writing on the back. Leah read it, a frown deepening.

  “Meet @ GF ind estate 10pm,” Leah read aloud, her face pale. “What does this mean?”

  “I’ve no idea,” Jen shrugged.

  “OK,” Devon said. “What time did he leave tonight?”

  Jen looked thoughtful. “About an hour ago, I guess.”

  Alice’s mind was whirring now, trying to work out timings. It was nearly nine thirty. Nick was meeting someone very soon at GF ind estate… Suddenly, she had it.

  “GF … Golden Fields!” she blurted out, and everyone turned to her, looking confused.

  “Golden Fields?” Jen said. “Hadley used to have a depot there, years ago. Nick used to send big loads of horse feed abroad from there. I once saw it on some old invoices when I was doing the accounts.”

  Finn was already tapping his phone, squinting at the screen.

  “Golden Fields, Golden Fields,” he muttered, and then his eyes lit up. “Aha!” he said triumphantly. “Golden Fields Industrial Estate, SE26.”

  “It’s not a yard though,” Leah said doubtfully. “Why would they take a pony there?”

  “But it is about an hour away, according to the map,” Finn continued, looking up from the screen. “What do you think?”

  Alice took a deep breath. They had no leads, apart from the name, and no sightings, apart from the horsebox. But they had to try, if there was any chance that Secret had been taken there. A shiver went through Alice as she thought about Nick’s words. He had wanted to add another container. Now she was sure that the extra container was a pony. Kite – and now Secret. She nodded.

  “We have to go there,” she said firmly.

  But Leah looked worried. “I don’t know,” she said. “And I’m scared about Kite. What if… What if when Nick realises the wrong pony has been taken they go back for him?”

  Alice paused. In all the worry with Secret going missing she’d totally forgotten about the original intended victim.

  “I’ll stay with him,” Devon said, and they all turned to her. She had a look of determination on her face. “If it helps to keep him safe and we can work out what happened with Tally and Secret, then I’ll guard him.”

  Leah nodded. “Thank you,” she said gratefully, scribbling down the yard address and gate codes.

  “I think you should call the police too,” Devon said.

  With shaky hands, Alice dialled the emergency number.

  “A pony, missing?” the operator repeated back to her.

  “Yes,” she said desperately. “He’s been kidnapped, only it’s a case of mistaken identity.”

  “Look,” the operator sighed. “As you can imagine, this side of Christmas we are extremely busy. I’ll open a case number, but—”

  Then Alice remembered something. The mounted police.

  “Wait!” she cried. “Can you at least see if you can pass a message on?” She tried desperately to remember the names. “Officer Edward … Hill, yes that’s it! Officer Hill! And Fairbanks, Officer Fairbanks. They ride police horses. Please can you tell them it’s Alice, with Secret the roan pony, and that I think Nick from Hadley Feeds is up to no good. We’re going to the Golden Fields Industrial Estate. Please tell them!”

  “OK.” The operator sounded unconvinced and Alice could hear the tap of her keyboard as she made notes. “I’ll do my best to pass that on.”

  “Right,” Finn put his arm around Alice. “Let’s go.”

  And with her two friends either side of her, Alice felt a wave of relief. Having them with her meant she felt a little less afraid.

  Devon was the first to leave – hailing a cab to take her to Hyde Park stables. It was a clear, freezing night, and as Alice looked up at the sky she had a sudden longing to be in the yard at home, where the air was clear and fresh, with Secret tucked up in his own stable. She partly blamed herself; that’s where he should have been tonight, but she’d been so eager to take advantage of the backstage ticket that she’d moved him right into the path of danger. Then she shook herself. Secret had been in a lovely, safe yard in London, and they’d had two brilliant rides around Hyde Park. She hadn’t known what was going to happen.

  It suddenly occurred to her that they had just hours to check Secret into his stable at Olympia and declare herself as a competitor in the Pony Club class, the class she’d been dreaming about for months, all the hard work leading up to that three-minute turn in the arena. None of it seemed to matter right now though; she just wanted Secret home and safe.

  The next cab they flagged down was driven by a jolly-looking man who frowned slightly as Alice recited the address to him.

  “It’s a long way out,” he said doubtfully, looking at the group with a little suspicion. Alice realised they looked slightly odd, her and Leah in their normal jeans and Finn still in the blue and gold military jacket and breeches, with golden-green make-up smudged around his dark eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “But we really, really need to get there, and fast!”

  Shrugging, the taxi driver put his cab into gear and headed down the high street, the twinkle of the Christmas lights in every shop window providing false cheer as Alice sat as far forward in her seat as she could, willing the car to move through the city traffic as quickly as possible. No one really spoke, but sensing Leah’s fear, Alice took her hand.

  “Remember what I said back there,” Alice said quietly. “It’s not your fault. If it wasn’t Secret, it would have been Kite.”

  Leah nodded, biting her lip. Alice turned away from her and watched the city crawl past the window. The bright lights of the high street gradually merged into office blocks and suburban housing, then industrial estates with smoke pouring from chimneys. Finn reached over and took Alice’s other hand, and she squeezed it gratefully, glad he was with her. The driver cleared his throat.

  “Coming up to it.” He threw a concerned glance in their direction as he flicked on the indicators. “Are you sure this is the place you want?”

  Alice stared upwards at the imposing walls, clad in blocks of varying greys. There was an air of dinginess and the place was deserted, unlike the other industrial estates they’d passed on their way. But the peeling plastic sign by the big steel gates read “Golden Fields”. Secret might be within those walls, she thought. They had to do all they could to find him.

  “We’re sure,” she said firmly, and after pooling their money to pay the driver, the three teenagers were alone on the pavement outside.

  The gates were already open so they crept through, sticking close to each other, their shadows long in the faint orange glow of lights from neighbouring buildings. The continuous hum of traffic on the ring road above them provided background noise, but it felt as though all Alice could hear was the beating of her own heart as they crossed the large expanse of concrete. She bit her lip. It seemed so unlikely her pony was going to be here. What if it was too late? Nick was obviously sending the lorry somewhere, but where? Alice couldn’t bear to think about it. Secret was the other half of her, her very best friend.

  “Wait,” Finn suddenly said, and everyone paused.

  Alice held her breath. Up ahead of them was the faintest glow of lights, as if something was behind the buildings. Alice’s stomach turned over as her ears caught the smallest of sounds, a sound she knew so well, a sound so out of place here.

  Hooves on concrete.

  Secret!

  “Alice,” Finn called warningly, trying to pull her back, but it was too late. Alice had sprinted forward towards the faint lights, running down an alleyway between the dingy buildings, aware of Leah and Finn behind her.

  Stopping dead, she found herself in the glare of headlights, which momentarily blinded her. An enormous lorry was parked up behind the estate, and she could just make out the outline of two men standing
beside it, deep in angry conversation. One was gesticulating wildly to the other, and voices were raised. Abruptly, the shorter of the men turned, and Alice swallowed hard, suddenly aware they’d run right into the path of danger. Looking wildly around, she then realised with horror that she was all alone. Where were the others?

  “Get off me!” she heard Leah cry out, and with a cold stab of dread realised there were probably more than two men.

  The shorter man took a step towards her, his hands clenched in fists.

  “Who are you?”

  It was Nick, and his tone was menacing, quiet. Alice stood her ground.

  “You have my pony and I want him back,” she said, in a shaky voice that she hoped didn’t betray the fear she felt.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, little girl,” Nick spat, taking another step forward. “You’d better clear off right now, do you hear me?”

  In a split second he’d lunged at her arm, fleshy fingers just grazing her elbow. But Alice was too quick. She might not be the best at running, but fear made her fast and she sprinted down the side of the lorry, before realising she was trapped. Thinking quickly as Nick and the other man caught up with her, she tucked herself into a roll, diving under the lowered ramp of the lorry. Climbing out from the other side, she felt her heart lift with relief as a pony trotted into view, silhouetted against the lights. Secret!

  But a groan escaped her lips as the pony neared. Bigger than Secret, the pony was a gorgeous grey mare, who fleetingly reminded Alice of Ella. The pony seemed nervous, and paused, ears on high alert, whole body quivering.

  “Get the blasted pony!” she heard Nick yell, and she saw him, red-faced, clambering over the ramp. On she ran. Secret had to be here; where else could he be? Then, rounding a corner, she stopped dead, the sight in front of her making her want to laugh out loud in sheer delight.

  There was a little red pony with a stable bolt between his lips, easing the metal back until the door on a ramshackle wooden stable sprang back and the clearly panicked bay pony inside cantered out, hooves scrabbling on the concrete.

  “Secret!”

  Hearing her voice Secret lifted his head, his whole body seeming to tremble as he searched out Alice in the darkness.

  “Oh, Secret!” Alice started to run towards him, then gave a cry of horror as another man appeared from nowhere, flinging a rope around Secret’s neck. Secret had been so focused on getting to Alice he hadn’t noticed the man, but now he was caught.

  Rage took over Alice, totally eclipsing any fear she felt. Lunging forward, she grabbed the man’s arm, clawing and hitting, anything to make him let go of Secret. Then she turned and watched in horror as the lorry moved forward, and the men attempted to round up the grey mare and the bay pony Secret had released.

  “That blasted roan!” she heard one of the men swear. “If he hadn’t let these two out they’d be on the lorry by now!”

  And despite the circumstances, Alice felt like cheering. Hooray for her brave pony, whose escaping tricks at home both exasperated and amused her, and now, by the sounds of it, had delayed any plans to leave the estate.

  “It doesn’t matter about him,” she heard Nick hiss. “Just get these two on board!”

  “You won’t get away with this!” Alice shouted at Nick as he approached. She was still trying to claw the rope back from the man who had hold of Secret. Nick seemed to look through her, and with a cry of horror Alice realised the terrified ponies had been loaded on to the box, forced up the ramp that had been purposely backed into the corner to allow the ponies no escape.

  Using all her strength, she tried once again to wrench the rope free, just as Secret took matters into his own hands. Alice had always prided herself on the fact Secret didn’t bite or kick, apart from the time he’d nipped Seb in France. But frightened by the shouting and Alice’s distress, Secret whipped his head round and bit the man very hard on his upper arm. The man screeched and dropped the rope immediately, pulling up his sleeve to reveal deep teeth marks. It was only a few seconds’ grace but it was enough for Alice to vault up on to Secret’s back and wheel him around, back towards the main gates.

  “Alice!”

  Finn! Thank goodness he was safe. Alice turned to see him running towards her with Leah. He was about fifty metres from the entrance.

  “We’ve got to stop that lorry leaving!” she shouted as Secret clattered over the concrete.

  Looking behind, seeing the headlights illuminated, Finn nodded.

  “OK!” he yelled, and he and Leah sprinted back.

  Alice could see they were making a real effort to try and push one of the big steel-clad gates forward, their shoes slipping on the concrete as they edged it shut. Slowly, slowly, they were closing the gap.

  Alice had nearly reached the gates now, ready to leap off and help her friends shut the lorry in. The huge vehicle was descending on them though, revving hard.

  “Come on, boy!” she urged Secret on, and then out of nowhere another man appeared, lunging at them. Swerving to the side, Secret spun round and Alice had no chance. She grabbed a handful of red mane but met only air as she clattered down on to the concrete, knocking every breath out of her body and hitting her head hard.

  Secret was out of reach; he was safe, she thought desperately as she felt Finn kneel beside her and heard the lorry pull around them. But Nick had the other ponies. Alice’s head was spinning and she thought she might be sick, but just as the lorry turned out of the gates a blur of blue lights appeared in front of her eyes. The wail of sirens grew closer until suddenly three police cars screeched to a halt and the big lorry was blocked in. Aware that Finn had pulled her close, Alice’s only thought was Secret. She just wanted to be with him, but her head was hurting too much to think now. And then, everything went black.

  “Alice!”

  The voice calling her name seemed very far away. Alice tried to force her eyes open.

  “Alice, you’re OK.” The voice was familiar; she felt safe. “Look, the ambulance is here now.”

  Alice was aware of someone else crouching besides her, of murmured words.

  “Secret…” She tried to talk, but words seemed hard to find; her tongue felt too big for her mouth. There was a strange metallic taste, and wiping her sleeve against her lip, she frowned at the red stain on her coat.

  “Secret’s safe.” It was Finn talking, and as Alice glanced up she saw her beloved red pony standing beside Leah, shifting restlessly from foot to foot.

  “Kite,” she croaked, remembering Devon. “Is Kite safe?”

  “We’ve checked. He’s safe too.” Another voice, one Alice recognised from her happy ride around Hyde Park. Officer Rosie Fairbanks knelt beside her. “We got your message and came as soon as we could.”

  Alice looked up. The lorry was parked and two ponies, one bay and one grey, stood beside it, police officers clutching lead ropes. She felt a wave of relief.

  “And Nick?” she stammered.

  Officer Fairbanks gave a grim smile.

  “We’ve got him,” she said. “At last.”

  Alice had insisted she was fine, but trying to stand up she suddenly felt very wobbly, the pain in her head increasing.

  “I want Mum,” was all she could manage, and Rosie bent down, smiling kindly.

  “We’ll ring her,” she reassured her. “We’ll need to get your pony safely back to Hyde Park while you’re checked over in hospital.”

  Hospital!

  Alice shook her head. Now she’d found Secret, there was no way she was leaving his side.

  “No,” she croaked. “I’m OK, really…”

  The paramedics who were tending her swam into focus. One raised an eyebrow, his smile kind but firm.

  “Absolutely no arguments, young lady,” he said. “You need to come in.”

  Looking desperately at Finn, Alice relaxed slightly to see him holding Secret. The little gelding adored Finn, and Alice knew she could trust him to keep her beloved pony safe. But something was w
rong. Secret was dancing around, pulling the rope from Finn’s hands as he tried to keep him steady. The normally confident pony was showing real fear in his eyes, desperately calling to Alice as she was loaded on to a stretcher.

  “Secret.” Alice tried to call to him but her voice was barely a whisper. “Secret, I’ll be back for you, I promise.”

  But Secret was clearly panicked, plunging around, half rearing as he tried to escape Finn’s grip and get to Alice as she was carried into the waiting ambulance.

  “Make sure he’s OK,” she pleaded with Leah. The little red pony whinnied over and over, his cries cutting through the night.

  “You know we will,” Leah said, but her voice betrayed her worry as Secret reared again, higher this time, almost knocking Finn to the floor. As Alice was lifted into the back of the ambulance and the doors closed behind her all she saw was the look in Secret’s eyes, and it haunted her.

  Alice hadn’t been in an ambulance since the awful day her pony Honey had died, collapsing while cross-country jumping, and severely injuring Alice in the process. Suddenly the lights and machine beeps seemed horribly familiar, and, without realising it, she reached up to the faint scar on her cheek, the only physical reminder of that day. She’d vowed to never love another pony … until Secret had come into her life. And she’d so nearly lost him tonight. The glory of the Olympia ring faded away. All that mattered was Secret.

  Alice wasn’t sure how long it had taken to get into hospital. She’d been whisked in and seen straight away for a scan, but she was feeling better all the time. She was diagnosed with mild concussion, but, as the smiling doctor had said, she’d been extremely lucky.