Millie and Magic (4 page)

I’m writing this by the light of my torch. We were planning to stay up till midnight whispering, then sneak down to the kitchen and raid the treats tin, but in the end Zoe and Amy were fast asleep by ten fifteen. They were really tired because they’re not used to so much riding!

Us three had such a laugh tonight playing on the dance mats, and sitting at the kitchen table chatting and making mini-marshmallow patterns in our hot chocolates.

Then when we were snuggled up in our beds before lights out, I ended up telling them all about Tally, like how we won last year’s Crewkerne Show cross-country comp, and how he loves riding into the sea when we go to the beach, and how cute he is when he tries to
stick his head in my pocket to look for Polos. “I miss him so much and I’m desperate to get him back,” I finally admitted.

I was hoping they’d be able to help me come up with another plan to keep him, but they didn’t. Instead, Zoe said, “Mil, you really ought to talk to your mum about this. Perhaps she doesn’t realize how strongly you feel.”

“That won’t work because she won’t take any notice, as usual,” I grumbled.

“But perhaps she’ll listen when she realizes how serious you are about keeping Tally,” said Amy. “It’s got to be worth a try.”

So I’m going to do it. After all, I don’t have any better ideas, and if I don’t do something soon I’ll lose my gorgeous Tally for ever. Maybe they’re right and Mum
will
understand.

Well, I did try to talk to Mum after breakfast, but she was too busy clearing up and finding lost boots and gloves as usual. I tried again when we had our break for squash and biccies, but she was called to the phone. Then I tried
again
when she was getting Group A mounted up for her lesson, but she kept asking me to give leg-ups and adjust stirrups, and didn't listen properly. So I gave up in the end.

In the barn before the lesson, I was getting the mud off Magic's legs and I went into a daydream thinking of Tally, brushing and brushing away. I only came out of it when Zoe shook my shoulder and said, “I think you've finished.” I blinked down at Magic's legs and saw they were gleaming. Tally's always take so long I'd just assumed Magic's would too. So because
I had time I went to help Kasia. I was just pointing out where she'd missed some bits of mud when Sally came over and said, “What's going on here?”

“Millie's helping me do Tally's legs,” Kasia replied.

Sally raised an eyebrow at me. “I bet she was,” she said. I noticed then that Irenka, Zuzanna and Angelika were looking at me too, in an annoyed way. Maybe they all thought I was taking over and not letting Kasia do things for herself, but really it wasn't like that. I just wanted Tally to be thoroughly groomed. Little clods of mud like that can be uncomfortable when they dry.

“I should really get back to Magic now,” I mumbled and hurried off, before Sally could say anything else.

In the lesson this morning Sally wanted to give the older girls a challenge because they're 
picking things up really quickly, so we tried some lateral work. Magic was really good at leg yield and soon got the hang of shoulder in, too. (I didn't bother riding badly today because it didn't work yesterday.) I kept thinking he was going to get bored and go bolting off or bucking about, like Tally would, but he really listened to me and just kept trying and trying.

I was actually enjoying it, until Sally said, “Well done, Millie. I bet you never dreamed you'd get to do this kind of thing. It's not Tally's cup of tea, but with Magic, you're doing brilliantly!” I suddenly felt guilty for having fun with Magic, so I very loudly said, “I actually
like
being dragged around the manège by Tally. At least he's got personality. Magic's such a Mr Perfect, it's boring.”

“Well, I think he's fab,” Irenka said, taking me by surprise.

That's when I realized how spoilt I sounded. My stomach lurched and I tried to speak, but no words would come out. I felt terrible. I hadn't meant to put Magic down, only to defend Tally. “I know he is,” I finally managed to mumble. “I wasn't saying he's not, but… Oh, it's just… Never mind.”

Afterwards I was in the barn with Zoe and Amy, and I was just asking Zoe how Kasia and Tally got on in the lesson, when I realized Irenka was standing right behind me. “Do you have a problem with my sister riding Tally?” she asked.

I blushed bright red and gaped at her. I felt so awkward again. It's like everyone keeps misunderstanding everything I do.

“It's not Kasia's fault she got him,” she said. “You shouldn't take it out on her.”

“But I'm not!” I finally managed to croak.

“Well, stop interfering then,” said Irenka crossly, and marched off back to her friends.

“I was only trying to help,” I
barely-whispered,
but she was too far away to hear. My heart was hammering and I felt a bit trembly. Zoe put her arm round me, and Amy said, “You all right?”

I nodded, although I wasn't, not really.

“I can understand why she's got the wrong idea, Mil,” said Zoe gently. “Look, have you spoken to your mum about Tally yet?”

“I've tried!” I cried. “Three times! But she's so busy.”

“No excuses,” Amy said firmly. “Tell her at lunchtime. This is important. You have to MAKE her listen.”

So that's what I'm going to do. It's nearly time to go in now, so here goes…

Well, I’m sitting at the kitchen table with an ice pack on my ankle, and EVERYONE is cross with me.

If Mum hadn’t been too busy to listen to me again I wouldn’t have got so mad, and if I hadn’t got so mad then…

But no, I know this is no one’s fault but my own. I don’t even want to write down what happened, not really, because I feel so bad about it. But I’m stuck here by myself with nothing to do, so I might as well.

When I went up to Mum again to tell her how I felt, she was stirring a pan of soup while rummaging in the cupboard for the side plates, with her mobile clamped between her ear and shoulder, on hold to someone. As I started speaking she tried to give me the plates, saying, “Put these out, would you, love?” But I wouldn’t
take them. I just stood there with my arms folded. I wasn’t giving up this time.

As Mum hung up the phone, I took a deep breath. “I really miss Tally,” I began. “Would it be OK if I had him back next week?”

Mum sighed and clattered the plates down on the side. Then she opened the cutlery drawer and said, “I thought you liked Magic?”

“I do, it’s just that—”

“No, Millie,” she said, chopping a pile of carrots into sticks now. “We’ve talked about this. A
lot
. You’re just too big for Tally. And besides, it’s only Tuesday, you’ve hardly even given Magic a chance.”

“But I have and he’s not right for me,” I insisted. “I want Tally back. I can’t believe you just gave him to one of the Pony Camp girls without even asking me!”

“Millie!” Mum snapped. “Can’t you see I’m trying to get lunch on the table? Let’s talk about this later when there’s time—”

“There’s never time!” I shouted, and stormed out.

After that, I was just so angry and upset that I wasn’t thinking straight. I thought I’d never get the chance to ride Tally again. That’s why I came up with such a completely stupid idea.

As the girls passed me on their way in to lunch, all chatting and laughing, I grabbed Zoe and Amy by the hand and pulled them back outside. I told them what I was planning and begged them to cover for me. “Just tell Mum I’ve gone to share Dad’s sandwiches in the yard office,” I said. Amy was fine about it, but Zoe didn’t want to at first. “It’s no big deal,” I insisted. “I’m just going to take Tally up to the cross-country course and pop over a few fences. I’ll have him back and untacked before
anyone notices. I’ll probably even be back in time for pudding. Please, Zo, this is really important to me.” She still wasn’t sure, but she did promise not to say anything to Mum in the end.

I wish I could go back in time and change things, but it’s too late now.

I sneaked off, keeping an eye out for Lydia and Dad, but there was no one around. Tally’s saddle and bridle were still hanging on the rail in the barn, along with the others. I tacked him up quickly, ruffling his mane and whispering how much I’d missed him. He nuzzled my shoulder and I knew he’d missed me too. I heaved myself into the saddle and off we went. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Lydia coming out of the feed room, but she didn’t look our way, thank goodness.

We trotted up the lane and through the gate into the far field, where the cross-country course is. We warmed up for a bit then did a
couple of circuits of the hedge and gate, then over the tyres and ditch. It was great to be riding Tally again, and I could tell how much he was enjoying having a good razz around.

Then we did the log pile, hedge and ditch combo. It was fun but we’d done it so many times before…

We’d never tried the high part of the log jump, though.

I’d always thought me and Tally could manage it, if only we’d been allowed to try. I’d asked Sally a few times, but she’d always said no and made me stick to the low side. But Tally’s got such a bold jump I was sure we could clear it. I circled a couple of times and jumped the low half as usual. We sailed over, easy-peasy. The high bit couldn’t be
that
different, could it?

“Millie!”

The shout made me glance up. Not Mum – phew! Zoe and Amy. I must have lost track of time, because they’d snuck up here at the end of lunch to tell me it was nearly time to go back on the yard.

“Hey, watch this!” I shouted.

I kicked Tally on, really letting him go. In hindsight, I should have kept him more collected, and thought about
power
, not speed. Now that we were thundering towards the jump, the high side looked
very
high.

Tally jumped long and flat. His front legs hit the solid log and he scrabbled over, only just managing to get his feet down at the other side and avoid falling on to his shoulder. I went flying, of course. I landed weirdly on my ankle, then my chest hit the ground and all the breath was knocked out of me.

I heard my friends shouting my name and it seemed to take them for ever to reach me.

“I’m OK,” I croaked, but then, “Ow!” I yelped, as I tried to move. My ankle hurt so much I thought it must be broken. Wincing with pain, I pulled myself up to sitting, then scanned the field for Tally.

My stomach lurched when I saw he was limping. I’d been in such a hurry to get out here without being spotted that I hadn’t even bandaged his legs. That knock must have hurt
so
much. I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. I called to him, but he wouldn’t come to me.

“Let’s get you up,” said Amy. She looked really worried. They both did. She slipped her arm under mine on one side, and Zoe did the same on the other. They heaved me to my feet, but my legs were trembling so much that I collapsed back into a heap on the grass.

That’s when Zoe got really scared and went running back to get help.

After a while, Zoe came dashing into the field with Mum. Mum fell on to her knees and pulled me into a hug. “Thank goodness you’re OK!” she gasped. Then… “How dare you come out here by yourself! What a stupid, stupid thing to do. How could you be so irresponsible?!”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so angry. Amy and Zoe just looked at the grass, probably hoping she wouldn’t turn on
them
. Then Dad came running up with Sally. He looked almost as angry as Mum. I tried again to get up, but my ankle throbbed so much it made me gasp. “It’s OK, I’ve got you,” said Dad, lifting me into his arms.

“I’ll get Tally,” said Sally.

“I hope he’s OK!” I stuttered.

“So do I,” she said grimly, then hurried off.