The Palomino Pony Comes Home (6 page)

C
HAPTER
T
WELVE

A
fter persuading her mum to let her go, Georgia pulled on some clothes and sprinted out of the cottage, grabbing her bike. Quickly, she cycled down the roads and up the lane until she arrived at the yard. There she found Melanie leading Lily round. Lily’s sides were slick with sweat.

“She’s colicking, Georgia.” Melanie sounded worried. “I didn’t want to call you after the day
you’ve had but I thought you’d want to know. The vet should be back any minute.”

Georgia’s whole body felt cold. She knew that colic, although fairly common in horses, could be fatal in some cases. Not this, not after everything that Lily had already been through!

“She must have swallowed some river water,” said Melanie. “Or perhaps it’s delayed shock. Carry on leading her round. I’m going to see where he is. Don’t let her roll, whatever you do.”

Georgia took the lead rope that Melanie offered and continued to walk Lily round. The little pony’s tummy gave an ominous rumble. She was obviously in serious pain and kept trying to paw at her stomach. She looked at Georgia with enormous frightened eyes and began to sink to her knees.

“No!” Georgia begged the palomino, pulling on her with all her strength. She was afraid that Lily
was trying to roll, which was the most dangerous thing that a horse with colic could do.

“Please, Lily. Don’t give up!” Georgia sobbed, pushing against her shoulder and nudging her to continue around the yard. Just when she thought her legs were going to buckle, the vet appeared, running through the wrought-iron gates. Taking one look at Lily, he snapped open his briefcase and produced a syringe.

“Keep her moving!” he instructed as he measured up a dose of painkillers.

After quickly administering the drug, the vet grabbed the lead rope and took over from Georgia. Lily’s eyes were wild now, her ears pinned back with pain and fear. Georgia felt a sob rising in her throat, choking her. The vet was much stronger and managed to keep the little pony walking and, after what seemed like a lifetime, Lily started to calm.

“I’m going to give her some charcoal to soak up whatever’s still lurking in her tummy,” he explained to Georgia as he listened to Lily’s stomach with his stethoscope. “I think she’s going to be OK. Luckily Melanie noticed in time before she could roll and twist her guts.”

Relief flooded through Georgia.

“She’s not completely out of the woods,” the vet warned, “but she’s a strong pony, and young and fit. Now, put her back in her stable and I’ll get going.”

One long hour later, Lily was starting to show some signs of improvement. Georgia kept her warm with a wool rug. Although it was the middle of summer, the night still had a slight chill and Lily had been sweating heavily. Melanie raked over the floor as Georgia stroked Lily’s golden neck, gazing at her white eyelashes and tiny ears.

“You’re so perfect,” she whispered, and the pony made a quiet nickering sound.

“She’s been through a rough time, the poor girl,” said Melanie as she filled up Lily’s water bucket.

“Let me stay with her tonight!” Georgia begged. “I can keep an eye on her!” She looked at Melanie pleadingly.

Melanie hesitated. “I’m not sure about that, Georgia. We’d need to see what your mother thinks.”

“OK, but if she agrees, will you let me?” Georgia persevered.

“OK.” Melanie smiled. “Let me phone her now. I guess I could leave the house unlocked in case you needed me.”

Quietly, Melanie closed the half-door behind her and made her way over to the house to make the call. She returned a few moments later, carrying
a dark-blue blanket. “I’ve spoken to your mum,” she said. “She’s not best pleased about it but she eventually said yes.”

“That’s great!” Georgia grinned through a strand of hair.

“On one condition,” said Melanie. “That you eat all of your supper. She’s on her way up with it now.”

“I think I might manage that,” said Georgia. It had been the last thing on her mind, but now that she came to think about it, she was actually feeling rather hungry.

“I’m sure Lily will be very grateful to have you here,” said Melanie. “But remember, you must let me know if you need me to take over. Just shout if you need me.”

“Thanks, Melanie, I will,” said Georgia, settling back down into the straw.

When Georgia’s mother appeared ten minutes later, she was carrying a flask of soup, a crusty roll and some home-made cake.

Cautiously, she pulled back the door to the stable. “She’s an angel,” she breathed quietly as she stood in the doorway.

 “I know, Mum,” Georgia said proudly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? There’s something so special about her. I just love her already!”

“What am I going to do with you, Georgia Black?” Her mother put the supper down on the blue blanket and leaned over to give her a hug. “Are you sure you’re going to be OK here overnight, sweetheart?” she asked.

“Definitely,” said Georgia determinedly. “I have to stay.”

Her mum smiled. “I thought you might say that!”

She sat with Georgia while she ate her food,
asking her questions about the summer school, which Georgia answered as best she could, only blushing slightly when Dan’s name came up. Then, when the last remnants had been devoured, her mum got to her feet and ruffled her daughter’s hair affectionately. “Be sure to get Melanie if you need her,” her mum said, letting herself out of the stable. She paused and looked in over the half-door. “And try to get some sleep, darling.”

“I will. Thanks, Mum.” Georgia smiled appreciatively.

After her mother had left, Georgia snuggled down into the straw and pulled the blanket over her. She couldn’t believe how still the night was now after the drama of earlier. Lily was standing quietly at the back of the stable, resting a leg. She didn’t come any closer, but she didn’t look scared either.

Georgia was exhausted after the trauma of the last twenty-four hours and although she tried to fight to stay awake to watch the pony, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Eventually when, with a small sigh, Lily finally closed her eyes, Georgia allowed herself to drift off to sleep. And later, comforted by the presence of the girl who had shown her such kindness, the palomino pony lay down for the first time in months and slept.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

W
hen dawn broke, girl and pony were still fast asleep. That was how Melanie found them as the first few rays of sunshine bounced off Lily’s coat, turning it a deep pink. Georgia’s golden hair, which was spread out in a tangled wave, was full of straw.

“Georgia … Georgia … it’s time to wake up,” Melanie whispered.

Lily started at the sound of her voice and hastily got to her feet. Georgia rubbed her eyes and gazed sleepily around her.

“The vet’s popping over before his surgery opens,” Melanie said. “If I make you a bacon sandwich, can you feed the ponies?”

“Sure.” Georgia nodded, the thought of a bacon sandwich making her mouth water. She was starving, despite the soup and cake Mum had brought her last night.

Leaving Lily’s stable, Georgia set to work. She fed Wilson a competition mix and Callie a small handful of pony nuts, before making up a small bran mash for Lily. Then she turned Wilson and Callie out into the paddock, smiling as they rolled together in the dusty earth.

Lily tucked eagerly into her bran mash, keeping an eye on Georgia as she ate. Georgia watched her for a few minutes before setting about mucking
out the stables. She skipped out the beds, fluffed up the straw and washed out the feed bowls. She was just finishing off when Melanie emerged from the house, carrying a bacon sandwich and a steaming mug of tea. Georgia took them from her gratefully, just as the vet pulled into the yard.

“How’s she doing?” he said, getting out of his car.

“OK, I think,” said Melanie. “Georgia stayed with her all night.”

“Now, that’s dedication!” laughed the vet. “Well, let’s take a look at her then.” He drew back the bolt on the door and stepped inside. “She was in a very fragile state last night,” he said as he checked her pulse. “Has she eaten her bran mash?”

“Yup.” Georgia grinned. “She’s had it all!”

The vet nodded as he checked Lily’s respiration
and temperature before finally listening to her abdomen with a stethoscope.

“Well, she’s much improved,” he declared. “You could turn her out if you want.”

“Why don’t you put her in the small paddock next to Wilson and Callie then, Georgia?” said Melanie.

Carefully, Georgia led Lily out, taking care not to startle her, and unclipped her once they were in the field. Georgia stood back to watch as, hesitantly, Lily stepped forward. In the next moment she had launched herself into a floating extended trot.

“I think you can safely say she’s made herself at home.” The vet grinned, before heading for his car.

When he had driven away, Melanie turned to Georgia. “Well, I’ve got good news and bad,” she said, looking at her intently.

“OK,” Georgia said slowly. She took a deep breath. “Let’s start with the good news then.”

“All right.” Melanie hesitated. “Well, I’ve phoned the Builth pony sales.” She paused. “And I’ve managed to trace her owner – Mr Williams. He’s furious with his granddaughter. Her version of the story was that Lily had turned on her and nearly broken her leg and then run away. But knowing Lily, he’d had his doubts. So he wasn’t at all surprised when I told him what had really happened.”

“As if Lily would turn on anyone!” Georgia snorted with disgust.

“I know … a likely story, eh?” said Melanie. “Anyway, the good news is that Mr Williams remembered you. And he wants us to have Lily! We’ve agreed a price and I’m going to send him a cheque.”

Georgia gasped. “Wow – that’s brilliant!” Then
she looked a bit sheepish. “I hope you haven’t had to pay too much.”

“She wasn’t cheap but she hasn’t broken the bank!” Melanie smiled, wrapping an arm around Georgia’s shoulder. “But I think she’s worth it!”

“Thanks so much, Melanie!” Georgia felt completely overwhelmed. Then she remembered that there was more. “So what’s the bad news?” she asked tentatively.

“The bad news,” Melanie hesitated, “is the girl – Jemma, Mr Williams’s granddaughter. He seems to think that she might cause some trouble when she hears that Lily has gone to you. He said we should watch out for her on the show circuit. Apparently she can be quite difficult.”

“But there’s nothing she can do, is there?” said Georgia, feeling worried all of a sudden.

“Not a thing,” said Melanie. “Not once the cheque has cleared. He was just warning us.”
Seeing Georgia’s anxious expression, she smiled. “Don’t worry, Lily isn’t going anywhere. Now, come on, let’s go and get to know the newest member of our family!”

Later on that day, Emma pushed her bike into the yard, dressed in electric-blue leggings and a baggy purple T-shirt. “So, what do you think?” she said to her best friend, doing a twirl.

“Of what?” asked Georgia, looking up from the piece of tack she had been cleaning. She’d texted Emma earlier and asked her to come over to Redgrove as soon as she could.

“Of me,” said Emma. “I’ve got some new clothes.”

“Oh, Em.” Georgia laughed, hanging up the clean bridle. “You always look great!” She gave her friend a broad smile. “Come with me. I want you to meet the new arrival.”

“New arrival?” said Emma. “The Haydens have a new pony?”

“Yep!” said Georgia. “And she’s the best. Oh, Em, I’ve got so much to tell you!”

In the drama of Lily’s arrival, Georgia hadn’t had a chance to tell her best friend everything that had happened. That’s why she’d texted her at the first opportunity to ask her to come up to the yard.

“It must have been quite a summer course for you to come back this happy,” said Emma.

“There was never a dull moment,” said Georgia, tucking her arm through her friend’s. “Actually, there were loads, but something amazing happened as well.”

“Tell me everything,” said Emma.

So Georgia did.

Emma’s eyes were as wide as saucers when her friend finally stopped for breath. “I can’t
believe you didn’t tell me all of this sooner!” she exclaimed.

“I know, I’m sorry,” Georgia said. “But everything happened so quickly. And Dan was really kind and helpful, and he saved Lily’s life. He’s a complete hero.”

“He also happens to be the best-looking guy at our school,” Emma pointed out, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

 “Is he?” said Georgia nonchalantly. “Well, he’s very nice. But I don’t think of him like that.” She looked thoughtful. Was that entirely true? She thought of Dan as many things – kind and brave and heroic, but boys were really not high on her list of priorities right now, not when she could spend her time looking after ponies. “Come on,” she said, leading her friend to the fields at the back. “You need to meet Lily.”

As they stood at the gate to the small paddock, Emma let out a low whistle of approval. “Wow!” she said, reaching out her hand to where the palomino was grazing close by. Lily immediately moved off and trotted over to the fence at the back of the field, so Georgia reminded Emma why Lily was so skittish.

“That evil girl,” her friend murmured with tears in her eyes. “But Lily’s safe now, isn’t she? Jemma will never get her back!”

“I hope not,” Georgia said grimly as they turned to go. She stopped to look over her shoulder at the beautiful pony, resting in the shade of the ancient horse chestnut. It was hard to believe that so much had happened to her.

“I won’t ever let you be scared or in danger again, Lily,” said Georgia. “I promise you that. Your future’s safe with me.”

Georgia and Emma walked quietly back to the yard and when Dan showed up half an hour later, as promised, Emma had an inexplicable fit of giggles.

Georgia blushed, noticing for the first time that Emma was right – Dan really was pretty nice-looking! Suddenly overcome with shyness, she took him to visit Lily. He whistled softly as they looked into her paddock. She raised her head and nickered in response.

“See! She remembers you!” Georgia cried in delight, her nerves forgotten. “She knows you’re the one who saved her!”

“And you.” Dan smiled. “She’s lovely, isn’t she?” he said. “I can’t wait to watch you ride her!”

Emma made a little spluttering sound, and Georgia blushed even more. “Well, that would be great,” she said. “But we’re going to have to take it really slow after everything she’s been through.”

Dan nodded. “Well, if you need me, you know where I am,” he said kindly, before asking Emma if she wanted him to thump her on the back. “Nasty cough you’ve got there,” he told her, his eyes twinkling. This time it was Emma’s turn to blush.