The Palomino Pony Wins Through (2 page)

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

“W
hat?” Dan sighed in dismay as Georgia filled him in on the plan later that day, as they sat in his kitchen. She hadn’t mentioned anything at the show as she’d wanted to chat to her mum about it all first. “You mean you won’t be up at Redgrove for the Easter holidays?”

“It’s only for three weeks, Dan,” Georgia replied. “And it’s not even that far away.”

“It’s miles,” Dan said gloomily. “I won’t be able to pop in to see you after my shift on the farm, like I always do. And how are you going to get there every day?”

“Mum’s agreed to drop me off,” said Georgia. “Melanie called her as soon as we got back from the show. She was over the moon about it. She’s happy I’ve got a holiday job.”

“Holiday job?” Dan looked puzzled.

“Yes, I’m being paid!” smiled Georgia. “Can you believe it? Someone is actually
paying
me to be around horses!”

But Dan just gave a small frown and started tearing his toast up into small pieces.

Georgia tried to swallow a feeling of apprehension. She had never ridden anywhere other than Redgrove before, but she was sure it would be all right.

“There’s a bus that goes there from the end of the
road, so you can come and see me?” said Georgia, trying to make him feel better.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dan replied, finally looking up. “It’s just that, well, the holidays, and…”

“And?” Georgia prompted.

“Well, I thought, you know, we…” A blush spread over his face and Georgia felt a flutter of nerves flood through her. She looked away, embarrassed. “I had thought that maybe we could go to the cinema or something, that was all,” Dan finished. “But you’re going to be too busy…”

Georgia opened her mouth to respond but then stopped, blushing furiously.

It was the first time they’d come anywhere close to talking about what had happened at the end-of-summer dance last year when they’d shared a moment together. What with all the drama of the autumn, they hadn’t mentioned it since, and things had more or less gone back to normal after
that – they were just good friends…

But was that
really
all they were? Georgia did think Dan was very handsome, and when he was sitting next to her she sometimes felt a funny tingly feeling in her tummy. And she often caught Dan looking at her when he thought she wouldn’t notice.

“Look, don’t worry,” said Dan. “Forget it.”

“But I don’t want to forget—”

At that moment, Dan’s brother Ben came into the kitchen, breaking up the conversation. “All good?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he took in the slightly awkward atmosphere in the room.

“Perfect,” Dan said through gritted teeth.

Georgia turned to catch Dan’s eye but already he had looked away. She could kick herself. She liked Dan and he liked her, but it was too late – the moment had passed.

“I guess I’d better get going then,” she said.

“Sure,” said Dan, taking her to the front door. “I’ll see you at school.”

“Yeah.” Georgia hesitated. “Tomorrow then, at school.”

Pushing the awkward conversation with Dan to the back of her mind, the more Georgia thought about her work experience at the yard, the more excited she became. Alongside her mum and Dan, there was one other person she wanted to share the news with – and that was Emma. She and Emma had been best friends since they’d first met at school when they were very young. Emma loved horses and ponies too, though not quite as much as Georgia did!

So that evening Georgia cycled over to Emma’s house to tell her everything. It wasn’t long before the two of them were busy looking up the Smalleys’ yard on the Internet.

“Wow! It says they’ve got three outdoor arenas as well as an indoor school,” Emma exclaimed, brushing her dark-brown hair out of her eyes and peering at the laptop perched on her knees. “Look, Georgia!”

Georgia gazed at the rows and rows of beautiful ponies that flashed across the screen, alongside reels and reels of rosettes and championship results.

“Hey, she’s got a daughter,” Emma said, reading from the list of results on the Smalley show team website. “Alice. Hmm, that’s weird,” she commented, frowning at the screen.

“What?” replied Georgia.

“Well,” said Emma, “Alice’s results only go up to last year, when she was champion at the Horse of the Year Show. Nothing since then. I wonder why she isn’t competing now?”

Georgia shrugged. “Could be a million reasons,
Em,” she said, not really thinking about it too much. “Look at Sophie and how she went off riding.”

“True,” said Emma.

Melanie and Simon’s daughter had gone through a phase last summer – around the time she had gone to university – when all she’d wanted to do was hang out with boys. Riding had taken a very definite second place. Georgia couldn’t imagine ever being like that! Sophie was really into horses again now though, and when she was home the first thing she ever wanted to do was ride Wilson. Georgia even had to text her photos of him!

“So what do you say to a hot chocolate, Gee?” Emma said finally, popping down the laptop and heading for the door.

“I’d say that was a great plan!” Georgia replied, jumping to her feet and following her friend downstairs to the kitchen.

School seemed to drag by that week, now that Georgia was so looking forward to the Easter holidays. As the end-of-day bell rang on Friday, Georgia and Dan hurried down the school steps together, ready to go to Redgrove.

“Hey, Dan!”

A sugary, tinkly voice stopped them in their tracks.

Ugh
, Georgia thought to herself. It was Becky Hanbury, the biggest flirt in the year. She was also the most
annoying
girl in the school!

“How are you doing?” Becky continued.

“I’m good, thanks.” Dan smiled pleasantly enough. He hadn’t seemed to notice the way that Becky was batting her eyelids at him. But then that was Dan all over. He didn’t seem to have any idea that pretty much
all
the girls liked him. He wasn’t the same as the other boys – into girls or hanging
around in town. And he was very handsome!

“Off to the farm to feed your sheep, Dan?” Becky asked, flicking her long blonde locks.

Blimey
, Georgia thought, rolling her eyes.

Dan laughed, but not in a mean way. “They’re cows actually, Becky, but yeah, I’m off to the farm once I’ve helped Georgia with the ponies.”

“Oh.” Becky wrinkled her nose as if there was a bad smell in the room. Then she turned to Georgia. “You’re
always
busy with those ponies. Don’t you get a little bored?”

“No-ooo,” said Georgia, frowning and wishing she could walk right past Becky.

Turning her attention away from Georgia, Becky placed a hand on Dan’s arm.

“Well,” she purred, fluttering her mascara-laden eyes at him. “If you fancy hanging out over the holidays, just message me! I’m sure you can’t play with the ponies
all
the time.”

“Pathetic!” Georgia muttered under her breath as Becky headed off.

She was still feeling grumpy about it on the journey home. It wasn’t that Dan had done anything wrong, really. He hadn’t encouraged Becky, but he hadn’t shrugged her off either.

As Georgia stared out of the bus window, she wondered why Becky had annoyed her so much. After all, Georgia and Dan were just friends, weren’t they? She knew that Dan
had
liked her, but maybe he didn’t think about her like that any more. And Georgia wasn’t really sure how she felt about him!

Georgia bit down nervously on her lip. Becky wasn’t really Dan’s type, was she? She was so silly and flirty, but then she was really pretty too. Ugh, it was so complicated. Why couldn’t boys be straightforward, like ponies!

C
HAPTER
F
OUR

“I
never knew horses could have so much stuff!” Dan laughed.

It was a week later and Dan was helping Melanie and Georgia load up the ponies, ready to take them over to the Smalleys’ yard. Simon was going to drive Callie and Wilson in the horsebox with Dan, and Melanie was going to take Lily and Secret in the trailer with Georgia.

“It’s mostly Wilson’s things,” said Georgia, hauling the thoroughbred cross’s bag of rugs from behind her and placing them carefully in the living compartment of the horsebox. “It’s because he’s on the circuit.”

Dan made a face.

Georgia stuck her tongue out in response. Wilson really did need a lot of things for competing!

“Lily, Secret and Callie will be fine with just their tack, head collar and a grooming kit,” she said, playing with Lily’s worn red halter nervously. Josephine Smalley was so smart and famous, Georgia really hoped she wouldn’t feel out of place!

“Now, Georgia, how are you feeling?” Melanie said, smiling at Georgia as she stepped out of the back door and on to the yard.

“I’m fine!” Georgia said, trying to sound cheerful. “Totally fine.”

Closing up the back of the horsebox, they walked over to the trailer. Earlier in the day, Georgia had shared a tearful goodbye with Emma.

“It’s only three weeks, Ems, and I’m not staying there!” Georgia had chuckled as Emma wiped her eyes. “And you can come and watch me at the shows if you want to.”

“I could come with Dan?” Emma had sniffed.

“Well, there you go!” Georgia laughed before hugging her best friend.

But now Georgia felt anxious and a little sick as they turned out of Redgrove Farm. What if she was useless, and let the Smalley yard down?

“Are you sure they have room for
all
the ponies?” she asked Melanie for the hundredth time.

“Yes, of course they do, Georgia,” Melanie reassured her. “You’ve seen the yard on the Web – it’s massive. When you see it for real, you’ll know what I mean.” She paused and looked at Georgia.
“If at any time you feel worried, you know you can just ring or email me in France, don’t you?”

Georgia nodded and Melanie gave her a smile. “It won’t be long before we’re all back at Redgrove. And this will be a brilliant experience for you!”

“I know,” said Georgia, smiling back. She was excited and nervous all at the same time, her tummy churning like it was the morning of a big jumping competition! She gazed out of the window for the rest of the journey, watching the fields whizz by. Just what would the next three weeks hold for them all?

When Melanie had said the yard was massive, she wasn’t exaggerating. Once the Redgrove ponies were settled into their stables, Josephine had given them all a whistle-stop tour. There were lots of stables, stalls and barns. Paddocks filled with
beautiful horses surrounded the yard, and the yard’s fields stretched as far as the eye could see. Georgia couldn’t believe how many ponies and horses there were – Dartmoors, Exmoors and even a cute black Shetland who peered at them through the fuzziest forelock ever.

“They’re all gorgeous!” Georgia was beside herself with excitement as they came to a halt in the middle of the yard. Josephine seemed much friendlier today, wearing old jeans and yard boots, and a navy sweater that had shavings stuck to it like snowflakes. She had a black Labrador by her side, whose greying muzzle and slightly stiff walk gave away her age. Her tail was constantly wagging and she kept offering Georgia her paw.

“Down, Poppy,” Josephine gently scolded the friendly dog, who was now placing both paws on Georgia’s jeans.

“It’s OK,” Georgia laughed. “I’ve got a spaniel
myself at home. I love dogs – nearly as much as I love ponies.”

“I can tell,” Josephine said warmly. “I always recognise a true animal lover. It’s clear looking at the way you are with Lily just how much you care. Everyone on the show circuit loves your story – you’ve done so well to get her to trust you.”

Georgia felt herself blush at the compliment. “I couldn’t have done it without Melanie,” she said, thinking of the little yard as they drew alongside a box and looked inside.

Lily was standing quietly in the stable with Secret next door. He was nearly as tall as his mum now, so he could easily reach over and say hello. Wilson was in the box next to Secret, pulling at his hay net and making faces every time a horse looked his way. Callie was staring curiously across the yard at another Exmoor who eyed her with interest.

Callie gave a small whinny before turning back
to her own hay net and tucking in.

Melanie stroked Wilson’s long ears. “I’ll miss you, boy,” she whispered into his neck.

“I’ll look after them,” Georgia said.

Melanie smiled. “I know you will,” she said, giving Wilson a final pat goodbye. “I don’t know what I would do without you sometimes!”

“Now, let me show you the kitchen,” Josephine said to Georgia and Dan as they collected Georgia’s rucksack and waved Melanie off in her four-by-four. “In my opinion, it’s one of the most important rooms on the yard. Nothing like a cup of tea after a ride!”

“Great!” Georgia said, still feeling shy as she followed her into the large kitchen of a whitewashed farmhouse.

She peered around her. The room was filled with red rosettes and sashes, which were strung along the low wooden beams, jostling for space
with brightly coloured mugs hanging from hooks. A large black cat with yellow eyes was sprawled across a scrubbed wooden table and there were photos of ponies everywhere you looked – ponies in the spotlight, jumping huge rustic fences, or headshots in bridles, festooned with rosettes. The result was a chaotic but cosy space, and horsey heaven, as far as Georgia was concerned.

Georgia’s eyes were instantly drawn to a photo of a young girl riding a palomino pony who was not dissimilar to Lily. The girl in the picture was probably just a little bit younger than Georgia, and she had a look of pure happiness on her face.

“What a gorgeous photo!” Georgia said, but instantly regretted it as a look of pain flashed across Josephine’s face.

Josephine closed her eyes for a moment, before quickly regaining her composure, and smiling. “Yes, that’s Alice, my daughter,” she said in a
bright voice, but Georgia detected a slight waver.

“Oh,” Georgia said, not wanting to ask any more.

Josephine continued. “Alice is at school right now – she’s a day pupil at a boarding school and she goes on Saturdays, you see,” she said. “You’ll meet her later.”

Georgia cleared her throat. “I heard she’s a brilliant rider,” she commented.

“She is.” Josephine smiled sadly, and was silent for a few seconds. “Or rather was. Very much like you, she understands horses—”

But before she could continue there was a crash as the cat jumped off the table, knocking over a cup, and the moment was broken.

“Now, let me show you the tack room,” said Josephine, looking relieved to be able to change the subject.