The Palomino Pony Wins Through (6 page)

C
HAPTER
E
LEVEN

A
week later and the show team were taking Porridge, a Connemara called Milky, an Exmoor named Toby, and Lily to the next date in the calendar, a qualifier show.

“Don’t worry, boy,” Georgia had whispered to Wilson that morning. “Enjoy your day relaxing in the fields. You deserve it.”

Callie had bustled up and nudged him in the
shoulder, making Georgia laugh.

“Ready!” Josephine called.

Georgia gave both ponies one last scratch before sprinting back to the lorry. Secret had been grazing, and didn’t come over to say hello. Georgia tried to swallow a tiny bubble of hurt. She knew Secret was independent and that was just the way he was, but sometimes she wished he would show a tiny bit more affection towards her. Again, she wondered what Melanie would do with him. She knew they would have to talk about it when Melanie got back from France.

With the season still in the early stages, the show was being held at an equestrian centre with all-weather arenas. It was a blustery, bright spring day, but the ground was still sodden following the wet winter. Georgia shuddered when she remembered the stormy day back in October – the night Secret was born – and the rising floods
around Redgrove Farm. Thank goodness Dan had been there and suggested that they move all the ponies to his farm.

He was working at the farm today so he wasn’t able to come and watch Georgia at the show. She missed him – lorry journeys weren’t so much fun without him!

Idly, she wondered if they’d ever get to go to the cinema after all. They had barely seen each other over the last week. Every time she thought about Dan her tummy gave a little flip! Thank goodness for Lily; she was always able to pour out her secrets to the little palomino.

Much like the last show, the morning was a flurry of activity. If Georgia wasn’t showing she was warming up another pony in the outdoor ring, or helping Shelley brush out manes and tails and apply lashings of shine spray. She was walking Lily
around on a loose rein when she felt her blood run cold. There was that girl – Lucy – standing right in front of her. Georgia looked around frantically, hoping to see Shelley, Fergus or Josephine, but she was alone.

She halted Lily. Suddenly Lucy reached out and ran a hand down the palomino’s face, gently scratching just under her chin. Lily didn’t seem nervous or worried but Lucy’s eyes were bloodshot and she looked exhausted. She was a pretty girl but she had dark rings under her eyes and was swaying slightly as she stood in front of Georgia. Her hair was matted and she looked as if she hadn’t slept for nearly a week.

“Honey, oh, Honey…” Lucy croaked, her voice cracking.

“She’s not Honey!” Georgia said as firmly as she could, pulling Lily’s head closer to her.

Lucy laughed bitterly, snapping out of her
trance. “No, of course she’s not. Honey was killed by that girl. Maybe she should know what it feels like to lose something you love.”

The grief and hatred on Lucy’s face was clear to see. Georgia had never been in a situation like this before. On one hand she could totally sympathise with Lucy – the girl had had to endure the sight of her beloved pony dying. But on the other hand, it had been a terrible accident. She felt sorry for Lucy, but at the same time she felt quite scared of her.

“Honey was my world.” Lucy was crying now. “I’ve nothing left,” she sobbed, turning and stumbling away.

For the Smalley show team, the event went well. Porridge won his class, and the other Smalley ponies both excelled in their novice classes, coming third and fifth. Georgia had given each
of the ponies a big hug and a carrot, pinning their rosettes proudly to their bridles. Lily had once again won her class. People were starting to recognise her now. Georgia was thrilled, but it didn’t feel right without Melanie and Dan to celebrate with her. Curled up in the lorry on the way home, Georgia laid the rosettes on her lap. She must email Melanie tonight and let her know how Lily had got on.

Her phone gave a familiar beep. It was Dan.

She thought for a moment before texting back regretfully.

It took ages for Dan to text back, and when he did it was fairly short.

Georgia sighed, feeling guilty. She texted back, deliberating whether to add one kiss, or two.

Settling for one, she pressed send, and waited for another beep. But Dan didn’t reply this time.

Georgia knew that she had promised Dan a trip to the cinema but she was just so busy with her job the whole time. It was hard at times, being so committed to her riding. She hoped Dan would understand.

Shelley was glued to her phone as well, texting her friends who were grooms at other yards.
She gave a little gasp, waking Fergus who was sleeping next to her, a copy of
Horse and Hound
over his face.

“What?” he said curiously.

“It’s Lucy.” Shelley squinted at the screen on her phone. “A friend has texted to say that Lucy has been sacked from the yard where she’s been working as a rider! And she’s been saying she’s out for revenge…”

C
HAPTER
T
WELVE

T
here was a feeling of unease in the yard over the next few days as the news from the text sunk in. According to Fergus, Lucy still had keys to the tack room.

“Surely she wouldn’t do anything to hurt the ponies though?” Georgia asked.

“I would hope not,” said Shelley. “But you saw her at the show. She’s gone off the rails. Honey’s
death hit her very hard, and now that she’s lost her job… It’s just too easy to find someone else to blame for everything.”

Georgia tried to push any fears to the back of her mind. It wouldn’t be long until she was back at Redgrove, and maybe Emma was right – this was for Josephine to sort out, not her. She had been thrown into an impossible situation – Alice would never ride again and Lucy would always hold the death of Honey against the Smalleys – and as much as she wanted to help, realistically it was not Georgia’s problem to solve.

As Georgia brought Secret in to continue his handling lessons, she noticed that his head collar, hanging on the hook in the tack room, was done up. That was strange, Georgia always left the strap undone when she hung it up, no matter how many times Melanie reminded her to fasten it. No one else had caught Secret. And yet it was hung up so
neatly, the lead rope coiled round in the way only experienced horsey people knew how to tie it.

Shaking herself, Georgia pushed it to the back of her mind. Paranoia was running high in the yard, but there was no reason to suspect the Redgrove ponies were in any danger! Even so, safe in his stable, Secret kept looking curiously towards the barn doors leading to the internal stables, as if he expected someone to walk through at any minute. Despite the sunshine, and the spring birdsong, it suddenly felt as though a shadow had crossed the stables.

Humming one of her favourite songs, Georgia scolded herself for being so stupid, concentrating instead on trying to teach Secret to lift a foot for a hoof pick by running her hand down his leg. Secret had been a little cheeky up to now, playfully pawing when Georgia tried to teach him, and occasionally just pretending he couldn’t
understand or hear her. This time, however, he lifted the foot perfectly, and held it quietly in place for her.

Georgia frowned. “Clever boy,” she said to the little colt, who gazed at her, blinking slowly. “It’s almost as if someone taught you to do that…”

Knocking on Dan’s front door later that evening, Georgia hopped from foot to foot as she waited for him to answer. She had finished earlier than normal so she had texted him on her way home to see if he was free, but he hadn’t replied.

Eventually Ben answered the door, looking smart in a red jumper, jeans and loafers.

“Oh, hi, Georgia,” he said. “Looking for my bro? I’m afraid he’s out. Didn’t he let you know?”

“Um, no.” Georgia fumbled for her phone. No message. “Is he going to be long?” she asked.

“I dunno.” Ben shrugged. “Some party. Someone
from your year. Becky, is it?”

Georgia shook her head. She hadn’t heard of any party. She felt a lump rising in her throat.

“OK,” she said, trying not to sound upset. “Tell him I called by, will you?”

“Sure. See you, Georgia,” Ben said, closing the door. Dejectedly, Georgia picked up her bike and headed for Emma’s house.

It didn’t take long to cycle there. Georgia propped up her bike and knocked on the front door.

“Hey, Gee!” Emma looked gorgeous in a sequinned miniskirt and vest, her hair piled up on her head.

Georgia smiled. “Hey, Em. You’re a bit dressed up for a Thursday evening!”

Emma looked confused. “Yeah, I’m off to Becky’s party. Aren’t you coming? The whole year will be there—” Emma suddenly stopped in her tracks,
catching sight of the expression on her friend’s face. Trying not to be upset, Georgia looked down at her yard boots and jodhs flecked with shavings. “Um, no,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about it.”

“You mean Dan didn’t tell you? He was going to— Oh…” Emma suddenly looked guilty.

“It’s all right, Em.” Georgia suddenly felt shattered. “I’ve been so busy at the yard, I haven’t really seen him. He probably just forgot.”

“Then come with me?” Emma cocked her head to one side as Georgia smiled wearily.

“I think I’ll leave it, Em,” said Georgia. “I feel like I need an early night. You go on though.”

“Are you sure?” Em looked at her friend with concern.

“Completely sure. Have fun!” Georgia said, turning away quickly so that Emma wouldn’t see the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Feeling hurt and confused, she jumped on her bike and headed home. Then, once she had grabbed something to eat, Georgia went up to her room. She put on her PJs and climbed into bed. She was exhausted, but instead of crashing out she ended up lying awake, thinking. She wondered if Dan had got fed up with waiting around for her. Maybe he had decided it was more fun to hang out with Becky instead. But Georgia was starting to realise she really liked Dan! What a mess.

After what seemed like hours of tossing and turning, Georgia saw her phone flash on her bedside table. Groggily she picked it up, opening the message. It was Dan.

Georgia didn’t blame Dan – after all, he had asked her to go to the cinema and she had said she was busy. It was so hard to get the balance right between showing you were keen but keeping your cool. And she felt hurt that she was the only one who hadn’t known about Becky’s party. Clearly the popular girl was making a play for Dan. She wondered if Dan had just gone off to the party for something to do or if he really liked Becky. And maybe he thought that she just wanted to be friends now. It was all so complicated!

More confused than ever, Georgia drifted into a fitful sleep.