by Jenny Dale
Willow hesitated. “But what about the herd?” she asked. “What if they move on and you’re left behind?”
“They will not leave without me,” Storm whinnied proudly. “Tor will wait. Come now.”
And so, treading in Storm’s hoofprints, Willow followed the grey mare over the moor.
Hannah walked slowly down to the paddock. She had checked the stable but it was still empty.
It was misty this morning. She leaned on the paddock gate and stared out at the white-covered moors. It was cold, and the air was damp, but Hannah hardly noticed. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh please, Willow,” she whispered, “please come home.”
Hannah was just about to go back inside, when out of the white mist two pony shapes appeared. One was dapple-grey – but the other was bay-coloured and very like . . .
“Willow!” Hannah cried.
“Hannah!” Willow neighed back, in delight.
The next instant, Willow was cantering up the track to meet her owner. Coming to a halt, she buried her head against Hannah’s chest.
“Oh, Willow!” Hannah cried, flinging her arms round her and bursting into tears of joy. “You’ve come home!”
Willow had never felt so happy. It was wonderful having Hannah hug her again.
Lifting her head, Willow breathed on Hannah’s face and nuzzled at her hair.
Hannah started to laugh although the tears were still running down her face. “Oh, Willow! Where have you been?”
Willow snorted, wishing she could explain.
“You must be so hungry and you’re all cold and damp,” Hannah said. “I’ll get you some breakfast and dry you off.”
“Breakfast!” Willow whinnied in delight. Then suddenly, she remembered Storm. She looked round.
Storm was still standing at the top of the track. She looked almost ghostly in the mist.
“Come and have some breakfast, Storm!” Willow neighed. “There’ll be bran and pony nuts and hay, and a warm stable.”
At the top of the track, Storm shook her thick mane proudly. “Those things are for tame ponies, Willow,” she whinnied back. “I am wild and free!” She wheeled around. “Goodbye, Willow.” And with a toss of her head she disappeared into the mist.
“Goodbye!” Willow whinnied back, staring after her.
“Oh, Willow,” Hannah said. “I’m so glad you’ve come home.”
Willow turned and nuzzled Hannah’s face, happily. She knew that there would always be a little bit of her that was wild. But here, with Hannah, was just where she wanted to be.
Other Jenny Dale titles
Crumble and Custard and Other Puppy Tales
Felix the Fluffy Kitten and Other Kitten Stories
Puppy Patrol
The Snow Puppy and Other Christmas Stories
Posh Pup and Other Puppy Stories
‘Charlie the Champion Pony’, ‘Sam the School Pony’, ‘Shadow the Secret Pony’, and ‘Willow the Wild Pony’ first published 2000, in four separate volumes by Macmillan Children’s Books
This bind-up edition published 2018 by Macmillan Children’s Books
This electronic edition published 2018 by Macmillan Children’s Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
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Created by Working Partners Limited
London WC2B 6XF
ISBN 978-1-5098-7125-4
Copyright © Working Partners Limited 2000
Illustrations copyright © Frank Rodgers 2000
Cover illustration by Simon Mendez
Pony Tales is a registered trade mark of Working Partners Limited
The right of Frank Rodgers to be identified as the illustrator of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Typeset by Nigel Hazle
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