Horse in Danger

by Michelle Bates

“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t hang around yesterday,” Rosie was quick to go on. “I didn’t have much time – the cross-country session at my stables took longer than I’d expected and Mum was expecting me home.” She didn’t want to admit that she’d overheard what he’d said.

  “No worries,” Jake said quickly. “I guessed you were just busy. Dancer and I got a lot of training done,” he said cheerily. “And I was really grateful for the food. O’Grady hasn’t shown his face around again, has he?”

  “No, we haven’t heard a thing,” Rosie answered. “I think he’s probably off your trail by now – looking further afield.”

  “That’s what I’ve been banking on. But you will tell me if he turns up again, won’t you?” Jake said nervously.

  “Sure,” Rosie answered.

  “Thanks,” he said, putting the saddle onto Silver Dancer’s back and fastening the girth. “So what’s going on at your stables?”

  “Well,” Rosie hesitated. “There are a lot of team chases and trials coming up and Nick’s about to pick a team. It’s normally great fun, only this year I’m a bit worried that I won’t make it,” she rambled on. “You see, there’s Tom and Charlie – they’re leagues above the rest of us – and then Jess and I are next down. But Kate and Izzy have really come on and...”

  “Ah, feeling under pressure,” Jake said thoughtfully.

  “I suppose so,” Rosie said.

  “Well, it’ll make you even more determined to get in the team,” Jake said. “Now come on, why don’t you try out Dancer today?”

  “You can’t mean that?” Rosie’s heart started to beat faster.

  “I do – you must be dying to ride her,” Jake said.

  “But...but, I don’t know what to say. She’s too valuable. I couldn’t. I mean – ride a top racehorse?”

  “You’ll be OK,” Jake said. “I’m not suggesting you go galloping off into the distance. Go on...take her round nice and easy.”

  Rosie looked unsure, but deep down she was bursting to have a go.

  “Come on,” Jake laughed. “Just get on. I’ll give you a leg up.”

  Grabbing her riding hat, Rosie jumped up onto the black horse. Silver Dancer was high – about seventeen hands and her slim sides contrasted sharply with Pepper’s round belly. Although Rosie loved Pepper dearly, Silver Dancer was altogether in a different league to the little black and white pony. Suddenly Rosie felt very important. Whatever would the others say when they heard this?

  But they wouldn’t hear it, would they? This was something she wasn’t going to be able to share...not even with Jess. Still, the feeling of disappointment was only momentary. Rosie sprang into the saddle. It felt funny sitting up there – the racing saddle was different – more lightweight, and the stirrups were shorter.

  “You don’t need to ride like that; you can lengthen them a bit if you want to,” Jake said, noticing her discomfort.

  “OK,” Rosie said. Undoing the buckle, she lengthened the leathers and put her feet in the stirrups. Giving a squeeze to her calves, Silver Dancer went forward into an easy trot.

  “Go on,” Jake called. “Take her around the paddock. I’ll follow on behind.”

  Gingerly, Rosie trotted forward, stretching down to pat the downy neck of the black racehorse. Jake was right – she was an absolute dream to ride.

  “I can’t believe how calm she is,” Rosie called across the grass.

  “That’s one of her strengths,” Jake answered. “You should see her on a racecourse. She’s so sure of herself. Never frets; never gets herself stressed out; just takes it all in her stride.”

  Again, Rosie could hear the pride in his voice. She grinned. She could hardly feel the horse beneath her as they glided around the paddock. It was as though they were riding on air. She longed to go a little faster and try Silver Dancer at a canter, but she knew that that would be pushing things.

  “OK, bring her over here now,” Jake called.

  Rosie pulled the horse up alongside the fence and jumped to the ground.

  “Pretty good,” Jake said. “Quite a natural.”

  Rosie blushed furiously. She’d been trying her best, concentrating harder than she ever normally would at Sandy Lane, but still she was sure she must have looked a little wooden. She felt relieved that Jake hadn’t said so.

  As Jake took a turn at riding Dancer around the paddock, Rosie noticed the skill and grace with which he rode. How long would it be before she could ride like that? Enviously, she watched as they cantered across the diagonal, horse and rider looking perfectly at ease together. Silver Dancer’s muscles rippled through her coat.

  Jake grinned across. “I think we’ll take a break now,” he said. “Dancer looks as though she’ll lose patience if I take her round that paddock again. Did you bring any food? I’m starving.”

  “Sure,” Rosie said, suddenly realizing how hungry she was now that Jake had mentioned it.

  “Well, I’ll just feed Silver Dancer first,” Jake said.

  And so, as the racehorse began to eat, the other two tucked into the ham, cheese and bread that Rosie had brought. They would have made an unusual sight to any onlooker as they sat there, chattering away in the grounds of the deserted old house. The time passed quickly – almost without Rosie really noticing it. Jake really opened up to her – told her about his family, and in return she told him about hers. Both were the eldest child in their families and found they had a lot in common.

  “Come on,” Jake said finally, brushing the crumbs from his jumper and springing to his feet. “Let’s take Dancer for a hack in the woods. We can take turns.”

  “OK,” Rosie grinned. She was beginning to enjoy herself now. And she’d got the whole afternoon ahead of her as well. As the pair of them walked off, she realized that for once she didn’t even miss Sandy Lane.

  8

  CAUSE FOR ALARM

  Rosie’s bike wobbled as she sped round the corner to Sandy Lane Stables the next morning. Desperately, she tried to look at her watch while she steered. A quarter to eleven – not long till cross-country training. She was going to be late if she didn’t hurry. She’d had to make another trip to the fodder merchant before going to South Grange that morning and somehow the time had just flown. Trying to look nonchalant, Rosie cycled down the drive to the stables and rode into the yard.

  Quickly propping her bike up by the barn, she made her way over to the tack room. And then she looked up and saw Jess striding over to her.

  “Hi Rosie.” She grinned. “Where have you been?”

  “Oh, I had a bit of a lie-in,” Rosie shrugged.

  “Lazy so and so,” Jess laughed. “So where did you get to yesterday? You were a bit vague on the phone.”

  “Oh er, something came up, you know how it is,” Rosie said.

  Jess shrugged her shoulders. “You missed a good session over the cross-country. Tom was there, and Alex and Kate, oh and Izzy too. Midnight was going like a dream.”

  “Oh...” Rosie didn’t know what to say. She felt disappointed that she hadn’t been there and a bit funny that Jess hadn’t even questioned her further. Rosie shrugged her shoulders and turned away. “So it was good then, was it?” she started again, torturing herself.

  “Brilliant,” Jess said, oblivious to Rosie’s discomfort. “Nick wanted to know where you were but I told him you had something else to do. Oh gosh, and I know what I meant to tell you – that chap phoned – you know the one about the racehorse. He was in a real panic – his trainer’s due back any moment and there’s still no sign of the horse – though he had thought he’d got a lead on the boy. He thought someone had seen them...”

  “Someone had seen them?” Rosie interrupted and flashed round, her attention immediately caught.

  “Well, only thought they’d seen them,” Jess laughed. “Turned out it was a retired racehorse on the other side of Ash Hill. It didn’t even look like Silver Dancer. He was phoning around to see if anyone had got any news.”

  “Hmm.” Rosie bit
her bottom lip thoughtfully. “So he hasn’t given up on finding them then?”

  “Given up? No, why should he?” Jess pondered. “I shouldn’t think you ever give up looking for a valuable horse, do you? Makes you think though, doesn’t it? I wonder what’ll happen when they do eventually get their hands on that boy. He’s put them through so much.”

  “Well, we don’t really know the whole story, do we?” Rosie said, quick to speak out in Jake’s defence. Jess looked surprised, and that made Rosie check herself. “I guess what I mean is that maybe there’s more to it than meets the eye.”

  “What more could there be?” Jess looked bemused.

  “Oh, you know, I just can’t believe that someone would be capable of doing something as bad as stealing a horse, without good reason,” Rosie said, digging herself in even deeper.

  Jess shrugged her shoulders but was seemingly placated by her friend’s reasoning. “That’s so typical of you,” she laughed. “Always looking for the good in people. I don’t think everyone’s as honest as you are though, you know.”

  Rosie looked embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. “We’d better get ready for cross-country, hadn’t we?”

  “Yup,” Jess answered.

  Rosie crossed the yard to Pepper’s stable. She’d almost given away Jake’s secret back there. Luckily none of the others had heard her. Someone like Tom would have been sure to pick her up on it. She’d have to learn to be more careful in future and keep her big mouth shut. With shaking fingers, Rosie tacked up Pepper and led him out of his stable.

  “Morning,” Tom called across to her. But Rosie was miles away and Tom had to repeat himself before he got a reply out of her. “Rosie?” he called again.

  “Oh, hello Tom,” she answered quickly. She was no better when Nick appeared and led them out through the gate to the cross-country course. Her mind was all over the place and his words of advice flew right over her head. She couldn’t think of anything but Jake and O’Grady. Jake was going to be in a panic when he heard that the head lad was still looking for him in the area.

  “Right then, let’s get cracking,” Nick called out as the ponies lined up.

  Rosie was due to go third, but Nick had to call her name twice before she hauled herself into action. Quickly, she kicked Pepper into a canter. Nick was timing them today, so it was important she was speedy. The little pony snapped to his senses and cantered to the tiger trap, but they were going rather too fast and he nearly lost his footing.

  “Bother, bother, bother,” Rosie muttered under her breath as Pepper slipped and slid in the mud, only just managing to clear the jump. That wasn’t very good, and right in front of Nick too. She could have kicked herself. Pepper, usually the steadiest of rides, had taken a heavy rap and was floundering. Nervously, he approached the brush hurdle. Rosie couldn’t do a lot to calm him and they skimmed the top of the jump.

  “Concentrate...concentrate,” she muttered to herself as they were just about to go into the trees. Rosie dug her heels into Pepper’s sides, feeling guilty as he heaved himself forward for the log pile. They cleared it, but Pepper was unsettled now and had completely lost his rhythm. As he checked himself before the water jump, Rosie almost flew over his head. Splashing through the water, she was pretty shaken up. As they galloped up the hill to the stone wall, the end was in sight, but Rosie knew it had been a hopeless round.

  She felt tired and cross at herself as she returned to the group. She couldn’t bear to watch the other riders come in – not even Jess. Silently she sat, brooding about it, while the times were called out.

  As the training came to an end, Nick spoke out to give them his usual pep talk, but Rosie was just anxious to get back to the yard. At last, Nick started to lead the riders through the back gate.

  “I’m off, Rosie,” Jess called across to her.

  “Where are you going?” Rosie was puzzled.

  “Shopping with Mum,” Jess groaned. “Izzy said she’d sort out Skylark for me.”

  “Oh.” Rosie was surprised. Jess normally spent all of the holidays at the stables. She’d told Jake she couldn’t get away from Sandy Lane that day, so he wouldn’t be expecting her. But perhaps if Jess wasn’t going to be around anyway she could slip out and tell him about O’Grady’s call.

  “Remember, Nick’s picking the team tomorrow.” Jess’s voice came loud and clear from where she was running off down the driveway. “I’ve arranged to meet Tom and Izzy at nine thirty. We’re going to the beach before the training. Why don’t you come too?”

  “That would be great,” Rosie answered. “But can we make it ten?” she asked, quick to think on her feet. She’d need a bit of time to get to Jake in the morning. “I’ve got a couple of things I’ve got to do first,” she said.

  “I don’t know if I can change the arrangements with Tom and Izzy.” Jess stopped herself and looked doubtful. “Look, why don’t I wait for you? Then we can catch them up together.”

  “Well, only if you don’t mind,” Rosie answered.

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Jess said. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow.” And hurrying off, she made her way out of the yard.

  Rosie untacked Pepper in a flash and five minutes later she was gathering up her things and disappearing off down the drive on her bike too. Speeding down the country lanes, she made her way to South Grange and drew to a halt at the side of the house. Quickly she made her way into the courtyard. No sign of Jake and Silver Dancer there. They must have gone out for a ride. Rosie hurried onto the lawns and stared into the distance, but she couldn’t see anything from there either.

  “Where can they be?” Rosie said to herself. She knew that the grounds of South Grange were large, but surely she’d be able to hear them if they were around. Although they’d managed to stay hidden for four days now, that didn’t mean the danger of them being caught was any less. Rosie stared into the distance, willing herself to see the horse and boy, but there was nothing. Quickly, she set off into the woods to look for them there. But they weren’t there either. After half an hour of searching, she decided it was pointless. She’d just have to come back tomorrow and hope things were all right.

  It was with a certain sense of trepidation that Rosie set off to South Grange the next morning. What if Jake and Silver Dancer weren’t there? What if something had in fact happened to them? She’d tried hard not to think about it as she’d gone to sleep last night, convincing herself that she was worrying unnecessarily.

  As she cycled up the drive and round the house, she propped her bike against the stable wall. Jake wasn’t there, but Silver Dancer’s stable door stood wide open and there was his jumper on the ground. This time she didn’t have to look far – Jake was out in one of the paddocks, cantering a neat circuit around the outside of the school. The moment she saw him, her doubts and anxiety vanished into thin air.

  Gladly, she watched as Jake rode around the paddock. He was a hard worker, determined not to slack on Silver Dancer’s training. Rosie waved across the grass to him. Gently sprinting over, she jumped up onto the gate and waited for him to stop.

  “All right?” Breathlessly, Jake cantered over to her and drew to a halt. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

  “I came looking for you last night but you weren’t around,” Rosie said accusingly.

  “I took Dancer for a ride,” he answered.

  Rosie shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I don’t want to worry you, but I’ve got some news. O’Grady’s been phoning around again. Someone had given him a lead. He thought he’d got you.”

  “Really?” The panic showed in Jake’s eyes.

  “Don’t worry. It was only a retired racehorse that someone had sighted. It’s just that he obviously hasn’t given up on finding you, that’s all. I know that we’d banked on him thinking you’d gone far away, but he still seems to be hunting around the area.”

  “Perhaps I should be more careful,” Jake said thoughtfully. “I’ve only got to stay hidden for a few more days. Anyway, let
’s not think about it right now. Dancer’s raring to go.” He offered the reins over to Rosie. “Want a ride?”

  “A quick one.” Rosie grinned and jumped down from the gate. She took the reins eagerly. Walking Silver Dancer around the paddock, she looked across to Jake for permission to go a bit faster. When he nodded his head, she squeezed the horse’s sides and fluidly went straight into an easy canter. Sitting deep into the seat, she could hardly feel Silver Dancer’s hooves touch the ground. Smiling to herself, Rosie took another circuit of the paddock, losing herself in the rhythm of her riding.

  Happily bringing the horse to a halt, she drew up next to Jake and jumped to the ground. She handed over the reins and was just about to jump up onto the gate to watch him when she stopped still in her tracks.

  “I don’t believe it,” she exclaimed, looking at her watch. “How can I have been so stupid. How could I have forgotten?”

  “What? What is it? What have you forgotten?” Jake asked.

  “Oh nothing,” Rosie muttered under her breath. “Just that I said I’d meet Jess at ten, that’s all, and now it’s half past. She’s going to be really furious. I’m going to have to get a move on or I’ll be late for cross-country too.”

  Quickly, she ran over to her bike and turned out of the yard. She wouldn’t feel happy until she’d seen Jess and apologized. She willed her bike to move faster, but she was so anxious to get to Sandy Lane that her feet kept missing the pedals.

  9

  NEAR MISSES

  Jess stood in the yard at Sandy Lane and looked at her watch. 11 o’clock. Surely Rosie couldn’t have forgotten. Not only had she missed the ride to the beach, but if she wasn’t here soon, she’d be late for cross-country training too. Anxiously Jess stared down the driveway, willing Rosie’s bike to speed around the corner. Casually she looked one way and then the other, as if by so doing, she might miraculously conjure up her friend into vision.

  “Coming for cross-country training?” Nick called across to her.

  “I said I’d meet Rosie first,” Jess answered. “I think I’ll wait. Do you mind if we join the group when she gets here?”