“Well, there’s something in the story,” Nick started. “Yes, I think I do believe him. I know what goes on in racing circles where there’s a lot of money and reputation involved. It’s a lot different from running a riding stables.”
Rosie watched him and saw the faraway look coming into his eyes. He was thinking about his old racing days. Nick had been a National Hunt jockey but had given it up when he set up Sandy Lane. What he hadn’t given up was his love of the sport.
“I suppose what tipped the scales in the balance for me was his earnestness,” Nick started again. “Just a gut reaction. He’s young. This is his first job and he clearly loves working with horses. I don’t think he’d have risked all that for nothing. But it’s up to Josh to sort it out now. I can’t really do much more.”
Rosie nodded thoughtfully. It wasn’t until she heard a car draw up in the yard that she realized how long they must have been talking.
“That’ll be Josh now. I’d better go and meet him,” Nick said.
Rosie moved aside to let him go out and stood back to watch the scene from the tack room. Josh was stepping out of a Land Rover. As he turned and saw Jake across the yard, his face darkened.
“You’ve got a nerve, haven’t you?” He strode angrily over. “Just standing there as if nothing’s happened. So where is she? What have you done with her?”
“She’s all right,” Nick interrupted gravely, leading the way across the yard to where Silver Dancer had been stabled. “As you can see, she’s in good form. He opened the door for Josh to look in and Josh went forward and ran a hand down her legs.
“Hmm...she seems fit and healthy enough,” he said begrudgingly.
Jake stood in the doorway, tongue-tied, as Nick led the proceedings.
“She’s all ready to go back to Elmwood. But before she does, I think you really ought to listen to what this boy has to say,” Nick started.
Mindful of Jake waiting, Josh turned around and gave him an angry look. “What did you think you were doing taking her when her race was only a week away? You could have ruined everything. Thank goodness O’Grady hasn’t cancelled her entry,” he said, calmer now that he could see Silver Dancer was all right.
“I think it might be best if we all go and sit down,” Nick offered sensibly. “You can phone for a box to pick her up if you like.”
Josh nodded and the three of them walked off. Rosie stood a little way away, desperately wanting to join in and say something in Jake’s defence, but knowing she couldn’t. This was something he had to tackle on his own.
“Come on then,” Josh started, in a kinder voice and they walked into the tack room. They didn’t seem to notice Rosie hanging around the door, listening in.
“Right then,” Josh started. “Let’s have it.”
Jake looked across at Nick for reassurance and Nick nodded his head.
“Well.” Jake took a deep breath. “Whatever O’Grady’s been saying, it’s not true.”
Josh folded his arms and waited for Jake to go on.
“You see odd things have been going on at the yard,” Jake started. “There were these strange men who used to appear whenever you weren’t around and when I asked O’Grady about them, he’d just tell me to keep my nose out of it.”
“Nothing strange about that, probably old friends,” Josh said defensively.
“But then there were these strange telephone conversations I overheard as well,” Jake started up again. “And then an even stranger one – it was O’Grady on the phone. He was talking about doping Silver Dancer before her race! I don’t know how he was going to do it – probably put something in her food, but large sums of money were talked about. He sounded pretty desperate. I think he’s got a lot riding on it. You weren’t around. There wasn’t anyone I could talk to...the only thing I could think to do was to take her away.” Jake’s words had speeded up in his anxiety to explain everything. Abruptly, he came to a halt and looked up expectantly.
Josh looked him straight in the eye and then he turned to Nick. “And you believe all this?” he asked.
“Yes, yes I think I do,” Nick said slowly.
Josh turned back to Jake. “Well, it’s a good story, but why should I believe you? O’Grady’s been with me for 15 years. He’s told me about all the trouble you’ve been causing with the other boys at the yard too. Oh, and then there was that little threat to discredit him if he didn’t give you the rides you wanted.”
“No...no, it’s not true!” Jake cried out, looking across to Nick for help who, at that moment, looked decidedly uneasy.
“I had such high hopes for you,” Josh was going on. “You had such promise, but I’m going to have to let you go.”
Jake gripped the sides of the table, the white of his knuckles showing as his head bowed forward. Rosie’s heart went out to him. She glanced at Nick, and although she saw pity on his face, she knew that he wouldn’t interfere any further. This was Josh’s territory.
Josh raised his eyebrows at Nick. “Thanks for calling me. I can see why you listened to him...really I can,” he said. “But I’ve got to go with my head lad. Can I borrow your phone?”
Nick nodded gravely.
“Look Jake,” Josh turned back to Jake. “I’m not going to bear you a grudge over this, and if you go quietly I won’t press charges.” He turned away and started to dial a number. “Hello...yes it’s me here. Yup, I’ve got Silver Dancer back. Yes, she’s all right. Do you think you could send a box over...to Sandy Lane Stables near Ash Hill, yes that’s it.” And with that, he put down the phone.
Jake rose to his feet. “I won’t let you...I won’t let you take her. I haven’t gone through all this for her to be at risk again,” he said fiercely. Rosie felt so sorry for him but even she could see he was doing more harm than good with his passionate outburst.
“Look, Jake.” Nick laid his hand on Jake’s arm. “I’m sorry about all this. But Silver Dancer is Josh’s responsibility and no one can stop him from taking her.”
Josh shook his head. “You can come and collect your things whilst O’Grady and I are on the gallops tomorrow, Jake. We’ll be getting Silver Dancer ready for Monday’s race – seeing how she’s lost a week’s training already.”
Jake walked out of the tack room.
Josh turned to Nick. “I’m sorry you’ve had to get involved in all of this,’ he said. “And thanks for the call. I’m just glad to get her back safe and sound...”
15
A PLAN IS HATCHED
Rosie stood by Jake’s side. He was angry and she saw a look of burning fury flash across his face. She’d seen what he’d gone through when Josh hadn’t believed him, but she didn’t know what to say. And really there was nothing more that they could do. They were just going to have to let Silver Dancer go back to Elmwood.
All too soon, the box was closed up. Nick stood at the side and, as it drove out of the drive, he turned to Jake.
“I can see that you thought you were doing the best thing,” he said quietly. “But you were probably worrying unnecessarily. I know Josh of old, and if there was any sort of problem at his stables, I’m sure he’d know about it. Look, I don’t know why I’m doing this, but my gut reaction is that I like you, so you’re welcome to stay here till you find your feet if you like.”
“Thanks, but...well...I can’t – you see, I can’t afford to pay you,” Jake said, embarrassed.
“Don’t worry about that,” Nick said kindly. “If you help out around the yard, that’ll be payment enough.”
“Thanks,” Jake said gratefully.
Nick nodded. “Now, I’ve got to take a lesson in the outdoor school, but I’ll see you later.” As Nick turned down the driveway, Jake turned to Rosie.
“Nick’s been great, but it doesn’t change the fact that Josh didn’t believe me, does it? It’s all been for nothing.”
“Come on,” Rosie said. “At least you’ve got somewhere to stay for the next few days and you have kept her safe...whatever you say. O’Grad
y’s not going to dare do anything after what you’ve told Josh.”
“Don’t bet on it.” Jake shrugged his shoulders angrily. “You didn’t hear the desperation in his voice when he was placing that bet, and if she doesn’t run well, he can just blame me. He can say she wasn’t fit enough.”
“But that wouldn’t be true,” Rosie said indignantly. “You were training her every day.”
Jake shrugged his shoulders
“What’s this? What’s going on?” At that moment, a breathless Jess pedalled into the yard. “I saw a horse box pulling out of the yard. What’s happened? Where’s Silver Dancer?”
“You don’t want to know,” Rosie answered finally.
As Jake and Rosie managed to get the story out between them, Jess was outraged.
“But...but...I can’t believe it. What are you going to do now, Jake?” she spluttered.
“There’s not a lot I can do,” Jake said wearily.
“You mean you’re giving in?” Jess said, the blood rising in her cheeks.
“Just being realistic, Jess,” Rosie joined in.
Jess stared at them in disbelief.
“I don’t believe you two,” she said angrily. “What defeatists. What did Nick say? I can’t believe he just let them take her away.”
“He couldn’t really stop them,” Rosie said. “Silver Dancer isn’t his horse.”
“And O’Grady has certainly put in the groundwork,” Jake added. “He came up with all these lies. He’s painted a pretty bad picture of me with Josh.”
“But don’t you see? If Silver Dancer’s racing on Monday, then O’Grady’s still got time to strike,” Jess cried. “Do you want to have that hanging over your heads? You can’t give up now. We’ll just have to go over there and keep watch on her.”
Jake looked thoughtful. “Perhaps Jess is right. O’Grady can’t really do anything during the day when there are people around. It’s the night-time that’s the worry. Perhaps I could keep watch then.”
Rosie looked worried. Jess’s reckless enthusiasm seemed to have gripped Jake. “It’ll be hard for us to get out at night though,” she said.
“Well, you won’t be the ones doing that,” Jake said firmly. “I’ll be going on my own. I can’t let you get any more involved in this than you are already.”
“Look if this plan’s going ahead, then I think we’re all in it together,” Jess interrupted. “After all, I came up with the idea, and besides, you look exhausted. What happens if you fall asleep?”
“Jess has got a point,” Rosie said, anxious not to miss out on anything now that a plan had been hatched.
Jake shrugged his shoulders. “All right then, but you do know this could turn nasty, don’t you? O’Grady’s not going to give in without a fight.”
Rosie and Jess nodded.
“OK,” Jake said. “Well, if that’s all agreed, then we ought to break this up. And maybe we ought to keep out of each other’s way this afternoon. Nick might realize we’re up to something otherwise, and I don’t think he’d be very pleased.”
“You’re right,” Rosie said. “So let’s make a plan now. When shall we meet up tonight? And where?”
“At 7 o’clock,” Jake said firmly. “At the bus stop by the corner of Sandy Lane. Is that OK with you two?”
Jake looked at Jess. Jess looked at Rosie, and they both nodded.
“Good, so that’s all agreed then,” Jake said firmly. “The plan’s fixed.”
16
KEEPING WATCH
It was chilly that night as Rosie stood at the corner of Sandy Lane. Anxiously, she shuffled her feet about to ward off the cold. It was just starting to drizzle with rain. Not ideal weather for their night outing. She looked at her watch. 7 o’clock. She’d been the first to arrive, but where were the others? The bus would be here any minute.
Grimly, Rosie thought of all the lies she’d had to tell to make her escape. She’d told her mum she was getting a cold so her mum had sent her off to bed early. Rosie had stuffed a couple of pillows under her duvet and climbed out of the window. She’d just have to keep her fingers crossed and hope that if her mother checked on her, the pillows would do the trick.
Rosie didn’t have to wait long on her own – Jake was the next one to arrive.
“Sorry I’m late,” he muttered. “Nick was in the yard.”
“He didn’t see you, did he?” Rosie asked anxiously.
“No, I don’t think so,” Jake replied.
“Good,” Rosie answered.
“You know,” Jake went on. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I’m absolutely convinced that O’Grady will try and do something tonight. Silver Dancer’s racing on Monday. He can’t risk leaving it much later.”
Rosie nodded and at that moment, she saw Jess sprinting up the road.
“I thought I was never going to be able to get away,” Jess called out breathlessly. “Mum and Dad are out, so I had to get past my brother. I told him I was just popping next door.”
“And he fell for that?” Rosie looked surprised.
Jess shrugged her shoulders. “I waited till he was on the phone to his girlfriend and then I just popped a note under his nose. Hopefully I’ll get back before Mum and Dad anyway. Come on,” she cried as the bus rattled around the corner and drew to a halt.
The three of them got on and sat down in silence. Rosie settled into her seat. Jake was very quiet on the journey, pensively staring out of the window and Rosie didn’t want to disturb him. They hadn’t talked about what they’d do if they did catch O’Grady, but she didn’t want to be the one to bring it up now. It seemed like ages before the bus finally stopped in Elmwood and they all got off. Rosie stared ahead of her at the forbidding gates of the racing stables.
“How on earth are we going to get in?” she whispered.
“Follow me.” Jake spoke in hushed tones, his hands clenched. “I know a back way through the training gallops. I’m pretty sure they’ll have put Dancer in her usual box – third along from the tack room. We can get a clear view from the back.”
And so the three of them crept along, through the trees and across the grass. It was quiet ahead of them. Not a single noise stopped them in their tracks.
“Josh lives over there,” Jake breathed and pointed to an elegant house that lay behind the stable yard.
“Well, at least he won’t be able to see us from that distance,” Jess muttered under her breath.
“Yes, but that won’t stop O’Grady,” Jake murmured grimly. “He lives in one of the annexes above the stables, so we’ll have to be very careful he doesn’t catch us.”
Rosie shivered. She’d only met the man once, but she’d heard so much about him that she was starting to feel a little nervous. She didn’t want the others to think she was a coward, but she was frightened. And they were trespassing too.
“Right...just around this corner and then we’re going to have to go one by one to the barn.” Jake’s voice snapped Rosie to her senses.
“Wait Jake.” Rosie grabbed his arm. “You mean we have to cross over there?” She pointed across the yard.
“Yes, I know it looks a long way,” Jake said. “But they’ll have done their nightly checks of the stables by now. No one will be about. I’ll go first and I’ll wave at you once I’m safe and the coast’s clear.”
“But...but what if we get caught?” Rosie asked.
“We’ll just have to make sure we don’t,” Jake said.
His determination made Rosie feel a bit better. Jake took the lead and stepped out of the shadows. His feet on the gravel sounded like thunder to Rosie’s ears as he walked across the yard, but no one appeared.
“I’ll go next,” Jess said firmly, stepping out. Rosie’s eyes narrowed as she watched Jess disappear across the yard and into the barn. Her heart beat faster. Rosie took a deep breath and hurried across the gravel. She half-expected to be caught...half-thought that someone would call out, but there was nothing, and soon she was in the barn with the other
s.
“OK, we’ll just have to wait now,” Jake whispered.
“Brrr, it’s freezing,” Rosie mumbled, settling down in the hay, feeling quite relieved that the yard was calm and in order. She looked at Jess, creeping around the barn, looking through one window and then the next.
“Will you just sit down, Jess?” Jake said tersely. “I keep thinking I’m hearing something.”
Jess shrugged her shoulders and came over to join Rosie. Not for long though. Five minutes later, she was on her feet again, anxiously looking out of the back window.
Rosie looked at Jake’s face. They were all anxious, but none more than Jake and she knew that Jess being agitated didn’t help matters. She looked at her watch – 8 o’clock. She couldn’t help feeling that they were on a wild-goose chase – that O’Grady wouldn’t do anything now that Josh’s suspicions were aroused. Being here was probably a complete waste of time. She rubbed her hands together for warmth.
It was a chilly night and although she was wearing her warm fleece jacket, she felt cold and stiff. Her legs had started to go to sleep from sitting cross-legged on the floor. She really wanted to get up and stretch them, but she’d seen the look on Jake’s face when Jess had been prowling around, and thought better of it. In fact, it was Jake who was the first to get to his feet. Slowly, he walked to the entrance of the barn and looked out through the doorway.
“This was a dumb idea of mine,” Jess hissed across to Rosie, stretching her legs out in front of her. “We’ve been here for ages, and nothing. The more I think about it the more...”
“Sshh.” Jake waved his hand back in their direction. Maybe he had heard something. Slowly, Rosie and Jess got to their feet and crept over to join him. And sure enough, a beam from a flashlight spun around the yard. Jake drew his breath in sharply and put a finger to his lips. The flashlight looked as though it was coming to rest on the barn and they all jumped away from the window. Rosie held her breath. The light was resting right where they’d been standing. She didn’t dare move a muscle. And then, as the beam moved away and swung round the rest of the yard, she exhaled slowly and peered out of the window. The flashlight reflected off the metallic barrel of a water trough and Rosie caught a glimpse of the face behind it, and so did Jake.
Horse in Danger Page 8