A Ride to Freedom

by Olivia Tuffin

  For my precious Jasper, my rainbow.

  The woman had pale hair the colour of wheat and cornflower-blue eyes. Her eyes sparkled as she watched the dark-haired boy canter a circle on his pony, the sweetest grey Welsh mountain mare with a pink snip between her nostrils. The boy wore a look of grim determination as he clung to the pony’s white mane. Despite his small stature, the boy showed an incredible strength as he pulled himself up to a standing position, arms stretched to the sides, the determined look now replaced by one of pure joy as he circled the meadow, laughing out loud.

  “Wonderful!” the woman called, her voice soft and full of love, a voice that gave no trace of fear of the trials that lay ahead – the endless hospital visits, the treatments. Or sadness as she thought of the hushed voice of the doctor as he told her the prognosis.

  They practised every afternoon after school, precious hours lost in the wildflower meadows, just the two of them and their ponies. For the boy, who struggled with everyday life, who found school both frustrating and bewildering, who was happiest with the horses, it was the best part of the day.

  “That’ll do. Easy now.” The woman’s voice slowed the pony who lowered her head as the boy climbed down from his standing position. The pony then approached the woman and placed an adoring muzzle against her arm, responding to her praise.

  The woman smiled broadly. “Finn, you’re getting better every day!” Then she paused and looked towards the horizon. “I hope you’ll always carry on stunt riding.”

  And the boy nodded earnestly, curling his arms round his grey pony.

  “Always,” he promised her. “Always for you, Mum.”

  “OK, Mum, just a few more bits to find. Passport, vetting certificate, travel documents … and I think that’s it!” Thirteen-year-old Alice Smalley carefully consulted the list she was holding while her mum rifled through the filing cabinets.

  “There we are.” Josephine, Alice’s mum, pulled out a stack of paperwork, before smiling at her. “Your first trip abroad! And with Secret! Are you sure you’ll be OK?”

  “We’ll be fine, Mum,” Alice replied, ignoring her nerves. She’d never gone away on her own before. She’d never taken part in school trips, even the one to the Lake District where everyone had got soaked! It had been the talk of the school, but Alice had missed out – the ponies and her mum’s showing yard taking priority. But this was different. Alice was going away with her beloved roan pony Secret, and not just down the road; she and Secret were setting sail and travelling across the English Channel to France!

  It still hadn’t sunk in that Alice was going. The trip had come about so fast, and with a break in the showing schedule and the summer holidays underway her mum had agreed. The trip was a visit to a beautiful riding stables with other pony club members from all over the country, to take part in the Festival du Cheval – Festival of the Horse. On the final day of the festival the pony club members were going to participate in a prestigious showjumping competition against contestants from French clubs. But they’d be able to enjoy the rest of the festival during their stay, with lessons and hacking on the agenda.

  When June Darby, the district commissioner of Hilltops pony club, had announced back in March that three members of the branch would be selected at random to go on the trip, Alice had put her name down, not expecting much. But Alice and Secret had been drawn from the hat, along with a boy called Sam and a girl called Holly.

  Alice had been very relieved that Hannah wasn’t coming on the trip. Hannah, the most popular girl in the pony club, had caused a huge amount of heartache over the winter, coming between Alice and her friend Finn. And on the night of Hannah’s fourteenth birthday party Alice’s mum’s beloved Highland pony, Lachlan, had been killed in an accident, thanks to the actions of Hannah’s friends. The teenagers had accidentally let Ella, a pony Finn had rescued from Spain, escape into a terrible snow storm. During her rescue Lachlan had been hit by a speeding car. He’d suffered catastrophic injuries to his leg and had to be put to sleep.

  A whinny from the stable yard brought Alice back to the present, and she smiled. Such an insistent call could only belong to Secret. If he knew Alice was nearby, he would whinny and bang on the door until she came and said hello. Slipping out of the door, Alice crossed the yard, pausing as she always did next to Lachlan’s stable, which had been left empty. Her mum had folded his navy Olympia rug over the manger, and Fergus, the head groom, had fitted Lachlan’s horseshoes to the door in tribute. As always, a lump formed in Alice’s throat as she brushed the horseshoes with her fingertips. She missed the gentle Highland dreadfully.

  And there was Secret. In the cool of his stable, trailing his hay over the door, there was a cheerful glint in his dark eyes as he rubbed his head against Alice’s arm. Haymaking was taking place all over the county, and the sweet scent of cut grass was heavy in the air. Next door to him, Ella, his best friend, popped her head over her door and whickered in greeting.

  “Hello, you!” Alice grinned. She gave the grey mare a scratch on the neck, marvelling as she always did at the change in the pony. She was plump from Alice’s mum’s excellent grazing, her coat soft and shiny, her ears forward. It was such a change from the defensive, angry pony who had arrived at the start of the year. Finn and his dad, who together had rescued the mare from Spain, had signed her over to Josephine after she and Ella had formed a strong bond.

  Since Lachlan’s death, Alice had noticed that her mum was somehow softer. She enjoyed spending time with Ella and had even scaled back her showing, taking in a few youngsters, but encouraging Alice more with her showjumping. Back in February, Alice had made the pony club showjumping team as a reserve member, allowing her to train with the team without the pressure of the competitions.

  Just then, both Secret and Ella looked up and whinnied in unison, and as Alice turned she felt familiar butterflies in her stomach as Finn approached, riding hat swinging off his arm, dark hair tangled, worn cowboy boots scuffing the yard floor.

  Finn was never particularly smiley, but even so Alice noticed he looked especially grim today, a deep frown etched on his face. She rolled her eyes. No doubt he’d been arguing with Sasha, his feisty older sister, again. Alice knew things got strained at Finn’s home, Rookham Manor, especially now his dad had returned from his travels. The siblings were fiercely loyal to each other, but they fell out all the time! Finn and Sasha had a pony display team, the Flying Fillies, which performed locally, and Finn also rode ponies for Josephine.

  “What’s up?” Alice asked. “Sash again?”

  Only yesterday, Finn had been complaining that his older sister had decided to change the music at one of their displays last-minute. Sasha was spontaneous, creative and bursting with a million ideas, and Alice knew it drove Finn mad at times.

  There was the smallest of pauses before Finn shook his head, his features softening. For a second he looked completely lost in thought.

  Alice gave a little smile. He always looked so much nicer when he wasn’t cross.

  “Sort of,” he said. “Just some stuff at home. You know, the usual.”

  Alice nodded, though that could mean anything when it came to Finn and his family. Finn normally talked to her about it when they were out riding. They could talk about anything when out on the ponies, as if being in the saddle gave them both extra confidence. Finn had come over today to school Archie, Samantha’s beautiful Fell pony. Samantha was a client of Josephine who’d become a good friend of the yard.

  “I thought I’d take Archie up to the top field, practise our extensions,” Finn said, changing the subject. “Want to come with me?”

  Alice grinned. “Yes please!”

  “Cool,” Finn smiled. Then his eyes sparkled. “Hey, do you need to unpack your
saddle first?”

  “Ha ha!” Alice stuck her tongue out. They weren’t going to France for another week, but ultra-organised Alice was already packed, so desperate not to forget anything. Of course, she had to keep unpacking things every time she wanted to ride, which Finn liked to tease her about.

  “You’re a funny one,” he said warmly, and Alice felt a tingle run through her. She often thought about what Finn had said to her as they rode home together in the snow with Secret and Ella during the night of Ella’s rescue. Every now and then she would play the words over in her head: ‘Turning up to a party in old jods and still looking beautiful, riding to the rescue of a pony in the snow. If I had a type … that would be it.’ But Finn hadn’t said anything like that since, despite the fact he and Alice saw each other most days now.

  A short time later, Alice and Secret were riding alongside Finn and Archie, winding their way up to the schooling field. Alice examined her pale arms, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine.

  “I wonder how hot it will be in France,” she said thoughtfully.

  “Super-hot,” Finn said, turning to her and giving her the full benefit of his smile. “I can’t wait! I love the sun.”

  At first, Alice thought she’d misheard him. Why would Finn be looking forward to France? He wasn’t going on the trip! Alice stared at him, perplexed.

  “France,” Finn repeated, still grinning. “You know that country, just across the sea? Baguettes and croissants, and, um, snails?”

  “Snails!” Alice exploded in laughter. “What are you talking about? You’re not coming to France?” She looked at him, aware her cheeks were growing pink. “Are you?”

  Finn nodded. “Yep,” he said. “June asked me. Even though I’m not a member there were places for helpers, so she asked if I’d like to go.”

  “That’s amazing!” Alice cried. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “It just got confirmed this morning,” Finn grinned. “It’s good, isn’t it?”

  Alice nodded, still hardly daring to believe it. She knew that June thought the world of Finn and his dad, and Alice couldn’t think of anyone better than Finn to help with the ponies. Her, Secret and now Finn off on a fantastic French adventure! She really couldn’t wait.

  Alice awoke early on the day of the departure, long before her alarm. Lying still for a moment, listening to the birds and the occasional snort from the ponies, she smiled. Today it was really happening! A week of fun rides, and the festival, and instruction, and the big showjumping competition. Alice really wanted to do well and show everyone how far they’d come!

  Alice and Secret had got off to a rocky start with the group lessons at pony club, and for a while Alice had wondered if they were ever going to find their way. It had taken until the night of Hannah’s party and Ella’s escape to make Alice realise that, when it counted, she could fully trust Secret. The little roan had led the frightened Spanish pony back home in the dark, and just a few weeks later Alice and Secret had jumped beautifully at the team trials, earning them their reserve spot.

  They’d had a brilliant time training with the team and Angus, Finn’s dad. A few weeks previously, after one of the team members’ ponies had gone lame, Alice had even represented the branch, jumping a perfect clear round and helping the team into third place. It had been a brilliant moment, but it wasn’t always easy. Alice still had huge moments of self-doubt, and at times she felt she was going backwards, not fully trusting her own judgement. She hoped the French trip would be a turning point, for both her and Secret.

  Pulling on a hoodie and tying her pale hair into a ponytail, Alice sloped into the yard. Grabbing Secret’s head collar, she headed out to his paddock. He was standing nose to tail with Ella, red and white together, their coats shiny in the pink tendrils of sunshine that were just starting to creep over the fields. Alice felt her heart swell with love as she approached Secret. It was time to get him ready for the big trip ahead.

  Secret, however, had other ideas.

  Ears pricked, the little gelding promptly spun round, cantering off in a cloud of dust, Ella close behind, their tails fanned out. Alice rolled her eyes. It was Secret’s favourite trick. Even though Alice had always been the only one who could catch Secret, every now and again he would try it on.

  “Fine,” Alice said in a mock cross voice. “I’ll just sit here.”

  It was the only way she’d get a head collar on Secret. Rattling a feed bucket didn’t work any more; he was far too clever. When she’d been at her wits’ end Finn had suggested ignoring Secret. Lying back on the damp grass, Alice closed her eyes, letting the early-morning sun wash over her as the haze lifted. Smiling with her eyes still closed she heard the gentle thud of hooves approach, and then squealed as Secret stuck a bristly muzzle right in her face, nibbling at her hair and breathing his sweet pony breath. She opened one eye, grinning up at him as she gently batted him away.

  “Got you!”

  “Are you sure you’ve packed everything?” Josephine was fretting as Alice dragged her suitcase out into the yard later that morning. She seemed to have packed a lot of clothes for a week, as the itinerary included a party, plus the general festival celebrations. And that was before she’d even thought of her riding kit. As well as her day-to-day riding clothes she also needed her smart competition gear. And her swimming kit, and shorts … then there was Secret’s gear, which was already piled up in the yard. So, when Finn came sauntering through the gate carrying a small black holdall, Alice thought again that she might have slightly overpacked!

  “Alice, remember the fly repellent and the aftersun, and please don’t get sunburnt.” Alice’s mum was unzipping her suitcase again. Finn placed his holdall down and sat on it, grinning.

  “M-um!” Alice could feel herself growing hotter. “I’ve got everything!”

  “Not quite, Al!” To Alice’s horror, her dad emerged from the house carrying a scruffy toy pig with one eye and faded pink fur. “You forgot Mr Pigs!”

  Alice wanted the ground to open up underneath her. Mr Pigs was a childhood toy who still slept on her bed. Truthfully, she hadn’t meant to leave him behind, but why did her dad have to bring him out right now?

  “Thanks, Dad,” she muttered, grabbing the pig and quickly stuffing him inside her suitcase, hardly daring to look at Finn.

  “Oh, Alice.” Josephine put her arms round her. “I’ll miss you, and Secret.”

  “I’ll miss you too, Mum and Dad,” Alice said. But although she really would miss her parents, and Poppy the dog, and the yard ponies, she was so excited about the trip! A minibus was coming to collect her and Finn, and Secret was going to be loaded on to a specialist horse transporter along with the other Hilltops ponies. As the huge silver lorry eased its way into the yard it even dwarfed Josephine’s big black lorry.

  Finn whistled through his teeth. “Look at that!” he remarked. “It’s bigger than a house.”

  Alice remembered the first time he’d seen her mum’s lorry. That had been where ‘Alice in her palace’, his nickname for her, had come from, and she’d hated it!

  “Perhaps the Fillies will have a lorry like that soon, with all the bookings you’ve got,” she said, turning to smile at Finn.

  Was she imagining it, or did Finn’s face darken for just a second? Then he smiled. “Yeah. Maybe.”

  Secret came out of his stable with a spring in his step.

  “Hello, boy.” The driver gave him a friendly pat. “Ready to go?”

  Secret willingly bounded up the ramp, mirroring Alice’s excitement. Alice had never travelled separately to the little gelding, but they’d be right behind in the minibus, which had just pulled up into the yard.

  There was a rush of goodbyes and Alice hugged her parents before climbing on to the bus after Finn. Only June was on the bus so far, and Alice sat in the seat opposite her, taking a deep breath as they followed the silver lorry down the drive. As her parents became smaller and smaller in the distance, Alice smiled. They were off on their most
exciting adventure to date!

  After they’d picked up the other pony club members, Sam and his pony Wanda, and Holly and her pony Minstrel, they soon reached the ferry terminal, all full of excitement. It felt strange getting on to the ferry without being able to go and check on Secret, but the driver of the lorry was the only one allowed in the hold. It was a perfect day for sailing, the sea as smooth as a mirror, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The teenagers trooped up after June to the passenger area, but as Alice felt the ferry pull away from the terminal and out into the open water she suddenly felt a bit queasy.

  Finn turned to look at her. “Alice? You look very pale. Do you get seasick?”

  Alice shrugged. “I don’t know,” she muttered. “I’ve never been on a ferry.”

  “Hey, Alice!” Holly bounded over. She had wild blonde curls framing an impish face and was a bundle of energy, always leaping about. Until the previous year she’d captained the Prince Philip Cup team, and Alice knew she’d been brilliant at it.

  “Wooooo!” Holly grinned as the ferry pushed forward. “Feel that? We’re into deep water now!”

  And with that, Alice’s tummy gave an almighty lurch, and she clamped a hand to her mouth, thinking she might throw up. Oh no! Not in front of Finn! she thought, feeling her back prickle with sweat. She hoped Secret wasn’t feeling seasick too.

  “Alice? You OK?” Holly said, putting an arm round her. Alice could only move her head slightly from side to side, terrified if she opened her mouth she’d be sick.

  Finn smiled sympathetically, pulling a bottle of water from his bag. “Sit down. I’ll stay right here with you. You’ll be fine.”

  And after that, as Holly bounded off to take photos, Finn didn’t leave Alice’s side, distracting her with funny pony stories, and laughing about the time he’d first met Alice and Secret, when Secret had crashed his way through a country fair.