A Ride to Freedom

by Olivia Tuffin

  “What an awful thing to do,” Alice said, and Gabby nodded sadly.

  “Yes. We had a heart-to-heart and she confessed it all. Everything she did was to make me look incompetent. If I couldn’t carry off this shoot, it’d prove her point. I’ve also found out she sent lots of emails to the team back home saying I wasn’t up to the job and listing what went wrong.”

  “Why did she plant the ring in Secret’s stable?” Alice asked.

  “I think because his is the first stable you come to in the yard,” Gabby said thoughtfully. “And he’s friendly. She thought she’d found a safe place to stash the ring, somewhere totally unconnected to her. We were all frantic, you see, and everyone was turning out their bags and pockets, and Maria could too, confident in the knowledge that the ring was in the stable yard. But then with all the drama, and Finn being accused and you being here, she couldn’t get back to retrieve it.”

  Alice thought about the hours she had spent in Secret’s stable the previous night. She remembered seeing Maria when she was searching for Finn, and the dark look she had given Alice.

  “We won’t press charges. There’s no point,” Gabby continued sadly. “Maria has lost her job, and I doubt she’ll get another in the same field. So that’s that I guess. Everything has consequences.” Then she smiled. “What a good friend you are, sticking up for Finn the way you did,” she said, and Alice blushed.

  “I always knew he was innocent,” she said, and Gabby patted her arm.

  “Come with me,” she said mysteriously. “I’ve got something to show you.”

  At first Alice wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be looking at as Gabby switched her laptop on and started flicking through the photos. Then, peering closer, she gasped.

  “Hang on!” she said, a smile spreading across her face. “That’s Secret!”

  And there he was, trotting across the screen, his red knees lifted high, his mane and tail streaming behind him, the lavender framing his body. Alice couldn’t work out when it was taken. Then she realised it was when he’d escaped! Of course, the photo didn’t show Alice chasing after him, or an enraged Maria screeching her head off, or the damaged equipment. The photos were incredible – the colours so vivid and Secret so handsome that Alice couldn’t stop gazing at them.

  “Wonderful, aren’t they?” Gabby smiled, and Alice nodded.

  “Magic,” she whispered. “Just magic.”

  Then Gabby flicked on through the photos, and Alice moved closer as the screen showed galloping horses with riders throwing themselves off the saddles or standing on broad backs, girls with long wild hair riding side-saddle and Celia and Domino bowing towards each other. And there, Alice felt her heart stop, was Finn, unaware his photo was being taken, dark hair ruffled, patting his horse.

  Gabby chuckled. “Our photographer has become a bit of a horse fan,” she said. “Not surprising, with these beautiful subjects. We’d like to use the photo of Secret, if we can? It’s the perfect natural shot, and we’d pay you well for using it…”

  Alice blinked at her. “Wow. And yes please!” Alice imagined opening the glossy magazine and seeing Secret in there. Of course, one of her main ambitions was to get into Horse & Hound with Secret but this would be pretty amazing as well!

  “Despite Maria’s moaning, the team back in England love what we’ve done so far, especially your inspired stable-jobs shoot!” smiled Gabby. “The Rebel Riders are coming over to tour the UK and I’ve put some ideas together for how we can use them. Celia has agreed, which is amazing, and I’m hoping to get Finn on board too. It’s only the start of course, but I’m already looking at locations.” She made a face. “What I really want is somewhere with meadows and a big old house. Somewhere truly unique.”

  Alice’s mind was whirring, and she hurriedly pulled out her mobile phone, now dried out and working, and opened the photo album. There were loads of pictures: her riding Secret last summer in the meadows at Rookham Manor, Finn leading the Dales ponies across the yard, Sasha practising tricks in front of the house. The photos didn’t do the yard justice, but you could easily see its beauty.

  “Gabby,” Alice said slowly, “can I please now show you something?”

  Alice decided not to tell Finn about her conversation with Gabby. She had been totally entranced by the photos of the yard, marvelling over the roses climbing up the crumbling walls, the broken clock on the archway, the meadows full of wildflowers. Alice had handed over Angus’s number, and Gabby had promised to call him. Crossing back over the cobbles to Secret, she felt a little sick, wondering if she’d done the right thing.

  “What have you been up to?” Finn asked, bumping into her in the tack room later.

  Alice blushed, their kiss still fresh in her mind. “Oh,” she said vaguely, “just this and that.”

  Finn raised an eyebrow and Alice busied herself with sorting out her grooming kit. She hated keeping secrets from Finn but didn’t want to jinx anything by letting him know what she’d been talking to Gabby about. It seemed too good to be true for now.

  Alice was genuinely sad to pack her suitcase and Secret’s trunk. She placed her flower sash and rosette on top, smiling every time she looked at it. Alice couldn’t have been prouder of her little red gelding and his willing heart. She’d miss the beautiful yard, and the lavender field, and the amazing arena full of brightly painted showjumps. But after all the drama and excitement she was ready to go home, and she was determined to help Finn face whatever he had to deal with.

  There was a flurry of goodbyes and hugs as the pony club members exchanged numbers and promised they’d meet up soon. Gabby had said goodbye earlier, giving them both a hug. Maria had taken the first available flight home.

  Then Celia came to hug her and Finn goodbye.

  “We’ll see you again soon,” she said. “Good things are going to happen for you both. I know it.”

  Mathis came to wave them off as the ponies were loaded back on to their lorries. Seb appeared by his dad’s side on his crutches, and just for a moment he and Alice stared at each other, before Seb grinned and gave Alice a hug.

  “Good luck with Secret. He’s pretty cool, I guess!” he said, and Alice smiled.

  “Thanks. Good luck getting a sponsor.”

  Then she took Finn’s hand and they boarded the minibus, and watched as the chateau and the lavender blurred into a speck in the distance and they were homeward bound.

  “Right, Porridge is doing the open ridden on Saturday at Courtley Show, and then Merlin is doing a novice on Sunday at Pine Tree Farm. We’ll take Hero and Dolly as well. Then Archie…”

  Josephine was consulting the diary, talking at a million miles an hour as she planned the week. Alice hid a smile. They’d barely been back from France for three days, but the summer show season was in full swing and Josephine wanted to get the qualifying classes out of the way. Although she’d scaled down the showing commitments, allowing for Alice’s showjumping, they still had a busy few weeks. Secret was out in the paddock having a well-earned rest, and then Alice would resume her training with Angus.

  Alice rescuing Seb was the hot gossip of the pony club branch, with Holly and Sam giving increasingly wild and exaggerated versions of the story, and Alice had what felt like a thousand text messages to reply to from everyone, including Amy, Jordan, Lola and even Hannah. Her success in the showjumping had also been a huge deal, and her mum had actually cried when Alice showed her the flower sash and the photo she’d bought of them leaping one of the bigger fences.

  But for Alice the bit she was keeping to herself was the ride out on the hillside, on her beloved pony, Finn by her side, and their kiss after the showjumping. She had relived the moment so many times in her head. She hadn’t heard much from Finn since being home, so when he rang her mobile as she mucked out one morning she practically dived on it.

  “Hey!” she said a little breathlessly, and she could almost hear Finn smile.

  “Hey, yourself,” he replied. “So Gabby rang, and Dad and her
have arranged a deal. Alice, it’s genius! And I know you had everything to do with it!”

  Alice’s heart leapt. Her plan had worked. She just hoped it was enough for Finn to continue with the Flying Fillies.

  “Secret needs to make a habit of escaping,” Finn said with a chuckle. “It always leads to the best things. Actually, can you bring Secret over for a ride? I … I’ve missed you both.”

  And Alice grinned, a blush rising, even though no one could see her.

  The next day, Alice’s mum came out of the office just as Alice loaded Secret, ready to head over to Finn’s house. They were also taking Archie, so Finn could get back to his training with the little Fell.

  “Oh, Al,” her mum said, “this came for you.” She handed Alice an envelope with a pony club logo. It must be something about the areas, or maybe the trip, Alice thought, stuffing it into her pocket.

  Everyone was in high spirits when Josephine’s horsebox pulled up to Rookham Manor.

  “Hi, Josie, hi, Alice, great to see you! Wow, it’s been a whirlwind these past few days!” Angus looked the most cheerful Alice had ever seen as her mum smiled back. It was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. As they unloaded the ponies and led them to the yard he fell into step beside them with Sasha and Finn.

  “Gabby, the lady the kids met in France,” he explained for Josephine’s benefit, “has already been out to see us. She loved it here. We’ve got a shoot date set for the end of the summer! Alice, we can’t thank you enough.”

  Sasha smiled. “We really can’t. You’ve saved the yard!”

  “That’s fantastic.” Alice’s mum put an arm round a blushing Alice. “What quick thinking, I’m so proud of you!”

  The fee for using the yard for a week would pay the outstanding tax bill and then some, and there was talk of Rookham Manor being used as a regular location for shoots and even films. Angus explained how they were going to sign up with an agent who would take care of bookings, and the yard could properly start to pay for itself. And Alice, as Secret’s owner, was getting paid for her photo, so she would be able to get the blue stirrups after all. It had worked out perfectly!

  “I don’t know why we never thought about it before,” Finn said, as they climbed the meadow a bit later. The yard was just visible at the bottom of the hill, and they paused, the air completely silent apart from the birds and the occasional pony snort. “It’s great, and we don’t even need to do anything. They love the yard just as it is.”

  “So you can carry on with the Fillies?” Alice asked, and Finn nodded, but there was the slightest hesitation.

  “Yes,” he said. “And we’ll see where it takes me. I made a promise to Mum I’d carry on stunt riding, and I will.”

  Alice smiled, imagining a younger Finn and his mum riding together in the very same meadows. And now Finn and her were here together, a stunt rider and a showjumper, riding side by side, united by their love of ponies.

  As she stretched her long legs Alice felt something dig into her and she remembered the letter she’d stuffed into her pocket.

  “Hang on a minute, Finn.” She stopped Secret and ripped open the envelope, studying the official-looking cream letter inside.

  Dear Miss Smalley, the letter read. It is with pleasure that we invite you and your pony, Redgrove Secret, to compete at the south of England end-of-summer qualifiers. The winner of the pony club class will be eligible to compete at the Olympia Horse Show…

  Alice had to read it another three times to fully understand it. She read on, the words swimming in front of her.

  A colleague closely involved with the organisation was in France for the Festival of the Horse and, as the highest-placed UK rider, your name was put forward.

  “What is it?” Finn said in a curious voice.

  “A qualifier for Olympia,” Alice said slowly, before she clapped a hand to her mouth, turning to Finn with sparkling eyes. “It’s for a pony club competition. I’m being invited to try out with Secret! Me! And Secret!”

  “Oh, Alice!” Finn exclaimed. “That’s amazing! When’s the qualifier?”

  Alice quickly checked the letter. “End of August,” she said. This was it, this was what she was going to aim for. She wanted that Olympia spot for her and Secret more than anything else in the world.

  As if reading her thoughts, Secret turned towards her, nibbling at her boots, his bright eyes affectionate. Alice chuckled, reaching down to hug him, to thank him. He’d helped her achieve things she’d never dreamed possible – and now a new door was opening. Who knew where it would lead them but, whatever happened, Alice knew they’d be together – riding forward into the future.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to the wonderful team at Nosy Crow, in particular Kirsty and Fiona for all their expert help and guidance and Nic for her amazing design skills and for producing the most beautiful covers. A huge thank you as always to my lovely editor Sarah, who totally ‘got’ Finn and Alice from the start and has been amazing to work with. And thanks to the whole team at Nosy Crow who support the books so brilliantly from start to finish!

  Special thanks to Jolie Darton, former owner of Butler – our beautiful cover star. Jolie made sure Butler looked like a superstar ready for his photo shoot! Good luck in your new home Butler!

  Finally, writing pony books really is the best job in the world and I must thank my husband Clive who supports me every step of the way despite his own very busy job running the family farm. And of course my children Lara and Jasper, who keep me smiling. I wonder if baby Jasper will follow in the family’s equestrian footsteps and become as pony mad as his big sister, whose love for ponies mirrors my own.

  “Just move, Lily. Go forward!” The rider’s steely-blue eyes flashed angrily as she sat astride the golden palomino pony. She turned back to her mobile, but not before she had given the little mare a hefty kick.

  The pony’s nostrils flared and she snorted, but still she refused to walk on. Tentatively, she eyed the bushes ahead of her, her ears twitching back and forth.

  “ENOUGH!” the girl cried. “Just do as I say!” With a loud thwack, she brought her riding crop down hard on the pony’s hindquarters.

  CRACK!

  The mare wheeled round with a cry of pain that seemed to echo through the depths of the surrounding countryside. Then, just at that moment, a pheasant exploded out in front of them, squawking and flapping. Catching her footing on the hard, frozen tarmac the startled pony slipped, her hooves scrabbling and sparking.

  “I said, go on!” the girl cried out. She struck the pony hard on her flanks again, frightening her even more. The mare reared in a moment of blind panic, tossing her head and showing the whites of her eyes.

  The girl was thrown off clear into the road, rolling out of the way as the pony slipped on to her side, scrambling and struggling on the muddy ground.

  “Jemma … Jemma … are you all right?” A voice crackled through the mobile lying on the road.

  As the girl lay winded and bruised, the pony scrabbled to her feet, her saddle slipping to one side and her reins broken.

  Desperate to get away from the girl, the pony wheeled round and galloped wildly down the quiet road, veering on to a track that opened out to the moor beyond. With nothing to stop her, the pony raced and raced as if her life depended on it.

  When she had covered at least three miles, the palomino finally slowed. She snorted into the clear crisp air, her breath hanging in a silver plume. She was safe at last.

  “Phew, what a day that was!” Georgia slumped into her seat as the dark-green horse lorry pulled out of the showground. It was the first time she’d had a chance to relax all day, she’d been so busy grooming, plaiting and polishing. She hadn’t actually ridden herself but she wasn’t complaining. She loved being around horses and it was a real treat watching them compete.

  Georgia especially loved Wilson, the big bay thoroughbred cross, and there was no doubt about it – he’d definitely been the star of the show! Georg
ia smiled as she pulled her tangled golden hair back into a ponytail. Wilson was owned by the Haydens – Sophie and her mother, Melanie – and was just one of the ponies that Georgia helped looked after in their yard.

  “Thanks again for everything you’ve done today, Georgia,” said Melanie as she drove the horse lorry down the bumpy old track and joined a long queue of horseboxes making their way home. “We couldn’t have done it without you, could we, Sophs?” She turned to her daughter.

  “Er, what was that?” Sophie looked up from the text she’d been busily composing.

  “I said we couldn’t have managed without Georgia’s help today, could we?” Melanie frowned at her daughter, who was still engrossed in her phone.

  “Er, no,” Sophie mumbled. She was sitting between her mother and Georgia, a handful of rosettes spread across her lap.

  Sophie sounded uninterested but Georgia knew that she wasn’t being offhand. She just wasn’t passionate about the looking-after part of being around horses, in the way that Georgia was. Sophie was going off to university next year, and at the moment her friends and her social life were probably more important to her than winning at the show.

  Copyright

  First published in the UK in 2018 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place

  Crosby Row, London SE1 1YW

  www.nosycrow.com

  ISBN: 978 1 78800 0437

  eISBN: 978 1 78800 0444

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text © Olivia Tuffin 2018

  Pony photographs © Matthew Bishop Photography 2018

  The right of Olivia Tuffin to be identified as the author has been asserted.