The Thirteenth Horse

by Amanda Wills

  ‘I did wonder why you turned up last weekend. I didn’t think your story rang true. So, when I heard on the grapevine my sister was entering a team, I thought I’d pop over and see what we were up against,’ said Karen. Her lips curled disdainfully. ‘Not much by the look of it.’

  The smile on Norah’s face froze.

  ‘Where is she, anyway?’

  ‘Right here,’ said Emma, stepping out of the shadows. ‘It’s lovely to see you, Karen, as always,’ she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

  Kristy found her head swivelling from one sister to the other as if she was watching a tennis match. Now they were standing next to each other it was obvious the two women were closely related. Both were tall and slim-built, with blonde hair and porcelain-blue eyes. But that was where the likeness ended. Emma’s eyes sparkled like the Mediterranean. Karen’s were as cold and flat as the North Sea. While the lines etched on Emma’s face were laughter lines, fanning out from her eyes like the prongs of a rake, Karen’s were deep grooves between her eyebrows caused by constant frowning.

  Now Karen knew the twins and Sofia had no intention of moving their ponies to Coldblow, all pretence of civility had vanished.

  ‘I wish I could say the same, sister dear,’ she mocked.

  ‘So, to what do we owe this pleasure?’

  Karen smiled nastily. ‘I was just telling your team that I came to have a look at the competition. But I don’t think we have too much to fear from four clueless kids, two scruffy ponies, one carthorse and a broomstick. It’s probably safe to say the £1,000 prize money is mine.’

  Kristy’s mouth dropped open and she could hear sharp intakes of breath from Sofia and William.

  ‘I didn’t know there was prize money,’ said Norah.

  ‘Believe me, I wouldn’t bother with a tinpot competition like this otherwise,’ Karen sneered. ‘I’m going to treat myself to a new dressage saddle when I win.’

  Emma took a step forward. ‘I shouldn’t get too carried away if I were you. You haven’t actually won yet. And anyway, shouldn’t the money be split between your team?’

  ‘You always were so annoyingly nice,’ Karen spat back. ‘Why should I? It’s my yard, my horses, my team. And my prize money.’ She turned on her heels and stalked out of the school. As she disappeared through the doors she called over her shoulder, ‘See you on New Year’s Eve.’

  The four children looked at each other in shock.

  ‘Sorry about my sister. She’s what you might call an acquired taste,’ Emma grimaced.

  ‘You’re so different to her,’ said Kristy, her eyes wide.

  ‘She always had a chip on her shoulder about being the youngest in the family. I’m afraid it made her very competitive.’

  ‘I can’t believe she called us clueless,’ fumed Sofia.

  ‘She was so rude about my broom,’ said William.

  ‘She called Cassius a carthorse!’ cried Kristy.

  ‘But she’s right about one thing,’ said Norah gloomily. ‘The money is as good as hers. There’s no way we’re going to beat her.’

  Emma ruffled Cassius’s forelock and smiled at them. ‘It doesn’t seem fair that the Coldblow riders have their own personal trainer and you don’t. How do you feel about me taking on the job?’

  Kristy could see conflicting emotions cross Norah’s face.

  ‘Would I still be in charge of the routine?’ she asked.

  ‘Of course,’ said Emma. ‘You could be director of operations and I’ll manage training and development.’

  Norah considered this. ‘I suppose it could work. As long as I have the casting vote when it comes to decision-making.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ said Emma. ‘You’re the boss.’

  William pointed the end of the broom handle at his sister. ‘Actually, Sofia is the boss.’

  ‘Why do you always have to be so annoying?’ said Norah.

  Emma held up her hands. ‘No arguing, you two. United we stand, divided we fall.’

  ‘Eh?’ said the twins in unison.

  ‘We need to work together as a team if we stand any chance of winning. So, whenever you feel like bickering, just remember how fantastic it would be to wipe that smug expression off my sister’s face, OK? She may think she’s got an advantage with her perfect show ponies and her fancy routine, but you have grit, determination and friendship on your side. And that could make all the difference.’

  THAT EVENING, as Kristy sewed pom poms onto their costumes, she mulled over Karen’s visit. Like the others, she’d had no idea the Mayor was offering £1,000 in prize money to the winning quadrille team. Imagine if, against all odds, they did win and split the money between them. She’d have £250! It seemed like an enormous sum of money. But even if she added it to her wages from Mill Farm and the seventeen pounds, twenty-three pence and shiny silver button in her savings, it was no way near the amount Emma would want for Cassius. Would Emma take the money as a down payment, on the condition that Kristy paid the rest out of her wages? Kristy knew in her heart it was never going to happen. It would take her years to pay that kind of money back, and although Emma loved her horses like her own family, she was running a business, not a charity. And even if she did, Kristy could never in a million years afford the livery fees for the big Percheron.

  The pom pom in her hand blurred as her eyes pricked with tears. She could dream all she liked, but in the real world Cassius would never be hers.

  20

  ACHILLES HEEL

  K risty was sweeping the yard the next evening when William raced over.

  ‘Have you nearly finished?’ he said breathlessly. ‘I’ve called a team meeting. There’s something we need to discuss.’

  ‘Just the ponies’ rugs to change,’ said Kristy, brushing her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Why, what’s happened now?’

  William wrestled the broom from her clasp. ‘You’ll find out in a minute. Go and do the rugs. I’ll finish this.’

  As she changed Silver’s rug Kristy wondered what new disaster had befallen them. Perhaps the vet had decided Copper wouldn’t be sound in time and they were going to have to pull out of the competition. Perhaps - and her heart clenched painfully at the thought - Emma had found a buyer for Cassius. But no, she wouldn’t do that before the quadrille, would she?

  Kristy flew into the tack room. Norah and Sofia were either end of the sofa but William was nowhere to be seen.

  ‘What’s happened?’ Kristy asked.

  Norah folded her arms across her chest. ‘I’ve no idea. William called this meeting, not me.’

  ‘He’s gone to get his phone. He said he’s got something to show us,’ said Sofia.

  They could hear William whistling to himself as he crossed the yard and let himself into the tack room. ‘Good, we’re all here,’ he said, tapping away at his mobile. ‘I want you to watch this video.’

  He set the phone down and pressed play. They watched six riders galloping their ponies up and down a line of poles, dropping balls

  in buckets, placing flags in holders and leaping on and off with the ease of cowboys.

  Norah tutted. ‘We’re riding a quadrille. Why are we watching mounted games?’

  ‘Because I wanted you to see how they vaulted on. Look.’ William zoomed in as a girl with a long, brown plait ran alongside a strawberry roan pony. She grabbed the reins and a hunk of mane with her left hand and held the front of the saddle with her right. Running alongside the pony’s shoulder, she jumped forward with both legs and sprang up, throwing her right leg over the saddle and righting herself before galloping off.

  ‘Impressive,’ said Sofia.

  ‘Exactly!’ said William. ‘I want us to lead the ponies in and vault on as part of our routine.’

  ‘You want us to do what?’ spluttered Norah.

  ‘It’s daring and it’s different. The audience’ll love it. We may not be able to do piaffes and flying changes, but we can do something extraordinary that’ll wow the judges,’ said William. ‘What d’you th
ink?’

  ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea,’ said Sofia.

  ‘You would say that. You used to compete in mounted games,’ said Norah. She turned to Kristy. ‘Tell them it’s ridiculous and we’re not doing it.’

  Kristy had never vaulted on a pony in her life, but she had loved gymnastics since she was tiny, and could vault on a gym horse with her eyes closed. Jumping on Cassius couldn’t be so different, could it?

  ‘Sorry, Norah. I’m with William and Sofia. We should have a go, at least. And then we can decide,’ she said.

  William beamed. ‘The motion is carried.’

  KRISTY STARED at her reflection in the mirror of the girls’ toilets and sighed. Her hair was a mess but she’d left her brush at home. She was combing through it with her fingers, trying to pull out the worst of the tangles, when she became aware of a noise coming from one of the cubicles behind her.

  She swung around and listened. Someone was crying. Without thinking, she sidled over to the cubicle and tapped gently on the door.

  ‘Excuse me, are you alright?’

  A small voice said, ‘Not really.’

  Kristy’s eyebrows shot up. ’Norah, is that you?’

  A nose was blown noisily and the bolt slid open. Norah’s face was blotchy and her eyes were pink and puffy.

  ‘Hey, what’s happened?’ said Kristy.

  ‘Nothing. I’m fine. Well, I’m not ill or anything.’

  Kristy fished in the pocket of her skirt and handed Norah a clean tissue. ‘Want to talk about it?’

  Norah’s blonde curls bounced as she shook her head. ‘There’s no point.’

  Kristy touched her arm. ‘You never know, I might actually be able to help.’

  Norah splashed water on her face and patted it dry with a paper towel. She looked at Kristy in the mirror. ‘I can’t vault,’ she said tonelessly.

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘William deliberately chose something he knows I can’t do to humiliate me.’

  ‘I don’t think -’ stammered Kristy.

  ‘Silver’s the smallest pony in the team but I can’t even get on without a mounting block. I’m useless.’ Norah gave a twisted smile. ‘So now you know.’

  ‘I’ll teach you!’ The words were out before Kristy had a chance to stop them.

  ‘Why would you bother helping me?’

  Kristy wasn’t certain herself, if she was honest. Norah hadn’t exactly welcomed her onto the team with open arms. And she could be so overbearing, ordering them all about as if they were a bunch of naughty toddlers. Did Kristy want to help out of the goodness of her heart, or did she want the chance to boss Norah about for a change? She wasn’t one hundred per cent sure. But the fact was, if Norah couldn’t vault, the team was in trouble. And the team came first.

  ‘Does it matter why? I want to help, that’s all that counts. Meet me in the gym at lunchtime. I’ll have you vaulting like an expert in no time.’

  KRISTY PATTED the worn leather top of the wooden gym vault horse and smiled at Norah.

  ‘So, for the purposes of this afternoon’s lesson, this gym horse is Silver. It’s actually about the right height. You need to hold his reins - we’ll use this piece of rope for today - in your left hand and hold the front of the saddle on the right-hand side with your right hand. You’ll have to use your imagination for that. Keep in line with Silver’s shoulders and, while you’re looking straight ahead, bounce on both feet and propel yourself onto the saddle, swinging your right leg up and over your pony.’

  Kristy bounced on the balls of her feet and sprang agilely onto the gym horse. She grinned at Norah. ‘Just like that.’

  ‘You make it look easy,’ grumbled Norah.

  ‘It is easy on the sprung floor,’ said Kristy, jumping back down again. ‘The bounce is the most important part to get right. If you do it properly it’ll ping you into the saddle, I promise. Now you have a go.’

  Norah glared at Kristy, clutched the pretend reins and bounced half-heartedly on the floor. She lurched onto the leather top but didn’t have the momentum to swing her leg over and slid back down.

  ‘I told you I can’t vault.’

  ‘Don’t be so defeatist. Remember what you told me. “For every problem there is a solution. We just need to work out what it is.”’

  Norah scowled.

  Kristy’s eyes fell on a mini trampoline in the far corner of the gym. She placed it on the floor by the gym horse’s shoulder. ‘Bounce on that until the count of three and then vault on. I’ll help you swing your leg over.’

  Norah grabbed the reins again and bounced.

  ‘One, two, THREE!’ cried Kristy. She grabbed Norah under the armpits and pushed her into the air. Norah swung her right leg back, kicking Kristy in the mouth.

  ‘Ow!’ Kristy groaned, clutching her jaw.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Norah, beaming down at her from the top of the gym horse. ‘At least your pain wasn’t in vain. I did it! I vaulted on!’

  ‘That’s brilliant,’ Kristy muttered. She rubbed her jaw and held out a hand. ‘Let’s see you do it on your own this time.’

  Norah spent the next twenty minutes jumping on and off the gym horse. Once she could do it with ease Kristy took the mini trampoline away. After a couple of attempts Norah executed a perfect vault from the ground. She patted the leather top as if it was a real pony and then bowed to an imaginary audience.

  ‘I am a vaulting queen!’ she declared, sliding off the gym horse and high-fiving Kristy.

  ‘Vaulting on a moving pony is going to be much harder,’ Kristy pointed out, feeling a prickle of guilt as Norah’s face fell. ‘But if you can achieve that in just one hour you’ll soon get the hang of it.’

  Norah’s confidence restored, the two girls collected their bags and headed for the corridor. As they prepared to go their separate ways Norah grabbed Kristy’s hand.

  ‘Thanks for helping me. I really appreciate it.’

  ‘No worries,’ said Kristy. Despite her earlier misgivings, she had enjoyed herself. ‘It was fun.’

  21

  SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

  Something weird happened as Kristy led Cassius into the indoor school. He may have been unusually small for a Percheron, but he seemed to grow before her very eyes. He was as solid as a wall and just as tall. She’d told herself - and the others - that she’d be able to vault on him, no problem. But who was she kidding? He was a whole hand higher than Jazz and twice as broad. She led him over to where Norah was standing with Silver and tried to keep her nerves in check.

  ‘Ready?’ said Norah, who looked decidedly green.

  Kristy’s palms felt slippery with sweat and she wiped them on her jodhpurs. She nodded. ‘As I’ll ever be.’

  ‘I thought I had it tough, vaulting onto Silver. But how on earth are you going to jump onto Cassius. He’s enormous!’ said Norah.

  ‘It’ll be fine,’ said Kristy, with more confidence than she felt. ‘You just need to get the bounce right, remember. You go first.’

  Norah bounced a couple of times and scrambled into the saddle. She punched the air with glee. ‘Now your turn.’

  Kristy gazed at the pommel of Cassius’s saddle. It was as high as her shoulder. She grabbed the reins and a large handful of mane. She jumped up but gravity pulled her back down before she could swing her leg over Cassius’s rump. He looked at her with his good eye. He seemed perplexed, as if he couldn’t understand why on earth she wasn’t using the mounting block like a normal human being.

  ‘You nearly had it,’ called Norah.

  Kristy nodded. After weeks of mucking out and hefting buckets of water and bales of hay she was stronger than she’d ever been. It was all about confidence. She closed her eyes and visualised herself effortlessly leaping onto Cassius’s back, as graceful as a circus rider.

  She flexed her arms and tried again. On the count of three she planted both feet firmly on the ground and pushed up with her legs. She hauled herself into the saddle and soon she was staring down at Ca
ssius’s familiar pricked ears, a wide grin on her face. Graceful it wasn’t, but she’d done it.

  A SILVER FOUR-WHEEL drive was parked in the yard when Kristy and Norah led Cassius and Silver out of the indoor school.

  Norah’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘It must be the vet! Mum asked him to come and have a look at Copper.’

  A tall man with a weathered face and a salt and pepper beard was deep in conversation with Emma outside Copper’s stable. William led the gelding out and the vet squatted down to have a look at his injured fetlock.

  ‘You’ve been hosing down his leg?’

  ‘Twice a day,’ Emma confirmed.

  He ran his hand down Copper’s leg. ‘There’s no heat and no swelling. And the cuts look as though they are healing nicely. Let’s trot him up to see if he’s sound.’

  William walked Copper to the far end of the yard and trotted him back. He looked OK to Kristy but the vet scratched his beard and said, ‘Once more, please.’

  Kristy crossed her fingers as William trotted Copper up a second time. The vet patted the chestnut gelding’s neck.

  ‘It’s a quadrille you want to do?’ he asked.

  William bobbed his head. ‘We’ve entered a team in the New Year’s Eve show. There’s no jumping involved. We just trot in circles and serpentines and stuff. D’you think he’ll be alright?’

  Four pairs of worried eyes watched the vet as he picked up his medicine bag and clicked it shut. He cleared his throat. Kristy realised she was holding her breath.

  ‘I’m happy he’s sound. I’d recommend you wait a few more weeks before you jump him, but I think he’s absolutely fine to take part in a quadrille.’

  Kristy and Norah whooped and high-fived each other and William danced a little jig of happiness and cried, ‘New Year’s Eve show, here we come!’

  IT WAS as if their luck changed the day the vet came. Training sessions, under Emma’s eagle eye, went like clockwork. Kristy and Norah perfected their vaults and Jazz trotted around the indoor school completely unaffected by the music. Their circles were precise and their serpentines impeccably executed. Even Emma, who was the ultimate perfectionist, couldn’t pick fault with their crossovers. Cassius was as fit as the ponies and his muscles rippled under his thick, glossy coat as he trotted in time to the music. Their confidence was sky high.