The Thirteenth Horse

by Amanda Wills

  A couple of days before Christmas, Emma called them into the tack room.

  ‘You’ve all worked so hard you deserve a few days off so I’m cancelling all training sessions for a week. Go home and enjoy Christmas with your families. And that includes you, Kristy. My cousin is staying with me over the holiday and she’ll help with the horses. I’ll see you all the day before New Year’s Eve for a full dress rehearsal so make sure you bring your costumes.’

  ‘Can I still come and see Cassius?’ Kristy said, thinking of the big bag of carrots she’d bought him for Christmas.

  ‘Of course you can. But you’re not to lift a finger. I want you to take a well-deserved break.’

  KRISTY PACKED her costume and Cassius’s white sheet into a carrier bag, jumped down the steps of their apartment two at a time and set off towards the stables at a jog. Her heart felt as light as a feather. She’d enjoyed spending time with her mum and dad over Christmas, but after a week away from Mill Farm she was itching to be back with the horses.

  She had almost reached the drive when she heard the hiss of air brakes and the bus pulled up behind her. To her surprise Sofia jumped off, clutching a large jute shopping bag.

  ‘How come you’re on the bus?’ said Kristy.

  ‘Dad’s away and Mum’s car’s in the garage. I was going to cycle over but I didn’t think I’d be able to manage with this,’ Sofia said, holding up the bag. The limp arm of a white onesie fluttered in the wind.

  The two girls chattered about Christmas as they walked up the drive. Norah and William were already grooming their ponies and Kristy raced down to the bottom paddock, impatient to see Cassius. She’d brought over the carrots on Christmas morning but hadn’t seen him since.

  Back at the yard, she set to work combing the tangles from his mane and tail and brushing his coat until it shone.

  ‘I don’t know why you’re being so fussy. No-one’s going to tell if he’s clean under his sheet,’ said Norah.

  ‘I know, but he loves being groomed and I love grooming him,’ said Kristy.

  Norah disappeared into the tack room with Sofia to change into their costumes and Kristy grabbed her carrier bag and followed them.

  Sofia handed her a stick of white face paint and a compact mirror.

  ‘Really?’ she said.

  ‘Absolutely,’ said Sofia. ‘Emma wanted a full dress rehearsal, remember.’

  The girls giggled as they pulled on their onesies, tied their scarves and painted their faces chalk-white. Kristy helped the others fix their carrot noses and fit their cardboard top hats over their riding helmets.

  Norah held Sofia’s compact mirror at arm’s length and peered into it, cackling like a witch as she struck silly poses. ‘We look awesome. Great costumes, Kristy!’

  Kristy was about to brush the compliment aside but she stopped herself. Norah was right - the costumes were awesome. ‘We do look pretty good, don’t we?’ she grinned.

  Outside, Emma was taking photos of William and Copper. ‘We’ll get a couple of team shots,’ she called.

  Soon they were lining up, Cassius and Jazz flanking Copper and Silver. As Emma snapped away, Kristy couldn’t keep the grin off her face. They looked amazing. They had worked so hard perfecting their routine. They were going to take the New Year’s Eve show by storm. Happiness fizzed inside her like bubbles in a glass of lemonade.

  ‘I want a couple of photos of Kristy and Cassius on their own before our rehearsal,’ said Emma, summoning Kristy closer.

  ‘Smile,’ she told Kristy, as if she wasn’t already beaming from ear to ear. Emma took half a dozen photos of them both, nodding approvingly as she scrolled through them. ‘Just the job.’

  ‘Just the job for what?’ Norah asked.

  ‘The online advert for Cassius. I’m going to upload it tonight.’

  Kristy felt winded, as though someone had punched her in the stomach. And all the tiny bubbles of happiness fizzled away, like lemonade gone flat, leaving her feeling utterly deflated. And completely alone.

  22

  A FRIEND IN NEED

  T he tears Kristy had managed to contain throughout their dress rehearsal began trickling out as she climbed the steps to their apartment, and by the time she pushed open the front door they were in full flood. Her parents took one look at her and rushed over.

  ‘Whatever’s wrong?’ her mum said, putting her arm around Kristy’s shoulder and leading her to the sofa. Kristy hugged her knees and let the tears fall.

  ‘Kristy?’ said her mum, rubbing her back. ‘Tell us what’s happened.’

  But the sobs had plugged Kristy’s throat and she was unable to speak.

  ‘Did you fall off,’ said her dad. His voice was scratchy with worry. ‘It’s my fault if you did. I should never have let you ride a blind horse.’

  ‘A what?’ cried her mum.

  Kristy shook her head. Her parents mustn’t blame Cassius. He’d done nothing wrong. She swallowed the sobs and squeaked, ‘I didn’t fall off.’

  Kristy’s dad wiped away her tears with his thumbs. ‘So, what did happen? Did you have a falling out with your friends?’

  ‘Emma wanted to take our photo before the dress rehearsal. I thought it was because she was proud of us.’ Kristy’s bottom lip wobbled. ‘It wasn’t that at all. She just wanted a nice photo for the advert for Cassius. She’s putting it online tonight.’

  Kristy’s mum handed her a glass of water.

  ‘You knew it was going to happen eventually,’ she said.

  Kristy stared into the glass. ‘I thought she might change her mind and keep him.’

  ‘I know how you feel, sweetheart. I know what it’s like to lose something you love.’ Kristy’s mum sounded wistful. Kristy knew she was remembering their big, detached house with a view of the hills. But that was just bricks and mortar. There was no comparison.

  ‘What if his new owner doesn’t look after him properly? No-one will ever love him as much as I do,’ she wailed, fresh tears pouring down her face.

  Her dad lifted her chin. ‘You need to be brave, angel. If I’ve learnt anything it’s that life is a series of setbacks and if you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going you’ll be stronger for it. You knew you were only borrowing Cassius and that the time would come when you had to give him back. Emma will make sure he goes to a lovely, caring home. He’ll be fine. And once your heart mends - and it will, I promise - you’ll treasure your memories of him for the rest of your life.’

  Kristy took the handkerchief he gave her and blew her nose noisily. She knew he was trying to help. But the leaden feeling in her heart refused to budge, as solid and intractable as a granite boulder. He was right in some respects. Emma would vet any potential homes. And Cassius would probably be fine. But he was so very wrong about one thing. Kristy’s heart would never mend.

  KRISTY WAS PUSHING her dinner about on her plate when the doorbell rang.

  ‘Who on earth’s that at this time of night?’ said her mum.

  ‘I’ll just look into my crystal ball,’ joked her dad, pushing his chair back. He’d spent the evening trying to tease Kristy out of her black mood. It hadn’t worked.

  Kristy stabbed a potato with her fork and started chewing. It tasted like dried shavings. She took a slug of water and swallowed.

  The front door clicked open and the sound of voices drifted along the hallway. For a nano-second Kristy allowed herself to fantasise that it was Emma, finally realising how upset she was and coming to give her Cassius. But just as quickly she chastised herself for being so stupid. Stuff like that never happened to girls like her.

  ‘Kristy, there’s someone here to see you,’ said her dad.

  ‘Sofia! What are you doing here?’

  Sofia looked as red-eyed as Kristy had when she’d looked in the mirror earlier. But why would Sofia be so upset about Emma selling Cassius? It didn’t make sense.

  Sofia grimaced. ‘I’ve lost my costume.’

  Kristy laughed, despite herself. ‘I
thought William was the joker, not you.’

  ‘No, I really have. I left it on the bus on the way home from the stables. Mum tried ringing the bus depot but it’s closed. The answerphone message says it won’t be open again until Monday.’

  ‘And the quadrille is tomorrow,’ said Kristy slowly.

  Sofia’s green eyes welled. ‘I’m such an idiot. We can’t compete with only three costumes. Norah’ll go mad. And all the hours Emma’s spent helping us when she’s so busy. All wasted. Oh, Kristy, what am I going to do? I’ve ruined it for everyone.’

  Kristy was silent.

  ‘Please don’t hate me,’ said Sofia pitifully.

  Kristy waved her hand, gesturing Sofia to be quiet. An idea was forming in the back of her mind. ‘We might be able to fix it. I ordered five onesies by accident. I was going to send one back, but Mum said she’d give it to my cousin for her birthday. It was the same size as the ones I ordered for you and William. You can wear that.’

  ‘But what about the pom poms and carrots? And I haven’t got a top hat.’

  ‘I should have enough black wool and cardboard left over. We can make new ones tonight.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Kristy was grateful to have another drama to take her mind off Cassius. ‘Of course I’m sure.’

  The worry lines vanished from Sofia’s forehead. ‘Mum’s waiting outside. I’d better ask her to pick me up in a couple of hours,’ she said. And she sped out of the flat.

  ‘Ask her if she’s got a spare white sheet,’ Kristy called as she thundered down the hallway.

  By the time Sofia reappeared a few minutes later Kristy had cleared the breakfast bar and found the spare wool and cardboard.

  ‘The only thing you won’t have is the scarf,’ she said, handing Sofia a ball of black wool and two cardboard discs.

  Sofia reached into her shoulder bag. ‘Aha, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s the one thing I have got. It was so cold I wore it home.’ Her lips twitched. ‘I really am hopeless, aren’t I?’

  ‘Absolutely hopeless,’ Kristy agreed.

  THEY WORKED SOLIDLY for the next hour and a half, making and sewing on the pom poms and cutting out and painting the carrot nose and fiddly top hat. Kristy made a couple of ties and showed Sofia how to sew them onto her white sheet once she was home.

  ‘Were the face paints in the bag you left on the bus?’

  ‘No, thank goodness. Norah’s got them. It was just the costume.’ Sofia held her onesie against her and curtsied. ‘How does it look?’

  Kristy eyed her critically. ‘One of the pom poms is a bit wonky but I don’t suppose anyone’ll notice. Otherwise it looks great.’

  Sofia’s expression was serious. ‘You saved my life tonight, Kristy. Thank you.’

  ‘Don’t exaggerate. You would have sorted something out.’

  ‘I mean it,’ said the older girl fervently. ‘You are a true friend.’

  Kristy didn’t reply, but that night, as she lay in bed trying to drift off to sleep, Sofia’s words provided a modicum of happiness to her otherwise heavy heart.

  23

  NEW YEAR’S EVE

  N ew Year’s Eve dawned, cold and crisp. A crystalline hoar frost had formed overnight and tiny ice crystals, as dazzling as quartz, coated the steel handrail on the steps to Kristy’s apartment.

  ‘We’ll see you there,’ called Kristy’s mum from the top step.

  Kristy waved goodbye and set off at a brisk walk towards the centre of town. She wanted to see where the arena had been set up so she could report back to the others when she met them at the stables.

  The pavement felt crunchy underfoot and overhanging branches sparkled as if they had been dipped in caster sugar.

  The town square was already busy, even though the show wasn’t due to start for another hour. Families were gliding hand-in-hand around the ice rink that had been set up in front of the town hall, and reindeers chewed hay and dozed in temporary pens behind it. As Kristy skirted a stall selling hot chocolates topped with white and pink marshmallows, a lorry pulled up beside her and a couple began unloading a team of overexcited huskies.

  ‘I don’t suppose you know where the quadrille competition is being held?’ Kristy asked a woman dressed as an ice queen, who was handing out flyers for the icicle ball.

  ‘In the car park,’ said the woman, pointing to the side of the town hall.

  Kristy wandered over and gasped. A temporary dressage arena with a sand surface had been built, complete with white boards. Rows of plastic seats four deep lined the two long sides of the arena and at the far end a raised platform had been erected, on which stood three more seats. For the Mayor and his two fellow judges, Kristy presumed. It all looked incredibly professional and the butterflies in Kristy’s ribcage started fluttering wildly.

  She checked her watch. It was nine o’clock. The show was due to start with the reindeer parade at ten, and the quadrille competition was scheduled for eleven. The Coldblow team would probably be travelling over in Karen’s top-of-the-range horse box. The Mill Farm team were going to hack over and change into their costumes once they arrived.

  A man wearing a pinstripe suit and a bowler hat began setting out the arena markers. Kristy sidled over and coughed politely.

  ‘Excuse me, but do you know how many teams are entering?’

  ‘Ten at the last count,’ he said, placing the letter B by her feet. ‘Why, are you coming to watch?’

  ‘I’m riding in it, actually,’ said Kristy shyly.

  The man looked impressed. ‘Good for you. It’s nice to see young people taking part in community events.’ He consulted his clipboard and strode towards the small stage. ‘I think the M goes just about here, don’t you?’

  Kristy nodded. ‘Yes, that looks about right.’

  ‘Do you have your own pony?’

  Kristy felt the usual lurch deep in the pit of her stomach whenever she thought about Cassius being sold. But she’d given herself an extra stern talking to on the walk into town. No more feeling sorry for herself. She was lucky to have been able to ride Cassius at all. Most kids never had opportunities like that. And even once he’d been sold, she’d still have her horse fix, working at Mill Farm. No, from now on she refused to wallow in self-pity. She straightened her shoulders and smiled.

  ‘No. I’m just borrowing someone else’s. But I’m OK with that.’

  The man nodded approvingly. ‘I like your attitude. Good luck for later. I’ll keep an eye out for you.’

  NORAH WAS STANDING in the middle of the yard directing operations like a hyperactive sergeant major. While she barked out a litany of orders, William and Sofia scurried about, fetching grooming kits and haynets and gathering buckets and bandages.

  Kristy jogged over. ‘How’s it going?’

  William plonked two haynets on the concrete and rolled his eyes. ‘Norah has gone into overdrive.’ He shot his sister a dark look. ‘But she needs to be careful. If she doesn’t stop bossing us about Sofia and I are going on strike. And then she’ll have to do everything herself.’

  Keen to avert a row, Kristy picked up the haynets and said, ‘I’m here now. Just tell me what needs doing and I’ll do it. It’ll only take twenty minutes to ride over. We’ve still got masses of time.’

  Emma had decided to drive to the show so they loaded her Land Rover with haynets, buckets, two huge canisters of water and their costumes.

  ‘Kristy, you haven’t even started grooming Cassius yet!’ Norah shrieked.

  ‘I spent an hour grooming him after the dress rehearsal yesterday and kept him in last night. He should just need a quick brush today,’ she said mildly.

  Kristy found Cassius’s grooming kit and let herself into his stable. He was asleep, his bottom lip drooping and his whiskers twitching. Kristy wondered if he was dreaming about her. Although he had straw in his mane and tail, she was relieved to see that his thick coat was still shiny.

  ‘Hey, handsome,’ she whispered.

  The Percheron�
��s eyes snapped open. He tilted his head to look at her and whickered. Kristy set to work on his tail, brushing it until it cascaded like a wavy waterfall. She combed his mane and gave his coat a quick flick with a body brush before picking out his feet and oiling his hooves.

  Nora, William and Sofia poked their heads over his stable door.

  ‘He looks great,’ said Sofia.

  ‘I still think we should have plaited them,’ Norah sighed.

  ‘We took a vote and you lost. Three against one,’ William reminded her.

  ‘I bet the Coldblow team have plaited their ponies. Manes and tails,’ said Norah.

  Kristy screwed the cap back on the hoof oil and handed it to Norah. ‘Don’t worry about the other teams. So what if they’ve got perfect plaits and amazing costumes? Who cares if they can execute flawless flying changes? We’ve worked so hard for this competition and I’ve enjoyed every minute. I want to go out today with my best friends and have fun, don’t you?’

  ‘Well said,’ said Emma appearing behind the twins and Sofia. She jangled the Land Rover keys. ‘I’ll see you off and then I’ll head over.’

  The four children looked at each other and grinned.

  ‘Well, I guess this is it,’ said Sofia.

  ‘I feel sick,’ said Norah, clutching her stomach.

  William patted her shoulder like a kindly uncle. ‘You’ll be fine.’

  All of a sudden Kristy’s nerves had morphed into excitement and she couldn’t wait to jump on Cassius and show everyone just how amazing he was.