“Actually, Mum, I’ve been thinking.” Alice took a deep breath. “Secret’s just not cut out for the show ring, and I don’t want to make him do it,” she said, standing tall. “He doesn’t enjoy it, and I know he would only get worse. He’s been trying to tell me for ages, but I’ve only just realised.”
Josephine raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure it’s not you giving up because it’s tricky at times?” she said, and Alice shook her head firmly.
“No. No, it’s not. Just give me a chance to find something else that makes him happy.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit of a waste?” Josephine continued, clearly not convinced.
“No,” Alice repeated, firmly. “I’ll ride other ponies for you in the ring, but not Secret.”
Josephine sighed. “Very well,” she said. “I can’t stop you. He’s your pony. But I think he could go to the very top if you persevere.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Mum,” Alice said. It was so important that her mum understood what she was saying, for Secret’s sake. “He wasn’t happy in the ring, and neither was I. He doesn’t have the right spirit for showing – I know that.” She looked straight at her mum. “I know that because nor do I. I need to find something that makes us both feel alive. That we both love.”
Chapter 21
A week passed and Alice hadn’t seen Finn since the party, much to her disappointment. Her mum hadn’t said anything about Finn or Angus either, and had been so busy in her office, planning the new season, that Alice hadn’t been able to ask her anything. She tried to look up Master Blue online one evening, but although there were loads of entries dedicated to her mum’s showing results, she couldn’t find anything else. And all Fergus knew was that Blue had been put to sleep at home.
A few days later, as Alice was cleaning tack in the last of the early-autumn sunshine, a familiar battered Land Rover trundled up the drive, Sasha at the wheel and Finn in the passenger seat. Alice felt her heart skip a beat and rushed over to say hello. Sasha immediately made a beeline for Fergus, giving Alice a quick wave.
“Hi, Alice,” Finn said. “Is your mum about?”
Alice shook her head. “No. She’s out at a meeting.”
“OK.” Finn sounded relieved. “I just wanted to see you.”
“I thought you wouldn’t be coming over any more.” Alice didn’t care about sounding eager. She had missed Finn so much!
Finn looked guilty. “I’ve been busy. There’s been a lot to sort out.”
“It’s just that your dad … I mean … he made it obvious he didn’t want you to ride here.” Alice scuffed the cobbles with her boots as they walked over to Secret’s paddock, where the little roan was at the fence.
“Oh, he’s really not a fan of showing,” Finn said, grimacing. “He thinks it’s totally pointless. But he had a long chat with Samantha, and he’s agreed that I can continue to ride her ponies next season. Now he knows that Samantha helped us out after the fire, he feels we owe her something. Talking of showing, did you tell your mum about Secret?”
Alice nodded, smiling. “You were right: she wasn’t as cross as I thought she would be. Has your dad said anything about how our parents knew each other, and what happened with my mum’s horse?” she blurted out.
Finn shook his head. “Not a word. What about your mum?”
Alice shrugged. “Nothing, other than it was something that happened about twenty years ago. She really doesn’t like your dad though.”
“Well, Dad doesn’t want to talk about it, but I’m going to try to make him,” Finn said firmly. “We’ve got a long journey over to Spain in the horsebox in a few weeks, so that’s a good opportunity. But if you find anything out, would you text me?”
“Spain?” Alice cried in dismay. “You’re going with him? For good?”
Finn shook his head, giving a small smile. “No, just over half-term. Once Dad told me about this pony, I knew I needed to help.”
Alice frowned. She was sure that the Horse of the Year Show fell at half-term. Was Finn going to miss it after qualifying her mum’s ponies? She would be furious!
There was a pause before Finn continued. “Now Dad’s back, we want to get the Flying Fillies up and running again, and make it better than ever. The party got us some more bookings. Molly has agreed to come back, and we’re going to advertise for a fourth rider. And you’ll have to come and meet the Spanish pony, if we manage to get her,” he added.
Alice tried to look pleased. Things were working out for the siblings after their awful summer. But she felt Finn slipping away from her again. Spain … the Flying Fillies … his dad… Would he ever have time to come and see her and Secret?
“That’s great!” she said, trying to look happy, and Finn smiled.
“Isn’t it? But, Alice…”
Alice turned back to Finn. “Yes?”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what you and Secret are capable of,” he said, reaching over and giving the little roan a pat. “I have a feeling that together you’ll be something quite extraordinary.”
Alice leaned on the gate next to him and they watched Secret graze. The red pony who had brought their two worlds together by crashing through a showground. Secret gave a snort as if in agreement, and Alice laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Finn asked.
“It’s just strange, how things work out,” Alice said, too embarrassed to tell him the real reason – that she was grateful to Secret for bringing Finn into their lives. But Finn smiled, as if he understood.
Slipping through the gate, Alice placed her arms around Secret. It would be autumn soon, and Secret’s sixth birthday. Alice finally felt free to find her own path with her pony. She hoped Finn would be by her side… But, no matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew she would face them with Secret, her amazing, one-of-a-kind pony.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the wonderful team at Nosy Crow, in particular Kirsty for all her expert help and guidance and Nic for her amazing design skills and for producing the most beautiful covers, which are exactly as I’d imagined them to be. A huge thank you 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!
Thanks must also go to our wonderful family friend Sandy. We chat for hours as we ride together and her wealth of equestrian knowledge has been invaluable.
Special thanks to Jolie Darton, owner of Butler – our beautiful cover star. Jolie made sure Butler looked like a superstar, ready to have his photographs taken by the very talented photographer Matthew Bishop. Matthew captured Butler’s personality in every shot, making him the perfect ‘Secret!’.
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. And of course my daughter Lara, who keeps me smiling and whose love for ponies mirrors my own.
Copyright
First published 2017 by Nosy Crow Ltd
The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place
Crosby Row, London SE1 1YW
http://www.nosycrow.com
ISBN: 978 0 85763 952 3
Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd
Text © Olivia Tuffin 2017
Pony photographs © Matthew Bishop Photography 2017
The right of Olivia Tuffin to be identified as the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Nosy Crow Ltd.
A CIP catalogue record
for this book is available from the British Library.
Printed and bound in the UK by Clays Ltd, St Ives Plc.
Typeset by Tiger Media
Papers used by Nosy Crow are made from wood grown in
sustainable forests.
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