“OK, but if she agrees, will you let me?” Georgia persevered.
“OK.” Melanie smiled. “Let me phone her now. I guess I could leave the house unlocked in case you needed me.”
Quietly, Melanie closed the half-door behind her and made her way over to the house to make the call. She returned a few moments later, carrying a dark-blue blanket. “I’ve spoken to your mum,” she said. “She’s not best pleased about it but she eventually said yes.”
“That’s great!” Georgia grinned through a strand of hair.
“On one condition,” said Melanie. “That you eat all of your supper. She’s on her way up with it now.”
“I think I might manage that,” said Georgia. It had been the last thing on her mind, but now that she came to think about it, she was actually feeling rather hungry.
“I’m sure Lily will be very grateful to have you here,” said Melanie. “But remember, you must let me know if you need me to take over. Just shout if you need me.”
“Thanks, Melanie, I will,” said Georgia, settling back down into the straw.
When Georgia’s mother appeared ten minutes later, she was carrying a flask of soup, a crusty roll and some home-made cake.
Cautiously, she pulled back the door to the stable. “She’s an angel,” she breathed quietly as she stood in the doorway.
“I know, Mum,” Georgia said proudly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? There’s something so special about her. I just love her already!”
“What am I going to do with you, Georgia Black?” Her mother put the supper down on the blue blanket and leaned over to give her a hug. “Are you sure you’re going to be OK here overnight, sweetheart?” she asked.
“Definitely,” said Georgia determinedly. “I have to stay.”
Her mum smiled. “I thought you might say that!”
She sat with Georgia while she ate her food, asking her questions about the summer school, which Georgia answered as best she could, only blushing slightly when Dan’s name came up. Then, when the last remnants had been devoured, her mum got to her feet and ruffled her daughter’s hair affectionately. “Be sure to get Melanie if you need her,” her mum said, letting herself out of the stable. She paused and looked in over the half-door. “And try to get some sleep, darling.”
“I will. Thanks, Mum.” Georgia smiled appreciatively.
After her mother had left, Georgia snuggled down into the straw and pulled the blanket over her. She couldn’t believe how still the night was now after the drama of earlier. Lily was standing quietly at the back of the stable, resting a leg. She didn’t come any closer, but she didn’t look scared either.
Georgia was exhausted after the trauma of the last twenty-four hours and although she tried to fight to stay awake to watch the pony, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Eventually when, with a small sigh, Lily finally closed her eyes, Georgia allowed herself to drift off to sleep. And later, comforted by the presence of the girl who had shown her such kindness, the palomino pony lay down for the first time in months and slept.
When dawn broke, girl and pony were still fast asleep. That was how Melanie found them as the first few rays of sunshine bounced off Lily’s coat, turning it a deep pink. Georgia’s golden hair, which was spread out in a tangled wave, was full of straw.
“Georgia … Georgia … it’s time to wake up,” Melanie whispered.
Lily started at the sound of her voice and hastily got to her feet. Georgia rubbed her eyes and gazed sleepily around her.
“The vet’s popping over before his surgery opens,” Melanie said. “If I make you a bacon sandwich, can you feed the ponies?”
“Sure.” Georgia nodded, the thought of a bacon sandwich making her mouth water. She was starving, despite the soup and cake Mum had brought her last night.
Leaving Lily’s stable, Georgia set to work. She fed Wilson a competition mix and Callie a small handful of pony nuts, before making up a small bran mash for Lily. Then she turned Wilson and Callie out into the paddock, smiling as they rolled together in the dusty earth.
Lily tucked eagerly into her bran mash, keeping an eye on Georgia as she ate. Georgia watched her for a few minutes before setting about mucking out the stables. She skipped out the beds, fluffed up the straw and washed out the feed bowls. She was just finishing off when Melanie emerged from the house, carrying a bacon sandwich and a steaming mug of tea. Georgia took them from her gratefully, just as the vet pulled into the yard.
“How’s she doing?” he said, getting out of his car.
“OK, I think,” said Melanie. “Georgia stayed with her all night.”
“Now, that’s dedication!” laughed the vet. “Well, let’s take a look at her then.” He drew back the bolt on the door and stepped inside. “She was in a very fragile state last night,” he said as he checked her pulse. “Has she eaten her bran mash?”
“Yup.” Georgia grinned. “She’s had it all!”
The vet nodded as he checked Lily’s respiration and temperature before finally listening to her abdomen with a stethoscope.
“Well, she’s much improved,” he declared. “You could turn her out if you want.”
“Why don’t you put her in the small paddock next to Wilson and Callie then, Georgia?” said Melanie.
Carefully, Georgia led Lily out, taking care not to startle her, and unclipped her once they were in the field. Georgia stood back to watch as, hesitantly, Lily stepped forward. In the next moment she had launched herself into a floating extended trot.
“I think you can safely say she’s made herself at home.” The vet grinned, before heading for his car.
When he had driven away, Melanie turned to Georgia. “Well, I’ve got good news and bad,” she said, looking at her intently.
“OK,” Georgia said slowly. She took a deep breath. “Let’s start with the good news then.”
“All right.” Melanie hesitated. “Well, I’ve phoned the Builth pony sales.” She paused. “And I’ve managed to trace her owner – Mr Williams. He’s furious with his granddaughter. Her version of the story was that Lily had turned on her and nearly broken her leg and then run away. But knowing Lily, he’d had his doubts. So he wasn’t at all surprised when I told him what had really happened.”
“As if Lily would turn on anyone!” Georgia snorted with disgust.
“I know … a likely story, eh?” said Melanie. “Anyway, the good news is that Mr Williams remembered you. And he wants us to have Lily! We’ve agreed a price and I’m going to send him a cheque.”
Georgia gasped. “Wow – that’s brilliant!” Then she looked a bit sheepish. “I hope you haven’t had to pay too much.”
“She wasn’t cheap but she hasn’t broken the bank!” Melanie smiled, wrapping an arm around Georgia’s shoulder. “But I think she’s worth it!”
“Thanks so much, Melanie!” Georgia felt completely overwhelmed. Then she remembered that there was more. “So what’s the bad news?” she asked tentatively.
“The bad news,” Melanie hesitated, “is the girl – Jemma, Mr Williams’s granddaughter. He seems to think that she might cause some trouble when she hears that Lily has gone to you. He said we should watch out for her on the show circuit. Apparently she can be quite difficult.”
“But there’s nothing she can do, is there?” said Georgia, feeling worried all of a sudden.
“Not a thing,” said Melanie. “Not once the cheque has cleared. He was just warning us.” Seeing Georgia’s anxious expression, she smiled. “Don’t worry, Lily isn’t going anywhere. Now, come on, let’s go and get to know the newest member of our family!”
Later on that day, Emma pushed her bike into the yard, dressed in electric-blue leggings and a baggy purple T-shirt. “So, what do you think?” she said to her best friend, doing a twirl.
“Of what?” asked Georgia, looking up from the piece of tack she had been cleaning. She’d texted Emma earlier and asked her to come over to Redgrove as soon as she could.
“Of me,” said Em
ma. “I’ve got some new clothes.”
“Oh, Em.” Georgia laughed, hanging up the clean bridle. “You always look great!” She gave her friend a broad smile. “Come with me. I want you to meet the new arrival.”
“New arrival?” said Emma. “The Haydens have a new pony?”
“Yep!” said Georgia. “And she’s the best. Oh, Em, I’ve got so much to tell you!”
In the drama of Lily’s arrival, Georgia hadn’t had a chance to tell her best friend everything that had happened. That’s why she’d texted her at the first opportunity to ask her to come up to the yard.
“It must have been quite a summer course for you to come back this happy,” said Emma.
“There was never a dull moment,” said Georgia, tucking her arm through her friend’s. “Actually, there were loads, but something amazing happened as well.”
“Tell me everything,” said Emma.
So Georgia did.
Emma’s eyes were as wide as saucers when her friend finally stopped for breath. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me all of this sooner!” she exclaimed.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Georgia said. “But everything happened so quickly. And Dan was really kind and helpful, and he saved Lily’s life. He’s a complete hero.”
“He also happens to be the best-looking guy at our school,” Emma pointed out, raising an eyebrow quizzically.
“Is he?” said Georgia nonchalantly. “Well, he’s very nice. But I don’t think of him like that.” She looked thoughtful. Was that entirely true? She thought of Dan as many things – kind and brave and heroic, but boys were really not high on her list of priorities right now, not when she could spend her time looking after ponies. “Come on,” she said, leading her friend to the fields at the back. “You need to meet Lily.”
As they stood at the gate to the small paddock, Emma let out a low whistle of approval. “Wow!” she said, reaching out her hand to where the palomino was grazing close by. Lily immediately moved off and trotted over to the fence at the back of the field, so Georgia reminded Emma why Lily was so skittish.
“That evil girl,” her friend murmured with tears in her eyes. “But Lily’s safe now, isn’t she? Jemma will never get her back!”
“I hope not,” Georgia said grimly as they turned to go. She stopped to look over her shoulder at the beautiful pony, resting in the shade of the ancient horse chestnut. It was hard to believe that so much had happened to her.
“I won’t ever let you be scared or in danger again, Lily,” said Georgia. “I promise you that. Your future’s safe with me.”
Georgia and Emma walked quietly back to the yard and when Dan showed up half an hour later, as promised, Emma had an inexplicable fit of giggles.
Georgia blushed, noticing for the first time that Emma was right – Dan really was pretty nice-looking! Suddenly overcome with shyness, she took him to visit Lily. He whistled softly as they looked into her paddock. She raised her head and nickered in response.
“See! She remembers you!” Georgia cried in delight, her nerves forgotten. “She knows you’re the one who saved her!”
“And you.” Dan smiled. “She’s lovely, isn’t she?” he said. “I can’t wait to watch you ride her!”
Emma made a little spluttering sound, and Georgia blushed even more. “Well, that would be great,” she said. “But we’re going to have to take it really slow after everything she’s been through.”
Dan nodded. “Well, if you need me, you know where I am,” he said kindly, before asking Emma if she wanted him to thump her on the back. “Nasty cough you’ve got there,” he told her, his eyes twinkling. This time it was Emma’s turn to blush.
The days of summer passed easily. Slowly, Lily started to get better and settle into life at Redgrove, and Georgia started to worry about her less and less. She was managing to catch her quite easily too now – even if it was with the help of a big bucket of feed. Georgia loved bringing Lily in for a groom, stroking her champagne-coloured coat and talking to her softly.
One Saturday morning, as she combed out the little mare’s cream mane and tail, Georgia looked thoughtful. “I wonder when someone might try you out, Lily,” she breathed. “I wonder who it will be. I’d love it if it was me, but perhaps Sophie would be better. She’s much more experienced than I am, you see.”
Lily snorted in response and swished her tail. Georgia laughed.
“You’d rather it was me, would you?” she smiled before heading off. “Well, I’ve got to go and get Wilson ready now but I’ll be back. Promise.”
Georgia looked back over her shoulder at the palomino, watching her lazily resting one hind leg. She smiled. She was riding Wilson nearly every day now as Sophie seemed to spend most of her time out with her friends, either shopping or sunbathing, but Georgia wasn’t complaining.
Still, that day she had a lot to do. Wilson had a big show tomorrow and needed a bath. Then, after she had groomed him, Georgia would need to clean his tack and help Melanie load the lorry ready for their early start. The show was one of the biggest in the calendar and Georgia knew that Wilson had lots of competition from all over the country in his classes.
“Easy, boy, easy does it,” Georgia crooned as she lathered up the soap on the bay gelding. Wilson loved his baths and stood quietly under the hose, revelling in the feel of the cool water as Georgia washed his ebony mane with shampoo. He dried in the hot sun in no time and Georgia sprayed conditioner into his tail before combing it out. Finally she ran some special coat shine over him with a soft cloth.
“You look like a star!” she said, giving Wilson a kiss on the nose.
After that was done Georgia polished Wilson’s show tack and prepared all his kit, his grooming brushes, water containers and bandages, remembering to pack some treats as well.
Lily hung her head over her stable door and watched all of the show preparation with interest. “Don’t worry, girl,” Georgia called as she ran past, her arms full of travelling boots. “It’ll be you in the ring one day!”
The next morning was the usual frantic rush to get ready in time, but thanks to all of Georgia’s preparations the day before they were soon pulling out of the yard and heading off to the show.
Sophie was asleep in the passenger seat. Georgia sat beside her, eating one of the sandwiches her mum had prepared the night before.
“Oh, before I forget, I’ve got something for you, Georgia.” Melanie leaned across and pulled out a little badge from the glove compartment.
“Groom!” Georgia read the word aloud and pinned the badge proudly to her chest. “Thanks, Melanie!”
“You deserve it,” said Melanie.
It seemed like no distance at all to the show, and soon the green horse lorry was pulling into the grounds.
Georgia took a deep breath as she looked around her. She loved everything about a show – from the rows of trailers parked up under the trees, to the gleaming horses getting ready for their big moment. She especially loved the hamburgers and ice creams that made up a show-day diet!
She’d been sad to leave Lily that morning, but Simon had promised to check on her at least six times that day, so Georgia knew she would be all right.
Melanie drove the horse lorry into their allotted space and Georgia jumped down … straight into a dark-haired girl who was sitting by the adjacent horsebox. Tory! OK, so there had to be one downside to the day. Georgia hadn’t seen Tory since the training day at Janey Meadon’s, and couldn’t say that she was sad about it.
“Hello there.” Georgia swallowed hard and tried to be friendly as Tory flicked through a fashion magazine without looking up. “Hello, Georgia.” Tory finally acknowledged her with a dismissive flick of her wrist.
“Oh, hi, Tory,” Sophie called out, jumping down behind Georgia.
Tory got up and the two older girls disappeared off together to register for their classes and collect their numbers. Thank goodness for that, Georgia thought to herself. Peace and quiet.
Sophie was riding in
the show hunter pony class. It was one of the later, mid-morning events, so at least it would allow Georgia time to give Wilson another good groom.
Georgia tied him up to the side of the lorry in the shade with his hay net. The sun was already beating down on to the showground and she didn’t want him to overheat.
Once Georgia had brushed the bay over, Melanie fussed around Wilson’s tail, spraying in some more silky shine and combing it out again. “Can you double-check the ring we’re in?” she called to Georgia, who was giving the tack a final polish.
“Sure,” Georgia replied, grabbing a carton of juice. She was glad she had dressed for the weather, wearing a pair of pale-pink bermuda shorts with a vest top and her old trainers.
She set off to find a steward. Glancing with pleasure at the beautiful show horses being slowly cantered in the warm-up ring, Georgia made her way over to a bowler-hatted man. But then her blood froze at the sound of a familiar, unwelcome voice. She followed the source of the voice and to her horror saw Jemma sitting astride a chestnut Welsh stallion.
The girl was yelling at a younger rider with red hair and freckles who was nervously arranging a jump in the warm-up ring.
“You stupid idiot,” Jemma screeched, her cruel, mocking voice carrying loud and clear across the ring. “I told you to bring his other girth!” She dug her heels hard in the chestnut’s sides. He gave a snort of displeasure and broke into a canter.
Jemma was sitting upright in the saddle, her hands tightly clenched on the double reins. Georgia noticed at once how Jemma’s riding style differed from Sophie’s. Her whole body language was hard and unsympathetic, and the horse she was mounted on looked desperately unhappy, his ears tightly pinned back against his head. White foam splattered against his chest, and his eyes were bulging with effort.
Georgia watched Jemma cantering around the arena until she suddenly realised that pretty soon the chestnut was going to come past where she was standing. She tried to turn away but it was too late. As she was about to pass by, Jemma did a double-take.
The Palomino Pony Comes Home Page 5