The Palomino Pony Rides Out

by Olivia Tuffin

  Lexie sat quietly in the saddle, her contact soft and light. “So glad you came, Em,” she said, ignoring Georgia. She nudged her pony around and guided him towards the arena, followed by Emma who gave a guilty glance in Georgia’s direction.

  “Catch up soon, G,” she said, before laughing at something Georgia couldn’t quite hear.

  Georgia felt dejected. She knew Emma was a kind-hearted girl who liked to make people feel welcome, but Georgia felt she was being left behind. And, try as she might, she couldn’t snuff out the small flame of jealousy that had ignited inside her.

  Georgia turned her attention to Wilson. She patted his sleek brown neck before tacking him up in a simple snaffle bridle and working hunter saddle with a dark brown sheepskin underneath. She had just finished putting on his front boots, when Melanie came back from chatting with another pony-club mum. Melanie legged her into the saddle.

  “Easy now, Wilson,” Georgia breathed. She always felt small on the 14.2 gelding who rode more like a 16h horse. Nudging him gently with her heels, she joined the rest of the riders who were lining up in the centre of the arena.

  Janey strode in, her short grey curls bouncing and a terrier hanging on to the riding crop in her hand. “Right, kids, listen up,” she boomed and even Harry stopped chatting to the red-headed girl next to him. “I’m looking for four riders today,” she continued, studying each and every one of them in turn. “Good luck, and let’s get going!”

  Georgia took a deep breath. The trial was fairly straightforward. After warming up, the riders were going to jump a course of rustic jumps, including a water jump. Georgia felt her stomach flip as she looked at the course. The fences were about three feet high but they were solid. She walked Wilson around the perimeter of the arena, concentrating on working him long and low as Melanie had taught her.

  Harry was ambling along next to her, riding aimlessly on a long rein and attempting to talk to her. Georgia tried to ignore him. Her teeth were chattering too much. She was third to jump, behind Harry and Lexie.

  Her eyes narrowed as she watched Lexie cantering her pony on a twenty-metre circle. She had to hand it to her, she was a fantastic rider. Her reins were soft and light, and the appaloosa pony looked relaxed and happy. Her seat didn’t move in the saddle as she brought him back to walk, changed the rein and went into a perfect walk-canter transition on the other rein. The trainer that had accompanied her put up a small cross pole and called for her to jump it.

  Lexie circled close to Georgia. Georgia glanced at her as they passed. Lexie’s mouth was set in a thin line and her dark eyes flashed in a suddenly white face. Her poise was stiff and her elbows clenched. If Georgia didn’t know better she would have thought that Lexie looked terrified. She felt a wave of sympathy for her as she watched her pop over the small jump. Although her position was still text-book perfect, all the natural grace had disappeared as she circled back towards the second jump that her trainer had put up.

  Again, her pony jumped it neatly, but by now it really was obvious that Lexie was scared. Georgia also circled and jumped the small jump next to her. Lexie turned towards her, her face paler than her pony’s white coat and hissed at Georgia.

  “Keep your pony away! He’ll spook River.”

  Georgia was so startled she didn’t have time to reply.

  Then Lexie’s trainer was beside her, and she was leaving the warm-up as he barked instructions. Emma was scurrying behind, holding the grooming kit.

  Still, there wasn’t time to think about that now. Lexie was the first to go in to the arena.

  “Keep a straight line!” Janey called across to her.

  One … two … three … and take-off. Lexie jumped the first fence perfectly. Now it was on to the double. One … two … and over. Lexie jumped beautifully around the course. Georgia admired the way she kept a soft contact the whole way round, never once jabbing River in the mouth, moving in one fluid motion. But as she took the final fence and brought River down to a walk, Georgia noticed with a shock that Lexie’s eyes were brimming with tears.

  Lexie’s trainer took hold of River’s bridle and led him out as Lexie sat, stone-still.

  Georgia glanced at Emma, who was leaning over the arena fence. “What’s going on?” she asked.

  Emma shrugged. “Lexie’s just nervous about letting her stepdad down, I think.”

  “Hmmm.” Georgia wasn’t so sure. She was convinced she had seen real fear in Lexie’s eyes, and that was far from ideal when trying out for a competitive team…

  Harry was next into the ring with Hector. The skewbald had an air of resignation about him as he circled, waiting for the imaginary bell. He was a kind horse and tried his best at all times. Despite his size and his dinner-plate sized hooves, he also jumped a stylish clear round. Harry wasn’t a pretty rider by any means, but Hector more than made up for all of his faults. Even when Harry put him into fences on the wrong stride or didn’t give with his hands enough, Hector managed to correct the errors. Once again, Georgia marvelled at his generous nature. Harry was very lucky to own such a sweet, honest horse. Harry smirked at her as he exited the arena.

  “Good luck, shorty,” he grinned.

  Georgia shot him a look. Harry could be so annoying at times. Dan’s weary face flashed in front of her and she wished he was here instead of Harry. She made a mental note to visit him later to check he was all right.

  “OK, Georgia!” Janey’s shrill voice cut across her thoughts. “Off you go when you’re ready. I’ll pretend to be the bell – ding-a-ling – good luck!”

  Georgia swallowed hard, sat up straight, and nudged Wilson into a forward canter. She circled the arena before approaching the first jump, an upright gate. Wilson pricked his ears and flew over it, before instantly locking eyes on to the next jump. Fence after fence disappeared under his black hooves.

  Georgia started to relax, laughing and enjoying the round. The third-to-last fence was the water jump. Georgia had only tried this once at home, over Melanie’s homemade black tarpaulin, filled from the yard hose. But this was much bigger, and horribly wide.

  Feeling her hesitation, Wilson checked as he cantered up to it, just as Georgia gave him a determined nudge with her heels. The mixed message sent him over-jumping from two strides out, and he stumbled on landing.

  Georgia clung on to his neck but not tightly enough and before she knew it, she felt the ground rushing up to meet her. She landed on her shoulder, still clutching a startled Wilson’s bridle. Jumping to her feet she hugged the bay pony over and over, totally mortified.

  Janey was beside her in a flash. “Legs? Arms?” she demanded, checking Georgia hadn’t broken anything.

  Totally dejected, Georgia shook her head. She was all right but she had clearly blown it.

  “Well, get back on then!” Janey bellowed with an authoritarian air. “You don’t want to lose your nerve!”

  Gingerly, Georgia did as she was told and remounted, wiping her face with the back of her hand. The other riders were blurry through her tears but she thought she saw Lexie shoot her a look of sympathy before her face closed up again. Under Janey’s watchful eye, Georgia circled the jump. This time she rode it perfectly, and jumped the last two fences with ease.

  Walking out of the arena, Georgia tried not to look at the other riders. Harry was grinning at her and mouthing “Ouch,” but Lexie was sitting quietly, not saying a thing. Luckily Melanie bounded over, taking hold of Wilson’s bridle and patting his neck.

  “Mel, I…” Georgia began, her voice trembling.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Melanie said firmly. “The main thing is that you got back on and completed the course. You did brilliantly.”

  Georgia felt a wave of relief flood through her at Melanie’s kind words. They untacked Wilson together, and Georgia gave him a mint. Once he was safely tied back in the lorry with a hay net, Georgia and Melanie made their way back to the arena.

  A small blonde girl was just finishing her round on a gangly chestnut thoroughbre
d, scattering poles everywhere. The horse did at least five laps of the arena before she was able to pull him up, an embarrassed smile on her face. At least I wasn’t the only one, Georgia thought to herself.

  The next three riders had slightly better luck, and ended up with just two refusals, and six poles down between them. So far, only Lexie and Harry had jumped clear, but no one had fallen off apart from Georgia. She took a seat at the side of the arena to wait for Janey’s verdict. Her shoulder was aching and she could feel a bruise developing on her hip. She was aware of someone leaning over the fence, watching the proceedings. Who was he? He looked kind of familiar. And then Georgia realised where she had seen him before. It was Lexie’s stepdad.

  As Lexie walked over to him, she looked pensive and miserable. And yet she had jumped the perfect round.

  The riders huddled around the fence, joking and chatting among themselves. Emma, who had smiled sympathetically when Georgia completed her round, stood with Lexie, looking slightly awkward as Joe was clearly giving his stepdaughter a lecture. If Georgia wasn’t mistaken, he looked really mad. She wished Emma would just come over and see her but she guessed she didn’t want to leave her new friend’s side as her reason for coming along had been to give her moral support.

  Janey strode into the arena with an elderly man in a flat cap, who looked as though he had been born on a horse. A plump Jack Russell waddled leisurely by his side.

  “Listen up, everyone…” Janey’s voiced boomed out. “This is Hugh,” she said. Georgia suddenly recognised him as a famous show judge.

  As one, all of the pony-club members and their families turned towards Janey expectantly as she consulted the list in her hand.

  Melanie patted Georgia on the shoulder. “Try not to worry, G,” she said.

  Janey stepped forward, clearing her throat. “Hugh and I have talked about this carefully,” she said, her hands on her hip. “Some of you rode well, others… Well, let’s just say we were disappointed.”

  Georgia blushed scarlet. She knew she meant her. Janey was starting to speak again.

  “So, here’s what we’ve decided – Lexie, you’re a definite for the team. Harry – you too. You rode a lovely round.” Janey paused. “We’ve also decided that Lottie has made the team.”

  Lottie gave a small whoop of delight. Her pony, Songbird, was a real star. Georgia felt her hopes fade further. Then Janey looked directly at her. “This was a hard decision,” she said. “But we chose the fourth rider for her potential. Hugh felt that she showed a lot of guts.” Janey looked down her list, the suspense among the riders growing unbearably before she looked up again and smiled. “Georgia Black, you’re our fourth rider.”

  “Me?” Georgia gaped at her in astonishment. Melanie grinned.

  She’d made the team! She felt a pang of guilt as she registered the disappointment on the other pony-club faces, but then she felt overcome with happiness. She had made the team! She couldn’t believe it!

  Janey was beside her in an instant. “Georgia, we know you fell at the water jump,” she said. “But we chose you because you showed determination and style. We all fall sometimes – it’s how you come out of it that matters.”

  Georgia couldn’t keep the grin off her face for the rest of the day. The only cloud on the horizon was Emma. While she had genuinely congratulated Georgia when the names were read out, she had scuttled back to Lexie’s box as soon as it was all over, to help her untack River. Georgia had tried not to feel rejected as her friend scurried around after Lexie, trailing bridles and rugs.

  Lexie’s stepdad was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel of the vast lorry, clearly keen to get moving. Georgia knew Emma was being friendly, and that she was the only person Lexie knew in Redgrove, but she would have liked to be with her. She couldn’t remember a time she and Emma had been apart. It wasn’t as if they were arguing even, but Emma was clearly getting caught up in Lexie’s world – a world in which Georgia didn’t feature. Still, nothing was going to ruin her triumph at making it on to the team!

  That afternoon, Georgia heard a familiar whicker as she turned a grateful Wilson back out into the fields. It was another warm day and Lily was dozing in the shade of the chestnut tree, resting a leg, her bottom lip drooping as she closed her eyes. Callie was lying flat out beside her, her eyes firmly shut. As Georgia scratched Lily’s neck she delighted at what good health the palomino was in. She was a far cry from the bedraggled, frightened pony she had once been.

  Walking back to the yard, Georgia caught sight of Melanie leaning on the gate, wearing a battered pair of country boots tucked into faded jeans. She was tying up the spare lead ropes, but as Georgia approached she looked up and smiled. “I’ve got something I need to talk to you about,” she said gently.

  “Sounds serious,” Georgia said immediately.

  “Well it is, kind of,” Mel replied kindly. “I was wondering – do you fancy taking a little road trip?”

  “A road trip?” Georgia gave her a questioning look.

  “We need to go to Wales,” Mel finished.

  “Wales!” Georgia sucked in her breath. It was where Lily had come from. “But why?” she asked, her heart sinking, knowing the answer already.

  “It’s only fair that we find out the sire of Lily’s foal,” said Melanie. “And I know Eric will be able to help.”

  Georgia nodded, thinking of the old man who’d once owned the Carlamu Show Stud, where Lily had come from. She knew it made sense, but she was worried she’d end up having to see his horrible granddaughter, Jemma. She was the one who’d mistreated Lily in the first place and then tried to steal her back. She was the last person Georgia wanted to meet.

  “Are you worried about it, Georgia?” Melanie asked gently. “Because if you are, I can go on my own.”

  “No, no, I’ll come with you,” said Georgia.

  “There’s nothing to be concerned about,” said Melanie. “Lily is officially ours now. I have the paperwork and after what happened with the police last time, Jemma isn’t going to try anything.”

  “I know,” said Georgia. She traced an “O” with the toe of her boot as she kept her head down. “I just always worry that having Lily is too good to be true and that she’ll end up being taken away from me again.”

  “Georgia,” Melanie gently chided. “That will never happen. I won’t let it. She’s your pony now. OK?”

  Georgia smiled weakly. “OK,” she agreed. “And let’s go to Wales together, but only to see Eric!”

  Melanie nodded. “Only Eric. I promise.”

  The Colemans’ farm was quiet as Georgia dropped by later that afternoon, the cows back out in their field before milking. Georgia was surprised that there was only one car in the normally busy shop car park. She leaned her bike against the wall of the bungalow and knocked on the door. Dan’s older brother, Ben, answered, running a hand through his dirty blond hair, his feet bare on the worn stone of the porch. He looked tired and barely raised a smile at seeing Georgia.

  “Hey, G,” he said, letting her in. “Daniel’s in the kitchen.”

  Dan gave her a wave from where he was sitting at the table, eating a piece of toast. The kitchen, once the centre of the home before the boys’ mother had died, was now messy. Gone were the gleaming work surfaces and fresh flowers and in their place were endless piles of paperwork and half-empty coffee mugs.

  Dan’s eyes were puffy and his face was pale. He smiled weakly but Georgia couldn’t help noticing the letters piled up on the kitchen table. They had angry red stamps on them with things like “FINAL DEMAND” and “IMPORTANT NOTICE”.

  Dan followed her gaze and hastily swept the letters aside.

  “Dan, is everything OK?” Georgia asked, hesitatingly.

  “Yes. Well, no, not really,” Dan said. “We’re just having trouble with the shop, that’s all.”

  “The shop? But why?” Georgia said in surprise.

  The whole village and the surrounding area used the Colemans’ farm shop. Georgia�
�s mum regularly went there and bought as many of their supplies as she could.

  “Dan.” Ben shot him a warning look.

  “It’s Georgia, Ben,” Dan said, frowning at his brother. “We can tell her anything.” He turned back to his friend, rifling through the paperwork on the table and pulling out a couple of letters. “There’re fewer and fewer people coming through the doors,” he explained. “Dad’s out of his mind with worry.” He showed Georgia a final demand for an unpaid vet’s bill. “We just can’t keep up with the bills if no one’s buying from us.”

  “How long’s this been going on?” Georgia asked.

  Ben gave a hollow laugh. “Ever since that new supermarket opened in town.”

  “It’s so much cheaper,” Dan said with a rueful smile. “It’s the sort of thing that’s happening all over the place but we really thought we were safe here. Dad’s gutted.”

  “We just need some way of marketing ourselves,” Ben continued, looking thoughtful. “And no more setbacks!”

  “Dan, I feel awful for not knowing,” Georgia said. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Dan sighed. “We were hoping it would be a blip, that it was just that the supermarket was new,” he said, placing the letters back under the pile on the table. “Still, let’s just hope things improve soon. We surely can’t be due any more bad luck!” He smiled properly at Georgia for the first time. “Let’s talk about something else. This is too depressing. So, how were the trials? I need some good news, so tell me – yes, no? Did you make the team?”

  Georgia grinned, in spite of how sorry she felt for Dan. “Yes,” she said, the news finally sinking in.

  Dan gave her a huge thumbs-up before slapping her on the back, grinning wildly.

  “That’s awesome, Georgia!” he said, sounding genuinely thrilled, and Georgia thought what a great friend he was, no matter what was going on in his life. “Bring on the Team Challenge!”