Once Lily was settled back in her stable, rugged up against the cold and with Santa, Wilson and Callie in their adjoining boxes, Georgia placed both arms around the little mare’s neck, breathing in her scent and feeling her warm and solid against her. Thank goodness for Lily. She had no urge to rush back down to the bottom meadow and watch them finish off the filming. Lily had behaved impeccably so her job was done. And Brodie was right, it was just acting. She knew she could get a bit silly over things at times. Joss and Dan’s kiss had only been for the camera.
As if in agreement, Lily nudged her and Georgia sighed. “Good girl,” she said, rearranging the palomino’s warm rugs. “You were brilliant, like always.” She hugged Lily tight. “Thank goodness for you,” she muttered, suddenly feeling very alone.
There were still a few yard jobs to carry out, due to the fact everyone had rushed down early to watch the filming, so Georgia decided to distract herself by making up that afternoon’s hay nets and washing out the breakfast feed bowls. There was something quite peaceful about just hanging out in the yard by herself, compared to all the lights and action in the bottom meadow, and Georgia relished the quiet. Before long, everyone started trooping back up to the yard – Melanie, Sophie and Simon, and Dan, who had changed back into his regular clothes. Seeing Georgia he peeled away from the group and came over to the yard.
“Hey,” he said, sounding sheepish.
“Hey!” Georgia said a bit too brightly. She didn’t want Dan to know how jealous she was. “You were great!”
Dan reached out and patted Lily’s neck thoughtfully. “About the, um, the kiss,” he said, looking at the ground. “Brodie said it would work well with the storyline, that’s all.” He shuffled from side to side. “It was nothing, really.”
“It’s fine, it’s great!” Georgia said quickly, stuffing hay into the brightly coloured nets and avoiding Dan’s face, hoping she sounded convincing. There was an awkward pause.
“Well, I’ll see you later then,” Dan said finally, brushing Georgia lightly on the arm. “Want to walk back with me?”
Georgia shook her head. “I’ve still got some jobs to do here,” she lied. She was sure Dan was only asking her out of a sense of duty, and besides, she didn’t want to talk to him. The filming was over now. She could at last look forward to Olympia and the rest of the Christmas holidays. She had a funny feeling, however, that Joss McCall-Jones wasn’t quite out of her life yet…
When Georgia was sure Dan would have reached home, and she had said goodbye to Lily, she left the yard on foot. Melanie had offered to drop her off in the 4x4 but Georgia had wanted to be alone for a bit, and use the walk to clear her head. Without Pip, who had been picked up earlier by Georgia’s mum, she decided to walk back along the quiet village road instead of cutting over the top meadows that led through Dan’s farm.
Trudging along, her wellies crunching the snow underfoot, she was so deep in thought she almost walked straight into the back of an old green Land Rover that was parked in the lay-by between Redgrove Farm and the driveway up to Dan’s farm. It was a rickety vehicle, and a brown collie dog with a white patch over one eye yapped and grinned from the back. She smiled, thinking of Dan’s sweet dog Hattie. A window wound down as she walked past, making her jump.
“Excuse me.” A man, probably in his mid-thirties, leaned his arm on the window. He looked a bit like Dan’s dad in dress sense – checked shirt and a wax coat; a typical farmer. Looking around her, suddenly feeling very alone, Georgia paused as the man continued. “I’m looking for Coleman’s farm shop.”
Feeling relieved, Georgia smiled. “It’s up there.” She pointed him towards the lane that led up to Dan’s farm and the popular farm shop. Thanking her, the man reversed his Land Rover out of the lay-by and instead of indicating right towards the shop, turned a sharp left and drove off in the opposite direction, the wheels leaving tracks in the dusting of snow.
Staring after him, Georgia shrugged. People were strange. As she passed the entrance to the farm driveway, she paused, thinking how she would normally stop by and hang out with Dan, enjoying the cosy, relaxed friendship they shared. Wavering, she stood for just a minute, before pulling up the hood on her coat and setting off towards home.
There were still a couple of days of school left until Georgia, Dan and Emma broke up for the holidays and Georgia couldn’t wait – she needed a break. Excited chatter filled the corridors as their school friends discussed their Christmas plans, but mostly everyone wanted to talk to Dan about the filming, and about Joss, and about the fact that she had kissed him. Typically, everyone was especially interested in that bit! Word had quickly spread about his small part in the movie and he was fast becoming a school celebrity. During lunch, Georgia was almost shoved aside by a group of the most popular girls in the year, flanked by Becky Hanbury, who all wanted to know what it had been like. Dan responded in good humour, and the girls giggled and fawned over him, much to Georgia’s disgust.
“All OK?” Emma said quietly. She knew Georgia well enough to know she was feeling left out. Georgia nodded, grateful for her best friend. She couldn’t wait to get up to the stables once school was over and just concentrate on Lily after the excitement of the last week.
The two friends walked arm in arm towards the bus stop. Emma chatted away about Christmas parties and local gossip, and Georgia listened quietly, glad for the distraction.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Emma said as they boarded the bus. “There was a break-in at a farm in Atworth, Dad says. Someone told him in the pub. They stole the sheep; can you imagine?” Emma was referring to a village about seven miles away from Redgrove. Georgia wondered if Dan knew about it. It would worry him if he did. He hadn’t mentioned anything to her but perhaps he shared his fears with Joss, now, instead of Georgia.
Once the final bell sounded on the last day of the school term, it was with a huge sense of relief that Georgia boarded the school bus. She took her place beside Emma. She and Mum were having dinner in front of the TV that evening and an early night before the week’s countdown to Christmas and Olympia began.
Georgia had a lesson with Will’s brother, Jasper, first thing in the morning. He was helping her to prepare for Olympia. While Georgia had been at school, Sophie had been exercising Lily by taking her out on the lead rein when she rode Wilson. It hadn’t snowed since the day of the filming but, glancing at the low sky, Georgia crossed her fingers. She had loved the snow, but hoped it wouldn’t return until after they had made the trip to London for Olympia.
Olympia. The mere thought of riding in the famous show sent shivers down Georgia’s spine. She thought about the Pony Club trip to Olympia when she was eight years old. And now she was riding there herself! More recently, she had watched Sophie compete there with Callie. She still had to pinch herself when she thought about the fact she had qualified Lily. They had only entered the semi-finals a little while after the Horse of the Year Show, and only then because Jasper had persuaded them to. Georgia hadn’t been expecting any sort of placing so it had been amazing when they had been pulled forward to qualify for Olympia. Dan had been there too, and had given Georgia the biggest hug afterwards, practically pulling her off Lily. She smiled at the memory, before frowning. It had obviously meant more to her than to him.
Jasper was waiting in the yard when Georgia walked up with Pip the next day for her lesson. A former famous show rider, Jasper was a huge hit at the Round Barrow Pony Club. The girls hung on his every word, and the dwindling group of boys hero-worshipped him and kept their Pony Club subscriptions renewed as a result, much to Janey’s delight. Georgia had noticed with amusement that Harry was a lot nicer to her now that Jasper and Will kept Santa at Redgrove, and he was always looking for an excuse to get invited over. Harry wasn’t so bad. A bit arrogant, and Georgia always noticed how immature he was compared to the hard-working Dan, but all right just the same.
Easy-going, fun and an amazing rider, Jasper was lounging against the arena gate, dressed in dark-
green breeches and worn leather half-chaps. His parka jacket was pulled up over his nose. He smiled as Georgia led Lily towards him. She was wearing a wool exercise sheet to keep the chill off and Georgia was bundled up in her old quilted jacket.
“She’s looking great,” he remarked, running a hand over the palomino’s elegant neck as Georgia lightly swung into the saddle. “All set for Olympia?”
Georgia nodded. “Think so,” she said in a muffled voice under her scarf. The truth was, unlike with the Horse of the Year Show, she hadn’t really had any build-up to the Christmas Championship Show, which had, in turn, had a surprisingly positive effect. Her qualification had been so late and with the end of a busy school term, the arrival of Joss and Lily’s filming commitment, there hadn’t been much time to dwell on it! She was as relaxed as she possibly could be, and as a result her riding had improved hugely – unlike before the Horse of the Year Show, where her nerves had snowballed. Under Jasper’s watchful eye, and experience honed from years in the show ring, Lily and Georgia were flourishing.
“Good girl!” Georgia praised Lily over and over as she extended Lily’s trot across the arena before walking her round on a long rein at the end of the lesson. For an hour or so she had completely forgotten all about her heartache over Joss and Dan, and thought only about her riding. Ponies were so uncomplicated, she thought. Why couldn’t life be as simple?
To her surprise, Dan was waiting in the yard when she walked back to the stables, sitting on a bale of hay in the tack room and playing with Melanie’s three terriers, gently tugging a rope toy as they growled with mock ferocity, wagging their stumpy tails. He looked up and smiled when he saw Georgia. “How was your lesson?” he asked.
“Good,” Georgia said truthfully. Lily had never felt better. She knew that Dan was still a bit wary about asking how she felt before a show.
“That’s nice,” Dan said. Then he paused. “Georgia?” he said, hesitating, and Georgia’s heart sank. It sounded as though he was about to say something she didn’t want to hear.
And she was right. “You know – when we’re in London for Olympia?” he said before continuing. “Well, Joss has said we can join her in her exclusive box afterwards, if we want.”
Georgia thought about this. It didn’t surprise her that Joss was going to be at Olympia; after all, it was a main event on the sporting calendar and it was at the Horse of the Year Show where the actress had spotted Lily for the film. Still, the last thing in the world that she felt like doing was seeing Joss again. She knew Dan was revelling in his film-star moment and didn’t want to deny him that, but she had been looking forward to enjoying the show with him, Melanie and Sophie, as normal.
“What do you think?” Dan finished.
“I guess we could,” she said, knowing she didn’t sound enthusiastic. She had hoped that Dan might have forgotten Joss now that Lily’s scenes were over, but they were obviously still very much in contact. Her resolve to concentrate solely on the ponies strengthened. It was all about Lily this Christmas, nothing more, nothing less!
If Georgia had found it strange driving into Birmingham for the Horse of the Year Show, Olympia was on a completely different level. As the horsebox pulled slowly forward in stop–start traffic, she marvelled at the bustling crowds Christmas shopping in the fading afternoon light. Twinkling fairy lights and fir trees adorned the brightly lit shop windows and the pavements were heaving with shoppers, all weighed down with bags. Winding down her window just a fraction, Georgia felt a little shiver run down her spine as she heard the distant strains of “Silent Night” escaping from the open doorway of a huge department store. She felt the horsebox move slightly as a police car raced past, sirens blaring, and hoped Lily was OK in the back.
Catching her look of apprehension, Melanie smiled. “She’s fine, Georgia,” she said in a reassuring voice, and Georgia smiled back at her, feeling better. Dan was coming up on an early train the next morning. He didn’t have enough money to stay in London overnight and didn’t like to leave his sheep for too long, especially as the pet ewe, his favourite, had just given birth to two adorable twin lambs. The recent sheep-rustling case in the local area had also spooked him, despite his dad telling him he was worrying over nothing. But Georgia understood. Secretly she was grateful that he was in London for the least amount of time possible so that he couldn’t see Joss so much. Dan was going to watch Georgia ride and then catch the train home as soon as possible so he was back in time to do the animals for the evening. She giggled to herself, imagining Dan on the busy, crowded London trains. He’d probably start chatting to whoever he sat next to about his cows or something!
Knowing how much Dan had to do on the farm, Georgia was especially grateful he was coming to watch. She was trying to ignore the small voice in her head telling her he was coming to see Joss as well. Frowning, she remembered Joss’s invitation to come and watch a bit of the show from her private box. It was all very well inviting Georgia, given she had used Lily for the film, but Georgia had the distinct feeling that she was not as welcome as Dan. Ugh! Pulling her knees up to her chest she tried to remind herself that it would hopefully be the last they would see of Joss, but still she couldn’t ignore the fact that things had changed between her and Dan. Shutting her eyes, she tried to clear her head of all negative thoughts, and to think about the show tomorrow instead.
“We’ve arrived.” Gently, Melanie placed a hand on Georgia’s shoulder, rousing her from her slumber. Georgia looked around, startled. The crawling traffic and the warmth of the horsebox had sent her to sleep; she must have been more exhausted than she thought. Next to her, Sophie stretched her long, black-jean-clad legs and yawned, opening her mouth very wide. Sophie had also fallen asleep and was now rubbing her eyes. “Olympia,” she grinned sleepily, looking around her. “Now I know it’s Christmas!”
Despite the last leg of the journey crawling through the centre of London and down Kensington High Street, Lily was still calm in the back of the box as they pulled the back ramp down. She held her head high and gazed out into the concrete lorry park, the familiar neighs and sound of metal shoes clip-clopping around mixing with the London buzz of sirens and traffic. Looking around, Georgia smiled shyly as she recognised others riders from the showing scene before her gaze was drawn to a familiar face grinning back at her and waving madly. The girl was holding on to a huge powerful Highland that practically dragged her across the lorry park to snuffle noses with his old friend Lily. It was the beautiful dapple-grey Lachlan, and Alice Smalley was leading him.
“Hey, Georgia!” She high-fived her friend. Georgia was delighted. It was so good to see Alice back competing on the ponies she loved, after her accident.
“How’s Secret?” she asked, and Alice laughed.
“Naughty as ever!” she chuckled, tapping her phone to show Georgia endless photos of the little roan pony. Lily’s son lived the life of luxury on Josephine Smalley’s immaculate showing yard, and her daughter Alice adored him. It was hard to believe he was over a year old now, and even stronger and more handsome than ever, Georgia thought, looking at the photos with pleasure. Suddenly Alice grew wide-eyed and nudged Georgia as she mouthed for her to look behind her.
Turning round, Georgia caught sight of Joss picking her way across the lorry park, flanked as usual by her assistant. She was wearing expensive-looking breeches, which was strange, Georgia thought, considering she wasn’t riding.
“Lily!” Joss’s tinkly voice carried around the horseboxes. “How are you?” She reached out a hand and patted the little mare, who pushed her nose against her arm in greeting. “Oh, look,” Joss squealed. “She remembers me!” Then, noticing a young girl hovering nearby with a phone, she gave a megawatt grin, turning Lily around so she was facing the screen. “Of course you can have a photo!”
Georgia felt the familiar bubble of jealousy rise up again as she was virtually pushed out of the way. Lily was her pony! Catching Sophie’s eye, she felt relieved as her friend pulled a face and giggled, re
alising the young girl only wanted a photo of Lily, and not Joss. Once the girl had gone, Joss handed Lily’s lead rope back to Georgia, and fell in step with the group as they made their way to the stabling area.
“What’s with the breeches?” Sophie enquired curiously. “Are you riding?”
“I’ve just come from my lesson,” Joss explained. “In Hyde Park,” she added with a flourish. Then when Georgia looked at her blankly, she laughed. “There’s a famous stables there, silly. And I’ll let you into a secret – I’m going to have my very own pony to keep there soon!”
“Really?” Georgia couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Joss loved ponies, that was clear to see, but she didn’t seem to know much about looking after one. Still, she reasoned, she was obviously doing pretty well as an actress, so maybe soon she would be able to employ a fleet of grooms!
“So,” Joss continued, linking an arm with Georgia as she entered the stable area. Melanie was sorting out some bits in the lorry and Sophie had stopped to speak to an old showing friend. “The pony I’m going to buy is right here! He’s competing tomorrow, like you. I’ve already bought him!” Georgia just gaped at her. It was a different world really, being able to buy a pony just like that, and a top-class show pony as well. Georgia smiled weakly.
“You must come and see him as soon as the show’s over. You’ll love him, Georgia,” Joss said, waving goodbye. “A palomino, like Lily. I wanted one just like her!”
If Georgia was curious about the pony Joss had bought, she didn’t really have much time to think about it. There was so much to do, including setting up Lily’s stable and lugging her trunk full of tack and grooming kits across what seemed like miles of concrete lorry park. Sophie was in her element, racing around saying hi to the other riders. She still rode Wilson when home for the holidays but rarely competed any more and was enjoying not having the pressure of riding in the ring herself. Georgia was always grateful when Sophie came along to her shows; she was experienced and kind, just like Melanie.
Palomino Pony On Parade Page 4