A Horse for the Summer

by Michelle Bates

  “Well done, Tom. You were both magnificent,” he grinned.

  Tom felt jubilant. It was to be a good day for all of them. Alex went on to win a second in the novice jumping, Kate a third in the show class, Jess a second in the pole race and Rosie a first in the potato race.

  “OK, Tom. You’ve proved your point,” Nick said on the way home. “We’re going to have to step up the Benbridge campaign now. After all, you’ll be representing Sandy Lane there. And don’t think I don’t know who put you up to this.” He turned and grinned at Alex.

  Tom smiled wearily. It had been an exhausting day, both mentally and physically. All the worry about how Nick would react had taken its toll and the early morning outings had finally caught up with him.

  “Everyone was talking about you, Tom,” said Kate. “Everybody wanted to know who Chancey was. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had quite a few offers for him after that amazing performance.”

  Kate was trying to be friendly, but her words rang alarm bells in Tom’s head. Of course people would be interested in Chancey – he was wonderful. At the end of the day though, Chancey wasn’t his. Tom’s heart felt heavy at the thought. He sighed. He couldn’t be anything but a loser, for Benbridge meant the end of the summer, the return of Georgina and the loss of the horse to whom he had become so deeply attached.

  10

  AN UNWANTED VISITOR

  Life at Sandy Lane was rather an anticlimax after the drama of the show. The only stir of excitement was caused by the arrival of entry forms for Benbridge. Tom was well aware that he would face much stiffer competition there than at the local show. Chancey would have to be at his very best if they were to have any hope of winning.

  And there was something that was preying on Tom’s mind – something he had been putting off doing. Four days had already passed since the local show, if he didn’t say something soon, he never would.

  “Nick, I was wondering if you would like to use Chancey in lessons now,” Tom said hesitantly.

  “That’s a very generous offer, Tom,” Nick said thoughtfully.

  Tom’s face dropped. Although he knew it was about time Chancey paid his way at Sandy Lane, Tom couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else riding him.

  “But I think it would be better if you alone rode him now that he’s grown used to you,” Nick continued, “until Benbridge anyway. Besides, we don’t really need him. You could say we’re overloaded with horses now that Feather’s back in action and Storm Cloud wasn’t such a disaster buy.”

  Tom breathed a sigh of relief and strolled over to the hay bales by the old barn to join Alex and Jess. He took out the packed lunch that his mother now allowed him to take to Sandy Lane. It had been a long battle, until finally she had agreed that there was no point in him coming all the way home at lunch time only to wolf down his food and hurry back again. Tom was also quick to point out that the other children had their lunches at Sandy Lane. Tom knew that his mother wouldn’t want to seem less reasonable than other mothers.

  Tom spread out the Benbridge entry form in front of him and munched happily on his sandwiches.

  “Which classes are you going to enter, Tom?” asked Kate, as she joined him on the bales.

  “Oh, only the open jumping. Chancey would hate the show classes. He’d never manage to stand still for long enough,” Tom laughed.

  “Well, I’ve entered absolutely everything,” said Kate. “I don’t care which classes I win, just as long as Jester’s plastered with rosettes – though we’ve probably got the best chance in the showing,” she said, blinking in the brilliant sunshine. “It’s so bright out here. I can hardly see this entry form. Where do you put your name?”

  “Here, silly,” said Rosie, who had wandered across the yard and was looking over Kate’s shoulder. They were all together now, all of the Sandy Lane regulars. Nick had selected Tom, Kate and Alex to ride at Benbridge after their successes at the local show but both Rosie and Jess intended to go as well to support their friends.

  “Well, I’m still pretty excited about my first in the potato race,” said Rosie smiling. “Although I’d rather it had been in something a bit more graceful. My brothers howled with laughter when I told them.”

  Tom looked at his watch. Half past two. He had work to do with Chancey. Sarah was taking the others down to the beach for a ride.

  As much as Tom loved the beach, Nick had said that he would train them for an hour in the school. And with Benbridge less than two weeks away, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. He packed away what was left of his lunch and headed, sandwich in mouth, to Chancey’s stable.

  Chancey’s head appeared over the door as Tom held out the carrot that his mother had packed. He smiled to himself. Perhaps she was starting to feel some affection for his four-legged friend. Chancey stretched out his neck and sniffed apprehensively at the offering.

  “It’s not going to bite, silly,” Tom laughed.

  Once Chancey was sure that it was edible, his silky lips mumbled over Tom’s flat hand, and in an instant the carrot disappeared. It made Tom laugh to see Chancey so careful with his food yet so bold when he jumped. Slipping into the stable, Tom tacked him up and led him out into the yard. The others were making a racket getting their mounts ready for their beach ride. Tom had to muster up all his will power to stop himself from turning around and going too. It would be wonderful on the beach at this time of day.

  “See you later, Tom,” Sarah called. “Tell Nick we’ll be back by four. Certainly no later anyway as it’s high tide at four.”

  “OK, I’ll tell him,” Tom answered.

  At low tide, the wide expanse of beach at Sandy Bay was clear, but when the tide came in, the sand was flooded. If you weren’t careful, you could find yourself cut off from land. Nick was careful to post a monthly copy of tide times on the tack room door and insisted that everyone check it before planning a ride to the beach. It was one of the first things that Tom had learnt about when he had started at Sandy Lane.

  “Right, Tom,” said Nick, stepping out of the tack room. “Let’s go. I’ve set up a course for you in the outdoor school. See what you make of it. There’s one tricky jump. But I think you should find it all right.”

  “OK,” said Tom. Forgetting the beach ride in an instant, he headed off to the outdoor school. The white railings looked crisp in the bright sunshine, contrasting sharply with the gaily painted fences. Nick had erected a figure of eight jumps for them to practise over. Chancey eyed the course suspiciously. The tricky jump proved to be a square oxer.

  “Parallel bars – difficult for a horse to judge the stretch and clear,” Tom muttered to himself.

  “I’ll watch you for a while, Tom,” said Nick, jumping up onto the railings. “Then I’ve got to go and take a private hack.”

  Tom trotted Chancey around the school and pushed him on into an easy canter.

  “Take him round once more, Tom,” said Nick. “It’ll make him more balanced when he starts jumping and it’ll settle his rhythm too.”

  “OK,” said Tom and swiftly they cantered around the circuit.

  “Ready? You could take him over the course now, Tom,” Nick called. “I want you to approach the first two jumps at a trot. It’s good training for him.”

  Tom circled Chancey one more time and then popped him over the post and rails. Trotting him over the stile, he turned him wide at the corner of the school to give him enough time to see the square oxer. Chancey had been paying attention and, with a little encouragement from Tom, stepped up his pace to leap over the jump, clearing it easily. Collectedly, Tom rode across the school on a diagonal for the double.

  “Be careful that you don’t anticipate the jump and lean forward too early, Tom,” Nick’s voice boomed from the side of the school. “Let Chancey find his natural take-off point, otherwise you’ll unbalance him and he’ll try to put in an extra stride. Then you’ll be the one who’s unbalanced,” he said laughing. “Otherwise, pretty good. It’s as though he’s a different horse.�
�

  “He’s always like this with me now, Nick,” Tom shouted back. “I think he’s got used to me. He trusts me.”

  “I think you’re right. Try him again,” said Nick. “Then I really will have to go and get ready for this lesson.”

  Tom and Chancey soared around the course, unaware that Nick had crept away, leaving them to it. Jump after jump was cleared in swift succession until eventually Tom pulled Chancey to a halt. Leaping nimbly to the ground, he tethered him to the railings.

  “That was just for practice,” he said mischievously, as he went round the course raising the jumps. “Now this should wake you up.”

  Tom never had any sense of time when he jumped Chancey. Now, he was so involved with his riding, that he didn’t notice the girl watching them from the shade of the cedar tree. Sulkily, she stared out at them, screwing up her sallow face as she took it all in.

  All that could be heard was the sound of Chancey’s hooves pounding against the ground as Tom and Chancey sailed over the jumps. Soon the others would be returning from their ride, and the stables would be buzzing with activity whilst everyone set about clearing up the yard for the evening. Little did Tom know of what lay ahead of him. Happily, he jumped off Chancey to raise the jumps again, not satisfied until he had stretched them both to the limit.

  “Right. That’s it for now, my boy,” he said tiredly, as they knocked down a jump in the last round. “You’re exhausted.” Chancey’s sides were puffing in and out like bellows. “You’ve had quite enough for one day. I don’t want to push you too far.”

  Idly, he made his way to the gate and slid off the horse as the girl stepped out from the shadow of the tree. Tom was startled. The sun shone in his eyes as he returned the stony gaze of the girl who stood opposite him.

  “Georgina,” he gasped. “What are you doing back?”

  11

  FROM BAD TO WORSE

  Tom couldn’t believe his eyes. His cousin Georgina was standing right in front of him. Her cold blue eyes stared out at him from her pallid face. What was she doing here? She wasn’t due back for another three weeks. Tom blinked, anxiously.

  “I’ve come back early so I can ride Horton Chancellor at the Benbridge show,” Georgina said quickly.

  Tom’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the defiant face of his cousin. His worst nightmare was coming true. He felt a lump rising in his throat, almost choking him.

  “Are you taking him home today then?” Tom asked, stumbling over the words.

  “Oh no,” Georgina said haughtily. “Change of plan. Daddy’s tired of having him at home, says it’s too much work for him. I’ve to arrange with the owners of Sandy Lane to keep him on here at half-livery or something. Do you know them?”

  “Of course I do,” Tom said. Thoughts raced through his mind. Benbridge...keeping him at Sandy Lane...half-livery. Tom dismounted and, taking the reins in his right hand, led Chancey off to his stable.

  “You’d better come with me,” he said. “I’ll take you to meet Nick. Do you want to take Chancey to his stable?”

  “No, that’s all right, you can do it,” said Georgina breezily. “There’ll be plenty of time for me to spend with him.”

  “All right then. Here’s Nick now,” he said as Nick strode towards them.

  “What’s going on?” Nick asked, as Tom hurriedly tried to explain the situation, holding on to a rather jumpy Chancey.

  “This is my cousin, Georgina,” said Tom, “the owner of Horton Chancellor. She would like to talk to you about the possibility of keeping him at livery with you.”

  “Oh, I see,” said Nick thoughtfully. “Well, you’d better come and discuss things at the cottage with my wife Sarah, then.” He tried to catch Tom’s eye, but Tom had already turned away.

  “So this is it then, boy,” said Tom when he was alone with Chancey. “Your owner has come back to claim you, although rather earlier than expected.”

  Tom felt numb. He didn’t know what he had thought would happen when Georgina returned. He had put it to the back of his mind for so long, half-hoping that she would never come back, half-hoping that she would forget about the horse altogether. Unrealistic dreams. He sighed.

  “What’s going on, Tom?” asked Rosie, leaning over the stable door and looking into Chancey’s box.

  “It’s my cousin, Georgina,” Tom said sadly. “She’s back.”

  “Oh,” said Rosie. “That’s a bit early isn’t it?” The words tumbled from her mouth before she had a chance to stop them.

  “Yes it is,” said Tom, turning away. Rosie could have kicked herself for being so thoughtless. She could see the hurt in Tom’s eyes and wished she knew what to say to make him feel better.

  “Er, I’m off home,” she mumbled feebly. “What are you going to do now?”

  “I don’t know,” said Tom. “Hang around here I suppose. I want to wait and see what Nick has to say.”

  “Oh,” she said awkwardly. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  “Yes, see you tomorrow,” Tom said quietly as Rosie scuttled away.

  Tom didn’t have to wait long. He was the first person that Nick wanted to see before he made any decisions. He was well aware how attached Tom had become to the horse.

  “Are you OK, Tom? I suppose you knew that she would be back at some point. Still, it doesn’t make it any less of a shock, does it? I could say that there isn’t any room for her to stable him here if it would make it easier for you.”

  “No, don’t do that Nick,” said Tom quickly. “That would make it so much worse. At least if he’s here I can see him, even if he isn’t really mine.”

  “I suppose you know that they’re only asking to keep him on at half-livery,” said Nick “That would mean you could at least ride him when Georgina isn’t here. Although I’ve got some bad news. She’s insisting that she rides him at Benbridge.”

  “I know, she was quick to tell me that,” Tom said bitterly.

  “I did try telling her about all the work you’d put in and about the rights and wrongs of it, but she wasn’t interested,” said Nick. “Look Tom, if it’s any consolation, I’m entered on Feather for the open jumping at Benbridge. And I would be far happier if you rode her in my place. You know I don’t like competitions much.”

  “But...”

  “No buts,” said Nick. “You would be representing Sandy Lane.” Tom smiled and nodded in hesitant acceptance as he turned for home.

  Tom’s mother knew immediately that something was wrong when he trudged into the kitchen where she was washing up.

  “What is it? What is it, darling? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” she said.

  “You could say that,” said Tom. “It’s Georgina, you see. She’s...she’s back.” He could hardly get the words out. “She wants to ride Chancey at Benbridge.”

  “What do you mean?” asked his mother. “She’s not due back for another three weeks.”

  “Sh-she’s come back early to ride at Benbridge,” he stammered.

  Mrs. Buchanan didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t bear to see the look of disappointment on her son’s face. Benbridge was all that he had talked about for weeks. She knew her niece though. If Georgina had her mind set on something, she would never be made to change it.

  “Well, perhaps Nick would let you ride one of the other horses,” she said half-heartedly, knowing that her solution offered no real consolation.

  “He has,” said Tom. “But it’s not the same.”

  When Tom woke the next day, he did so with a heavy heart. The sky was a deep cobalt blue. It was going to be a scorching summer’s day. But Tom was in no hurry to get up. He couldn’t face the thought of putting on a brave face and going down to Sandy Lane. Tom sighed. There were only ten days until Benbridge now. He owed it to Feather. On the count of ten, he forced himself out of bed.

  Tom didn’t get to the stables until 10 o’clock and when he did, he was furious to find Chancey still waiting to be groomed.

  “What�
�s going on Nick?” asked Tom. “Why isn’t Chancey ready?”

  “Hmm, I was wondering about that myself. I was under strict instructions from Georgina to leave him. She said that she would be down here to look after him. Looks as though she might have overslept.”

  “Might have guessed,” said Tom. “I suppose I’d better get on with it then.”

  Tom was just getting the last pieces of straw out of Chancey’s tail when Georgina sauntered into the yard.

  “Where do you think you’ve been?” said Tom angrily. “You can’t just turn up when you feel like it if you’ve got a horse to look after.”

  “Now hang on a minute, Tom,” Georgina crowed. “I don’t have to answer to you. You’re not my mother.” Her blue eyes flashed scornfully at him. “Nick, I’m still booked in for the beach ride this morning, aren’t I?” she asked, grabbing the brush from Tom as Nick passed by.

  “That’s right,” he replied.

  Tom groaned. He was booked to ride Feather on that very ride. Kate was on Jester, Jess had signed up for Minstrel, Rosie was riding Pepper and Alex was on Hector – all on their favourite horses. As it was such a beautiful day, Tom certainly wasn’t going to give it up because Georgina would be there. Besides, he needed to make the most of his time with Feather if they were going to be ready for Benbridge.

  “Now,” said Nick, as everyone gathered round. “For those who are new to Sandy Lane...Georgina, are you listening? I’m only going to say it once.”

  “Yes Nick,” she said sulkily, pulling her blonde hair into a pony tail as her reins trailed by Chancey’s side.

  Nick started again. “For all of you who don’t know, there are strict rules about riding on the beach. First, always keep behind the horse in front of you. And secondly, although it’s not applicable this morning, always check the tide sheet on the tack room door when planning a ride to the beach. The tide rolls in very quickly on this part of the coast and you could find yourselves cut off. At the very latest, you must be at the path to the cliffs by the time the water reaches Gull Rock, which is half an hour before high tide. Sandy Lane won’t accept responsibility for anyone disobeying the ground rules. Is that clear?”