by Dave Warner
From here it was all downhill, literally. Leila was galloping fast as she turned into Almeda and sped towards the block where Hawthorn lived. They were just in time. Wearing rubber gloves, Hawthorn was heading to his car holding a pillowslip that was writhing. A high-pitched meow indicated it was Oscar.
'Put Oscar down,' yelled Charlotte.
Hawthorn turned at the words. His face contorted in surprise. 'You!'
'Put him down.'
'And you're going to make me?'
Charlotte wasn't certain what to do next. Hawthorn smiled, sure of himself.
'You try to stop me, the cat gets it.'
Charlotte was frozen. So near and yet so . . .
Wham!
Something plummeted from the sky and smacked Hawthorn in the face. He let out a scream as scaly claws seized his cheeks and a hooked beak bit his nose.
Feathers to the rescue!
Hawthorn dropped the bag and a hissing ball of fur erupted and began lashing Hawthorn with sharp claws. Charlotte had never seen a cat and bird working so harmoniously.
'Please, get them off me,' yelled the flailing Hawthorn.
'I don't know why I should. You tried to kill me and Leila at the theme park.'
'Not kill you, just make sure Leila couldn't perform . . . a little insurance . . . Aeeee!' He let out another scream of pain. Charlotte now had the rope she used for runaway steers ready in her hand.
'Why?' asked Charlotte.
'Hector didn't have the confidence of the board. If the movie failed I'd be the next studio boss.'
'Okay, leave him be, Feathers,' said Charlotte.
Feathers desisted. Hawthorn took the opportunity to throw Oscar from his neck, then tried to make a run for it, but for Charlotte he was pathetically easy quarry. She twirled her lasso over her head, let it go with perfect judgement and pulled tight, leaving Hawthorn thrashing on the ground.
By the time Charlotte, accompanied by Miss Strudworth, had given a statement to the police and returned to Mr Gold's, it was nearly midnight. She found a massive hot chocolate waiting for her and her favourite dish, shepherd's pie, which the chef, Nunzio, had never cooked before but had done especially for her. Honey was waiting for her too, with Joel Gold. She cradled a grateful Oscar in her arms.
'I can't tell you how happy I am, Charlotte,' said Honey. 'If there's anything I can ever do for you, just ask.'
'Write the rest of the script,' suggested Charlotte.
'I'll be heading straight back home now. I've told Mr Gold that he'll have four new scenes ready for shooting tomorrow.'
Joel Gold stood with Charlotte, watching Honey Grace drive away.
'I gotta tell you, Charlotte, any time you want a job, you've got one. You saved Hector's neck. And mine.'
Charlotte pointed out that there was a little self-interest at stake.
'If the movie isn't made, Miss Strudworth doesn't get her money, and Leila and I love Thornton Downs.'
'Actually,' said Joel Gold guiding them back inside, 'Caroline might have some news on that front. But I'll let her tell you herself in the morning.'
Charlotte returned to the trailer where Leila and Feathers were still on a high, reliving the moments of Hawthorn's capture.
'Did you like my little manoeuvre?' Feathers' chest was puffed out. 'We parrots call it the talon to the melon.'
'Very nice, but I had to leap a speeding Harley Hog.'
'A motorcycle. It's not like it was a semi. It doesn't compare with plummeting out of the sky like an arrow.'
'Guys,' said Charlotte, getting in before it became a slanging match. 'I think we all did really well. I'm proud of you.'
Leila heard where she was coming from.
'We're proud of you too. It's just a shame you're not old enough to come to The Whiskey. It'll just be getting under way now.'
'It's amazing,' blurted Strudworth. 'Out of the blue! Lucinda's father rang me to say that he was dropping the legal action.'
They were eating breakfast on the terrace.
'Did he say why?'
'No. He just said he realised I wasn't responsible for the accident. "Accident." That's the word he used. But Mr Gold will still give me the million-dollar fee, which means I can give Thornton Downs the upgrade it deserves.'
At the shoot an hour later, Charlotte located Sarah-Jane at the make-up trailer.
'Did you make a call to Lucinda?'
Sarah-Jane smirked. 'I might have rung and suggested that if she ever wanted to make it on the big screen she had better not mess with my pals.'
Who would have thought it? Sarah-Jane was going in to bat for them.
'It was the least I could do after you saved my life,' added Sarah-Jane. 'But I might have one favour to ask.'
Charlotte waited.
'If the film is a success, can you bring Leila back for another?'
'That,' said Charlotte, 'is going to be up to her.'
Chapter 18
The remaining four weeks of shooting went well. Honey delivered a great script and Leila and Sarah-Jane behaved themselves. When shooting finished, the studio threw a huge party. Leila made Charlotte shop for a new dress, a simple but elegant number that Mr Gold paid for. A very famous band played and Mr Gold danced wildly with Miss Strudworth. Leila strutted her stuff and even danced with Sarah-Jane. Charlotte and Feathers enjoyed themselves watching the others party, Charlotte wishing that Todd had still been there to dance with but happy to watch the others having fun. Sweating from her exertion, Leila came over and stuck her head in the ice fountain, which featured a carving of her own head in ice.
'Talk about hot to trot,' she muttered. She realised that a year off the party circuit had lowered her stamina.
'I might go home,' said Charlotte. She was feeling tired and the plane left the next day.
'No way, Charlie. You can't leave me.'
But Charlotte was growing weary.
'Okay then, what about one last ride up into the Hills?'
That, Charlotte could handle. They left Feathers in his cage and snuck out the back, taking their time to work their way up the hills overlooking L.A. For once the smog had cleared and the lights that glittered below were exciting and pretty.
Leila began to choke up. 'Ain't it pretty?'
Charlotte could see how much Leila loved L.A. Even though it made her heart heavy she felt she owed it to her friend to speak what was on her mind.
'I know how much you love it here. This is your home and I know I'd never want to say goodbye to my home. If you want, you can stay. I'll convince Strudworth.'
Leila teared up. 'I do love it here, Charlie. I love being a star and Consuela's pedicure and Cassandra's pastries and the giant TV . . .'
'And Feathers,' added Charlotte.
'Yeah, I guess, but more the TV. And thank you . . . I know how hard that is for you to say and yes, I do want to stay.'
Charlotte felt her heart burst.
'But,' added Leila, 'it would be harder for me to leave you. And you offering me that choice, that's the clincher. To everybody else I'm a horse. A smart horse, a very attractive horse but just a horse. Or at most just another star. But with you, I'm a friend. That means more to me than anything.'
Charlotte couldn't help tearing up. Leila ran on.
'Besides. We've got that jump-off against Milthorp in two weeks and I am going to make that arrogant fat-head Warrior eat my dust. Now, let's get back to the party for the cake.'
The two friends started back into the darkness. The moon and stars above lighting their way, their voices floating on the breeze.
'Okay, but no more of those mini pizzas.'
'Come on, I'm giving up Hollywood. Least you can let me break my diet.'
'Fine. But no cake . . .'
'No cake! What is this? Prison camp?'
Acknowledgements
A great many hardworking hands helped groom Charlotte and Leila for Hollywood. In particular I would like to thank publisher Zoe Walton, editor Chris Kunz, and all those at
Random House who have nurtured these two in their three adventures. Thanks also to my agents, Fiona Inglis and Rick Raftos, for their time and support.
My family deserves special mention – Violet and Venice, for not only inspiring me to write about a girl and her special horse, but also for their feedback at each stage of the book, and young Gustavus, for keeping a smile on my face. Of course, none of this would be possible without my wife, Nicole, who gives her all every day to allow me to turn imagination into reality.