Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Bronks was staring down at the two men on the ground.
‘Luca Cunningham and Lee McGregor, I am arresting you for breaking and entering private property, robbery, kidnapping of a horse and causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving. You’re both going to prison for a very long time.’
Charlie didn’t stay to listen. She could see Noble Warrior and Joe approaching across the field. She ran up to them and stroked Noddy’s face tenderly.
‘How is he?’ she asked.
‘He’s a bit shaken up,’ said Joe, ‘but I can’t find any serious damage. A few cuts and bruises where he’s been kicking, but he hasn’t broken any bones. I took him down to the water and bathed his legs in the sea. That should have done him good – and maybe he’s tougher than he looks.’
Joe patted Noble Warrior’s neck while Charlie kissed him on the side of the nose. ‘You’ll be back home soon, my boy. Back with Percy and safe in your barn.’
Noble Warrior pricked his ears and whickered softly.
Relief flooded through Charlie and she was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. It felt like her whole body had been tensed up ever since the moment that morning when they had discovered Noble Warrior was missing. Now she felt like she could sleep for a week. She wanted to talk to Joe about his job offer in Ireland and she was desperate to see Polly, but both would have to wait.
‘Well, I should be moving on,’ said Ava. ‘It’s a long walk back to Corringham.’
‘Why don’t you take the cattle truck?’ suggested Caroline, handing her the keys. ‘In fact, why don’t you keep it? It’s the least we can do to say thank you for your help.’
Ava smiled, showing the gaps in her teeth.
‘Don’t mind if I do,’ she said. ‘It’s got more room than my caravan!’
‘Just don’t drive it in the dark,’ said Charlie. ‘The lights don’t work.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry, my little friend. I don’t travel in the dark. It’s bad luck, so it is. Move by daylight, party by moonlight, that’s my motto!’ Ava laughed and blew them a kiss. ‘I’ll see you again, Charlie Bass!’
Joe and Charlie let Noble Warrior enjoy a pick of grass on the edge of the lane while they waited for the horsebox to arrive. He lifted his head at every strange noise and was still very edgy. Charlie soothed him by running her hand over his body, stroking from the top of his neck towards his shoulder and along his back, down his quarters. She sang to him softly in a low voice and, gradually, he started to relax.
‘How did the Chief Inspector know the names of the kidnappers when she arrested them?’ asked Larry.
‘The police went through the BBC film footage too,’ Bill explained. ‘They found a really clear shot of their faces. They were both wanted for petty theft and they once tried to steal a pedigree dog, but it bit them and they abandoned it a mile from its home. He found his way back, clever dog. Also Luca Cunningham used to work for Alex Williams. I think, if they ask a few questions, they’ll find it was him who stole the rugs and the farm machinery from Cherrydown Stables.’
‘So the police might have worked out who took Noddy by themselves,’ pondered Joe. ‘But they wouldn’t have known to look here. The kidnappers would’ve done serious damage to Noddy if they’d galloped him on that road, and who knows what they’d have done to him afterwards when they found out we couldn’t pay the ransom …’
Joe’s voice drifted off and he shuddered at the thought. Charlie had been thinking the same thing. But their gloomy notions of what might have happened were interrupted by the welcome noise of the Cherrydown Stables horsebox pulling into the field. Noble Warrior whinnied and from the back of the horsebox came an answering neigh.
Nigel, the Cherrydown Head Lad, lowered the side ramp of the horsebox to reveal a palomino head with one blue eye and one brown poking over the partition gate.
‘Percy!’ cried Charlie. ‘They brought you too!’
Charlie climbed into the horsebox to lead Percy out, but he wasn’t going to wait for such niceties. He charged down the ramp, pulling the rope out of Charlie’s hands, and made a beeline for Noble Warrior.
‘I think he’s cross that he’s missed out on all the excitement,’ Charlie laughed. ‘For once, I’ll let your bad manners pass, you naughty boy.’
Percy stood nose to nose with Noble Warrior for a moment, but, as soon as he had satisfied himself that his friend was unharmed, he put his head down to wolf as much grass as possible. Noble Warrior visibly relaxed and started to pick grass as well.
‘Friends reunited,’ smiled Granny Pam. ‘Oh, I do LOVE a happy ending!’
Chapter 13
By the time they were on the motorway and heading towards home, it was nearly midnight. Charlie was in the back of the horsebox with Joe so that they could keep an eye on Noble Warrior. In the sleeping area, Harry was lying with a cold towel on his swollen eye, while Larry was snoring loudly. In the front passenger seat, Granny Pam was telling Nigel of her plans to return to the stage soon. Charlie’s parents were following in the car. Charlie poked her head through the hatch that separated the back of the box from the driver’s cab.
‘How much further?’ she asked.
‘Not far now,’ answered Nigel, as he flicked the indicator to turn off the motorway. ‘Half an hour, tops.’
‘Tell Joe he can stay in the house tonight,’ Granny Pam said to Charlie. ‘It’s FAR too late for him to go home now.’
Charlie passed on the invitation, but Joe had other ideas.
‘Thanks, but I think I’ll sleep in the barn,’ he said. ‘It’s not that cold and I’d rather not leave Noddy on his own tonight.’
Percy pushed his nose towards Joe as if to remind him he’d be there too.
‘Yes, I know, lad.’ Joe patted him playfully. ‘But we all know that it only takes a couple of bananas to win your affections, so a fat lot of good you are as a guard horse.’
When they got home, Charlie and Joe put Noble Warrior and Percy in the barn, with some blankets to keep Joe warm. Then she made her way up to her room, shattered by the day’s events.
But, despite her exhaustion, Charlie couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned and looked at her alarm clock every forty minutes. Every time her eyes closed, she had visions of Noble Warrior disappearing again, or saw Polly being thrown to the ground as her pony reared. Boris snuggled into her body, sensing her fear and doing his best to comfort her. Charlie put her arm round him, pulling him tighter. But it was no good. Eventually, she got out of bed and went down to the kitchen. It was still dark outside, but she wasn’t the only one up. Her mother stood by the kettle, waiting for it to boil.
‘Couldn’t you sleep, chicken?’ she said.
‘I tried,’ Charlie replied. ‘But I can’t stop thinking about what might have happened if we hadn’t got to Essex when we did. What if we’d never found Noddy or if they’d hurt him?’
‘I know, I know.’ Caroline placed a mug of tea in front of Charlie and sat down beside her. ‘But that didn’t happen and what we’ve got to try and do is focus on what did, and how we managed, all of us, to get Noble Warrior back. You did an amazing job as team captain, you know.’
‘Did I?’ Charlie’s cheeks flushed red. ‘I was so angry all the time. I’ve never felt like that before and it scared me.’
‘That can happen,’ her mother replied. ‘Lots of things in life will make you angry, but you did well to contain it. I think you’ve learned so much in the last six months. I don’t think even Kate Richardson-Walsh or Steph Houghton would have done better at getting the best out of everyone around them. You stayed calm, you were brilliant at communicating, you reacted quickly and you kept your focus on what you wanted to achieve. It was a fabulous example of T-CUP.’
‘Teacup?’ asked Charlie, looking down at her chipped mug and wondering what on earth her mother was on about.
‘Thinking Clearly Under Pressure,’ smiled her mum. ‘It’s what Clive Woodward talked about when England won the Rugb
y World Cup in 2003. He says it’s the most important skill you can have in a tense situation and, Charlie, believe me, you’ve got it.’
Charlie swallowed a mouthful of tea and looked out of the window.
‘Mum, will Polly get better?’
Caroline’s smile wavered.
‘Honestly, darling, I don’t know. I spoke to Jasmine this evening to thank her for letting us use the horsebox. She said Polly is stable, but the doctors still don’t know what will happen. Her broken leg will mend, but she’s got extensive nerve damage. That might get better or it might not. It’s possible that she’ll be disabled. Only time will tell.’
Charlie furrowed her brow. She wanted so much to help her friend. She wasn’t a doctor and she couldn’t perform miracles, but there had to be something she could do.
The sky was starting to get lighter and she could hear the birds singing. Charlie knew she should go out shortly to check on Joe and the horses.
‘Do you want to take a cup of tea to Joe?’ said her mother, as if reading her mind.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ Charlie replied.
Boris led the way as Charlie walked out to the barn with Joe’s cup of tea. She found him wrapped in a horse blanket, half sitting, half lying, with his head and upper back resting against Noble Warrior’s neck as he lay in the straw.
Percy, ever hopeful of food, got up as Charlie came into the barn, while Noble Warrior flicked his ears and looked at her but didn’t try to stand up. Charlie sat down in the straw next to Joe and handed him his tea.
‘I think Noddy must have liked you sleeping with him,’ she said. ‘He’s looking much more like his old self.’
Joe stretched his arms.
‘He makes a good chair, that’s for sure,’ he said, sipping the tea gratefully.
‘We should talk about Seamus O’Reilly’s letter,’ Charlie said.
While Noble Warrior was missing, she had almost forgotten about it, but now Noddy was back it was a discussion they needed to have. ‘Everyone says he’s a really good man. A great trainer too – did you see he won the Irish Derby with Little Lion Man?’
‘I know,’ replied Joe with a sigh. ‘He’s amazing.’
‘He’s got more than two hundred horses at his stables. He’d give you the chance to ride top-class horses all the time,’ reasoned Charlie. ‘You wouldn’t be waiting just for Noddy. He’s offering you the chance of a lifetime.’
Joe nodded. ‘I know. He says I can go there on trial to see if I like it or not. He’ll pay for my travel expenses and give me a decent salary as well.’ He paused and looked at Noble Warrior. ‘Let’s go for a ride. That’ll help me decide.’
They rode out slowly into the field where Noble Warrior had gradually learned to gallop, and where he had mastered the art of cantering downhill and round a left corner in preparation for Tattenham Corner at Epsom. Joe was riding with long stirrups, his legs hanging down the sides of Noble Warrior’s tummy. He had a light contact on the reins, helping his horse to relax and enjoy himself.
Charlie was trying hard to stop Percy eating grass with every step so she had to keep her reins short.
‘I’ll give him a trot to check he’s sound,’ said Joe. ‘You stay there and I’ll go in a circle round you.’
As he moved forward into trot, Joe shortened his reins slightly and felt the contact with Noble Warrior’s mouth. Charlie watched as Noble Warrior arched his neck and lowered his head. His hind legs came right under him as he trotted with power and grace.
‘Wow!’ she said. ‘He looks like a dressage horse.’
Joe started to play with him, asking him to go sideways, to do extended trot, to halt and then rein back. He brought him back to walk and then put his outside leg behind the girth, squeezing him forward into canter. Noble Warrior responded immediately.
‘I think he really likes it,’ said Joe. ‘This is why he was so good at Epsom. He’s got natural balance and he’s really flexible.’
‘Do you think he’s got over the kidnapping?’ Charlie asked.
‘We won’t know that until we try him on a racecourse again,’ he replied.
‘True,’ sighed Charlie. ‘But I don’t want to force him before he’s ready. I can’t push him to win more races when he’s already done us the biggest favour of all. He saved the farm by winning the Derby. Maybe that’s where we should leave it and bow out at the top. I know every other trainer would want to go on and win more, but Granny Pam says it’s better to be different. She says you should never go with the flow, because the water can get really choppy, what with everyone kicking around you.’
‘So we should swim against the current?’ asked Joe. ‘Sounds like making life harder for yourself, if you ask me.’
‘I just don’t think we should be greedy,’ Charlie replied.
‘Well, that’s fine,’ said Joe. ‘But don’t confuse greed with ambition. No one ever gets anywhere in sport without wanting to win more. How do you think Andy Murray stays motivated? Or Roger Federer? They’ve got to the top and now they have to stay there by working with the top coaches and competing against the best players.’
‘Exactly.’ Charlie reached out to clasp Joe’s hand. ‘And the best racehorse trainer in the world wants you on his team. You’ve got to do it. Remember that book Mum gave me before the Derby? How to Find the Olympian Within? It says that when you get a choice between stepping out of your comfort zone or staying safe with what you know, you should take the risk and go for the thing that will stretch you. Otherwise you’ll never improve.’
‘I understand, Charlie, I really do,’ said Joe. ‘But I’ve thought about it a lot over the last twenty-four hours. It’s hard to explain, but, while Noddy was missing, it felt like I’d lost a part of myself too. I can’t leave him and I don’t want to leave all of you. I’ve made my decision. I’m staying here.’
Charlie forced herself to smile. She wasn’t sure Joe was making the right choice, but she did know it was his choice to make.
‘Fair enough,’ Charlie said. ‘But let’s take it slowly with Noddy. If he’s still OK in a month or two then we can take him to a racecourse and see how he behaves.’
Joe smiled.
‘Sounds like a good plan.’
And it was a good plan. Over the next month, it became clear that Noble Warrior might not be physically injured, but he was still recovering from his ordeal. One day he would be happy and relaxed and the next he would start sweating for no reason and become agitated. He spooked at any loud noise and a pheasant starting up from the woods would send him galloping halfway across the field.
‘Sit tight, Joe!’ Charlie shouted, as Noble Warrior flung himself sideways. He started bucking like a bronco. Joe clung on with all his might, his balance and strength tested to the maximum.
‘I think he’s too fresh,’ Joe said, when he had regained control. ‘It’s been six weeks of gentle exercise now and he’s getting bored.’
Noble Warrior flicked his ears, as if listening to the conversation.
Charlie rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Joe was obviously keen to pull on the green-and-gold silks and ride Noble Warrior in a race again. It wasn’t easy being a part-time jockey. He wanted and needed to be in the saddle more often, not just watching races on TV.
‘OK, let’s have a look at the racing calendar,’ Charlie said.
The truth was they all needed another challenge. Granny Pam had gone home and Charlie was back at school and struggling to concentrate on her lessons. All she could think about were Noble Warrior and Percy – and her best friend.
Polly’s injuries had turned out to be very serious. As well as a broken leg, she had fractured a bone in her lower back and was still in hospital. The doctors said that it would take a long time for her to relearn how to walk – and that she would probably never be able to ride again.
It was devastating news. Charlie visited Polly every day after school, trying to keep her friend positive, but it was clear Polly was having a hard time coming to terms with her disab
ility. Joe visited her with Charlie a couple of times, but, whenever he came, Polly had dried up, seemingly unable to chat in front of him.
‘I don’t like him seeing me like this,’ she’d confided to Charlie. ‘I feel so useless and I haven’t got anything interesting to say to him. He’ll think I’m dull.’
‘Rubbish,’ said Charlie. ‘Joe’s really fond of you and he just wants you to get better.’ She winked at her best friend. ‘And I know you like him too.’
Polly blushed. ‘But I get so embarrassed when we talk. He’s so talented and confident and I’m … well, look at me.’
Slowly, though, Polly’s mood lifted, and she started to look to the future.
‘The physiotherapist says I’m doing really well on my crutches,’ she explained one afternoon. ‘And the doctors say the cast will come off my leg next week, but I think my parents are worried about me coming home.’
‘Why?’ asked Charlie.
‘They’re scared,’ answered Polly. ‘I can see it in their eyes. They know I’m safe in here, but they don’t realize that it’s driving me mad. I want to see Munchkin and I want to sleep in my own bed, even if it’s hard to get up the stairs.’
Her eyes started to fill up with tears.
‘I just want to go home.’
The effort of being brave was draining and Polly had tried really hard. She hadn’t complained and she had even eaten the hospital food, despite it tasting of cardboard.
‘I know there are lots of people way worse off than me in here,’ she said. ‘And I play with some of the little kids and chat to the old people who don’t get many visitors, but I’ve had enough now.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ Charlie said. ‘I wouldn’t last two days in here. I’d miss the animals too much and I’d even miss my brothers, despite them being the most annoying people in the world. Have you talked to your parents about going home?’
Polly sighed. ‘Not really. I don’t want to pester them and I know they’ll say it’s up to the doctors.’
The Racehorse Who Disappeared Page 10