“You look very … nice, Bobby,” Lainey said. Then she looked kindly at Gracie, who sat miserably in her saddle. “All OK?” Lainey continued in a low voice so only Gracie could hear. “I know you were so excited about dressing Bobby up. What happened?”
Gracie tried to talk, but her throat felt thick and lumpy. To her awful embarrassment, she felt a tear splash down on to her saddle.
“He hates me,” she whispered. “Whatever I do, he just hates me.”
“Oh, Gracie.” Lainey patted her knee. “I’m sure he doesn’t. I think you two just haven’t clicked. Here, have a little ride round, then we’ll chat.”
Gracie slumped in the saddle. She’d totally failed, and it was the worst feeling in the world. Worse than the time she’d forgotten her lines in the amateur dramatic society’s Christmas performance, or when she’d had a sore throat the day before an audition for a part in a London musical. She had wanted to prove to her parents how responsible she was. And now she’d never get her own kitten.
But her morning was about to get far worse. As she nudged Bobby forward, he shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the crown. But Gracie carried on. It should stay put – she’d made it so it clipped round the top of the bridle, and she’d seen Ellie fasten it.
Hadn’t she?
“That’s nice, Gracie,” Lainey called in an encouraging voice. “Ask for a canter in the corner.”
Gracie squeezed her heels against the glossy black of Bobby’s flanks, feeling the powerful leap forward and the rocking-horse strides. Suddenly she was aware of the crown slipping down over Bobby’s long forelock.
Stopping dead, Bobby gave a small half-rear as the crown landed on the sand, before whipping round so quickly Gracie barely had time to grab a handful of mane before she was tumbling through the air, falling to the ground with a thump, right next to the now-crushed crown. Bobby must have stomped on it as he spun around. It was the fi nal humiliation!
“Gracie!” Although Lainey was fast, Sophie was faster, jumping off Gorse and handing her reins to Willow next to her. “Oh, Gracie,” Sophie repeated, crouching down as Lainey hurried over. “Are you OK?”
Gracie stretched each limb in turn. Nothing seemed badly hurt – she was just bruised. But her pride had taken the worst knock. Looking over, her heart sank as she saw Ellie now holding both Bobby and Merry. She’d obviously caught the black and white pony after he’d run away, and was now stroking Bobby’s nose.
“Yes,” she mumbled to Sophie, pulling herself up. “I’m OK.” She wasn’t, not at all.
“You poor thing!” Lainey said, gently brushing the sand from the back of Gracie’s T-shirt. “Come on, take Bobby back to his stable and have a sit-down for a bit. I’ll come and see you once I’m done.”
Fighting back tears, Gracie nodded. Ellie had walked Bobby over now, and handed over his reins. Gracie noticed she didn’t quite meet her eye.
“There you go,” she muttered, before turning back to Merry.
Gracie ran her stirrups up so they were tied neatly. She tried not to look at her friends, aware of their sympathetic expressions. Placing the reins over Bobby’s head, she started to trudge back to the stables.
“Shall I go with you?” Gracie heard Sophie say in a concerned voice, but she shook her head. She just wanted to be alone.
Back at the yard, Gracie untacked Bobby and led him into his stable, grateful that at least he hadn’t tried to run away.
“Oh, Bobby,” she said sadly, reaching out to stroke him. “I’m so sorry we don’t get on.”
But to her surprise, Bobby turned to her and gave her a gentle nudge, almost as though he was saying sorry back. Then as she left the stable, Gracie watched as Bobby sank down into his soft bed with a contented sigh. By the time Gracie had put his tack away and tidied up the glitter and stars, Bobby was fast asleep. He looked so peaceful and happy, Gracie thought, wishing things were different. It wasn’t just the kitten. She loved him, despite it all.
Then something caught her eye. In the same corner as yesterday was the same debris – thick dust and old hay. Creeping over, Gracie smiled as Bobby opened one eye and then closed it again. Crouching down, she examined the mess.
Frowning, Gracie held her breath, trying to see if she could hear anything, but with most of the ponies out in the arena for the morning’s lesson, the air was still and quiet. Gracie looked at the low beams which criss-crossed the stable, beautiful solid bits of wood, and started to wonder. Something was going up into that hole and causing the mess to rain down. She still hadn’t seen the cat she’d met the other day. Was the cat up there? She could easily leap from the stable door on to the beams, and then up into the gap.
The stable was so peaceful. Looking at Bobby sleeping, Gracie felt brave enough to move closer and stroke his neck softly. He stirred but didn’t move away, instead leaning his neck into her. Gracie let the silken strands of his long mane run through her fingers, enjoying their shared moment. It hadn’t been his fault she’d fallen, it would have been scary to have something tumble over his head, but Gracie knew it didn’t look good. Had she now blown it completely?
CHAPTER 7
As Gracie waited for the others to finish their lesson, she started to feel a little better. After those lovely few minutes with Bobby in his stable, she was determined, despite the fall, to keep trying. She just had to convince Lainey.
But Lainey had other ideas.
“I’m going to swap you to Zebedee,” Lainey said, having called Gracie over for a quiet word. “She’s a lovely mare who’s great at camp.”
Gracie felt her tummy flip, imagining the conversation Lainey would have with her mum. “Just to let you know, we had to swap Gracie’s pony …” She could hear Lainey’s voice clearly in her mind, and see her mum’s thoughtful expression. “She just couldn’t get on with Bobby, I’m afraid.”
“Can’t I try with Bobby just one more time?” she stammered, and Lainey smiled.
“No,” she said in a kind but firm tone. “This is for the best.”
Gracie turned to her friends once Lainey had gone to check over the ponies.
“You’ll back me up, won’t you?” she pleaded. “I can try again.”
But the girls shuffled a bit, looking at each other, looking at the ground, anywhere but at Gracie.
“I think Lainey’s right,” Jess said after an awkward pause. “Ellie said she’s never seen Bobby spook like that. I know the crown falling freaked him out, but he’s normally really brave. And before that, all the trouble with dressing him up, and when he wouldn’t go back in his stable, and how grumpy he’s been. Maybe he just doesn’t … like you.” She reddened, as if realising how harsh her words sounded. “But it’s not your fault,” she added hurriedly. “Not all horses and people get on.”
Her words echoed what Zoe had said in Lainey’s kitchen. Gracie felt a bubble of disappointment and humiliation rise up in her, coming out as anger. They were supposed to be her friends!
“Whatever,” she snapped, turning on her heel and walking away from the girls, wiping away hot, angry tears. Not looking where she was going, she ran head first into Zoe.
“Gracie,” Zoe said cheerfully. “I know Lainey’s had a word with you. I need to pick up Zebedee’s saddle from the menders. Are you OK to hang around here for a bit while I go and get it?”
Gracie nodded. What choice did she have?
“Yes,” she sniffed. “That’s fine.” It wasn’t at all, but she didn’t say that.
Zoe nodded, reaching into her pocket for her car keys.
“You’re a star,” she said. “And, Gracie, this is for the best. Now you can enjoy the rest of camp.”
Gracie nodded again, not trusting herself to speak. When Zoe had driven out of the yard, she slumped down on to a pile of rugs in the tack room. She didn’t want to go back and hang out with the rest of the gang, not after she’d just stormed away. Plus, they were about to ride again, and she really couldn’t bear to see Ellie’s smug smile. Instead she
reached for a copy of Pony magazine, hoping to lose herself in the cheery photo-stories and pony-care tips.
It didn’t help. The story was about a girl befriending a difficult pony and winning all the prizes at the show. It didn’t happen like that in real life, Gracie thought sadly, putting the magazine down.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Zoe hadn’t appeared back, and the next lesson was still going on in the arena. But suddenly Gracie was aware something was happening in the yard. There was some neighing and scrabbling around.
Feeling worried, she headed outside, trying to work out where the noise was coming from. Most ponies were in the lesson or out in the paddock. There was only Bertie, Lainey’s retired eventer, and Sox, who belonged to Jade, who taught at the stables. But with a sense of panic, Gracie realised they were looking in the same direction – towards Bobby’s stable.
Bobby had been fast asleep when she’d left him, Gracie thought. What if he’d tried to get up and got stuck against the wall? Her heart in her mouth, she started to run. Getting stuck against the wall, or “cast”, could be really serious!
But Bobby was circling his stable, his head held high. Without thinking, Gracie let herself in.
“What is it, boy?” she asked shakily.
Then she came to her senses. Bobby had already proven how much he disliked her, and now she was in the stable with him and he was in panic mode. She could be in danger! But Bobby paused, and nudged Gracie gently with a soft whicker, and then circled again, pausing by the external wall to let out a high-pitched whinny. His eyes were searching her face. He nudged Gracie again, a little harder this time, but not enough to hurt her. Suddenly Gracie got it.
“You’re trying to tell me something, aren’t you?” she said. “You need me to help you. But with what?”
But then Zoe appeared, her face full of concern. She must have driven back into the yard as Gracie was in the stable.
“Gracie,” she said. “You must come out. Something’s obviously upset Bobby. It’s not safe!”
But Gracie shook her head.
“No, I think he’s trying to tell me … oh!”
Bobby reared, tossing his thick black and white mane, his eyes rolling. He gave another shrill whinny and then spun round, heading back to the same wall.
“Gracie, out!” Zoe cried.
She opened the door and grabbed Gracie’s arm to pull her away, and Gracie had no choice but to follow her.
“What were you thinking?” Zoe cried. “You could have been seriously injured!”
“I’m sorry,” Gracie mumbled. “I didn’t think.”
Then, out of nowhere, the beautiful black and white cat scampered across the yard.
Zoe frowned.
“There’s that cat again!” she said. “I tried to catch her the other day. But she’s totally wild.”
The cat jumped up on to Bobby’s door and, as if by magic, Bobby immediately calmed, snuffling the cat gently as she padded across the ledge. The cat and Bobby sniffed noses, and then Bobby resumed his spinning. Gracie noticed there was something different about the cat. She seemed agitated, stressed even.
“OK,” Zoe said firmly. “I’m going to put Bobby into the field. He needs to be out of that stable.”
Gracie could only watch helplessly as, with some difficulty, Zoe fastened Bobby’s head collar on. He was clearly reluctant to go. As Zoe led him past Gracie, he stared at her, his eyes deep and searching. He was trying to communicate with her, Gracie thought with a jolt, to get her to see what he could. Whatever it was, she knew she had to try.
CHAPTER 8
“Phew!” Zoe said as she returned a few minutes later. “He seems OK, so I imagine something just startled him. He’ll settle down now he’s out.”
Then she looked up as the rest of the camp members clattered happily back into the yard.
“I’d better go and help,” Zoe said. “But when I get back, we’ll talk about Zebedee, OK?”
But Gracie couldn’t keep still. She anxiously twisted a lead rope around in her hands. Something was up – she knew it. Then she looked down as something warm brushed against her leg. The cat! Reaching down, Gracie stroked her. But instead of the relaxed, contented purring of the other day, the cat yowled, a sound Gracie had never heard before.
“What is it, girl?” Gracie said. “What are you and Bobby trying to tell me?”
Jess came past then, her arms full of tack.
“I saw that cat the other day!” she said. “I couldn’t get near her. She must like you.”
Despite her worries , Gracie felt a rush of pride. Zoe hadn’t been able to catch her either. The cat rolled over and up again, as if asking Gracie to follow her.
Jess then peered at the cat, setting down her saddle.
“Gracie,” she said urgently. “It looks as though she’s had kittens, very recently!”
All Gracie could do was blink.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Look,” Jess said, crouching down. The cat stayed near to Gracie, but didn’t run.
“Her tummy looks soft, like a balloon going down. And she’s feeding the kittens too. Look, her teats are all swollen. My cousin’s a vet,” Jess continued. “I spend my holidays helping her out, so I’ve seen loads of cats and kittens. But if they’re still feeding … where are they now?”
And straight away, Gracie knew!
“I know exactly where!” she said, jumping up and grabbing Jess’s arm. “Come with me!”
Quickly Gracie led Jess into Bobby’s stable.
“Aha,” Jess nodded, looking up. “I think you could be right. Are you good at climbing?”
Unlike the cat, the girls couldn’t leap on to the beam from the stable door, but Jess was able to give Gracie a leg-up so she could scramble on to it. Crouching on the weathered wood, Gracie managed to lift herself up high enough to peer through the gap and into the gloom of the loft. As she cautiously pushed her hand through, she noticed a small amount of old hay and dust fell back out into Bobby’s stable, which would explain the pile of debris she’d found every day.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she gasped as her gaze fell on the most adorable sight. A tangle of grey and black fluff … wide, bright eyes staring curiously back at her. Kittens!
“One, two, three!” Gracie called down to Jess. “There are three kittens!”
“Aw,” Jess said happily. “But why does the mummy seem so worried?”
As if on cue, the cat jumped up on to the beam and padded along to Gracie. She still seemed agitated. And, just like Bobby, Gracie knew the cat was asking for help.
“Jess,” she said, feeling a knot of worry. “What if there’s a fourth?”
Carefully climbing down from the beam, Gracie began sifting through the shavings with her hands. Jess was doing the same. Their first, awful thought was that the kitten had fallen through the hole and was somehow hidden in the bed, but there was no sign of it.
Suddenly Gracie stopped, putting her fingers to her lips.
“Jess,” she whispered, her eyes widening. “Did you hear that?”
Her eyes equally wide, Jess nodded. The tiniest sound, the weakest mew, but coming from where? Gracie thought outside. Jess thought behind the feed manager. But they couldn’t be sure, and now they couldn’t hear it.
Suddenly Gracie knew exactly what she had to do.
“We can’t waste time!” she said urgently. “Jess, can you distract Zoe? I need Bobby, and she mustn’t see me.”
Jess didn’t even stop to question why. Nodding, she headed back out into the yard. Holding her breath, Gracie heard Jess call Zoe over.
“Zoe?”
Jess was a brilliant actress, Gracie thought admiringly.
“I just wondered if you could explain to me again about the feeds you were talking about this morning,” Jess said. “It was all really interesting and I wanted to know more!”
“Of course,” Gracie heard Zoe say enthusiastically. “Come over to the feed room. I’
ve got a brilliant book you can look at…”
And Gracie gave a sigh of relief as Zoe and Jess headed off, Zoe chatting away about sugar beet and competition mixes. Jess glanced over her shoulder. “Go!” she mouthed.
Quickly, Gracie grabbed Bobby’s head collar. An awful thought struck her. What if she couldn’t catch Bobby? What if Zoe had been right and he had been startled? But suddenly Gracie was aware she wasn’t alone. She had a little shadow running beside her as she hurried to the field. The cat!
Bobby was by the gate, as if he knew Gracie and the cat were coming. Her heart pounding, Gracie managed to fasten the head collar over his nose and open the gate.
“Uh, Gracie?”
Gracie spun around. Ellie was standing there, red hair pulled back, hand on her hip. She had her other hand on the gate.
“What are you doing?” Ellie said accusingly. “You’ve swapped ponies, remember? You’re not riding Bobby any more.”
Gracie stood her ground.
“He’s trying to tell me something,” she said. “Please let me through – it’s really urgent.”
“Oh, give it up, Gracie!” Ellie said with a horrid laugh, pushing the gate forward to close it. “Why would he tell you anything? You can’t even get him into his stable!”
“That’s because there is something about his stable he’s worried about!” Gracie shoved the gate back, unbalancing Ellie, who swayed a bit. “Get out of my way, please!”
Seeing a gap big enough, Bobby burst through the gate, dragging Gracie with him. Ellie leapt forward to try and block him, but she wasn’t fast enough. For a split second Gracie almost lost her grasp on the rope.
“Sorry, sorry!” Gracie called back, hoping the gate or Bobby hadn’t knocked Ellie, but she had been right in the way!
Sunshine Stables Page 3