by Roz Marshall
"Thanks. Number sixty-eight. I'll be back in five minutes."
Corinne ripped off her hoodie as she ran back across the show ground, and as soon as she got back to the lorry wriggled out of her trousers, so she was just wearing cream jodhpurs and a white shirt and tie. No time for a jacket.
Sonya's dad, who had driven them to the show, looked up from his newspaper and gave her a bemused smile as she grabbed her saddle and bridle from inside the silver-painted lorry. Quickly fastening them onto Ghost, who was tied up at the side and munching on a hay-net, she scrambled aboard. She was about to head back to the competition ring when Mandy appeared out of the living area at the front of the vehicle, waving Corinne's show hat.
"Don't forget your helmet!" she called.
"Thanks!" Flashing her a grateful smile, Corinne stuffed it onto her head and turned her horse towards the jumping ring, Mandy and Sonya following on foot at a more leisurely pace.
"This will have to do as your warm-up," she told Ghost as they trotted across the show ground. "Sorry."
There was only one number left un-crossed off on the blackboard. Hers. "That's me, number sixty-eight," she called to the steward, pointing at the board.
The steward jerked her chin at the jumps. "I was just about to give up on you. On you go. Quickly," she added as Corinne fumbled with the strap on her crash helmet.
Corinne nodded her thanks and trotted Ghost into the ring, trying to ignore the queasy feeling in her stomach. It's just nerves. She'd feel better once they got going.
There would be half a minute or so before the Steward would give the signal to start, so she took the opportunity to give Ghost a warm-up canter around the ring, letting him have a sideways look at the obstacles while reminding herself of the route they'd have to follow.
As she passed the entrance again, she noticed that Phemie had arrived and joined the crowd of spectators. Several yards away—no way they'd be so un-cool as to stand with the farmer—stood Sonya and Mandy, sharing a large packet of crisps. I suppose everyone at the yard will hear how I got on, if Morticia is watching. But Corinne couldn't do anything about that. All she could do was to jump as best she could. And if I want to show-jump more seriously, I imagine I'll have to put up with worse. With a shake of her head, she dismissed the thought and concentrated on the jumps.
Too quickly, the bell rang for them to start, and Corinne steadied Ghost back to a trot, craning her neck to work out the best route to the first obstacle. Moments later, they were cantering through the start flags and over the first; green and white crossed poles with a horizontal pole behind them.
Ghost sailed over as if it wasn't there and on to the next, a small spread with purple and white polkadot filler boards beneath it. Again, he jumped without hesitation, and Corinne began to relax. The practice she'd done at the farm yesterday—when nobody else was around to criticise—had obviously helped, and Ghost didn't seem bothered about the artificial-looking obstacles.
Weaving their way around the course, everything was going well until they approached the red and white wall. "Only two more to go," she told him as she lined him up for the jump.
Afterwards, she wondered if it was the lack of a warm-up that caused the problem, but as he landed after the wall, he stumbled, toppling her forwards so she crumpled onto his neck.
As she jerked herself back into the saddle and spun Ghost to face the final jump, her hat—which she'd obviously not fastened properly—flew off her head and landed behind them on the grass. But by then Ghost's eyes had locked onto the blue and white triple rail that would finish the course, and a moment later they were over it and cantering through the finish. A clear round!
"Good boy!" Slowing him to a trot, she patted his shoulder and turned back to retrieve her helmet.
The steward met her by the wall, and handed up her navy hat. "Well done. You were the fifth clear, so you'll be in the jump-off. It's starting in a couple of minutes, once we put the jumps higher. Jumps one, two, four, seven, nine and ten."
"Okay, thanks." Four other riders in front of her. That would give her a few minutes to retrieve her jacket so she'd look less of a scruff and more like a proper show-jumper.
-::-
As Corinne trotted away towards the lorry park, a movement in the crowd caught Phemie's eye. Leaving Mandy alone at the ringside, Sonya marched determinedly towards the Secretary's tent, her coal-black hair swinging behind her shoulders as she walked.
Phemie frowned. I wonder what she's up to? But then she felt guilty for being so suspicious. Maybe a late entry. That'll be it.
And now it was time for the jump-off. Phemie was glad Corinne and her white horse had made it. She was looking forward to seeing what the mysterious beast could do.
-::-
Corinne arrived back at the ring just in time to watch the second-to-last competitor's round and memorise the shortened jump-off course. This time, speed counted as well as accuracy, and the lanky teenager did a good job of saving time by galloping his horse part of the distance between jumps two and four. But had anyone else cut the corner between jump seven and the wall? That might shave off a few seconds. I'll try that, she thought, giving Ghost an encouraging pat on the neck and guiding him into the ring.
As well as being shorter, the jump-off course was also higher. As they sailed through the air over the upright jump seven, Corinne turned her shoulders to the right to indicate the tight turn she wanted Ghost to make on landing.
Ghost's feet hit the ground and he almost pirouetted on his hindquarters to cut inside jump eight and face the wall. But when Corinne spotted the obstacle, her confidence quailed. That wall looks huge! An intimidating mass of red and white, it looked higher than anything she'd ever jumped—including the stack of four straw bales in the stubble field the other day. But the tight turn they'd made only left her a stride or so to straighten Ghost in front of the wall—and only milliseconds to worry—before his muscular hindquarters bunched underneath him and he leapt like a stag over the massive obstacle.
Time seemed to slow as they arced through the air over the red and white blocks. In the crowd of spectators lining the ring, Corinne glimpsed Mandy's flame-red pigtail and Sonya's milk-white face. A few yards away stood Phemie, with her grey hair stuck out at untidy angles—and Corinne's mother standing quietly beside her. She made it!
And then they had landed. Time returned to normal as Ghost streaked over the blue and white rails and then through the finish.
"Number sixty-eight finishes the jump-off in forty-two seconds," boomed a voice over the tannoy, "and it's a win in the Novice show-jumping for Corinne MacArthur and Ghost!"
We won? Corinne looked across at the steward for confirmation and got a thumbs-up. "We won!" she told Ghost, and threw her arms around his neck. Even better that Mother had been there to see their success!
CHAPTER 14
BUT CORINNE'S JOY was short-lived. Only moments after she came out of the ring with Ghost proudly sporting a red rosette clipped to his bridle, the Steward pulled her aside and asked her to speak to the Show Secretary, a jowly red-faced man in a tweed hat.
"Ahem," the man's ruddy cheeks wobbled as he cleared his throat. "Miss MacArthur, there's been a complaint that you jumped without a helmet on. Is this correct?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"So it's true." His eyes hardened. "I'm afraid we will have to disqualify you."
Corinne's face fell. "Just because of that one jump? In the first round?"
"Yes." His mouth in a line, he moved to Ghost's head. "I'll need to take the rosette to give to the boy who was second."
As the Secretary lumbered away with the precious rosette, the Steward stepped to Ghost's shoulder and glanced up at Corinne, a flash of something like sympathy in her eyes.
"Don't be too upset. You did well," she said.
"Thanks," Corinne chewed her lip, hoping she wouldn't embarrass herself by crying in front of the official. After all, it was only a red polyester ribbon stuck to a piece of card.
>
The Steward turned back towards the ring, then stopped. "We're still taking entries for the Chase-Me-Charlie, you know." She nodded her head at Ghost. "I think he'd do well at that."
-::-
It turned out that Mandy and Sonya were also entered into the Chase-Me-Charlie, and Mandy was effusive in encouraging Corinne to join them. "It's great fun," she said as she pulled on her brown show jacket. "And great if you're a bit nervous about jumping high—the adrenaline makes you brave."
I think I already used up my share of bravery in the Novice class this morning. Corinne patted Ghost's shoulder, trying to think of a reason to back out that wouldn't get her subjected to ridicule by the other girls.
Mother had been standing quietly beside the lorry, but now she addressed Mandy. "What's involved in the Charlie class?"
Sonya sniggered in the background, but Mandy gave her a dirty look and explained patiently, "You all take turns at jumping a jump, and it goes higher until there's only one person left. It's a good laugh."
Corinne swallowed. "It—it sounds good, but I haven't got enough money with me for the entry fee."
"Don't worry, dear." Mother held up her purse. "I'll pay the entry fee for you, and meet you at the ring."
Feeling cornered again, Corinne politely smiled her thanks. But she did trust Ghost, and Mandy had made it sound enjoyable. It'll be okay. We'll be okay.
CHAPTER 15
TWELVE OF THEM were contesting the Chase-Me-Charlie—Corinne, Sonya and Mandy, the blonde girl and lanky guy from the Novice class, and a handful of others.
Corinne's heart sank when she saw that it was the wall they would be jumping.
But it started small—tiny, in fact; just one layer of blocks high, in between two tall pillars.
Circling around the outside of the ring, the riders approached the obstacle one at a time, and when it was their turn, Ghost trotted over it as if it wasn't even there.
A little higher, and a black and white pony was the first to stop in front of the jump, his rider's heels flailing uselessly against his side.
When the next layer of bricks was added, Mandy's horse, Jasper, hesitated briefly, but a quick tap with her whip convinced him to go over. Sonya's horse, Maestro, was as tidy and self-contained as his owner, popping over with his hooves tucked daintily underneath him.
The wall was still smaller than they'd jumped in the Novice class, so Corinne had no issues getting over it.
But another couple of entrants had refusals—a rather plump girl in a bright red jacket tumbling off as her pony swerved to the side rather than jump the obstacle.
When it got to one metre high, the wall looked about the height Corinne had already jumped. However, Mandy's Jasper decided that it was too high for him; skidding to a halt in front of it, leaving long muddy welts in the grass.
The blonde girl's roan pony was looking tired by this point, and although he jumped, his forefeet knocked the top layer of blocks out, making them one of four eliminated this round and leaving just six competitors in the ring.
Next time around, nobody had any faults, and they were all eyeing each other nervously as the organisers added another layer to the wall. It was starting to get close to the height of the pillars.
The lanky boy was first to go, and with a slap of his stick on his brown horse's shoulder, it sailed over. The next two stopped, and Corinne's heart was in her mouth as she pointed Ghost at the wall. This time it was definitely bigger than they'd jumped in the Novice.
A few strides out, she realised that their approach was wrong and they were either going to arrive too close or too far away. But Ghost must have worked this out as well, and cleverly put in a short half-stride just before they took off—still too close, but not impossibly so. Rather than arcing cleanly over the jump, this time he ascended almost vertically, flicked his heels in the air to clear the top, and then descended just as steeply. Corinne instinctively sat back and slipped the reins to give Ghost room to balance himself on landing.
As they cantered away from the jump, she looked over her shoulder. Somehow, all the blocks were still up! But her momentary exultation was quickly followed by the realisation that the jump would be even higher next round. Butterflies started twirling in her stomach.
Now it was Sonya's turn, spurs digging into her horse's side and whip flailing so that Maestro had no option but to jump.
The final competitor knocked bricks out, so it was just Corinne, Sonya and the lanky boy left.
The boy went clear again, and Corinne took a deep breath before urging Ghost towards the jump. Could she really jump that high? The butterflies were dancing polkas now, but Ghost didn't seem fazed. His eyes locked on to the jump and with a powerful spring, they were sailing through the air, that slow-motion thing happening again so she felt like she was riding Pegasus rather than an amazing grey horse. Clear!
Sonya's spurs and whip weren't enough this time, and Maestro spun out, depositing her unceremoniously on the grass and cantering away with his tail in the air. Picking herself up, she stalked furiously after her horse, who had joined Mandy and Jasper near the entrance.
Corinne decided to ignore that drama, and concentrated instead on the next round and the wall, which was now the same height as the pillars. When they'd been flying over it last time, all her butterflies had suddenly disappeared. It was like Ghost had magically transmuted some of his confidence, and instead of trepidation, she felt only determination. Pushing her hat down, she checked the clip. I'm not having it fall off again.
This time, the boy on the dark brown horse knocked a brick out of the wall. So if Ghost left it standing, they'd win. No pressure, she thought, as she turned Ghost towards the wall for the last time. Sitting quietly, she concentrated on moving with him, so as not to disturb his balance, and it seemed to work. He hung in the air even longer this time, but he went clear. After he landed, he flicked his heels in a jubilant buck, which made Corinne laugh as she slowed him back to a walk.
"A marvellous final jump for Corinne MacArthur and Ghost to win the Chase-Me-Charlie!" announced the loudspeakers, and a cheer went up from the crowd of spectators. Corinne's grin spread from ear to ear, and got even wider when she realised that they'd won not only a red rosette, but also a large silver trophy.
Mandy came running over as they left the ring, patting Ghost excitedly on the shoulder. "Well done!" she said, "He's amazing!"
"I know!" Corinne couldn't seem to stop smiling. Ghost really was wonderful. He couldn't replace Midnight—they were both very different—but he jumped so well and gave her such a feeling of confidence, she was sure they'd have an amazing future together.
"Congratulations, darling!" Mother came over, followed by Sonya's father, but there was no sign of Sonya.
Mandy seemed to realise that her friend's absence had been noted. "Sonya's taken our horses back to the lorry. But she says 'congratulations'."
Yeah, right, thought Corinne. There may have been a temporary truce this morning, but she had a feeling that being beaten in the jumping would've ruffled the other girl's feathers. The drive back to the farm would be interesting.
-::-
Phemie sat awkwardly on the leather-cushioned bench seats in the 'living' part of Sonya's lorry, wishing she hadn't accepted Mr Tavish's offer of a lift back to the farm. It might be luxurious as far as horseboxes went, but with every pothole they went over or corner they turned, she was bounced around like a jack-in-the-box. Sonya's father needs a lesson in how to drive with livestock in the back. If he carried on like that, the horses would start refusing to load.
Perhaps she should speak to the Bank Manager about a loan to buy a lorry, and start offering transport to shows, like the English farmer Corinne had mentioned? There were bound to be other liveries as well as Corinne who would take the chance of an outing with their horse.
Across from her, Corinne clutched her silver trophy, her face wearing the remains of a delighted grin. But you could cut the atmosphere in the front of the lorry with a kn
ife.
Sonya sat in the centre seat, silently fuming, grass-stained jodhpurs telling the story of her day. At either side of her, Mandy and her father stared wordlessly ahead. The couple of remarks Mandy had tried to make had provoked a furious reaction, and Mr Tavish obviously knew from long experience that silence was golden.
Phemie kept her voice low, so only Corinne would hear. "Eh, Corinne, I've been thinking. I might get a lorry like yon farmer in England. D'you think the liveries would pay for trips to shows? Or the beach?" she added as an afterthought.
Corinne's face lit up. "Yes! There's no point in me getting a trailer until I can drive—Dad's away with work all the time, and Mum has to go to the university at weekends for her experiments. I'm sure some of the others would go in your lorry as well." Her gaze drifted to the red-haired girl sitting by the lorry's door, visible via the cut-through opening to the lorry's cab. "Mandy might, too," she whispered.
"Hmmm." Mandy's show of friendliness today had rung hollow to Phemie, but she wasn't sure if Corinne was experienced enough to discern that. Being the newcomer from England, she was probably glad to see any friendly face, no matter how genuine. Or otherwise.
Gripping the edges of the seat as they negotiated a particularly tight corner, Phemie contemplated the teenagers in the front of the lorry. I'll need to keep an eye on those two.
CHAPTER 16
HIS STEPS HEAVY, Elphin made his way down the mountain. Like an albino shadow, the red-eyed wolf followed two paces behind. After the events of yesterday, Cailleach had placed an enchanted crystal on its forehead, which would relay images back to her cave. 'Until I can trust you again', she had said.
Elphin used to enjoy his foraging trips, and the chance to escape for a few hours from the crone's malignant presence. But what little joy he had derived from his work would be tainted now, and any friends he met—from the tuneful birds to his beautiful Corinne—would be spied on by the blue witch. I will have to be especially careful about what I do, and who I speak to, he decided.