Riding Holiday

by Michelle Bates

  “Hey you kids – you can’t go down there,” the security guard called after them, but there was no stopping Izzy and Kate. On and on they ran until they were at the stables. There were some surprised faces, and some cross ones too as Izzy and Kate swerved through the oncoming horses.

  “There’s Sally,” Izzy panted.

  “Sally...Sally,” Kate cried.

  “What in the world...”

  “There isn’t time,” Izzy cried. “Where’s Seattle?”

  “She’s in that box there,” Sally said. “Paula’s with her – what is this?”

  Izzy and Kate didn’t stop to answer her. As they reached Seattle’s box they drew to a halt and looked inside. There, they saw their friend, looking strangely sinister under the light of a bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling. She was holding something up to the light – a syringe full of a pale liquid.

  “Paula! Paula, stop,” Izzy cried out as she drew back the bolt to the stable.

  “Izzy...Kate...what are you doing here?” And now that Paula was talking and smiling, she didn’t look sinister any more. She looked the way she usually did – relaxed and friendly.

  “What’s that in your hand?” Izzy stepped into the box.

  “Hand?” Paula looked surprised and laughed.

  “Yes, behind your back,” Izzy said.

  “I don’t have anything behind my back...”

  “We’re not falling for your pathetic story, Paula,” Izzy said angrily. “You’ve got a syringe, haven’t you? You’ve been using us. You’ve been totally leading us up the garden path – all that nonsense about Ted being involved.”

  And now, as Izzy looked at Paula, she could see no warmth in her eyes – no kindness at all. It was as though she was a completely different person from the one they’d known.

  “You were going to give Seattle something, weren’t you?” Kate joined in.

  “So you think you’re going to stop me, do you?” Paula said coldly. “Nobody’s going to stop me.” She raised the syringe.

  “Drop that, Paula.” Sally’s shocked face appeared at the door to the stable. Carefully, she walked through the middle of Izzy and Kate and into the box. Courtney and Megan stood behind her in the doorway.

  Seattle Surprise lashed out with her hindlegs against the rear of the box, but Paula didn’t move a muscle. “Drop that, Paula.” She imitated Sally’s voice. “I’m not dropping anything – not for anyone...”

  Paula’s arm lunged forward to stab Seattle when, just at that moment, Courtney flung herself forward, knocking the syringe flying. Seattle started back, and there was a scuffle as the syringe fell and Courtney stamped it underfoot.

  Paula stared at her in disbelief, and then back at the syringe.

  “You...you’ve ruined everything,” she said, crumbling to the floor. And now, as she buried her head in her hands, all they could hear were the racking sobs coming from her body.

  Izzy looked at Sally, calming Seattle. It had all happened so quickly.

  “It’s all right, girls,” she said. “I called security as soon as I saw there was a problem. They’ll be here in a minute.”

  And, at that moment, two men appeared. “This girl has just tried to dope my horse,” Sally said.

  The men stepped forward and grabbed Paula’s hands. Izzy would never forget the crumpled look on her face as she was led out of the stables...

  The gates slammed open and the horses were away for the running of the Gresham Maiden Stakes.

  Speeding cleanly out of the stalls, Seattle Surprise jostled with the other horses until finally she settled mid-field on the rails. Izzy tuned in to what the commentator was saying.

  “And it’s Silver Dollar who’s kicked clear of the pack by two lengths. Racing quickly in the red is Sprightly Lad, Night Clown is tucked in behind these in third, and then Seattle Surprise is on the rails in fourth.” Then there was a stream of names that Izzy didn’t listen to.

  “She’s sitting nicely.” Izzy heard Courtney murmur as the horses raced through the clubhouse turn.

  Izzy looked at Sally. Her knuckles were as white as chalk as she gripped the sides of her binoculars. Silver Dollar was setting a cracking pace, stretching the pack out, but Seattle wasn’t far off the lead.

  “Now they’re through the first furlong,” the commentator announced. “Serendipity is the back marker of the field. But it’s Silver Dollar who’s increased his margin to three lengths from Sprightly Lad.”

  “Don’t let them run away with you, Seattle.” Izzy sounded worried.

  “And it’s Silver Dollar on the inside, Sprightly Lad in second and Night Clown is back in third,” the commentator called. “Seattle Surprise is in fourth, and coming very fast in the pink sleeves is River Boy and then it’s half a length back to Field of Dreams. They’re racing very quickly now. Making headway is Seattle Surprise.”

  “Come on, Seattle,” Izzy cried excitedly as she listened to the commentary.

  “It’s still Silver Dollar, half a length back is Sprightly Lad. Night Clown has dropped away now, and Seattle Surprise chases along in third. Moving up on the outside are River Boy and Field of Dreams.”

  “Don’t get boxed in,” Kate murmured in dismay as she realized the race was nearing the end and that there were two horses closing up on Seattle’s outside.

  “It’s Silver Dollar and Sprightly Lad who have been joined by River Boy. Field of Dreams is on the outside of these and Seattle Surprise is trying to find an opening, but there’s nowhere for her to go...”

  The horses ran around the far turn.

  “Come on, Seattle,” Courtney murmured. “You can find a way through.”

  The crowd started cheering and Izzy gripped Kate’s shoulder as she watched the little grey mare fighting for her ground. There could only be some three furlongs left. Izzy grimaced. It looked an impossible task. She wasn’t going to do it.

  “And now Seattle Surprise is pulling wide,” the commentator called. “Field of Dreams has dropped away and Seattle Surprise is moving up into third – she’s only some three lengths off the lead. And it’s Sprightly Lad and Silver Dollar, racing neck and neck, with Seattle Surprise coming up to challenge them.”

  The four girls could hardly bear to watch. Seattle was quickening all the time but the winning line was getting closer and closer.

  “Sprightly Lad still has the edge, but Silver Dollar is fading, and it’s Seattle Surprise who challenges his lead. These two have settled down to fight it out.”

  “Come on Seattle...come on...” And now Izzy and Kate were jumping up and down.

  “And what a remarkable recovery – it’s Seattle Surprise and Sprightly Lad, racing neck and neck...too close to call! Stand by for the photo!” The horses flashed past the winning post and the infield board flashed up – photo.

  “Do you think she got it?” Izzy and Kate said excitedly. They turned around, but Sally had already disappeared. Courtney and Megan stood there, looking worried.

  “Did she get it?” Courtney said.

  “I’m not sure now.” Izzy felt nervous. “But did you see the way she found that extra spurt of speed to catch the leaders? She came from nowhere.”

  The girls tore across the grass to the winner’s enclosure to watch Seattle Surprise being led off the track. Seattle’s flanks were glistening with sweat, but her ears were pricked. And then the results of the photograph were announced:

  “Number 10, Seattle Surprise...”

  Izzy and Kate didn’t listen to the rest. They could hardly hear themselves speak as they jumped up and down, whooping with delight. They turned to Courtney and Megan, who looked ecstatic as they all linked arms, jumping up and down together.

  “One thing’s for sure this time,” Izzy grinned. “There’s not going to be any problems when the results of that test come back. Now come on, let’s celebrate!”

  18

  ALL IS REVEALED

  “To think that we came so close to losing it all...” Doug Bryant stood look
ing out over the paddocks at Graytops. He was a tall man with an open face and russet-red hair. “It’s good to be back,” he murmured, taking it all in. The corners of his mouth creased into a smile as he watched the yearlings chasing each other into play.

  “And everything’s going to be all right now, Doug.” Sally walked over to join her husband and rested her hand on his shoulder.

  Izzy and Kate didn’t know what to say. It had only been yesterday that Seattle had won her race and Paula had confessed to everything, and yet already it felt like an eternity ago.

  “You know, I never imagined for a moment that Paula could be behind it all,” Sally deliberated, shielding her eyes from the sun. “She was always a bit strange – all of those tall stories she used to tell – but to try to ruin us...”

  “I don’t think any of us could have imagined what she was up to.” Doug breathed in slowly. “How could we have known what deep-rooted hatred she was harbouring towards our family? I would never have guessed who her father was.”

  “No, neither would I.” Sally looked thoughtful. “She doesn’t even look like him and I certainly wouldn’t have recognized her from the days her father was our stable manager. She was only a small kid back then.”

  Courtney and Megan moved closer to their parents, waiting for an explanation.

  “We couldn’t have done anything but fire Hal,” Doug shrugged. “Not when we found out how much he was stealing from us. A more rational person wouldn’t have held us responsible for him starting to drink, but then I suppose it did cause the break-up of Paula’s parents’ marriage, and then when her younger sister was killed in that terrible car crash – well, I guess she needed someone to blame. I have to say I do feel pretty sorry for her – she hasn’t exactly been been given the easiest of lives...”

  “Sorry?” Courtney and Megan looked surprised, while Izzy and Kate looked aghast. “How can you feel sorry for Paula after everything she’s done? The way she tried to dope the horses – even breaking and entering Graytops at night!”

  “Paula’s obviously not well,” Doug said firmly. “And hopefully she should get some sort of psychiatric help now. All I want is for Graytops to get back to normal and now that everyone knows I wasn’t doping the horses and my suspension’s been lifted, it shouldn’t take us long. We could find we have a very busy future ahead of us. And it’s all thanks to Izzy and Kate here that we even have that future.”

  Izzy and Kate squirmed uncomfortably. Neither of them had told the Bryants the full extent of their involvement with Paula. If they didn’t come clean now, then they never would.

  “Um, well, look...Doug and Sally. Actually, we’ve got a little confession to make.” Izzy looked across at Kate, and Kate nodded. “We hate to admit it, but we really liked Paula. We didn’t have any idea she could be behind it until the last minute.” Izzy took a sideways glance at Sally, waiting for reassurance. “As you know, we thought it was Ted.” It was all out in the open now...there was no going back.

  “Me?” It was Ted’s turn to look surprised.

  “But only because that’s what Paula wanted us to believe,” Izzy added hurriedly. “I know it sounds crazy but we thought you were working for Joe Hagan.”

  “Joe Hagan? But what’s he got to do with any of this?” Doug looked surprised.

  Kate looked embarrassed. “It just seemed too much of a coincidence to us that Joe Hagan’s horses came in second on both occasions-”

  “And then when we found out that Joe had Ted’s mobile number, it convinced us that he had to be the missing link – that Joe must be using Ted to do his dirty work for him.” Izzy looked sheepish. Even as she said it, she knew it sounded silly.

  Ted looked shocked. “But Joe’s just a friend – there wasn’t anything sinister about him having my mobile number.”

  “We know that now,” Kate said.

  “It does seem as though you put two and two together and came up with five.” Sally stepped in hastily to defuse the situation. “But luckily everything’s worked out for the best.”

  Izzy thought hard – there was something still bothering her – something niggling away at the back of her mind. But what was it? Of course – Ted’s telephone conversation. ‘I’ll fight you every step of the way... I can’t get you that kind of money...but that would kill her.’ What had that all been about? “Our suspicions weren’t totally without grounding though,” Izzy started tentatively. “You see, we did overhear this telephone conversation of Ted’s.”

  “You mean the telephone conversation when I caught you eavesdropping?” Ted said angrily.

  “Yes, but...but...” Izzy stammered.

  “Yes, well I was talking to my ex-wife,” Ted said. “The last couple of months haven’t exactly been the easiest for me – what with the custody hearings for my daughter and everything – my wife wanted to take her to New York State to live.”

  “Oh...” Izzy and Kate didn’t know what to say.

  “Still, it’s all right now,” Ted said gruffly. “My daughter’s staying.”

  “Your daughter’s staying?” Courtney and Megan cried excitedly.

  “Yeah,” Ted’s face relaxed. “My wife’s realized that Andrea needs her father too.”

  “We’re really sorry we suspected you,” Izzy said.

  “Well,” Ted hesitated. “I suppose I have been acting a little strangely since you girls got here, so let’s put it behind us.”

  Kate and Izzy looked at each other. It was the first time they’d seen Ted smile. It was hard to believe, looking at the changed man in front of them, that they’d ever really suspected him. How could they have been so stupid?

  “Everything that Paula did – it just doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?” Courtney said, shivering as she moved closer to her parents and slipped an arm around her mother’s waist.

  “Still, everything’s going to be just fine now.” Sally gave Courtney a hug and ruffled Megan’s hair. She turned to Izzy and Kate and smiled. “I’m sorry all this has been going on while you’ve been out here – it hasn’t been much of a vacation for you, has it?”

  “Oh, but we’ve had a good time, haven’t we, Kate?” Izzy said. “It’s certainly been – well, different anyway.”

  “You’ve been fantastic.” Doug stepped in. “I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work.”

  As the Bryant family stood together, Izzy and Kate felt a bit awkward. They didn’t know what to say.

  Courtney and Megan turned around and smiled at them.

  “You know we’ll miss you when you’re gone,” Courtney said. “It’ll be kind of quiet on the farm. Maybe you two could come back to stay at Graytops some other time?”

  “Yeah, well, you’d have to promise not to put us to work again!” Izzy laughed.

  “Of course,” Megan grinned. “But first things first – we’ve got a summer at Sandy Lane to look forward to next year.”

  “Yeah, and hopefully a quiet, restful one at that!” Courtney exclaimed.

  “Quiet?” Izzy laughed, slowly considering Courtney’s words. She supposed that anything would seem quiet after the goings-on at Graytops, but restful?

  “Yeah, restful,” Courtney teased. “That’s just what we’ll be looking for.”

  “Well, if that’s what you want, we’ll have to see what we can provide!” Izzy nudged Kate and muttered under her breath. “Don’t spoil the illusion for them!”

  More Sandy Lane Stables books

  There are nine Sandy Lane Stables stories, you can collect them all! Click on the titles to read a short extract from each story.

  1. A Horse for the Summer

  2. The Runaway Pony

  3. Strangers at the Stables

  4. The Midnight Horse

  5. Dream Pony

  6. Ride by Moonlight

  7. Horse in Danger

  8. The Perfect Pony

  9. Riding Holiday

  1. A Horse for the Summer

  by Michelle Bates

  There was
a frantic whinny and the sound of drumming hooves reverberated around the yard as Chancey pranced down the ramp. He was certainly on his toes, but he didn’t look like the sleek, well turned-out horse that Tom remembered seeing last season. He was still unclipped and his shabby winter coat was flecked with foam as feverishly he pawed the ground. No one knew what to say...

  Tom’s cousin has agreed to lend him Chancey, her stunning chestnut gelding, for the summer. But Tom’s elation turns to dismay when he sees the state Chancey is in. It will take a lot of hard work to get the horse ready for the summer shows, but Tom is determined...until Nick decides Chancey is too dangerous to ride. What is Tom going to do?

  2. The Runaway Pony

  by Susannah Leigh

  Angry shouting and the crunch of hooves on gravel made Jess spin around sharply. Careering towards her, wild-eyed with fear and long tail flying behind, was a palomino pony. It was completely out of control. Jess’s heart began to pound and her breath came in sharp gasps, but almost without thinking she held out her arms...

  When a runaway pony gallops into Sandy Lane, Jess doesn’t flinch. Thanks to her quick reactions, the beautiful palomino pony is caught. But the man chasing her isn’t all he seems. Soon, Jess is bitterly regretting her moment of heroism...

  3. Strangers at the Stables

  by Michelle Bates

  Thoughts jostled around in Rosie’s mind as she crossed the yard. She couldn’t believe how many things had gone wrong in the couple of weeks Nick and Sarah had been gone. She needed time to think. There was something worrying her, right at the back of her mind... something that held the key to it all. But what was it?

  When the owners of Sandy Lane are called away everyone still expects the stables to run smoothly in their absence. No one is quite prepared for all the things that happen over the next few weeks. There isn’t time to get help, the regulars of Sandy Lane have to act fast, if they want to save their stables...