Moonlight: Star of the Show

by Belinda Rapley

  “I, we, my friends and I, we think we may have something you might like to see.”

  Poppy looked puzzled but followed Alice back through the crowds. They stopped near Mark’s horsebox. Only it was obvious at once that things weren’t going according to plan, and Alice edged closer so that she could hear what they were saying. She had expected to walk over just in time to hear Mia declare her code word, see Rosie toss the water and Moonlight reappear right before Poppy’s eyes.

  Instead, Mia was looking cross and harassed while Mark was standing with one hand on his hip. In the other he was holding a lead rope, and at the end of that lead rope stood an exquisite pony. An exquisite white pony. Not only did this pony have one white back leg, it had three other white ones as well. Alice knew at once that no amount of soapy water could possibly transform this particular pony from white to white-with-lots-of-black-patches.

  Mark’s new pony was not Moonlight. Mark was not guilty as charged, and they’d nabbed the wrong culprit. But Mia seemed determined to ignore the glaringly obvious flaw in their case and desperately reeled off the clues from her notebook. When she had finished, Mark’s lips curled into a nasty smile.

  “So, you’re the one who’s been poking her nose into other people’s business, are you? Harry told me and Dad all about you. Well, if you must know, this is the pony we’ve had our eye on; this is the proven winner Harry arranged for Dad to buy from a top showing contact of his at great cost, specially for this show.” Mark turned and looked at his white pony smugly. “I wanted to keep Cloud Nine secret until today so that when I rode into that ring everyone would be totally wowed by him. I didn’t want anyone to get wind of it beforehand, especially not the judge. This way we get maximum impact. I got fed up of losing in the jumping, and Ridden Show Pony seems like the easiest class in the world to win, so I reckon I’ve got this one stitched up. All I have to do is ride a few silly circles and the first prize will be mine. I’m not competing in the stupid Cup, so Poppy’s not my rival this year; you are. Prepare to be beaten, Miss Busy Body.”

  Mia’s mouth dropped open.

  “But showing’s not just about having the fanciest pony with the best conformation, you know,” she pointed out furiously, feeling personally insulted by Mark’s take on her and Wish’s favourite class. “You need serious riding skills, too, to be able to school your pony to perfection. And you’ve got to be in harmony so that you can show off your pony’s best bits, as well as looking totally, utterly smart, of course.”

  Mia shook her head. She was aware that other riders were starting to gather, pausing on their way past, listening in to their argument, but she didn’t care. She narrowed her eyes. “We may not have got all our facts right, but there’s one thing we were right about, and that’s you, Mark. Whichever way you look at it, you’re nothing but a cheat!”

  At that moment, hearing the code word, Rosie charged round the corner of the box. She tripped on a clump of grass and, as she fell to the earth, flung the water bucket for all she was worth. Cloud Nine dodged to one side, and Mia ducked to the other. Taken by surprise, Mark didn’t do either. He stayed exactly where he was. The water hit him full in the face, and he stood there, his smart showing jacket and jodhpurs drenched. Mark was speechless, spluttering in disbelief, as the watching group of riders gasped then started to giggle. Mia hadn’t even meant to say the code word, but she’d blurted it out without thinking after hearing what he’d done. She held her hand to her mouth for a second before Rosie grabbed her, and they turned tail and ran, laughing like hyenas. At that moment Mark’s dad walked around the horsebox, stopping in his tracks and looking furious that the pony he’d just bought at great expense to ensure victory was about to be ridden by a totally sodden rider.

  “What happened here?” he asked, gobsmacked, as the little crowd dispersed.

  “Isn’t that obvious?!” Mark snapped, flinging the reins at his dad and stomping off towards the cab, dripping and squelching with every step.

  Poppy turned to Alice. She’d been so transfixed by the unexpected turn of events that she’d almost forgotten Poppy was standing next to her.

  “Is this what you wanted me to see? A water fight?” Poppy said. Alice opened her mouth to say something but she couldn’t think what and closed it again. Poppy must have thought they were a bunch of halfwits.

  But Poppy’s pale face suddenly broke into a cheerful smile. “You’ve just made a very difficult day a teeny bit more cheerful,” she beamed. “You know, last year Mark Tickle wouldn’t even congratulate me on winning as we were lined up, he was so furious. I reckon he’s got his just deserts for being so competitive! Thanks!”

  With that, Poppy walked back to the tea tent to find her mum and wait for the Cup to start. As Alice joined the others, she was relieved that she hadn’t told Poppy about them finding Moonlight. It would have been agonising for her to think he’d been found, only to have her hopes dashed the moment they’d been raised. After their burst of laughter, the others were now all looking as glum as Alice felt.

  “Back to square one,” Charlie said despondently.

  “And not a single clue to help us,” Mia said, studying her notebook.

  “It’s not as easy finding stolen ponies as we thought,” Alice said, twiddling her pony tail absently. “I haven’t the foggiest where we go from here – has anyone else?”

  Mia sighed. “I’m not sure there is anywhere to go from here.”

  “Good shot of mine with the water, though,” Rosie said proudly.

  “Anyway, you better get warmed up,” Charlie suddenly said, handing Mia Wish’s reins. “You’re running late – you’ll be called into the ring soon.”

  Mia flipped shut her notebook and handed it to Charlie with a sigh before tightening Wish’s girth and jumping into the saddle. The girls wished her luck as she trotted her pony over to the warm-up area. They knew Mia had left herself short of time to prepare, something she’d never done before, but for once winning was not Mia’s top priority.

  The other three headed over to a large ring near the far side of the field. There was a huge horse chestnut tree just beside it, and they gratefully slumped down in the shade waiting for Mia and her fellow competitors to be called in together. Their ponies grazed contentedly, raising their heads every once in a while to look out over the showground.

  They didn’t have to wait long before Mia rode into the ring with another nine ponies following her. They started off by walking, trotting and cantering in a group, then all lined up in the centre of the ring. The judge walked up to each of them in turn and inspected them, then sent them out for their individual shows. The girls watched silently as Wish moved effortlessly and gracefully around the ring, her neck rounded and her toes flicking out with each step. She captivated the scattered crowd in her electric pink velvet browband, which matched Mia’s tie. It didn’t matter that Mia had been a bit rushed in her preparation – she still looked perfect and rode supremely, with Wish looking as stunning as ever.

  They held their breath as Mark began his individual show on his newly purchased, top-level show pony, Cloud Nine. As the pony moved, it was as if his hooves floated above the ground. But Mark had a face like thunder. He sullenly kicked and pulled Cloud Nine about during his individual show and the pony, used to more delicate handling, showed his resentment with a few well-timed bucks and shakes of his head. Not only that, but Mark was still drying out from the soaking Rosie had given him earlier; his leather boots looked dull and unpolished and his red tie had drooped. He was not amused. Nor was the judge as she got the ponies lined back up again.

  She stopped in front of Mia and had a few words. Then the judge moved on and halted in front of Mark. Even from where the girls were standing they could hear the judge’s high-pitched voice floating across on the warm air.

  “Absolute disgrace. What have you been doing? Apple bobbing? This is supposed to be a serious show, you know. You’ve let this wonderful pony, which looks awfully familiar to me, down thoroughly, and
for absolutely no reason that I can fathom.”

  The judge walked to the next pony, a pretty bright bay, and spent some time praising pony and rider highly. Then the judge called Mia out first ahead of the pretty bay, with a furious Mark unplaced.

  As Mia received her red rosette, Mark stomped out and the girls jumped up, cheering loudly. They rushed forward to congratulate Mia, who leaned down to hug Wish warmly.

  “At least one thing’s gone according to plan today,” Charlie said as the tannoy crackled into life.

  “Can all the riders for our final class of the day, the Fratton Cup, please make their way to the main ring to walk the course.”

  Alice remembered the Cup again with a jolt, and went from being filled with happiness for Mia to being filled with a gazillion butterflies. Her stomach flipped as she and Rosie handed their reins to Charlie and Mia. With knocking knees, she made her way to the ring on foot.

  Rosie kept looking out for plants by the fences that Dancer might take a fancy to, distracting Alice so much that she forgot whether it was a right or a left turn after the planks and whether the triple bar followed the double or the oxer, making her more nervous than ever. As other riders walked purposefully past her – including Tallulah Starr, loudly counting out her strides – Alice panicked, thinking she’d never remember the course.

  She strode out the distances between fences, imagining Scout’s canter stride in her mind. As she walked the path she’d soon be riding, her heart raced faster and faster. Up close, the fences looked solid, tall and wide. Most of them were three feet high, and the triple bar, the last fence, was over three feet wide. She felt as if she must be turning green as they headed back out to the others, and was sure she’d forget which course to take and let Scout down.

  Rosie was the first to go. Charlie gave her a leg-up into the saddle and Dancer’s ears flopped out sideways, her eyes goggling.

  “Good luck!” Charlie called out as Rosie flapped around, trying to get Dancer towards the warmup ring. “See you when you get back.”

  “I doubt I’ll be gone long,” Rosie reasoned. “Dancer doesn’t feel in a going mood today, so I don’t think we’ll get far round the course.”

  Alice was one of the last in, and much as she wanted to put off the moment as long as possible, she secretly envied the fact that Rosie would soon have her round over and done with.

  The others gave the ponies a drink of water each from Rosie’s bucket, which had been thoroughly rinsed out, then went over to the ring to watch Rosie jump.

  “Rosie Honeycott, riding Dancer,” the judge announced as Rosie entered.

  Dancer’s plaits had started to come undone, and the strawberry roan mare cantered towards the first fence, a brush, very suspiciously, and ground to a halt in front of it. The others all groaned. Rosie turned Dancer, shook her up and, shouting encouragement, trotted back to the fence, and this time the mare heaved herself over. After that, Dancer seemed to take heart and jumped the next three fences almost on the move, but she ground to a halt at the gate before cat-leaping over and refusing to have anything to do with the double that followed. The claxon sounded.

  “Rosie Honeycott and Dancer are eliminated,” the judge announced.

  Rosie rode out beaming.

  “What are you looking so happy for? You only made it to fence six!” Mia pointed out, wondering how anyone could be so delighted with such a performance.

  “But that’s five more than last year! At this rate we might have a hope of reaching the last fence next time! That’s serious progression!” Rosie exclaimed, showering Dancer with pats and kisses as Tallulah Starr cantered past into the ring on one of her many grey ponies, Diamond Starr. As Rosie slid out of the saddle, the puffing mare gobbled up the mints Rosie had brought with her.

  Rosie, Charlie and Mia looked towards Alice.

  “You better start getting ready,” Mia said. “It’ll be your turn soon.”

  Alice gulped, loudly.

  ALICE felt herself go pale and weak as she mounted. She patted Scout and rode off by herself. Quietly, she warmed Scout up in trot and canter. His ears kept flickering back, as if he could tell that she was nervous and wanted to check she was okay. When they were both ready to go over a practice fence, Alice heard a loud voice barking orders.

  She looked up after checking her girth and saw Daisy ride past, closely followed by a glowering Major Thurlow. Alice frowned. Daisy was the last to go in the class, but she’d left herself hardly any time to warm Shadow up. Alice was about to call out hello when the Major glared at her.

  “No distractions today, young lady. I don’t want my daughter falling off because of you again,” he growled, before turning his attention back to Daisy. “Now, don’t fuss that pony about, bring him over a fence, let him know you mean business!”

  Daisy looked thoroughly miserable, cantering away lopsidedly around the practice ring. She turned Shadow towards the warm-up fence, but her reins were so baggy that the pony ran past the poles without even attempting to jump. Daisy just about managed to cling on, but the Major roared at her to try again.

  Turning her concentration back to Scout, Alice trotted over the cross pole a couple of times. She completely failed to see a stride first time but Scout popped over, waiting for her to catch up with him. After the fence had been put up to a decent upright, Alice rode over a couple more times. With her hands still shaking and her legs as useless as jelly, she rode towards the exit of the warm-up area. Daisy looked over as Alice headed out.

  “Good luck!” Alice called, giving her an encouraging smile. Daisy looked as if she was about to say something, but the Major was by her side in a shot and she looked away again.

  As Alice, her teeth chattering, waited just outside the ring to be called, Rosie announced that there had been no clear rounds so far, not even by Tallulah Starr. “That means if you can go clear, Alice, you’ll win. You’ve only got Daisy behind you, and there’s no way she’ll leave everything up. She probably won’t even remember the course. You can do it!”

  “Break a leg!” Mia said.

  Alice groaned.

  “I can’t do it,” she whispered faintly. “I can’t go in! If there are no clears yet the course must be awful!”

  Charlie stepped up, her face stern as she pushed her hat back on her head to look at Alice properly.

  “Alice, you have faced the wrath of Harry Franklin, you went back to his yard, alone and unaided. If you can do that, if you can hide in the back of a stable in the line of duty, not knowing whether you’re going to escape with your life, you can jump a course of piddly show jumps.”

  “Quick, the judge has called your name three times!” Rosie cried. “You better get going if you’re still going to jump!”

  As the judge called out their names a final time, and with Charlie’s rallying cry rattling in her ears, Alice pressed Scout forward into canter and they entered the ring. Alice saw Poppy look up at her and smile as she rode past. It hit Alice then that at least she had a pony to jump. She had to do this, for Poppy, for Moonlight and for Scout.

  Alice took a huge, deep breath and waited for the bell to ring. As soon as it sounded, Alice cantered an arc and headed towards the brush fence. Charlie was right, Alice thought, facing Harry was more frightening than this.

  She pushed on strongly, suddenly filled with an extraordinary zest and as a result over-jumped the brush fence and nearly shot straight past the second, the gate. But Scout saw it just in time and twisted over it, tucking his hooves up, desperate not to touch it.

  With her newfound confidence they were gaining speed with every stride, and they jumped over the first part of the double too big, landing close to the second part, but Scout was clever and took a half stride before flying out over the parallel.

  After that Alice started to calm down. Scout’s ears were pricked, looking for each new fence but flickering back as she asked him to turn left and right through the twisty course. He soared over each fence, bunching up and popping over the trick
y planks and stretching his neck low over the wider spreads. As they flew over the wall only the huge, wide triple bar stood between them and a clear round, between Alice and the Fratton Cup.

  Scout thundered up to it. Everything in the ring fell silent except the beat of his hooves on the dry grass. Alice kept her legs on her pony’s sides and her hands soft; Scout met it perfectly and launched into the air. He snapped his hooves up and dropped his neck, arcing beautifully. Alice crouched low over Scout, just out of the saddle, and it felt as if they were suspended in the air for hours, reaching for the distant back pole that seemed impossibly far away.

  Alice heard a clout and the crowd gasped. Then they were plunging down to earth again. Scout pitched slightly on landing and Alice shot up his neck, seeing the grass coming up towards her for a moment before getting her balance and sitting back in the saddle as the crowd burst into wild cheers and applause. Alice twisted round – the back pole was rocking slightly, but it stayed up! They’d gone clear!

  Alice patted Scout wildly, praising him aloud as they shot out of the ring at a rapid trot. She felt herself going bright pink as the relief hit her, along with Charlie and Rosie as they congratulated her heartily. Mia’s face broke into a broad smile. Suddenly Alice felt that she had conquered the world, and it was the best feeling she’d ever had.

  As Daisy waited alongside them to ride into the ring, looking pale green with worried eyes, Charlie said, “Of course, what I said before you went in about you being a hero and all that, well it was only partly true. I mean, you may have performed heroics while trying to locate a stolen pony, but you still failed. Like the rest of us. But if it helped get you round…”

  Alice threw her stick at Charlie. She was only joking, but Alice looked across and saw Poppy watching Scout and felt the failure of the case even more, despite the elation that was flooding through her. Suddenly it felt like the lead weight was sitting in her stomach again. Imagine losing Scout after he put in that round, after winning a class like the Fratton Cup.