Ride by Moonlight

by Michelle Bates

  “Go on,” he cried, urging his horse on. Effortlessly, they galloped across the grass, heading for the scrubland ahead. Charlie bent his head low to shield himself from the coastal wind as they crossed the fields.

  It wasn’t until they approached the overhang of Bucknell Woods that Charlie slowed Napoleon down to a trot. It was dark ahead of them, and for the first time, Charlie realized how difficult it was going to be to see his way through the thicket. Here, where the tops of the trees masked the moonlit sky, he couldn’t see a thing.

  He squinted, tentatively nudging Napoleon on. Which way should they take to get to the road? All of the paths looked identical.

  Charlie took a deep breath. The smell of pine clung in the air as he navigated a path through the trees, heading this way and that. Napoleon was sweating up, excited by the adventure, and he pulled at the reins. Surely they’d come this way only a minute ago. Charlie wasn’t sure. He felt as though his arms were being yanked out of their sockets. They were lost in the deepest depths of a wood, and Charlie didn’t know which way to turn.

  The night was very still. Suddenly, Charlie felt really scared as he listened for a sound in the distance...anything. And then they turned into a clearing and Charlie’s heart soared as the moonlight streamed through the trees. That was the sound of a car in the distance. They must be nearing the road.

  Charlie turned Napoleon down the path and nudged him on, almost sliding off his back as they broke into a trot. The beam from a car’s headlights flashed through the woods, almost blinding him. Charlie raised his arm to shield his eyes from the glow. They were at the road. Nudging Napoleon on, they crossed the road, the horse’s hooves echoing hollowly on the tarmac. Charlie’s eyes were beginning to stream with water as the wind bit into his face and they rode faster and faster along the grass verge.

  And slowly, surely, the cottages ahead of Charlie came into shape. They were shrouded in darkness, and whoever lived in them had obviously already gone to bed. Charlie stopped at the first one. He’d have to wake someone up.

  Quickly, Charlie turned to the gate and jumped to the ground. Taking care to tie Napoleon to the fence, he hurried up the path to the front door and knocked loudly. No answer. Charlie started to panic. He ran around the side and pressed his nose to the window, but he couldn’t see a thing. He ran back to the door and hammered his fists against it. For a moment, Charlie thought that no one was going to answer him. Then a dog started barking. That would wake someone up, surely?

  “Can you hear me?” Charlie shouted, banging furiously on the door. “Please answer.” And then a yellow light came on in the upstairs window.

  “Hurry, hurry,” he muttered under his breath. Charlie heard the rattle of a chain and a bolt was drawn back. The door opened just a fraction and an old lady looked out through the crack.

  “I’m not here to hurt you,” Charlie said quickly. “But could you phone for an ambulance for me? Please? It’s an emergency. I’ve come from Sandy Lane. The owner’s having a baby.”

  The old lady didn’t do anything, seeming not to understand Charlie’s words. A weighty silence hung in the air. “Please,” he begged.

  For a grim moment, Charlie thought that the woman was going to close the door on him...that his words were going to have no effect, but then something in his voice must have stirred her because the next thing he knew, the chain was sliding back from the door and she let him in.

  “You can use the phone,” she said, pointing to where it sat in the hallway.

  “Thank you, oh thank you,” Charlie breathed as he grabbed the receiver.

  “999...ambulance please.” He turned his attention to the voice at the other end.

  “Yes, I need an ambulance at Sandy Lane Stables...yes, Mrs. Brooks, the owner, has gone into labour. Yes, Sandy Lane, off the Bucknell Road.”

  Charlie felt relieved as he put the phone down. They were on their way.

  “I’m so sorry to have woken you,” he said to the old lady. “The phones at the stables haven’t been working all day and I’ve had to ride here.” Charlie gabbled the words out.

  “That’s all right.” The old lady seemed to have regained her composure and showed only concern now. “Would you like to sit down for a moment? Perhaps have a cup of tea?”

  “No, no, that’s quite all right, but thank you anyway.” Charlie was already halfway down the path. “I’ve got to get back to the stables,” he said as he stumbled over to Napoleon and gathered up the reins.

  He led the horse over to a clear spot to mount. “I don’t believe it – I rode here.” Charlie rubbed his forehead with his hands in disbelief, and suddenly the enormity of the whole situation dawned on him. He had managed to ride...actually ride.

  Quickly he sprang up onto Napoleon’s back. He paused for a fraction of a second before urging Napoleon on towards Sandy Lane.

  He didn’t fancy finding his way through those dark woods again, so he rode Napoleon down the quiet, moonlit road. It was a longer route, but help was on its way. Charlie nudged Napoleon into a trot. If it weren’t for the image of Sarah’s white, panic-stricken face in his mind, he might even have felt a little thrill of exhilaration. He was riding again!

  15

  A LONG WAIT

  Charlie pushed Napoleon on more quickly and they headed for the stables. The sound of the horse’s hooves on the road rang out clearly into the still of the night.

  Charlie felt numb as he adjusted his seat to the easy rise and fall of Napoleon’s trot. Riding was the easy part now. Not knowing what would be waiting for him when he got back was beginning to prey on his mind. He hoped that Sarah would be all right. As he made the last turn down the lane, he could see a blue flashing light hanging over the yard. He took a deep breath. The ambulance must be there – at least Sarah would be in safe hands. Quickly, Charlie turned up the driveway.

  He was greeted by a flurry of activity. For the first few moments no one seemed to notice him, but as he jumped down from Napoleon and led him into his box, one of the ambulance men called over.

  “Are you the boy who phoned?”

  “Yes, yes I am,” Charlie said, breathlessly. “I live here, I mean, I’m staying with the Brooks’ at the moment. Is Sarah going to be all right?”

  “She’ll be fine, but the baby’s on its way,” the man answered. “We’ve got to get her to the hospital fast. She’s been asking for her husband.”

  “He’s away on a training course at the moment,” Charlie said. “I’ll try and get hold of him and let him know what’s happened.”

  “If you could,” the man replied.

  “The phones are down here,” Charlie said. “Can I come with you?”

  “Yes, but hurry,” the ambulance man said. “We’re going.”

  “I’ll just get the number.” Charlie dashed into the cottage, grabbed the note from beside the phone, and locked the back door of the cottage. The instant he was in the ambulance, it was being driven out of the yard. Charlie looked at Sarah’s white face as he sat down, and she smiled.

  The ambulance drove speedily along the winding back roads. The blue light was flashing away as they passed through the surrounding villages, until they reached the outskirts of Colcott.

  “Not far now,” one of the ambulance men said reassuringly.

  As they pulled up outside the hospital, the blue light was still flashing away. Charlie stood to one side as Sarah was lowered to the ground on her trolley.

  “You’ll be all right,” he whispered.

  “Thanks,” Sarah said as they wheeled her away. “Could you try and get hold of Nick for me?” she asked.

  “Sure I’ll do that,” Charlie said.

  “Are you OK?” One of the nurses was walking over to him now. “You came in the ambulance, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” Charlie answered. “Yes I did.”

  “Well, Mrs. Brooks is going to the delivery room now. You can sit in the waiting room over there.”

  “OK,” Charlie started. “I need to
use the phone though.”

  But the nurse was off and out of earshot before he had a chance to explain that he needed to call Nick. Wearily, he took himself off in search of a phone. Heading down the nearest corridor, he came to a refreshments area. It was deserted, but there was a call box. Luckily he had the right coins in his pocket. He got out the piece of paper with Nick’s number on it. He hoped that someone would be awake.

  Impatiently, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he waited for a connection. The phone rang and rang. There must be someone there. They must answer eventually...surely. Then he heard a voice at the other end.

  “Yes, hello, do you know what time this is?” It came loud and clear.

  “I’m sorry. I need to talk to Nick Brooks,” he said. “It’s an emergency.”

  It was another few moments before Nick came to the phone.

  “Nick–” Charlie started.

  “Who’s that? What’s going on?”

  “It’s Charlie here... Sarah’s gone into labour. We’re at the hospital, but she’s asking for you.”

  There was silence from the other end, and Charlie began again. “I didn’t know what to do,” he babbled. “I didn’t know where to go – you see the phones were down at Sandy Lane, and I couldn’t get help any other way. I’d left my bike at Tom’s, so I had to ride... I had to ride–”

  “Look, I’ll be right with you. You’re at Colcott Hospital, are you?” Nick said. “It’s going to take me a few hours to get there. I’ll leave right now.”

  That wrapped up the conversation. Charlie put down the hand set, and wearily found his way back to the room the nurse had pointed out. Quietly he settled down in a chair to wait for news, and suddenly he realized how tired he was. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. His eyes felt heavy with sleep. Charlie let out a loud yawn. Try as he might, he couldn’t stay awake, and finally he allowed himself to succumb to tiredness. In no time at all, he had drifted off into sleep. In his dreams though, he was cantering through the fields on Napoleon’s back...this time not as if Sarah’s life depended on it, but for enjoyment – for pure pleasure. And, as Charlie rode on, the ground slipped away beneath him, and it was as though he and the horse had melted into one.

  16

  A NEW ADDITION

  “Charlie, Charlie, wake up.”

  Charlie rubbed his hand over his face and looked up to find Nick standing over him.

  “Where am I?” he asked, feeling strangely disorientated as he struggled to open his eyes. He looked from side to side, and then he saw that he was in the hospital, and suddenly he remembered everything.

  “How did you get here so quickly?” Charlie asked.

  “Not so quickly,” Nick laughed. “It took me three hours. You’ve been asleep.”

  “Have I?” Charlie looked puzzled. “I suppose I must have. I phoned you, then I went and sat down, and then...”

  “You must have dropped off,” Nick said, squeezing his shoulder. “It’s been a long and exhausting night for you – especially as you rode again. I don’t know quite what to say – except that if you hadn’t...if you hadn’t acted so quickly, well I don’t like to think what would have happened. I might not be a proud father for one.”

  “What?” Charlie sat up quickly. “The baby’s born?”

  Nick grinned.

  “Well go on,” Charlie said, excitedly. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Spill the beans. What is it?”

  “A girl,” Nick grinned. “A healthy little girl.”

  “Great!” Charlie cried. “That’s fantastic. Doubly fantastic – I’ve won the bet too.”

  “Bet? What bet?” Nick looked puzzled.

  “I bet Tom it would be a girl.” Charlie smirked.

  Nick patted him on the back and laughed. “Come on, let’s go and see them, and then I’m afraid it’ll have to be back to Sandy Lane. Work as usual for us.” Nick sighed, but Charlie had never seen him look so happy.

  And so the two of them hurried off down the corridor to Sarah’s room. Just as they were about to knock and go in, Nick stopped Charlie.

  “Before I forget, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, seriously. “I might not have the opportunity to catch you on your own over the next few days. It’s about that racehorse, Night Star.”

  Charlie stood very still as Nick went on.

  “I phoned the Elmwood Racing Stables from the course,” Nick started.

  “And?” Charlie asked, his eyes widening with fear.

  “And it’s all right, Charlie,” Nick started. “If you can ever call the death of a horse all right. Night Star died of a heart attack. I hope you don’t mind, but I told Josh Wiley what you’d been going through. You see, he was a bit cross that you hadn’t been turning up. He couldn’t believe it when I told him you thought it was your fault. Anyway, it’s all been sorted. Josh is as anxious as I am to work out a training programme for you, although that’s by the by now you’re riding again.” Nick grinned.

  “Nick, I–” Charlie didn’t know what to say.

  “The vet’s report came through last week,” Nick started again. “The horse had a very weak heart – it could have happened at any time. It’s very sad, but it certainly wasn’t anything you did. In the nicest way possible, it was the best place for a horse to die – out on the gallops. Now,” Nick said, “I think I can hear a baby crying. And you need to put this behind you.”

  Charlie looked uncertain at first, and then he found his voice. “You’re right Nick,” he said. “And thanks.”

  The two of them pushed open the door to find Sarah sitting up in bed holding the latest addition to Sandy Lane.

  17

  BACK AT THE YARD

  Charlie sat tight to the saddle and cantered neatly around the outdoor school.

  “Very good,” Nick called. “I’m glad those few weeks off haven’t made you forget how to ride.”

  “How could I ever forget that?” Charlie shouted back across the school. He and Nick had returned to the stables that morning to feed the horses, and Charlie hadn’t been able to resist getting back in the saddle. Once he was on a horse, he couldn’t imagine how he’d ever thought he might not ride again.

  “Once more around the school and then I’ll be completely ready for my race training,” Charlie shouted.

  It had been the first thing Charlie had done when he’d got back from the hospital...got straight on the phone to speak to Josh. And Josh had arranged for him to start riding again the next day. Charlie couldn’t believe it had all been so easy. He was almost brimming over with excitement about it.

  “Now that the horses are all fed, I think I’ll go back to see Sarah in the hospital.” Nick’s voice disturbed Charlie’s thoughts. “I’ll be back by lunchtime.”

  “OK,” Charlie answered. “What are you going to do about your dressage course though?” he asked.

  “Oh that – that will just have to wait another year. There are more important things to think about now. There’s going to be a lot to do, what with the baby coming early, and that stable will need rebuilding. To top it all we’ve got to get you ready for the August Bank Holiday Show, haven’t we? It’s only two weekends away. You’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.” Nick chuckled. “Still, we can talk about that another time.”

  “Sure Nick.” Charlie grinned.

  Calmly, Charlie circled Napoleon around the school and breezily turned him to the course one more time as Nick hurried off. Soaring through the air, they cleared jump after jump with ease. Charlie was so engrossed in his riding that he didn’t notice Tom pull up on his bicycle and stand gawping behind the railings. And then Izzy arrived and drew up alongside him.

  “I can’t believe it.” Izzy’s mouthed dropped open. “Whatever got him riding again?” The two friends stood mesmerised at the sidelines. It wasn’t until Charlie cleared the last jump and drew to a halt that he noticed his two spectators.

  “Charlie...what’s happened? How did you...how did you...”
Tom was flabbergasted and the questions rolled off his tongue one after the other.

  “How did I get riding again? Well,” Charlie grinned, “it’s a bit of a long story.”

  “Do Nick and Sarah know about this?” Izzy asked. She didn’t know what else to say.

  “You could say that – Nick was standing where you both are just a minute ago,” Charlie laughed.

  “Nick? What’s Nick doing back?” Tom demanded. “This is getting madder and madder. What on earth is going on?”

  “Well, if you’d give me a chance to get a word in edgeways, I’d tell you,” Charlie said, turning Napoleon back to the course. “Don’t just stand there gawping. Go and get Chancey and Midnight tacked up so we can go out for a hack, then I’ll explain. It’s good to see you looking happier, Izzy,” he called across to his friend.

  “Well, it’s good to see you riding again,” she grinned. “I suppose I’ve just had to come to terms with boarding school really. After all, I’ll still get home for the odd weekend, and there’s the holidays too.”

  “Good on you,” Charlie called back.

  “But there’s one thing you’ve got to promise me,” she went on.

  Charlie looked worried at first, and then he relaxed as Izzy smiled.

  “You’ve got to promise to write and tell me all Midnight’s news,” she grinned.

  Charlie groaned. “Well, you know I’m not too hot on letter writing,” he joked. “But I’ll give it a shot. Come on, let’s get going. Right now all I feel like is a good gallop...oh and by the way.” He called back to where Tom was still standing by the railings. “You’re on mucking out duties next week.”

  “Mucking out duties?” Tom looked puzzled.

  “Yes,” Charlie grinned. “I won our bet – Sarah’s had a baby girl!”

  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.