“Looking forward to the summer,” Izzy smiled. “How about you? I hear you’re going to be spending a bit more time at Sandy Lane now.”
“I guess you could say that,” Alex grumbled, feeling irritated that the gossip had already spread. “I feel like I’ve been running around here for hours already.”
“Oh, it’s not that bad, is it?” Izzy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Well, you know,” Alex tried to look nonchalant as he stood taking another look at Izzy. She’d changed a lot in the year she’d been away at school. Alex hadn’t taken much notice of her before. Now, however, he saw that her once long, tangly brown hair was cut short to shoulder length, and he’d forgotten just how green her eyes were. For some reason he suddenly felt tongue-tied.
“Alex, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, yes of course I am,” Alex answered.
“I was saying that Kate told me all about Puzzle, and I think it’s brilliant of you.”
“Brilliant?” Alex relaxed. At least Kate hadn’t made him look a complete fool.
“Well there’s a bit more to it than that...” He was about to elaborate, but then he stopped. He wouldn’t be painting himself in a very good light if he told her he was more worried about getting his money back.
“So are you coming out on the beach hack?” Izzy asked.
“Don’t think so, I’ve got to stay here with Puzzle,” Alex answered. “Are you?”
“Course I am, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I guess I’ll see you later then,” Izzy laughed, catching his eye and disappearing off. Alex stood in the doorway, watching her cross the yard. As she untied Midnight and sprang up into his saddle, Alex was left, holding the bucket of bran mash in his hands, feeling a bit odd.
He looked down at the pail. He ought to take it to Puzzle. Slowly, Alex walked over to Puzzle’s stable and looked inside. It was dark in the stable after the bright sunshine of the yard but as Alex’s eyes adjusted to the gloom, he could see the pony quite clearly. Puzzle lifted her head at his approach, and looked warily at him as he pulled back the bolt and placed the bucket of bran mash on the floor.
He didn’t wait to watch her eat, but shut the door, leaning back on it as he looked out across the yard. It had filled up while he’d been talking to Izzy. Riders were spilling out of each of the stables with their ponies. And then Alex felt a sharp nip on his wrist.
“Hey.” Alex turned round and saw Puzzle standing behind him. That had hurt and he felt angry. “What did you do that for?” His raised words startled the pony and she laid her ears back. “What do you think you’re playing at?” Alex looked down at his wrist. The bite hadn’t drawn blood, but the teeth marks were pretty clear.
“Miserable thing,” Alex muttered. And without another glance, he shot off across the yard.
“What’s up with you?” Kate called over.
“Nothing,” Alex grumbled. “Just that rotten pony – she’s taken a lump out of my wrist.”
“Let’s see,” Kate said, walking over and trying to stifle a giggle.
“It’s not funny,” he said, showing her his arm.
“Oh Alex.” And now Kate burst out laughing. “There’s hardly a mark there. You’ve got to be patient with her. It’s hardly surprising she’s given you a nip when you consider how badly she’s been treated in the past. You’ve got to try and win her trust back.”
“I can’t be dealing with all of that,” Alex grunted. “Anyway, I’ve got to go and make a phone call. It looks like I won’t be making the cricket this afternoon so I’d better let them know. What a summer!”
“Well, you might not have to spend all of the summer at Sandy Lane if the vet turns out to be right anyway.” Kate raised her eyebrows.
“What do you mean?” Alex answered.
“Well, if she doesn’t stay calm, Nick said she might have to be put down, didn’t he?”
“Not on your life,” Alex said fiercely. “I’m going to make sure she stays calm. There’s no way I’m having her put down – that would mean I’d lose my £500.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Kate raised her eyebrows.
But Alex was already striding off to the feed room so he didn’t hear Kate’s words. Kate smiled to herself. It might not be for the right reasons, but she’d made her brother more determined than ever to get the pony fit and healthy – exactly the effect she’d intended. Not bad for a little sister.
6
TIRESOME DAYS!
The next couple of days at Sandy Lane were hard work for Alex. Puzzle didn’t have any more freak-outs, but Alex still found himself spending most of the day with her. At least she was eating now which was a start. But while she seemed to be holding her own, Alex was missing cricket practice.
On Monday, the replacement ponies arrived, causing great excitement in the yard, and Alex was pleased that everyone’s attention was deflected away from his pony. Nick had set up a programme of showjumping practices in the outdoor school and everyone was busy trying them out.
As Alex cycled to the stables on Wednesday morning, he gritted his teeth. He was late. He counted off the list of chores in his head – soaping Puzzle’s mane and tail, washing her coat, picking out her hooves, putting the ointment on her saddle sores...and that was just the start. He’d still have to groom her again in the afternoon and lead her around the yard. Nick had said she wasn’t ready to go out into the fields, but she still needed the exercise. Around and around the yard – it was so boring. Alex’s mind was so far away that he didn’t even notice Jess freewheeling into Sandy Lane at the same time as him.
“Look out!” Jess cried as she swerved to avoid a collision.
“Sorry,” Alex called, following her up the drive and into the yard. Most of the horses and ponies were out of their stables and basking in the summer sun as Alex jumped off his bike and propped it up against the barn. He headed across the yard for Puzzle’s stable and tentatively slid back the bolt. The chestnut pony backed away into the corner of the stable as he walked inside, her ears flat back.
“Wretched thing,” Alex grunted.
But he wasn’t scared of her as he had been that first day, and didn’t falter as he picked up a body brush and set to work on her coat. As he finished picking out her hooves and wiping down her coat, he let himself out of her stable and made his way to get her food. Depositing a haynet with the little pony, he left her eating as he walked over to the hay bales. The sky was a deep blue, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight as he lay back. Maybe – just maybe, he’d be able to make the cricket practice this afternoon.
Alex sat up and looked around the yard. He could see the back of Tom’s head in Chancey’s stable. Rosie and Jess were grooming Pepper and Skylark while Izzy was leading Midnight into the yard. They were all so keen. Alex flopped back on the bales.
“Hey Alex, how are you getting on?” Alex heard his sister’s voice, and sat up.
“All right I guess. I’ve cleaned her, but I’ve still got to walk her around this afternoon. I’ll have to miss cricket practice again.”
“Oh well, I guess the most important thing now is getting Puzzle well again,” Kate said.
“At this very moment, I couldn’t care less if I never see her again,” Alex snapped.
“Oh Alex.” Kate looked cross. “You could be a little bit kinder to her. Remember she’s been through a lot. The odd pat or kind word wouldn’t go amiss. Ponies need love and attention too, you know.” Kate’s voice wobbled a bit as she said this.
“You know I’m not into all that,” Alex groaned. “Look, I don’t suppose you’d do me a favour, would you?”
“What?” Kate looked warily at him.
“It’s not a lot – just put the ointment on Puzzle’s sores and walk her around the yard this afternoon. It would mean I could leave now to get to cricket,” Alex wheedled.
“Oh Alex, I would do it, but I’m supposed to be training Feather this afternoon,” Kate groaned.
“Just this once, Kate.
My chances of staying in the squad aren’t good if I don’t make the practice. It’s really important.”
“I don’t know,” Kate hesitated.
“Oh forget it.” Alex turned back to glare at Puzzle. “I might have known you wouldn’t help me out. Just remember that the next time you want a favour!”
“Oh Alex,” Kate sighed. “All right, I’ll do it.”
“Brilliant!” Alex’s face brightened.
“Remember I’m only doing it for Puzzle,” Kate said crossly. “I don’t mind helping you out with her this once, but I’ll be pretty busy with Feather and the shows after that.”
“I know. Thanks Kate!” Alex jumped to his feet before she could change her mind. Grinning, he made off across the yard. “I’ll make it up to you,” he called back over his shoulder. “You won’t regret this.”
Kate shook her head, watching as her brother rushed off out of the yard, and then she turned round and looked back over to Puzzle’s stable. The little chestnut pony hung her head over her stable door and Kate felt a pang of guilt as she saw her. Alex might be looking after her all right, but at this moment, all that Puzzle really needed was a friend. Sadly Kate walked over to the little pony and held out her hand.
“There there,” she said, patting Puzzle’s neck. “He didn’t really mean all those things he said about you.”
“You’re very quiet, Alex. Is something bothering you?” his mother asked at the breakfast table on Sunday morning.
“Not really,” Alex answered.
“What time does your cricket match start?” Mr. Hardy looked up from his paper. “I thought I might come along and watch.”
“Actually, I’m not playing today.” Alex spooned the cereal around in his bowl. “I’ve been dropped from the squad.” It was the first time he’d told anyone what had happened when he’d gone to the cricket practice on Wednesday afternoon. His place on the school tour was still certain but he was annoyed at being dropped from the squad. He’d been trying not to think about it though. He’d got to the practice on time all right, but that didn’t alter the fact that he’d missed so many other practices. His cricket coach hadn’t been very understanding about it.
Mr. Hardy put down his newspaper, looking taken aback. “So what’s happened, Alex?”
“Well, the coach has given my place to someone else,” Alex said miserably.
“Oh Alex,” his mother joined in. “What a shame.”
The last thing Alex needed was his mother rubbing salt into the wound.
“I’ll get my place back, it’s no big deal.” Alex gritted his teeth. “Come on, we’re going to be late, Kate.”
“Where are you off to now?” his mother asked.
“Sandy Lane,” Alex answered gruffly.
“The stables?” his mother looked surprised. “Well, it’s no wonder you’ve been dropped, the amount of time you spend down there. If you’ve made a commitment to a team, you should keep it, you know.”
“Have you been missing practices, Alex?” Mr. Hardy looked up from his paper.
“Look it’s nothing Dad.” Alex was fuming as he headed for the door. It was bad enough having missed cricket to be at Sandy Lane, but being reprimanded for it too...
“Wait a minute, Alex, I’m coming,” Kate called.
Alex left the front door open behind him and hurried over to his bike. As he sat in the saddle, feet on the ground, he waited for Kate to join him. Finally, the front door slammed shut and she made her way over to him.
“I know you’re fed up about this cricket business,” she said. “But getting angry isn’t going to help.”
“Isn’t it?” Alex grunted. “But I am angry.”
“Look,” Kate shrugged. “Now that you’ve got more time to spend at Sandy Lane, why don’t you make the most of it and come to some of the jumping practices too? You’ll still be there to look after Puzzle and it’ll be a break from running around after her all the time. You never know, you might even enjoy it.”
“Doubt it,” Alex grunted, pedalling away.
“Oh well, it’s up to you,” Kate cried, racing up behind him, and speeding on.
As Alex’s bike bumped over the potholes, he thought about what Kate had said. Maybe it would make things easier if he went for a ride – at least it would make a change from mucking out and grooming. As he cycled into the yard, Rosie and Jess called across to him.
“Hi Alex.”
“Hi,” Alex grunted, drawing to a halt as Tom walked over to him.
“We’re jumping in half an hour. You coming?” he said.
“Dunno,” Alex replied.
“Come on,” Tom pushed him. “You could ride Hector. Why don’t I go and check he’s not booked? I’m sure Nick won’t mind.” And before Alex could say anything to stop him, Tom was disappearing in the direction of the tack room.
“It seems my mind’s been made up for me.” Alex turned to where Rosie and Jess were standing. Then Tom appeared at the doorway of the tack room.
“No one’s riding Hector, so you’re up,” he said. “Nick’s all agreed so there’s no bottling out.”
“All right, all right,” Alex grinned. “I’d better go and sort out Puzzle first then.” He rushed off across the yard, leaving Tom behind him.
Drawing back the bolt to Puzzle’s stable, Alex stepped inside. Puzzle didn’t bat an eyelid this morning as Alex picked up the body brush and began to sweep the brush over her back. There was just enough time for her ointment, then he’d have to go and get Hector ready. He stood back and looked at the little chestnut pony. She was still thin, but at least her coat was clean and starting to shine again. Alex tried not to look too closely at the sores on her back. They still made him feel a bit ill.
“There, all done.” Alex drew back the bolt and stepped outside. He took one quick look back, then he made his way across the yard and tacked up Hector. As he led the large gelding out of his stable, the warm summer sun bore down on Alex’s back. It was baking out in the yard.
As Nick appeared, the horses and riders made their way down the drive to the outdoor school. Kate was there on Feather, and then there was Tom with Chancey. Alex looked back over his shoulder to see Rosie and Jess mount up on Jester and Skylark and now Izzy came trotting past on Midnight.
“Hello Alex,” she smiled.
“Oh, hi Izzy.” Alex hadn’t seen her for the last couple of days and he felt pleased. It was a long time since Alex had gone to a jumping practice, so he hoped he wouldn’t show himself up in front of her. He came to a halt in the middle of the school and listened hard to what Nick was saying.
“As you can see.” Nick’s voice boomed out. “It’s a simple figure-of-eight course. Nothing too hard, so concentrate on your rhythm and poise. Tom, why don’t you lead off and show us how it’s done.”
Alex watched with interest as Tom cantered a circle and approached the first jump. He’d ridden with his friend loads of times in the past but he hadn’t seen Chancey and Tom jump together for a while. As they cleared the brush, Alex was pretty impressed. They’d really come on. Tom had the chestnut gelding well in hand and they jumped with ease. It was obvious they were a perfect team as they soared over the gate and cantered a turn for the staircase. Effortlessly, they soared over the jump as if it wasn’t there and approached the triple bars in a collected canter. Tom rode Chancey at the middle of the jump and Chancey responded to Tom’s command. They cleared the jump, landing lightly to turn for the parallel. Over that...and now there was just the treble. As they cleared the last jump, Tom drew Chancey to a halt by the group.
“Pretty good, Tom,” Nick called. “You lost your position a bit at the stile, but apart from that – not bad.”
Alex looked amazed. It had looked perfect to him. What would Nick have to say about his riding? But there wasn’t time to dwell on it as Kate was called. Alex turned his attention to his sister. Fluidly Kate and Feather jumped each of the jumps, clearing the course in easy strides. Alex wasn’t surprised – they’d been pr
actising pretty hard lately. He started to feel apprehensive. What if he was the only one to show himself up? Patiently he sat, waiting for his name to be called and then Jess went forward.
Skylark was pulling like a steam train as they approached the brush jump and narrowly missed knocking the whole lot over, but at least they were clear and now they were onto the next. Alex could see that Jess was having difficulty holding the horse. Jess’s face was pale with concentration as she positioned Skylark at the staircase. Skylark leaned back on her hocks and sprang forward for the jump. It stayed up, though Alex didn’t know how. As they rode at the triple bars, they weren’t going to be so lucky. Skylark cruised towards the jump at high speed and there was nothing Jess could do to stop her from clipping the top. A pole clattered down behind her. Alex grimaced and now that Skylark was sweated up, he could see Jess was going to have problems with the last two jumps. Sure enough, she clattered her way through the parallel and knocked down the treble.
“Don’t worry too much about that, Jess,” Nick called. “She’s obviously having an off-day.”
When Alex’s name was called, he already felt a bit apprehensive.
“Concentrate...concentrate,” he muttered to himself, cantering Hector to the first. He was so anxious that he checked his horse in the take-off. Hector hesitated and heaved himself forward, leaving Alex hanging in mid-air. Alex landed in a pile on Hector’s neck. He gritted his teeth and picked himself up before cantering to the gate. This time he let Hector have his head and they cleared it without hesitation. Alex started to relax as they cantered to the staircase. Everything that he’d learned started to come back to him and the next two jumps weren’t too much of a problem. As Alex cleared the triple bars, he returned to the group, feeling quietly pleased.
“Not bad at all,” Nick called.
Alex grinned. He’d rather enjoyed that. He watched as Izzy and Rosie rode the course, and wished he could have another go.
“That’s all for today,” said Nick. “We’ve been out here for half an hour now. There’s a hack going out at 11 o’clock, so I think we’ll take the horses back. I don’t want them to get too tired.”
The Perfect Pony Page 4