Jewel the Midnight Pony

by Poppy Shire

  Sophie could hardly see the path at all! She had to concentrate very hard to steer Jewel between the prickly bushes. Sophie was peering so carefully at the path that it was a shock when Lucy said, “Here we are.”

  Sophie saw Lucy dismount and point toward a gap in the brambles. She looked and caught her breath. They were standing in front of the most rickety, tumbledown house she had ever seen!

  Chapter Four

  The house looked as if no one had lived there for a very long time. Brambles sprawled over the fence into the garden. The red-tiled roof was full of holes, and several of the windows were broken. The green paint on the front door was peeling away in long curls. Sophie began to think that she wasn’t going to get a very comfy night’s sleep.

  “The stable’s this way,” said Lucy, leading them around the side of the house. The stables badly needed a coat of paint, but at least the stalls were dry, and fresh straw lay thickly on the floor.

  “Will you be all right here?” Sophie whispered as she took off Jewel’s saddle and bridle.

  Jewel looked around. He swished his tail happily when he spotted a rack full of sweet-smelling hay. “Yum!” he said. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He walked over and started munching a mouthful of hay.

  Sophie felt very relieved. She covered Jewel with a snug-looking rug, made sure he had plenty of water, and then gave him one last hug before leaving the stable.

  She followed Lucy to the front door and waited while she took a heavy iron key from underneath a large round stone by the doorstep. Staring up at the cracked windows, Sophie couldn’t help wondering if she would have been more comfortable staying in Jewel’s stable.

  As Lucy pushed open the door, Sophie let out a gasp.

  “Looks different in here, doesn’t it?” said Lucy.

  Inside, the tumbledown house was more like a palace! Sophie stepped through the doorway and stared around. Her feet sank into a rich red carpet, and the walls were covered in gorgeous red-and-gold-striped silk. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, the small glass drops twinkling in the candlelight.

  “This is amazing!” Sophie said. She wished Jewel could see this, too.

  She walked into a room leading off the hallway and went over to stroke the soft velvet curtains that hung all the way down to the floor. She noticed a carved wooden box on a pretty table with spindly legs. The box was overflowing with beautiful jewelry, from brooches and rings studded with glowing jewels to a long pearl necklace that spilled over the edge of the table like a silvery snake.

  Sophie turned to Lucy, who was watching her from the doorway. “The house is so beautiful! But why is it falling down on the outside?”

  “My uncle keeps the outside of the house looking ruined so people think there’s no one living here,” Lucy explained. “He doesn’t like visitors.” Before she could say anything else, a little silver clock standing next to the jewelry box began to chime. “We’d better go to bed,” said Lucy. “I have to get up early to make my uncle’s breakfast.”

  She led Sophie up the stairs to a pretty bedroom with pale blue walls the exact color of the summer sky. Two beds stood side by side under the window, draped in matching blue and silver eiderdowns.

  “I wish my bedroom was like this,” said Sophie. “It would be so cool to have two beds. I’d have friends stay over all the time!”

  Lucy was taking a nightgown out of a drawer. She stopped and looked at Sophie, biting her lip. “Actually, no one has ever slept in that other bed,” she confessed. “My uncle doesn’t like me having any friends.” She handed Sophie the nightgown and smiled. “I’m really glad I met you.”

  Sophie felt sorry for her new friend. “Isn’t there anyone you can play with?” she asked, as she got changed into the pretty embroidered nightgown. It was very different from her pink-and-white spotted pajamas at home.

  Lucy jumped into her bed and pulled the sky-blue and silver cover around her knees. “There are some children in the village who I’d like to be friends with, but my uncle Jim would never let me play with them.”

  Sophie frowned. “Why not?”

  Lucy looked down at her knees and fiddled with a loose thread on the eiderdown. Sophie guessed Lucy didn’t like talking about her uncle, so she didn’t ask any more questions. She snuggled into her cozy bed and put her head on the big fluffy pillow. This was the most exciting adventure she’d ever had!

  Sophie woke to find sunlight streaming in through the curtains. Lucy was still curled up in bed, fast asleep. Downstairs, someone was shouting crossly. Sophie slipped out of bed and tiptoed along the landing. Peering over the banister, she caught sight of a tall, broad-shouldered man striding down the hall.

  “Where’s my breakfast, Lucy?” he yelled.

  Sophie ducked back into the bedroom. She had a feeling Lucy’s uncle wouldn’t be too happy to have an unexpected guest.

  Lucy was standing beside her bed, pulling on her clothes. “Sorry! Got to go!” she gasped to Sophie before she vanished out of the door, carrying her boots under her arm.

  Sophie got dressed and crept down the stairs to the kitchen. Lucy was frying eggs in a big pan over a fire. Her uncle was nowhere to be seen.

  “Can I help?” Sophie asked.

  “Could you make some toast?” Lucy pointed to some thick slices of bread on the table. “The toasting fork’s over there.”

  Sophie gulped. She’d never tried to make toast by stabbing the bread with a big metal fork and holding it over a coal fire! The first slice fell into the flames, but Sophie soon got the hang of it. Soon the kitchen was filled with the delicious smell of warm, crispy bread. Sophie and Lucy loaded the breakfast onto a big gold tray and Lucy carefully carried it into the dining room.

  Sophie watched from behind the door as Lucy put the tray down in front of her uncle. As he glanced up to speak to Lucy, Sophie’s heart jumped into her mouth. She had seen that face before!

  Lucy’s uncle was Galloping Jim, the famous robber!

  Chapter Five

  “Why didn’t you tell me your uncle was Galloping Jim?” Sophie burst out, as Lucy came back into the kitchen with the empty tray.

  “You recognized him, then?” Lucy said, looking very upset.

  Sophie nodded. “I saw a poster last night.”

  “I didn’t want to scare you off,” Lucy explained sadly. “I thought you might run away! I just wanted a friend, even if it was only for one night.” To Sophie’s dismay Lucy started to cry.

  “Oh don’t, please!” said Sophie, going over to give her a hug. She found a crisp white handkerchief in the pocket of her breeches and handed it to Lucy. “Is that why you have to be a robber?”

  Lucy nodded.

  “But why does your uncle want you to hold up the coaches?” Sophie asked. “He’s a robber himself!”

  “He’s too well-known.” Lucy blew her nose. “He can’t risk being seen holding up a coach or Mr. Joy the village constable would catch him.”

  A shout from the dining room made them stop talking. Lucy darted off, wiping her eyes. Sophie followed her along the hall and peeked around the door.

  “So, my girl, what did you get last night? A bag of gold coins? Some jewels? Hand it over!” Galloping Jim bellowed.

  Lucy hung her head. “I didn’t manage to stop the coach,” she confessed.

  “What, again?” roared her uncle. Sophie shuddered as Galloping Jim’s eyebrows drew together in a fearsome frown. “You’re worse than useless!” He banged his fist down on the table, making the plates jump. “It’s no good. I’ll have to go out myself tonight. I’m not letting you mess this one up, Lucy.”

  “Whose coach is it?” Lucy asked.

  Galloping Jim spoke through a mouthful of toast, spraying crumbs everywhere. “Lady Amelia Grey is off to a ball in her private coach. She’ll be wearing all her best jewels! And I’ll be waiting at the crossroads when her coach goes by.” He sighed. “Really, if I have to hold up the coaches myself, I don’t know why I bother letting you stay here.
Go on, be off,” he snarled. Lucy dodged as he threw a silver salt cellar after her.

  Back in the kitchen, Sophie watched Lucy pace angrily up and down. “I can’t let him hold up Lady Amelia’s coach! But what can I do? If Uncle Jim gets any crosser with me, he’ll send me to the orphanage!” She swept her hand along the table, shoving the gold plates and engraved knives and forks to the floor with a crash. Then she sighed, got down on her knees, and started to clean up.

  “There must be something we can do,” said Sophie, as she bent down to help Lucy pick up the plates.

  Lucy tried to smile. “Only washing the dishes,” she said.

  Sophie decided to talk to Jewel. She grabbed a couple of apples from the bowl on the table and dashed outside, telling Lucy she was going to feed the ponies.

  Jewel was dozing in his stall next to Bess. Sophie gently stroked them awake and fed them each an apple while she broke the news.

  “Galloping Jim is Lucy’s uncle?” Jewel gasped.

  “Yes, and he’s going to hold up a coach tonight! Jewel, you know you said we were sent here to help someone? Well, I think we have to save Lucy from her uncle!”

  Jewel nodded. “But how?” He thoughtfully chewed a mouthful of apple. “I know! Didn’t Lucy mention a constable in the village?”

  “That’s right. His name is Mr. Joy.”

  Jewel scraped his hoof on the floor. “We need to help him catch Galloping Jim tonight. But how can we make Mr. Joy believe we’re telling the truth? A house full of jewels in the middle of a forest sounds like something out of a fairy tale!” Suddenly his ears pricked up. “Do you remember that poster you saw on a tree?”

  “Of course!” said Sophie. “That’s how I recognized Galloping Jim.”

  “Ah, but what else was on it?” Jewel prompted.

  Sophie pictured the poster in her head. “Well, there was a drawing of the locket that was stolen from the Earl of Sussex…. Jewel, you’re a genius!” She threw her arms around his neck. “If I can find the locket in Galloping Jim’s house, I can show it to Mr. Joy. And I bet I know where it is. There’s a jewelry box in the living room overflowing with necklaces and things. I’ll go and look now.”

  “I’ll wait here,” Jewel called after her, “and then we can go and find Mr. Joy.”

  Sophie ran back to the house. Lucy was still scrubbing pans in the kitchen.

  “Don’t worry! We’ve got a plan!” Sophie whispered as she sped past.

  She tiptoed into the hallway. She couldn’t risk making any noise in case Uncle Jim found her. As she tiptoed past the dining room she peeked around the door. He was drinking a cup of tea, scowling.

  Sophie knew she had to be quick. She crept into the living room and went over to the table. As she sorted through the jewelry, she noticed a beautiful chain like a fine gold rope. Could it be the locket? Suddenly she heard a chair scraping in the dining room. Galloping Jim was getting up! She pulled frantically at the chain—yes, this was it! On the end of the chain was a large gold oval, carved with delicate roses, that opened up to reveal two tiny portraits.

  Sophie raced back to the kitchen, her heart thumping. “Lucy, I have to get to the village! Which way is it?”

  Lucy looked alarmed. “You need to go back along the path, then turn left by the big oak tree. You’re not going to tell the constable about Uncle Jim, are you? Sophie, you mustn’t!”

  A tiny flicker of doubt went through Sophie’s mind. Were she and Jewel doing the right thing? Lucy seemed so frightened. I have to do this, she told herself firmly. Lucy couldn’t stay here with her wicked uncle forever—she had to be rescued. This was what the carousel had sent her and Jewel here for.

  “Lucy, it will be all right. I promise it will. Just trust me and Jewel. Meet us in the village this evening.” Sophie shot out of the back door, then popped her head back around. “And try not to worry!”

  Chapter Six

  Sophie saddled up Jewel and rode back down the brambly path. She was a bit confused about which oak tree Lucy meant, but Jewel helped her out. He sniffed the air. “This way! I can smell smoke from the village chimneys.”

  They followed a twisty path through the woods. Not far from the edge of the forest there were some little white houses with thatched roofs.

  Sophie heard a strange clinking sound. “What’s that?” she said.

  Jewel snorted. “It’s the blacksmith’s hammer,” he explained. “We must be close to the forge.”

  They followed the noise to a long, low building. The door was open to reveal a fire burning brightly. A little boy with curly black hair was pumping a set of bellows to make the flames leap higher. Outside, a tall, white-haired man with a bright red scarf around his neck was nailing a shoe to the hoof of a stocky brown and white horse. The blacksmith! He looked familiar, but Sophie couldn’t work out why. She watched as he fixed the hot shoe in place. It gave off a hiss of steam, but the horse stood very still.

  A girl about the same age as Sophie came running around the corner. She stopped when she saw Sophie and smiled. “Hello!” she said. “Are you looking for someone?”

  “Yes, please,” said Sophie. “I don’t suppose you know where I’d find Mr. Joy, do you? The parish constable?”

  The girl laughed, her eyes sparkling. “You’re in luck! That’s his horse being shod, and he’s the one holding the bridle.” Then she ran off again, flashing another smile at Sophie.

  The blacksmith carefully lowered the horse’s hoof to the ground and straightened up, giving Sophie a friendly wink. She was sure she knew him! Of course—he looked just like Mr. Barker from the carousel!

  The man holding the horse smiled at Sophie. “Did I hear you tell Ellen you wanted to talk to me?”

  Sophie nodded. Her heart began to thud. She was going to tell Mr. Joy about Galloping Jim, even though Lucy had begged her not to!

  Mr. Joy raised his eyebrows. “Why are you dressed up in your brother’s clothes? Are you off on an adventure?”

  Sophie blushed. She’d forgotten that girls would never wear trousers in these days. But the magic carousel obviously thought breeches and a ruffled shirt would be easier for riding through the forest. “Sort of. My name’s Sophie. I have some information about Galloping Jim, the robber.” She pointed to another copy of the poster which was nailed to the door of the forge.

  The blacksmith whistled through his teeth, as though this was exciting news. The constable looked surprised and very serious. “Go on!”

  “He’s planning to rob Lady Amelia’s coach tonight,” Sophie explained in a rush. “If you hide in her coach, you could catch him red-handed.”

  Sophie could see Mr. Joy wasn’t sure whether to believe her. She pulled the golden locket from under her cloak. “Look! This proves I’m not making it up.”

  “It’s the Earl of Sussex’s stolen locket!” Mr. Joy turned it over in his hands, then looked up at Sophie. “You say Galloping Jim is planning another robbery tonight?”

  “Yes! Lady Amelia is going to a ball, and he’s going to wait for her coach at the crossroads.”

  “Then this is our best chance to catch him!” said Mr. Joy. “No one’s ever been able to prove anything against that slippery rogue, but we might just do it! I’m sure Lady Amelia will help us.”

  Suddenly a small boy in a smart dark green suit ran up. “Message from the manor,” he said to the blacksmith. “There was an accident yesterday and the coachman has been hurt. He’ll be all right in a few days,” he added. “But one of Lady Amelia’s carriage ponies put his hoof in a hole and pulled off his shoe. Lady Amelia would like you to go and fit a new one. She won’t be going to the ball tonight, not with one of her ponies lame and no coachman to drive her.”

  The blacksmith told the boy that he’d come to the manor later on. Mr. Joy turned to Sophie. “That’s a shame,” he said. “We won’t be able to catch Galloping Jim if there’s no coach for him to rob!”

  Sophie felt very disappointed. It had been such a good plan! She thanked Mr. Joy anyway
and trailed over to Jewel.

  “What’s the matter? Didn’t he believe you?” asked Jewel, when he saw Sophie looking miserable.

  “Lady Amelia can’t go to the ball!” Sophie explained. “One of her carriage ponies is lame. We’ll have to think of something else.”

  Jewel didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then he scraped the ground with his front hoof. “I could pull the coach, Sophie. If the other pony is about the same size as me, the harness should fit.”

  Sophie threw her arms around his neck. “Jewel, that’s so brave of you! I know you can do it. Come on, let’s go and ask Mr. Joy.”

  She led Jewel back over to the forge, where the blacksmith was finishing off the last shoe. “Mr. Joy! How big are Lady Amelia’s carriage ponies?”

  Mr. Joy looked at Jewel. “Well, I’d say they’re about the same size as your pony.”

  “Then Jewel can help pull the coach and we can catch Galloping Jim after all!” Sophie declared. Suddenly she remembered that Mr. Joy was the parish constable, and she shouldn’t be ordering him about. She felt her cheeks go bright red, but to her relief Mr. Joy nodded.

  “It’s a good idea,” he said. Then his face fell. “But we’ve still got no coachman.”

  Sophie stared at him in dismay. She’d forgotten that Lady Amelia’s coach driver had been injured as well! Suddenly she felt Jewel’s velvety nose brush against her ear, and his long spiky whiskers tickled her cheek.

  “You could drive the coach, Sophie,” the pony whispered.

  “But I don’t know how to!” Sophie whispered back.

  Jewel snorted. “I’ll look after you. We can do it together. You just need to hold the reins, and I’ll tell you what to do. Ask him, go on.”

  Sophie took a deep breath. “Mr. Joy? If Jewel takes the place of the lame pony, could I drive the coach?” She gazed pleadingly up at the constable.

  Mr. Joy looked less sure about this. “Now, I don’t know,” he said. “There must be someone else we could ask.”