The Midnight Horse

by Michelle Bates

“Oh all right then,” she said, rather reluctantly.

  “There’s a hack going out at 10 o’clock if you’d like to join it,” Nick continued.

  “Great,” Izzy said, hurrying away without a second glance.

  What a rude girl. How could anyone talk so sharply to Nick. There was something decidedly shifty about Izzy Paterson, Kate thought to herself, and she didn’t like it one bit. To top it all, she had been hoping to ride Midnight in that very ride. Hurrying off to find Alex, she bit her lip to hide her disappointment. Alex was in Napoleon’s stable – just where Kate expected to find him.

  “She’s arrived,” Kate called inside.

  “Who?” Alex answered, looking puzzled.

  “Midnight’s owner – Izzy Paterson,” Kate answered. “She’s finally made it.”

  “Oh, I’d forgotten all about her. What’s she like?” he asked, a flicker of interest crossing his face.

  “Oh I don’t know,” said Kate. “A bit of a spoilt brat I think. You should have heard the way she spoke to Nick. She made some excuse about how she’s been ill with flu.”

  Alex laughed. “Well maybe she has. Come on, Kate, give her the benefit of the doubt. Let’s go and get ready for the hack.”

  “I was going to ride Midnight in that ride, and now I can’t,” Kate said indignantly. She could hear the petulance in her voice, but was powerless to stop it. “Who does she think she is just strolling in here?”

  “The owner?” Alex said, goodnaturedly.

  “What was that, Alex?” Kate asked.

  “Nothing,” said Alex. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “All right, all right, I’m coming,” Kate said, crossly. She hurried off to get Feather ready. The line of horses were circling the yard as Kate led the grey horse out of her box and headed off through the back gate. Kate watched Izzy’s every move as they rode through the fields. She looked quite a natural. Midnight was perfectly on the bit and Izzy’s seat looked just right.

  “How long have you been riding, Izzy?” Kate asked, taking Feather up alongside her.

  “Well.” Izzy paused to draw breath. “Only properly this last year – since I’ve had Midnight really,” she answered. “But I’ve had lessons on and off for the last five years, although it’s not quite the same as having your own horse, is it?” she babbled.

  “I suppose not,” Kate said, enviously wondering what it would be like to have a horse of her own.

  “OK, let’s canter over the log,” Nick called from the front, disturbing Kate’s thoughts.

  One by one, the riders turned their horses and took them over the fallen tree trunk. Kate spurred Feather on and the little grey mare responded willingly, soaring over the jump.

  As they rode through Larkfield Copse, Kate started to relax. Cantering across the grassy scrub, they drew to a halt at the top of the cliffs. Kate stared at the beach below. It was deserted, the wind whipping up the waves till they crashed against the shore. Slowly, the string of horses made their way down the cliff path and the blustery wind swept past Kate, carrying words in snatches from Nick’s mouth.

  “Kate’s the only one entered...two weeks away.” Kate’s heart started to beat faster. It sounded as if they were talking about Hawthorn. Nudging Feather forwards, she trotted down the hill and neared the leaders, overtaking Alex on the way.

  “Hey, keep back, Kate,” Alex said testily. “You’ll push Tom and me off the path if you’re not careful.”

  “Sorry Alex,” Kate said. “I just wanted to ask Nick something.”

  “Can’t it wait until we’re on the beach?” Tom added crossly as Chancey jogged forward. But Kate didn’t listen. Her eyes were firmly fixed ahead of her. She was now within earshot of Izzy and Nick.

  “I’ve been training Kate for a couple of months now, but another Sandy Lane representative wouldn’t go amiss.”

  Kate’s heart skipped a beat. Another Sandy Lane representative? What did Nick mean?

  “Oh you’ve caught up with us, Kate,” Nick said, turning in the saddle to face her. “I was just telling Izzy that you’re entered for Hawthorn. Izzy’s entered too, so you can both train together.”

  Kate’s smile froze on her face. Someone else from the yard entered for Hawthorn? But it was supposed to be her chance to prove herself at Sandy Lane. And here was Izzy, hardly five minutes at Sandy Lane, and already muscling in. Kate couldn’t bear the idea of sharing Hawthorn with anyone, and suddenly she felt a cloud of gloom descend upon her. She yearned to ride fast, to speed off and immerse herself in her riding, to forget what she had heard. Kate bit her lip to fight back the tears. She hung back, waiting for the others to go off first. Pulling at Feather’s head, she circled the little grey horse who was struggling against her reins. And then Kate released her and urged her forward.

  “Come on then. Let’s go,” Kate cried. Water streamed from her eyes and they raced faster and faster. As they battled with the wind, all Kate could hear was the pounding of Feather’s hooves. Slowing up to join the group, Kate felt a little better. Riding always did that for her and suddenly she felt more determined...more determined than ever to be the best. She’d just have to make sure she was won at Hawthorn.

  7

  SETTLING IN

  Izzy didn’t know why she’d been so nervous about turning up at Sandy Lane. It had all been so straightforward. She’d even managed to convince her parents she was just helping out at a local riding stables. All was going according to plan.

  Everyone at Sandy Lane had been so friendly – well everyone except Kate. Izzy wasn’t sure what the problem was, but ever since Hawthorn had been mentioned, Kate had been really cool and off-hand. Still, she mustn’t let that get to her. There were more important things to worry about – like the jumping lesson they were about to start in the outdoor school. With Hawthorn just a week and a half away, she and Midnight were going to need all the practice they could get.

  Quickly, Izzy hurried into Midnight’s stable and began to tack him up.

  “Come on, breathe in,” she whispered. “You’re putting on weight. It must be all those extra oats I’ve been feeding you.”

  Quickly, she led him out into the yard to join the others. Kate was busy tightening Feather’s girth and Tom was already in Chancey’s saddle. Alex was leading Hector about and Charlie was ambling around the yard on Napoleon. They were all chattering about their plans. It was New Year’s Eve and everyone was excited. Tom was having them all over to his house that evening. Izzy felt pleased that she had been included. She was really starting to feel a part of it all.

  “Well, who else are we waiting for?” Nick called, tapping his riding boots impatiently with his crop.

  “Me,” Jess cried, diving into the tack room.

  “And me,” Rosie shouted, climbing into Pepper’s saddle.

  “Meet you at the outdoor school then,” Nick said.

  And before any of them had a chance to answer, Nick had headed off down the drive. Izzy waited for the others to go on ahead of her before following on behind.

  “Let’s get warmed up. I’ve laid out a course for you to try,” Nick said cheerfully, pointing to the gaily painted fences in the outdoor school.

  Izzy looked around her. It was a simple figure of eight course. The hardest fence was probably the triple, coming so close after the parallel bars but even so, she didn’t think Midnight would have a problem with that. Wait till the others saw what he could do. Izzy was so busy planning her route that she only caught the tail end of what Nick was saying.

  “So I propose that Alex tries Napoleon, Charlie rides Feather and Jess and Rosie do a simple swap. Tom can ride Midnight and Izzy can try Chancey. Who does that leave? Ah, Kate, you can ride Hector.”

  Izzy looked up, startled. “I missed all that, Tom,” she whispered. “What’s going on?”

  “He’s switching us all around,” Tom whispered back. “Nick worries that we become too used to riding one horse. He thinks we get lazy, so he likes us to try all the others. He’s right
of course. I know all of Chancey’s old tricks.”

  “Oh.” Izzy gulped, suddenly feeling sick with nerves. She hadn’t ridden another horse in ages. She felt wooden as she jumped to the ground and handed Midnight’s reins over to Tom.

  “Right, well, let’s get started then,” Nick called once they had limbered up their mounts. “Tom, you take the lead.”

  Steadily, Tom turned Midnight to the start and they skimmed over the first two jumps with ease. Tom turned him wide for the staircase, urging him up and over and onto the gate. They cleared that and then the parallel bars, landing lightly before the triple bar. Now there was only the double.

  “One, two, three, jump,” Izzy muttered to herself as she watched, her eyes keenly fixed on her horse. He was over the second part of the double. That was a clear round. Izzy felt a stab of pride at the ripple of applause echoing around the school.

  “That was good Tom,” Nick said.

  “He’s wonderful to ride, Izzy,” Tom called over.

  “Come on then, Kate, your turn,” Nick called.

  Kate picked up her reins and urged Hector on to the first, taking him around the course at a lumbering pace. Still, she jumped clear.

  Izzy felt her nerves tightening as, one by one, Nick called the next name and the next and the next and each of the riders took their turn. The better the others rode, the more nervous Izzy felt. Her palms were clammy as she gripped the reins. If Chancey sensed how nervous she was, he’d be sure to start playing up. The waiting was almost too much to bear and Chancey was hotting up as he pawed at the ground.

  “Just give him a pat to calm him, Izzy,” Tom called. “He hates being kept waiting. Oh, and a quick tip – try not to check his stride before you take off. He doesn’t need much lead.”

  “OK,” Izzy answered, trying to sound calm. But Tom’s words of advice were actually having the opposite effect and making her feel more nervous. She didn’t know how she would manage to get round. As she watched Jess draw to a halt by the group, with one fence down, she realized that Nick was calling her name.

  “Izzy, Izzy, can you hear me?”

  “Sorry.” Izzy blushed furiously. She circled Chancey at a canter and began the course. She was so concerned with trying to get Chancey to look at the jump that she completely forgot Tom’s words of advice. Chancey flung his head high into the air and they took off too early. Izzy had completely misjudged it and found herself hanging in mid-air. She hit the saddle with an ungainly thud.

  Gritting her teeth, she rode on and placed Chancey at the sharks’ teeth. They jumped that clear and turned to the staircase, but Chancey was fighting her every step of the way and Izzy wasn’t enjoying it one bit. The chestnut horse seemed to realize it, and he tore forward, cutting corners and heading out of control. Izzy felt as though her arms were being torn out of their sockets as they clipped the staircase and rode at the gate. She felt flustered, her confidence evaporating at every turn. She knew she hadn’t given Chancey enough time to look at the jump and he skidded to a halt, his heels digging firmly into the ground. First refusal. Izzy felt herself going bright red as she turned him for a second attempt. Anxious to get on and over she hurried him and again he refused.

  “I don’t think he’s going over that today, Izzy,” Nick called kindly. “Try him at the parallel.”

  Trying to keep her head, Izzy rode him over the parallel and went on to jump the triple bar before heading for the double. One, two and they were over. But by the time they had finished, Izzy’s nerves were in pieces.

  “Don’t worry,” Tom said in an understanding voice as she returned to the group. “He just takes a bit of getting used to. He did a similar sort of thing with me when I first rode him. He gets very fresh if he’s kept waiting.”

  Izzy nodded, her pride severely dented. Typically, Chancey had calmed down now and stood quiet and still. Izzy wanted the ground to swallow her up, and she still had another ten minutes of the lesson to get through.

  When at last everyone had taken their turn, Izzy jumped off Chancey and returned him to Tom. As she collected Midnight and led him back to his stable, she felt a wave of panic run through her. What if she rode that badly at Hawthorn? What if she couldn’t manage it? Once again she felt under pressure. If she didn’t win at Hawthorn, she wouldn’t even be able to pay what she owed.

  “Oh Midnight,” she cried, alone in his stable. “Whatever am I going to do?” She jumped as a face appeared over the stable door. It was Kate.

  “Did you want something?” Izzy asked, annoyed at herself for voicing her fears out loud when anyone could have heard her.

  “I just wanted to check Midnight was OK,” Kate answered. “It’s getting dark and you seemed to have been in there for ages.”

  “He’s fine,” Izzy answered, tersely. “Just fine.”

  “Right. Well, I’m off. See you at Tom’s then,” Kate said, striding away.

  8

  RIVALS

  New Year’s Day turned out to be dark and gloomy. Not a good start to the year, Kate thought to herself as she sat alone in the tack room. The sky looked tumultuous and forbidding, black clouds scudding back and forth. Still, yesterday evening had been fun. She rubbed her eyes, finding it hard to keep awake after the late night festivities.

  Kate put some saddle soap on her sponge and cast her mind back over the last few days. She and Izzy were training with Nick over the cross-country course that afternoon, and Kate didn’t feel much like going out with her at all. Izzy was so prickly and standoffish.

  For a brief second, Kate’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a bicycle skidding to a halt in the yard. She rose to her feet and looked out of the tack room window. It was Izzy. Just the last person she wanted to see. The others were all out on a hack – she’d have to make polite conversation with her. Kate shifted uncomfortably on her stool as the tack room door swung open.

  “Oh, it’s you Kate, I didn’t realize you were here,” Izzy said. “You quite made me jump. Where is everyone?”

  “Sarah’s in the cottage,” Kate answered, noncommitally, “and the others are out on the 2 o’clock hack. Nick said to give Feather’s saddle a clean before the cross-country this afternoon.”

  “I ought to do Midnight’s then,” Izzy said. “I might join you.”

  An uncomfortable silence filled the room as the two girls sat, furiously polishing away at their tack.

  “What time did Nick say he’d take us out?” Izzy said at last.

  “Three,” Kate answered, not looking up.

  “Well, it’s ten to,” Izzy said, looking at her watch. “I think I’d better go and get Midnight ready.”

  “OK,” Kate answered, staying firmly in her seat.

  Kate felt relieved to hear the sound of voices outside and jumped awkwardly to her feet.

  “Ready to go out over the cross-country course you two?” Nick called across the yard.

  “Just about,” Kate answered.

  Hurriedly, she made her way to Feather’s stable and tacked up the grey mare. Leading her out into the yard, she headed off to the cross-country course. The course wasn’t difficult. There certainly wasn’t the variety of jumps there would be at Hawthorn, but it would be good practice all the same. Kate trotted round to warm Feather up and eventually she heard voices. She felt annoyed to see Izzy and Nick chatting so easily together as they ambled through the gate. Quickly, she rode over to meet them.

  “We ought to get started,” Nick said to the two girls. “The light’s already fading, it’ll be dark before we know it. Now, remember to ride carefully out there. It’s still very slippery and I don’t want you breaking your necks.”

  “OK,” Kate answered, her eyes glued to the course ahead of her.

  “Why don’t you go first Kate, while Izzy gets Midnight warmed up?” Nick suggested.

  Kate nodded and nudged Feather on for the brush. Lightly they thundered across the dirt, over the hayrack, before galloping on. They flew over the hedge and into the woods as if th
ey were point-to-pointing. They were going fast...too fast. But something made Kate kick Feather on even more and they raced to the log pile in the trees. Still, Kate didn’t slow Feather’s pace. The grey horse hurtled forward at breakneck speed, straining at the bit. Clear of the tyres, they turned to take the zigzag rails in their stride. Up the hill and over the low gate, they raced, pounding forwards for the stone wall.

  Feather’s sides were heaving in and out like bellows as she cleared the last jump with inches to spare and sprinted back to Nick and Izzy. As Kate drew to a halt she felt uneasy. They had gone pretty fast, and deep down Kate knew it hadn’t been safe.

  “Hmm.” Nick didn’t look delighted as he looked down at his stopwatch. “That was very quick, Kate,” he said. “You must have cut a few corners in the woods to notch up that speed.” Kate felt herself blushing, knowing only too well that Nick’s words were very true.

  “Your turn, Izzy,” Nick started.

  Izzy nodded, giving Kate a hard stare as she turned towards the first. The black horse thundered across the ground. Kate watched, keen-eyed. Izzy sat tight to the saddle and they flew over the tiger trap and onto the brush. Then they raced over the hayrack and onto the hedge into the trees. Kate held her breath, waiting to catch sight of them again. One, two, three, four. She counted the seconds under her breath. And then Izzy appeared. Ten seconds. That was fast...reckless even, Kate thought as she watched them clear the zigzag rails and thunder over the low gate, up the hill to the stone wall.

  Nick looked serious as Izzy drew to a halt beside him. “I don’t know what you two are playing at,” he said at last. “You rode like maniacs out there. I might as well not be giving you any advice for all the attention you paid. You should be trying to ride competently, not almost breaking your necks to beat each other,” he said in disgust. “I was going to suggest we practise the log pile, but I think we’d better get back to the yard.”

  “But Nick,” said Kate. “You said we could ride till four.”

  “I think I’ve seen enough of your riding for one day, don’t you?” he said, sharply. “I suggest you rethink your attitudes if you want me to train either of you any more. Meet me in the tack room tomorrow at nine. I haven’t got time to go over things now. Sarah and I are going out for dinner tonight.”