The Midnight Horse

by Michelle Bates

  “Oh Kate,” said Izzy. “We’ve been so silly, haven’t we?”

  The two girls looked sheepishly at each other, embarrassed by their admissions. “Would you mind if I stayed then?” Kate asked.

  “I’d like it,” Izzy answered slowly. “I’d like the company. I know that we haven’t been the best of friends, but we could try, couldn’t we?”

  “I think so, Izzy,” Kate said, reddening and turning away. She wasn’t very good at this sort of intimacy and felt awkward. She didn’t know what to say.

  “I’ll just go and phone Alex and tell him what’s happened,” she said, quickly changing the subject. Hurrying into the tack room, she reached for the phone and slotted in a coin. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she waited for an answer, twisting the telephone cord in her fingers. Alex wasn’t going to be in the best of moods. The phone rang...once, twice, and then a pinched voice answered at the other end.

  “Hello Colcott 5463.”

  “Hello Alex. It’s me.”

  “Kate! Where on earth have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

  “Alex, calm down. I’m all right. I’m at the stables. Midnight’s really ill. He’s got colic.”

  “Colic!”

  “Yes colic,” Kate answered. “I called the vet. Izzy’s here too, but I’ve got to stay with her. Are Mum and Dad back?”

  “Not yet, but what am I going to say to them when they do get back?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be home before then,” Kate said slowly, feeling exhausted.

  “Well, if you’re not, I’ll just have to think of something,” Alex said, kindly.

  “Thanks,” Kate said gratefully. That was so like Alex. He might be all big-brotherly and patronising, but when it came down to it, she knew she could count on his support. And besides, anything to do with horses concerned him as much as it did her. Kate hurried out of the tack room and back to the stable. Izzy stood still, patiently comforting Midnight. He looked terrible. His head hung low and his coat was clumped in whorls, but at least he was calmer.

  “How is he?” Kate called, hurrying back to join Izzy.

  “Fine,” Izzy answered. “The vet was right, it does seem to be easing off.”

  “He looks shattered though,” Kate answered. “Don’t you boy?” she said, patting his shoulder. “Well, we’d better settle down and watch him,” she said. “I don’t think he much likes the idea of sharing his stable with us, Izzy,” Kate joked.

  “No, he doesn’t seem to know what to think, does he?” Izzy answered. She took a deep breath. “Thank you for all you’ve done, Kate,” she said.

  “That’s OK. And actually, there’s something I wanted to say to you, Izzy. I’m sorry I was so funny when you first arrived at Sandy Lane. It’s just that you were so off-hand, and well, I couldn’t bear the idea of someone else entered for Hawthorn too. We didn’t get off on a very good footing really, did we?” she said.

  “No, I suppose not,” said Izzy. The two girls looked at each other.

  “Let’s call it quits,” Kate suggested.

  “Yes, quits.” Izzy smiled and nodded.

  The two girls sat down in the straw, keeping a watchful eye on the black horse. And that was how Nick found them when he returned to the stables at almost midnight. They had a lot of explaining to do...

  10

  A CHANGE OF HEART

  “So he’s eating properly now, is he?” Kate looked across her bedroom to where Izzy lay sprawled across the floor.

  “Just about,” Izzy answered, flicking through the pages of a pony magazine. “I thought he was going to die,” she went on. “I’d never have forgiven myself if he had.”

  It had been three days since the awful evening Kate had discovered Midnight with colic, and he had made a full recovery. Slowly, the two girls were getting to know each other.

  Kate had been in serious trouble when her parents had got back to find her not there. Alex had tried to make excuses for her, but they’d rushed out to the stables immediately. The result had been instant grounding. She’d known she’d had it coming, but still it didn’t make it any easier being away from Sandy Lane. She had to content herself with a progress report from Izzy and it just wasn’t the same as seeing it with her own eyes.

  “He finished off all of his haynet this evening, Kate,” Izzy started. “But how are you doing anyway?”

  “OK,” Kate answered glumly. “Bored but OK. It’s the first time in my life I can safely say I’ll be glad to be going back to school tomorrow. I can’t believe you didn’t get into trouble for being out so late. Your parents must be so much cooler than mine.”

  Izzy turned a bright shade of red and it was a while before she spoke. “Er, well, actually I didn’t tell them I’d been out,” she muttered, finally.

  “What?” Kate propped herself up onto her elbow and looked across the room.

  Izzy took a deep breath. “Well, they never knew I’d left the house. I climbed out of my bedroom window you see,” she said, nonchalantly. “They never even noticed I was gone.”

  “What!” Kate looked surprised. “I can’t believe it.”

  Izzy shrugged her shoulders. She desperately wanted to get everything off her chest. She dearly wanted to tell Kate the whole story, but she just didn’t know how Kate would react. Every time she went to do it, a nagging voice in her head told her that it would spoil things.

  Izzy got up and walked across the room. “Look Kate,” she started. “There’s something I’ve got to tell you.”

  “This sounds serious,” Kate joked. “Come on then, tell me what it is. What dark secret are you hiding?”

  “Well, I don’t know where to start really,” Izzy said, in a shaky voice.

  Kate looked startled. “It can’t be that bad, can it?”

  “It is–” Izzy started speaking uncontrollably fast and in seconds had blurted out the whole sorry story – how she had come to be loaned Midnight, how she had had to turn down Mrs. Charlwood’s offer and then the plan to keep Midnight.

  “So you see, I just have to win at the trials,” Izzy went on. “Everything’s riding on it. If I don’t, I won’t be able to pay Nick what I owe him.”

  Kate was silent for a moment as she took it all in.

  “Say something, Kate,” Izzy begged.

  “I just don’t know what to say,” Kate stammered. “I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe you had the nerve to do it. And you haven’t told your parents any of this?”

  “Are you mad? Of course I haven’t,” said Izzy. “Although they know that I’m riding in a horse trials on Saturday.”

  “Well, who on earth do they think you’re riding?” Kate burst out.

  “I told them that Mrs. Charlwood had decided to send Midnight to the stables I’ve been going to, and that I’ve been picked to ride him,” Izzy started.

  “And they believed you?” Kate looked astonished.

  “It’s sort of true, Kate,” Izzy pleaded. “The only thing I haven’t told them is that I’m supposed to be paying his livery fees.”

  “Oh so that makes it all right then, does it?” Kate said. She was deeply shocked, but she was already starting to feel a little sorry, as she stared at her friend’s pale face. Izzy looked sick with worry, and now that Kate came to think of it, great dark shadows ringed her eyes.

  “But even if you do win at Hawthorn,” Kate started, an awful thought having crossed her mind. “It’s hardly going to be enough to pay for a livery fee forever, is it?”

  “I know... I know that now,” Izzy cried. “I just didn’t think about it at the time. I just jumped in feet first. I thought I’d be able to work out a way to earn the rest of the money later, that I’d do a paper round or something. What would you have done?” Izzy asked. “Would you have just sat by and let Midnight be sold?”

  “No, but–” Kate looked thoughtful. “Oh, I don’t know, we can’t even begin to think about that now. We’ve just got to try to sort this out.”

  Ka
te stopped for a moment. What would she have done though? Deep down she knew she wouldn’t have had the guts to do what Izzy had done and for the first time, she felt a stirring, something like admiration, for the girl who sat so boldly in front of her, pouring her heart out.

  “So let’s get this straight,” Kate started again. “Your parents know that you’ve been coming to Sandy Lane, they just don’t know that Midnight’s your horse.”

  “Yes,” said Izzy, waiting for Kate to come up with a solution.

  “Well.” Kate took a deep breath. “If you want my advice, Izzy, I think you should tell your parents before Hawthorn–”

  “Tell my parents?” Izzy cried. “But I can’t, they’ll go mad.”

  “Well, they’re going to find out sooner or later, aren’t they? Wouldn’t it be better if you got it off your chest straight away before it gets any worse? They’ll know what to do,” said Kate.

  “They’ll just make me sell Midnight,” Izzy said, mournfully.

  “But if you don’t tell your parents, and you don’t win at Hawthorn, you won’t even have the money to pay Nick and Sarah for his livery fee. At least if you tell your parents, they might help you out before you dig yourself in any deeper.”

  “I know. I know you’re right.” Izzy hung her head. “But you don’t know my parents. It’s not going to be that easy.”

  “Look,” Kate said in a reassuring voice. “If you explain it all to them, the way you’ve explained it to me, they’ll have to understand. Yes, they’re going to be furious at first, but if you tell them that the prize money from Hawthorn will cover you for a month’s livery and that you’re sure to win, they might soften and pay for the rest of his stabling,” Kate said, sounding more confident than she felt.

  “Not a chance,” Izzy said glumly. “You don’t know my parents, Kate–”

  “Kate, Kate.” A voice boomed up the stairs, drawing their conversation to a close. “Supper!”

  “Bother,” Kate said quickly. “You’ll have to go. Look, we’ll talk about this some other time. Right now I’ve got to keep in Mum’s good books. I don’t want to be grounded from Hawthorn too. Think about what I’ve said. You’ll feel much better once you’ve told them,” she said, rising to her feet. “You’ve got nothing to lose, have you?”

  “I suppose not,” Izzy said. “No, you’re right, Kate,” she said with new resolve. “I’ll do it.”

  “Good,” Kate answered, leading Izzy down the stairs.

  “Promise you won’t tell any of the others about all this?” Izzy whispered, turning back to Kate as they headed for the door. “I couldn’t bear it if they knew.”

  “I promise,” Kate sighed.

  As Izzy stepped outside, Kate’s words rang in her ears. You’ve got nothing to lose. Izzy stopped in her tracks. But she had, hadn’t she? They might make her sell Midnight. She had everything to lose.

  11

  AN UNEXPECTED REACTION

  A whole school week had gone by since Izzy had had that conversation with Kate, and still she hadn’t done anything about telling her parents. There just hadn’t been a suitable moment. Now it was Friday evening and Hawthorn was the next day, that really didn’t leave much time. Izzy pushed open the back door to her house and stepped into the kitchen. She felt ready to collapse. It had been a long day at school and on top of that, she’d just spent the last couple of hours at Sandy Lane.

  Kate had hardly spoken to her all evening. Izzy knew that Kate was cross that she hadn’t told her parents yet.

  “There’s never quite the right time for you is there, Izzy?” Kate had cried in exasperation. “You’ll just feel so much better when you’ve told them. I wish you’d just get on with it.”

  “Look Kate–” Izzy had started. But she hadn’t got any further. Nick had overheard the conversation and had asked them what the problem was. That had shut them up. Izzy had ended up promising Kate she would do something about it that evening.

  Izzy sighed as she walked through the hallway. The house was quiet and in total darkness. She looked at her watch. Six o’clock. Her mother was probably still at work, but judging from the light streaming out from under the study door, her father was at home. Twice Izzy walked up to the study to rap on the door, only to walk away again. She felt as though she was standing at the edge of a precipice waiting to jump. It was now or never. Boldly, she knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” her father’s voice answered.

  Izzy turned the handle. Inside, her father was shrouded in darkness, a table lamp lighting his work.

  “What is it Izzy? I’m quite busy,” he said.

  “Could I have a word, please Dad?” she said, nervously.

  “Is it important?” he asked, not looking up from his computer.

  “Well yes,” Izzy answered. “Yes it is.” She took a deep breath.

  Her father held up his hand before she started. “I know what I meant to tell you,” he said. “I got a call today from a chap at that stables you’ve been going to – someone called Nick?”

  Izzy’s heart began to beat double time. So Nick had found out already. Had Kate told him? She opened her mouth to say something and closed it again. She couldn’t think of an excuse.

  “I’m sorry Dad. I’m really sorry. I–”

  “Sorry?” Mr. Paterson looked bemused. “Whatever for? I rather liked him actually, he wanted to know if your mother and I wanted tickets to watch you ride at this horse show thing. He seemed quite impressed by you...said you were pretty good, Izzy.” Mr. Paterson looked up at his daughter. “This is the first time I’ve heard anyone rave about your abilities since you were at kindergarten!” he laughed. “Aren’t you pleased?”

  Izzy couldn’t bring herself to say anything as her father went on.

  “Anyway, I spoke to your mother and we’ve decided we’re going to come and watch and see how you do. Perhaps there’s more to this riding lark than we thought. Izzy are you listening?”

  But Izzy was miles away. She felt as though she was hearing everything from a distance. She had to tell him before it was too late.

  “Dad,” she began. “Oh, it’s all such a mess. I don’t know where to start–”

  “What is it now, Izzy?” Mr. Paterson smiled. “Must you always make a mountain out of a molehill?”

  “I’m not this time, Dad. Dad, you’re not listening to me,” Izzy cried. “You’re not listening at all. I’ve lied. I lied to both you and Mum. Mrs. Charlwood didn’t send Midnight to Sandy Lane at all – I did.” Izzy blurted the words out.

  “You did?” Mr. Paterson looked surprised. “What are you talking about Izzy?”

  “Well, I didn’t let him go to the sale. I couldn’t. You see, I thought that if I could win at Hawthorn, I could pay for his livery fees for a month, and then...and then...”

  “Whoa, now slow down a minute, Izzy,” Mr. Paterson’s voice was dangerously careful. “Mrs. Charlwood let you do all this?”

  “Well, not exactly,” Izzy gulped, looking at her father who was ready to blow a fuse. “You see, I told her you’d agreed to it–”

  “WHAT!” Mr. Paterson bellowed. For a moment he was lost for words, and then he started again, as the full force of what Izzy had said hit home. “This Nick knows about all this does he?” he asked. “Did he put you up to it?”

  “Of course not,” Izzy said, quickly. “He doesn’t know a thing about it.”

  “Well I’m not having it, you’re not riding,” Mr. Paterson shouted.

  “But Dad,” Izzy started, the colour draining from her face. “I’ve got to. Nick’s depending on it.”

  “Well Nick had better undepend on it. He’s going to think I’m a right idiot after our conversation today, isn’t he?” He paused for a moment. “On second thoughts, you’d better ride tomorrow.” Izzy looked astonished, waiting for Mr. Paterson to continue with the conditions that were bound to follow. “But then that horse is going.”

  “But–” Izzy started. It was worse than she’d imagined po
ssible.

  “No buts,” Mr. Paterson said, sternly. “I can’t believe you’ve lied to me like this. I’m very disappointed in you, Izzy, and your mother will be too.”

  “But Dad, you can’t tell Mum,” Izzy wailed, the tears welling in her eyes. “Ple-ee-ase. Please wait until things are over. She’ll be so disappointed.”

  Mr. Paterson looked thoughtful and made a snap decision. “You’re right, your mother’s got enough on her plate at the moment. No, perhaps I won’t tell her yet,” he started. “I’ll wait till it’s all over. But she’ll have to know afterwards.”

  Izzy hung her head, shamefully.

  “You’ve let us down badly,” Mr. Paterson said, shaking his head. “And you can phone this Nick and tell him we’ll be driving you to the trials too. You’re not going with the rest of the team. Now that I’ve heard what you’re capable of, I wouldn’t put anything past you,” Mr. Paterson continued, not allowing Izzy to interrupt.

  It was all too much – the confession, the confusion, the telling-off. Before Izzy knew it, the tears were coursing down her cheeks.

  “I have to phone Kate,” she said, anything to escape from the room. “At least she won’t be annoyed with me.” And quickly she ran down the corridor.

  Anxiously, Izzy twisted the telephone cord in her fingers as she dialled Kate’s number. And then Izzy’s heart sank as she heard the dull engaged tone at the other end.

  She put the phone down in despair. She’d have to try her again tomorrow. Right now all she wanted to do was curl up in bed. She hurried upstairs and closed her bedroom door behind her. Izzy wiped her eyes with her sleeve. It didn’t really matter if she won or lost at Hawthorn tomorrow now – not if she couldn’t keep Midnight anyway. And yet somehow it did. Somehow it mattered very much how she rode tomorrow. She had to show her parents what had made her do it. She had to prove that Midnight had been worth it.

  “Come on, Kate. If you don’t get out of that bath you’ll disappear down the plug hole.”