The Midnight Horse

by Michelle Bates

  Almost immediately Kate was surrounded by a circle of excited faces.

  “Clear round, Kate,” the Sandy Lane team cried.

  “Yes, well done, Kate,” said Nick. Kate smiled weakly. Anxiously, she looked around her as she jumped to the ground.

  “Have you seen Izzy?” she asked Alex.

  “She’s with her parents,” he answered, raising his eyebrows. “It seems she’s got rather a lot to discuss with them.”

  “Do you know what exactly?” Kate asked, nervously.

  “Well no,” said Alex. “She muttered something about Midnight’s livery fees.”

  “That’s all you know?” Kate queried.

  “Well, what more is there to know?” Alex said. “Honestly, you and Izzy have been so secretive lately. Are you up to something?” he asked, suspiciously.

  “Of course we’re not,” Kate said, narrowly avoiding Alex’s eye, as she led Midnight off by the reins.

  14

  CROSS-COUNTRY

  It didn’t taken Kate long to find Izzy, nor for Izzy to relate her woeful tale. She’d had a lot of explaining to do when her parents had arrived at the first aid tent – not least of all to her mother when her father spilled the beans about her deception. Mrs. Paterson hadn’t taken it that well. She’d been as adamant as Izzy’s father that Midnight had to be sold. Izzy couldn’t bear the atmosphere in the tent and had sneaked away as soon as possible.

  Now, as Kate and Izzy leant on the railings by the cross-country course, they both felt gloomy. Wearily, Izzy clapped her hands together as competitor number forty-three rode through the finish to a round of applause.

  “Come on. Don’t be despondent, Kate,” Izzy said. “You should be the one trying to cheer me up not the other way round.”

  “I know, I know,” said Kate. “I suppose I just thought that your parents would help you, that they’d come up with something.”

  “And they have,” Izzy said. “They’ve agreed to pay Nick what I owe him – nearly a month’s livery fee – it’s pretty generous,” she said, suddenly feeling annoyed. It was all right for her to criticise her parents, but she didn’t like the thought of someone else doing it.

  “But how can you say that? They’re still making you sell Midnight,” Kate cried.

  Izzy shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know why you thought it would be any different,” she said, trying to keep the choking feeling out of her voice. “And at least you get to ride him at the trials,” she said, gruffly.

  “Look Izzy, you said you wanted me to,” Kate said, hurt by her friend’s tone of voice. Suddenly she felt an overwhelming urge to tell Izzy how she had sacrificed her own chances with Feather. But she stopped herself. It would only be rubbing salt into the wound. Besides, it couldn’t change things now. And then there was an announcement over the loud speaker that caused Kate to start.

  “And that was the leader, Justin Rolph on Light Fandango in four minutes and thirty seconds,” the speaker announced.

  Both friends looked up. Kate went quiet.

  “Great,” she said despondently. “I’ll never beat that.”

  “Of course you will, Kate,” Izzy said confidently.

  “But it was so fast,” said Kate.

  “But you only have to ride four minutes fifteen to make up the two points,” Izzy said.

  Kate looked doubtful. Izzy shrugged her shoulders and turned away. It was a few minutes before she said anything.

  “Hmm, well perhaps you’re right, Kate. In fact, you ought to have practised a little harder at Sandy Lane – after all, cross-country’s never been your strong point, has it?” she said, looking down so that Kate couldn’t see her biting her bottom lip. “I always used to beat you hands down,” Izzy continued.

  “What do you mean you used to beat me hands down?” Kate was indignant now. “Only because you used to almost break Midnight’s neck in the process,” she shouted. “Well, we’ll soon see about that.”

  And marching off, she stomped across the showground, leaving Izzy standing alone. It was just the reaction Izzy had wanted.

  “Yes, we will soon see about that, Kate,” she said, limping off slowly with her crutches.

  Kate gritted her teeth as she and Midnight stood in the start box, patiently waiting for the official to signal the start of the cross-country. The wind was blowing up around them. She’d have to go very fast if they were to have any chance of winning. Kate held her breath. The starter counted her down and they were off.

  The whoops of the crowd echoed in her ears as they thundered to the first and galloped into the trees. Skirting through the woody copse, turning this way and that, Kate navigated a clear route through to the other side and then they were at the sloping rails.

  “Come on, Midnight,” she cried determinedly as she collected him for the log into the water. “Steady now, easy does it.”

  The black horse jumped into the water and splashed through the brook. Leaning forwards in the saddle, Kate urged him up the other side. His hooves sank deep into the mud as he struggled to keep his footing, but he was out clear and now they galloped the turn for the fallen tree.

  Over that and nimbly Kate turned for the drop into the creek, leaning back to take the weight off Midnight’s front legs, down into the dip and up the other side for the rails. The mud sprayed up in Kate’s face and she spluttered, breathlessly.

  It was a long and hard gallop to the next fence but so far so good, they hadn’t put a foot wrong. Bracing herself for the tyres, Kate pushed her seat down deep into the saddle.

  “Come on,” she cried, riding hard in the approach. The gutsy black horse didn’t baulk at the solid jump. With a huge leap, he hauled himself over it with inches to spare. Kate didn’t even give him time to think about what he had just cleared as she turned him for the low gate and surged on over the trough. Halfway home. Kate was starting to feel confident now.

  Sailing over the stone wall, they headed for the next fence. Kate drove Midnight on with her heels and he rose to the challenge, tucking his legs neatly up under him. Now it was Devil’s Ditch. Kate could sense that he was tiring. Down the bank, over the log pile and onto the triple bar. Kate rode at the middle of the jump, steadying Midnight for the take-off and they landed lightly.

  Just two more jumps. The double oxer was now in their sights. Up and over and touchdown. They were clear. Just one more jump. The black horse swished his tail as they flew across the turf and sprinted through the finish.

  Crossing the line, Kate drew to a halt and collapsed in a heap on Midnight’s neck. Had she done it? Gasping to catch her breath, she didn’t even look up at the sound of voices around her.

  Before she knew it, she was surrounded by Nick and the Sandy Lane gang. It was some time before she’d even got her breath back to speak.

  “Are you OK?” Nick asked, patting her on the back. “Say something.”

  For once Kate was lost for words. “How did I do?” she croaked.

  “Brilliantly. You rode brilliantly,” Alex said, as Kate slithered to the ground, her legs quivering like jelly beneath her.

  “But was it enough?” she gasped.

  “We’ll have to wait and see,” said Alex.

  “Kate Hardy and Midnight. Four minutes and twelve seconds,” the loud speaker announced.

  “You’ve done it! You’ve done it!” the Sandy Lane team cried. But there was only one face Kate wanted to see.

  “There,” Kate said, proudly, as Izzy and her parents strode over. “Who said I couldn’t do it?” she said.

  “I didn’t doubt it for a moment,” Izzy grinned, patting Midnight’s neck.

  And suddenly everything dawned on Kate. “You!” she said, pointing her finger at Izzy. “You only said it to spur me on.”

  “And it worked didn’t it?” Izzy said. “Kate, meet Mum and Dad.”

  “Hello,” Kate said, remembering her manners in front of Izzy’s parents. She looked at their smiling faces and was suddenly puzzled. Izzy had just been told she h
ad to sell her horse and she looked positively glowing. Her parents didn’t look that annoyed either. And now, here were Nick and her own parents arriving to add to the crowd.

  “Well done Kate,” Nick started. “You rode fantastically. And as for Midnight – well, not bad for an old fellow,” he said, patting his neck.

  Kate’s parents stepped forward.

  “Yes well done, Kate.” Mrs. Hardy beamed. Kate looked pleased, but then she remembered that there was something more pressing that she needed to know about. What was happening to Midnight? Kate looked at Izzy waiting for an explanation.

  “What’s going on, Izzy?” she started.

  “I can keep Midnight,” Izzy said, calmly.

  Before Izzy even had a chance to explain further, the loud speaker made another announcement.

  “Kate Hardy and Midnight are the overall winners of the Junior Hawthorn Cup,” came the result.

  “I’ve won? I’ve truly won at Hawthorn?” Kate said, momentarily distracted. “I don’t believe it.”

  “Well, you’d better believe it,” said Izzy, pushing Kate into the ring. “Stuffy old Major Benrick is waiting to present your prize to you. Hurry up.” Izzy smiled. “Go on, they’re calling your name.”

  “But what’s going on?”

  “Don’t worry Kate. I’ll explain it all when you get back. Just go out there and collect that cup. If you don’t hurry they’ll give it to someone else,” Izzy teased. “All you need to know is that Midnight’s here to stay,” she smiled. “But it’s a bit of a long story...”

  Kate remounted and rode off slowly, burning with curiosity. “I’ll deal with you later,” she called back to Izzy as she rode into the ring. But she wasn’t really annoyed, not when she had just won. She was first at Hawthorn! As Kate collected her cup and galloped the lap of honour, she could only smile.

  15

  MIDNIGHT TO STAY

  “For she’s a jolly good fellow, for she’s a jolly good fellow, for she’s a jolly good fe-e-llow...”

  Nick covered his ears to drown out the singing as he drove the Sandy Lane team back to the yard. But he didn’t try to stop them. He was pleased they were happy – a first at Hawthorn was excellent. Izzy and Kate were tucked away in the back, out of earshot of the lively lot in the front.

  “I’m sorry you didn’t get to ride at the trials, Izzy,” Kate started.

  “That’s the least of my worries,” Izzy answered. “Who cares about all that when I can keep Midnight? There’ll be plenty of other trials for us.”

  “So tell me again exactly how it happened – and slowly this time,” Kate said.

  “Are you sure you want the whole story?” Izzy asked tiredly. It had been a long day for her.

  “Of course I do,” Kate said smiling. “From start to finish.”

  “Hmm.” Izzy took a deep breath. “Well, this is all third hand remember. I only know what happened from Mum, but I’ll tell you anyway. After I sneaked out of the first aid tent, it seems Dad went off to find Nick. He told him all about the deception, expecting Nick to be as furious as he was, and instead Nick stuck up for me...said that I was a gutsy kid and had enough talent to fill a stable.” Izzy blushed at the words of praise.

  “Anyway, Dad couldn’t believe it,” Izzy went on, her enthusiasm spilling out into her speech. “He was really put out that Nick was sticking up for me and then when Nick said he would be prepared to buy Midnight if Dad couldn’t afford to keep him, it was the final straw. Dad jumped in and agreed to let me keep him immediately.”

  “That’s brilliant,” said Kate.

  “Yes,” Izzy smiled happily. “But there are conditions attached – it wasn’t a complete breeze. Midnight and I are on a six month trial period, so I’ve got to work really hard at school to improve my marks, although, Mum says I’ve as good as got him,” Izzy babbled, happily. “And there was something else that swayed things too.”

  Kate waited patiently as Izzy went on.

  “I think that the details of it all rather intrigued him,” she started. “Me wanting Midnight so badly...keeping him secret...the colic... He said it all had the makings of a great book!”

  Kate laughed as Izzy’s story unfolded and the Land Rover turned sharply into the yard.

  The dark was closing in as the horses were unboxed and it wasn’t long before Midnight was back in his stable. The two girls stood leaning on the door, watching the black horse eat from his haynet.

  “It’s strange how things turn out really, isn’t it?” Izzy said thoughtfully.

  “What do you mean?” Kate puzzled.

  “Well, if I hadn’t seen that advert at the post office, I’d never have met Mrs. Charlwood, or Midnight for that matter. I’d never have found Sandy Lane, or met you lot...a whole load of chance happenings really – one leading to the other. And who’d have thought that I’d be able to keep Midnight after all. I know I was lucky. I shouldn’t really have been able to get away with it,” Izzy began.

  “Now, you’re not going to get serious on me, are you?” Kate groaned.

  “No,” Izzy laughed. “Nothing like that. It’s just that...well, never mind.” Izzy stopped herself.

  “No, go on, Izzy. Say what you were going to say,” Kate said, intrigued.

  “Well, it’s just funny how you can be so wrong about people too,” Izzy started. “Do you remember when I first arrived at Sandy Lane for instance?”

  “How could I forget it?” Kate answered.

  “Well, you’ve got to remember I was upset I had been parted from Midnight for so long,” Izzy went on. “And I’d had the flu and then you were so awful...so frosty.”

  “Me, frosty?”

  The two girls turned and frowned at each other. It was just at that moment that Midnight lifted his head and whinnied loudly, bringing their squabble to a close.

  Kate looked at Izzy. Izzy looked at Kate, and they both burst out laughing.

  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.

  1. A Horse for the Summer

  2. Runaway Pony

  3. Strangers at the Stables

  4. The Midnight Horse

  5. Dream Pony

  6. Ride by Moonlight

  7. Horse in Danger

  8. The Perfect Pony

  9. Riding Holiday

  1. A Horse for the Summer

  by Michelle Bates

  There was a frantic whinny and the sound of drumming hooves reverberated around the yard as Chancey pranced down the ramp. He was certainly on his toes, but he didn’t look like the sleek, well turned-out horse that Tom remembered seeing last season. He was still unclipped and his shabby winter coat was flecked with foam as feverishly he pawed the ground. No one knew what to say...

  Tom’s cousin has agreed to lend him Chancey, her stunning chestnut gelding, for the summer. But Tom’s elation turns to dismay when he sees the state Chancey is in. It will take a lot of hard work to get the horse ready for the summer shows, but Tom is determined...until Nick decides Chancey is too dangerous to ride. What is Tom going to do?

  2. Runaway Pony

  by Susannah Leigh

  Angry shouting and the crunch of hooves on gravel made Jess spin around sharply. Careering towards her, wild-eyed with fear and long tail flying behind, was a palomino pony. It was completely out of control. Jess’s heart began to pound and her breath came in sharp gasps, but almost without thinking she held out her arms...

  When a runaway pony gallops into Sandy Lane, Jess doesn’t flinch. Thanks to her quick reactions, the beautiful palomino pony is caught. But the man chasing her isn’t all he seems. Soon, Jess is bitterly regretting her moment of heroism...

  3. Strangers at the Stables

  by Michelle Bates

  Thoughts jostled around in Rosie’s mind as she crossed the yard. She couldn’t believe how many things had gone wrong in the couple of weeks Nick and Sarah h
ad been gone. She needed time to think. There was something worrying her, right at the back of her mind... something that held the key to it all. But what was it?

  When the owners of Sandy Lane are called away everyone still expects the stables to run smoothly in their absence. No one is quite prepared for all the things that happen over the next few weeks. There isn’t time to get help, the regulars of Sandy Lane have to act fast, if they want to save their stables...

  4. The Midnight Horse

  by Michelle Bates

  The horse cantered gracefully around the paddock in long easy strides, his tail held high, the crest of his neck arched. His jet-black coat contrasted sharply with the white frost, his hooves hardly seemed to touch the ground as he danced forward...

  Riding at the Hawthorn Horse Trials is all that Kate has dreamed of and this year she’s in with a real chance of winning. As she works hard to prepare for the day, it seems nothing will distract her from her goal. But then the mysterious midnight horse rides into Kate’s life, and suddenly everything changes...

  5. Dream Pony

  by Susannah Leigh

  The palomino was now just about on their tails. Jess could see that the ponies were lathered with sweat. As they passed, a blonde-haired girl shot Jess and Rosie a look which clearly indicated she considered them to be inferior. Then she dug her heels into her horse’s side and galloped away...

  Jess can hardly believe it, but she really is the proud owner of Skylark. There’s only one problem. Skylark must be kept at Rychester, a rival stables. Rychester couldn’t be more different from Sandy Lane, and neither could its riders. Jess’s dream is about to turn into a nightmare...

  6. Ride by Moonlight