Magic Ponies: A Special Wish (4 page)

‘See you later!’ Marcie waved as their car drove away and she closed the front door.

As she pulled on her riding boots and grabbed her hat, she made herself a promise to email Lara as soon as she got back from helping Comet look for Destiny.

Comet saw her coming towards the paddock and gave a whinny of welcome. The morning sun made his dapple-grey coat look like polished metal.

‘Hi, Comet! We’ve got the whole morning to search for Destiny. Let’s go, shall we?’ she sang out.

Comet tossed his head with eagerness, his deep violet eyes flashing. ‘Yes, Marcie, but I need to do one thing first.’

Marcie felt a warm prickling sensation flowing down to her fingertips as bright violet sparks bloomed in Comet’s dapple-grey coat. There was a crackling sound and a flash of rainbow light, which quickly faded to reveal Comet standing there fully tacked-up.

‘Wow! That’s brilliant,’ Marcie exclaimed at Comet’s cleverness. He was full of surprises.

Comet pawed the ground. ‘Climb on to my back, Marcie.’

Marcie checked that all the straps were tightened and then mounted. As the magic pony broke into a trot down to the far end of the paddock, Marcie moved in time to his strides. They reached the barred gate that opened straight into Willow Lane, and Marcie opened it and closed it behind them.

A few metres down the quiet winding lane, she turned Comet on to a track that led along the edge of a field and then to open farmland. Marcie and Lara had often ridden Tramp here. She knew all the best bridleways through the woods and which farmers allowed riders to cross their land.

‘Let’s go, Comet!’ Marcie cried, nudging him on.

Comet snorted eagerly, pulling at his bit, and sprang forward into a gallop. Marcie crouched low on his back, her hair blowing in the warm breeze. Excitement raced through her. Comet was thrilling to ride, so smooth and exciting, and his warm magic seemed to spread around her, so that however fast they went, she felt perfectly safe.

Comet almost flew along, his hooves barely brushing the grass. His head turned left and right as his sharp eyes searched for any sign that Destiny had come this way.

‘Hold tight!’ he told Marcie as he surged up a slope that led to the crest of a hill. At the top he paused, his mane and tail stirring in the breeze, and then plunged down the other side towards some woods.

Marcie caught her breath, almost laughing aloud with joy. Happiness filled her. She loved nothing better in the whole world than riding on a bright sunny day.

Comet checked his stride and slowed as they entered the shade of the trees.

Bright green ferns bordered the bridle path on both sides and grew thickly among the trees. They were so tall that a dog or a very small pony could have hidden beneath them. Marcie peered into the undergrowth as they pressed on, keeping a lookout, but there was no sign of Destiny

After a thorough search, they emerged from the woods.

‘I do not think she came this way,’ Comet said, scanning the shallow ridge ahead of them, which was dotted with grazing sheep.

Marcie spotted two small ponies tethered in a field to one side. ‘Look! Maybe Destiny is disguised as one of those!’ she cried.

Comet nickered with renewed interest as he cantered over to investigate. But neither of the shaggy little ponies was Destiny. He trotted away sadly.

‘I only hope that Destiny has found a safe hiding place,’ Comet whinnied. ‘The dark horses are always watching and waiting to steal our magic.’

‘We’ll find her. I know we will. There are lots more places to search around here. I’ll show you.’ Marcie patted his neck and then clicked her tongue encouragingly.

They rode on, taking a circular route that eventually brought them back through the woods.

‘I think we’d better make for home now,’ Marcie decided reluctantly. ‘Mum and Dad will be back soon.’

Comet nodded.

They retraced their steps, but skirted the bottom of the hill. The track came out further down Willow Lane. Facing them, Marcie could see the stone pillars that marked the large gateway of Blackberry Farm, which had been empty for ages.

She noticed that there were cars on the farmhouse drive and a woman was putting curtains up at an upstairs window. The stable block had been freshly painted.

On impulse, she reined in Comet and they stopped beside one of the stone pillars, out of sight of the main house.

‘It looks like new people have moved in,’ she commented. ‘I wonder what they’re like.’

Just then, a large muscular brown horse burst out of an open stable door. Tossing its head, it laid back its ears and raced towards them.

Chapter
FIVE

‘Quick, Comet! We have to stop that horse getting out!’ Marcie cried. ‘The busy main road runs along the bottom of Willow Lane!’

Comet stepped forward and stood side-on to block the gateway.

The brown horse snorted as it slewed to a halt half a metre away. Rolling its eyes, it reared up on to its back legs.

‘Watch out! It’s going to kick!’ Marcie warned, steeling herself for a painful blow as the horse’s flailing hooves came within centimetres of hitting her leg. Though she was more scared that Comet would be hurt.

Pushing down on the stirrups she stood up and waved her arms at the frightened horse, hoping it would turn aside and not try to bite or kick as it pushed past them.

Comet stood his ground. He turned his head to look at the brown horse and Marcie felt another tingling sensation flow down her fingers as violet sparks glowed in Comet’s dapple-grey coat. A shimmering mist briefly surrounded the horse and then gradually faded along with every last violet spark.

The brown horse stood there, calm now. Its dark eyes were soft and kindly. Comet gave a friendly blow and reached out to touch noses gently with it.

‘Well done, Comet!’ Marcie dismounted and moved slowly towards the loose horse. Luckily it wore a head collar, so she reached up and grasped hold. ‘Don’t be scared now. It’s OK, I won’t hurt you,’ she said reassuringly. To her relief, it didn’t throw up its head or try to back away.

‘You were very brave to try to stop that horse,’ Comet said to Marcie.

‘I didn’t really think about it. I couldn’t bear the idea of you being hurt. Anyway, you were brave too,’ she said, looking at Comet adoringly. ‘I reckon we saved each other!’

‘Oh, thank goodness. You’ve caught her!’

A boy, who looked about twelve years old, was running up to Marcie and Comet. He had fair hair that flopped forward on to his forehead and an open friendly face.

A younger girl came pounding after him. The girl drew level with the boy and stood there, breathing hard.

‘What’s happening? Is Drift all right?’ she demanded, frowning.

The boy looked round at her. ‘She’s fine. Don’t panic, Sally. Luckily, this girl caught her before she did herself any damage.’ He took a lead rope out of his jeans pocket and clipped it on to the brown horse’s head collar.

‘And we’re fine too, thanks,’ Marcie said drily. It had been pretty scary to have Drift run straight at her and Comet.

‘Oh yeah. Sorry about that. Drift’s a total sweetie, except when she’s having one of her off days!’ he said to Marcie with a narrow grin.

‘Like today?’ Marcie guessed, smiling. ‘I’m Marcie Locket. I live just up the lane.’

‘Hi, Marcie. I’m Ian Bale and this girl, who looks like she’s just sucked a lemon, is my sister, Sally.’

‘Very funny. Not!’ Sally shot back at him.

She also had fair hair, held back from her face by a brown velvet hair band and there was a sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. She looked about nine years old and would have been very pretty if she hadn’t been scowling fiercely.

‘You total idiot, Ian. You should have kept your eye on Drift,’ Sally scolded her brother. ‘You know what she can be like. Here, I’ll take her.’

‘Me?
You
left the stable door open!’ Ian said.

‘I did not!’ Sally’s cheeks flamed.

‘Yes, you di– Oh, forget it,’ Ian said, shrugging. He obviously couldn’t be bothered to get into an argument in front of Marcie and Comet. Sighing, he handed her the leading rope. ‘Suit yourself.’

His sister flashed him a triumphant grin and then clicked her tongue at Drift. Turning on her heel, she led the horse back towards the stables.

‘Oh, by the way, thanks,’ Sally murmured, not bothering to look back round at Marcie.

‘No problem,’ Marcie called after her.

Ian gave Marcie a wry grin. ‘Don’t mind Sally. She’s a drama queen, but she never stays grumpy for long.’ He ran an appreciative eye over Comet. ‘He’s a Connemara, isn’t he? They’re good allrounders, aren’t they? We used to have one. What’s he called?’

‘Comet,’ Marcie told him.

‘Hello, boy.’ Ian put up his hand so Comet could nuzzle it. ‘How long have you had him?’ he asked Marcie.

‘Not very long. Actually he’s… um… on loan,’ Marcie said vaguely, hoping to avoid awkward questions. ‘I didn’t know that anyone had moved into Blackberry Farm. How long have you been here?’ she asked, quickly changing the subject.

‘Just a couple of weeks,’ Ian told her. ‘I really like it here. I reckon there’ll be lots of good places to ride.’

‘There are,’ Marcie agreed. ‘I could show you and Sally some, if you like. Have you got any other horses or ponies besides Drift?’