Star of the Show (6 page)

As they headed toward Harpford Manor's main gates, they saw some film equipment stacked up to one side beside the path. Leaning against it were some wooden boards painted with scenery.

Suddenly, a short little dog with a sparkling collar and a trailing leash shot right through the gateway. It was Lady!

“She must have run off! Lady! Come here,” Tessa called in a friendly, gentle way. But the pug shied away and ran sideways.

“I will catch her,” Storm yapped helpfully, bounding forward.

Lady ran headlong toward the scenery, brushing against it as she looked for a hiding place in this exciting new game. One of the big lights that sat right on the top of the stack of film equipment wobbled. It was going to fall!

Tessa looked on in horror as it began to fall toward the ground—with Storm right beneath it!

Chapter SEVEN

“Look out!” Tessa shouted.

Storm was too focused on snapping at Lady's leash to notice the danger. Tessa realized that he wouldn't have time to use his magical powers.

Without a second thought she threw herself forward. One step, two steps.
Scoop! Scoop!
By a complete miracle she managed to grab both Storm and Lady by the scruff of their necks. With a dog in each hand, she threw herself to one side as the heavy light crashed down, missing them all by inches.

Tessa stumbled and slipped, twisting her ankle. “Oh,” she gasped as a sharp pain shot through her leg.

Somehow she managed to keep ahold of the two dogs as she collapsed onto the soft grass.

“Thank you for saving me,” Storm woofed, looking subdued as she set him on his feet. “You were very brave.”

“I'm not really. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you,” Tessa said. She put Lady down, too, but kept a firm hold on the pug's leash. As the ache in her ankle increased, she winced.

“You are hurt. I will make you better,” Storm woofed.

Just then Tessa saw a tall figure walking toward the gateway. It was Donny Jenton, completely alone and without his security guards. “There isn't time. Donny's almost here!” she hissed at Storm.

A familiar warm tingling sensation flowed down Tessa's spine, but this time there was a rush of backward movement, just as if she had pressed rewind on her DVD player.

Storm's bright eyes narrowed in concentration as he huffed out a warm puppy breath of tiny gold sparkles. The glittering mist gently swirled around Tessa's sore ankle, sank into it, and she felt the pain fade away completely. There was a sudden jerking movement and Tessa was flicked forward again. She saw that Donny was still the same distance away—no time at all had actually passed!

“Thanks, Storm. That was amazing. I'm fine now,” she whispered.

“Gruff! Gruff!” Lady barked, trying to wriggle free.

Donny reached out for his dog's leash. “You're Tessa, aren't you?” he said, his white teeth gleaming as he smiled. “I saw what you just did. How can I ever thank you for saving Lady?”

“It's no big deal. It just sort of . . . happened,” Tessa said, blushing.

“Well, you were very brave. Maybe a little dumb, too, to risk getting squashed by that heavy light. I don't think your parents would approve. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone,” Donny said with a twinkle in his eye.

He gave Lady a cuddle. “Bad girl. Why did you take off like that?” he scolded, wagging his finger as Lady snuffed and licked his nose.

“Maybe she wanted a long run off her leash,” Tessa suggested. “She probably gets bored just sitting around and being fed treats. And I hope you don't mind me saying, but she's a little overweight.”

Donny raised his eyebrows. “Really? Why hasn't anyone else told me that?”

Tessa decided not to answer.

Donny put Lady down on the floor. “Let's get you back. From now on, you're going to get a lot
more
exercise and the doggy treats are history!” He looked at Tessa. “Thanks again, honey. Can I give you a ride back up the road to the front door? My driver's parked just down the road.”

“Thanks, but I've got some shopping to do. I think I'm still going to go into the village,” Tessa said.

“Well, okay. Isn't there anything I can do for you? I'd like to show my appreciation for the way you saved Lady,” Donny said.

“No, I don't think . . .” Tessa paused as an idea jumped into her mind. “Well, maybe there is something . . .”

Donny listened as Tessa explained her idea and then he grinned. “I'd be happy to. How about after filming finishes tomorrow? My driver will pick you up.” He gave Tessa a quick wave as he set off with Lady puffing noisily beside him.

 

As Tessa had hoped, there was a bookstore in the village. She did her shopping and then decided to return to Harpford Manor along the path that ran across the field. Storm trotted at Tessa's heel, his nose to the ground as he sniffed around. The trip had been a success and Tessa now carried a bag containing a brand-new diary, covered in shiny green plastic. It even had a strap with a heart-shaped padlock and a key to lock it with.

“I really hope this cheers Fay up—even just a little bit,” she said, glancing down at Storm.

But he seemed to have run off.

“Storm? Where are you?” Tessa called.

She looked across the field, expecting to see him chasing rabbits, but there was no sign of him. Puzzled, she circled around, scanning the field more carefully, and just spotted the tip of Storm's rusty-colored tail as he dove into the bottom of some bushes.

She hurried over. “What's this hide and seek—” she began and then stopped as she realized that Storm was trembling all over. She bent down and looked through the tangled branches at him. “What's wrong?”

“Shadow has found me! He has put a spell on those dogs!” Storm whined in terror, his midnight-blue eyes wide and fearful.

“What dogs, Storm?” Tessa looked up. In the next field a man with two black-and-white sheepdogs was herding some sheep into a pen. The dogs were running back and forth and snapping at the sheep's heels.

“I don't
think
those dogs are after you. But how can I tell if they're under a magic spell?” Tessa asked Storm.

Storm whimpered and went deeper into the bushes. “They will have pale cold eyes and extra-long teeth. And be very fierce and strong.”

Tessa looked hard at the sheepdogs, which were following their owner's orders closely. “They don't look like that. I think they're okay. But you've had a bad scare. Let's get back,” Tessa said.

Storm squirmed toward her and she bent down and reached for the terrified puppy. As Tessa set off again with Storm in her arms, she felt his little heart fluttering against her hand. The glimpse of possible danger reminded Tessa that Storm might have to leave suddenly in order to save himself.

She felt a pang as she realized that however much she might try to prepare herself for losing Storm she would never be ready to let him go.

Chapter EIGHT

The moment Tessa and Storm reached Harpford Manor, they went to find Fay and give her the new diary. Tessa checked the living room and the game room before she finally tracked her down in their bedroom.

Fay was reading a book. She looked up as Tessa came in and gave her a small smile.

Tessa felt encouraged. At least Fay seemed willing to talk. “Good book?” she asked hopefully.

Fay nodded. “It's fairy stories, with really great illustrations. See? Ogres, goblins, and monsters, and there's a handsome prince who rescues a beautiful princess from a swamp monster.”

“Sounds exciting,” Tessa said, even though she didn't think she'd enjoy reading it herself. She went and peered over Fay's shoulder. “The prince looks a bit like Donny. Don't show it to Kelly or she'll get drool all over the page!”

Fay giggled. “Tessa. I wanted to talk to—” she began shyly.

“Okay, but me first,” Tessa said quickly, thrusting the plastic bag at Fay. “I got you this. I hope you like it.”

“For me?” Fay's eyes widened as she reached inside the bag and took out the shiny new diary. “Oh, it's awesome! And it locks, too. Look at this cute little key.”

“Yes. So no one can read your diary now,” Tessa said. “Look, about the other evening. I know you probably still won't believe that I didn't read—”

“But I do believe you!” Fay broke in excitedly. “That's what I was about to tell you just now. I came in here and caught Kelly reading my diary earlier and she admitted everything. She didn't even bother lying. Anyway, I know that you had nothing to do with what happened.”

Tessa took a second or two to let this sink in. “Good. So . . . um . . . we can be friends now?”

“If you still want to,” Fay said, her hazel eyes sparkling. “And thanks so much for my new diary. I love it.”