The Palomino Pony Wins Through (9 page)

C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN

“Y
ou’re quiet.” Dan placed a glass of squash in front of Georgia later that day as they sat in the kitchen at his dad’s farm. Georgia couldn’t believe the Easter holidays were almost over. She would miss the Smalley yard and all its ponies – she had learned such a lot there. Most of all, she was pleased that Lucy and Alice had become friends again. But she still couldn’t ignore the little voice in
her head that kept reminding her that in a couple of days Melanie’s lorry would pick the ponies up and take them back to Redgrove, and Alice would be left heartbroken without Secret.

Georgia dragged herself out of her thoughts and looked up, smiling. “Sorry, Dan,” she said, aware that she had only been half listening to him chattering away about Hattie the collie dog’s latest escapades with one of the shop customers. “I was just thinking.” She smiled again at her friend, a lump forming in her throat. A thought about Secret had been taking shape in her mind, but she just wasn’t ready to voice it yet, not even to Dan!

The dark-green lorry pulling into the yard at the Smalleys’ a few days later filled Georgia with relief. The Redgrove ponies, standing in their stables, with their belongings neatly packed in their trunks, whinnied in unison. Melanie climbed
down from the lorry steps and Georgia practically ran into her arms.

Melanie laughed. “All OK, Georgia?”

“Fine,” Georgia grinned up at her. “I’m just happy to be going home.”

“Has everything been OK?” Melanie asked, looking concerned.

“Well,” Georgia took a deep breath, “it’s been eventful. I guess I’d better tell you everything…”

Sitting round Josephine’s table a short time later, Melanie listened quietly as she and Georgia recounted the tale of Secret’s ditch rescue. As Josephine leapt up to answer the telephone, interrupting their conversation, Melanie turned to Georgia.

“I’m so sorry,” she said in a quiet voice. “I honestly didn’t know all that had been going on when Josephine approached me at the show. I
vaguely knew her daughter had had an accident but I didn’t know the details.”

“Don’t be silly!” Georgia smiled and shook her head. “I learned a lot – not just about horses, but about people too.” She didn’t want Melanie to feel guilty at all. She had had a great time at the Smalley yard, and even Secret’s accident had brought Lucy and Alice back together. She had to admit it had been a bit stressful riding at shows, what with wanting to do her very best and with Lucy’s threats, but now that it was resolved she was fine – just looking forward to getting back to Redgrove.

Once Josephine had finished her phone conversation, they went outside and started to load up the ponies. Just as it had been three weeks earlier, getting them and their gear into the horsebox was a military operation, and even harder without Dan’s help. Georgia missed him
and really hoped she could see him that evening.

Melanie’s husband, Simon, took Wilson and Callie into the horsebox, Callie squealing furiously at having to leave Lachlan, who neighed forlornly as the lorry pulled out of the drive and on to the main road, behind.

“Lachlan is always the same,” Lucy chuckled. “He falls in and out of love the whole time!”

Everyone laughed, apart from Alice, who was standing a little way from the group, watching as Secret was loaded into the trailer. He walked up the ramp quietly behind Lily before glancing behind him and gazing at the young girl. Once all the goodbyes had been done, Melanie and Georgia climbed up into the four-by-four and everyone waved and smiled as they pulled out of the drive. However, as Georgia took one last look at the Smalley yard in the rear-view mirror, she noticed Josephine gather Alice up in her
arms as she dissolved into tears.

Georgia hated seeing Alice so upset, but she didn’t want to think about that now. Selfishly, she wanted to get back to Redgrove and for things to return to normal.

It took them about twenty-five minutes to drive home – the longest twenty-five minutes of Georgia’s life! Redgrove was exactly the same place as it had been three weeks ago, but to Georgia it looked like paradise. The ponies seemed delighted to be back too – they unloaded happily and were soon settled into their paddocks as if they’d never left at all, heads down, grazing in the spring sunshine.

Once Georgia had helped Melanie and Simon put the ponies’ tack away, she let herself in through the paddock gate. Wilson, a little plump from his holiday, looked up from the grass and happily gazed around his familiar field, and Lily blew
gently into Georgia’s hair as she nuzzled against her. Only Secret seemed restless. Ordinarily, he would try to play with Callie or Lily, but instead he stood apart from the other ponies, his eyes searching.

Georgia patted his red neck. “What’s up, boy?” she whispered. But it was as clear to her as it must be to everyone else. He was missing Alice.

He nudged her hard, as if demanding answers.

Melanie came over to the gate and leaned on the top crossbar. “He’s grown so much, Georgia, even in the last three weeks.”

“He seems … sad,” Georgia said as she continued to stroke his neck.

“Georgia.” Melanie’s voice was a little hesitant. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear but we need to have that talk about Secret.” She reached over and tickled the colt under his chin, struggling to find the words. “You know Lily has a home here
for the rest of her life, as does Secret. I wouldn’t get rid of him without your say-so.” She looked straight at Georgia. “But with two ponies there would be a lot of hard work ahead, and what with you at school, it might be too much to cope with. You don’t want to get behind again, like you did last year. Remember, you promised your mum that your schoolwork wouldn’t suffer?” Georgia nodded. “And two ponies,” Melanie continued, “can get very expensive.”

“I know,” Georgia said glumly.

“Well, have a think about it, Gee,” said Melanie.

“I will,” said Georgia. She felt quite sure she would think of little else over the next few days.

C
HAPTER
N
INETEEN

M
elanie’s words played over and over in Georgia’s head later that night as she lay in her bed. Pip yawned and blinked sleepily at her as she turned on her bedside lamp and pulled out her photo album, full of treasured memories of her times with Lily and Secret.

There was the first few days at Dan’s farm, where Secret had lived in the goat stable, following
his dramatic birth during the Redgrove floods. A Christmas pic showed Lily bedecked with tinsel standing proudly next to her foal, who was being hugged by Emma. Then there was Secret’s first show with Lily, when Dan had led him. It seemed like years ago now, but in reality it had only been a few weeks.

Georgia adored the boisterous little colt, but as he was nearly six months old, she had to make a decision. Melanie would never be able to keep him as a stallion – she didn’t have the facilities, and with two mares around, it would be unfair. Yards like Josephine’s were better suited for that.

Her thoughts drifted to Alice. And Secret. She had seen the bond between him and Alice so clearly, but equally she loved him herself. And because he was a part of Lily, it made it even harder for her to think about letting him go. Melanie was right though – she had her school work, and Lily,
to concentrate on, and she knew her mum would never be able to afford another pony.

Sighing and patting Pip, she turned her lamp off again and stared at the ceiling until she dozed off.

It was early morning when Georgia woke up with a start, sitting upright in bed, her mind already racing. She knew Melanie would already be up with the horses and there was no doubt now in her mind about what she needed to do. Georgia took a deep breath and reached for her phone. She was ready to make a very important call!

The lanes felt very familiar as the trailer wound its way between the high hedges, which were just coming out in brilliant-green buds. Georgia felt the same nervous, stomach-churning feeling she normally felt on the morning of a show, only this was different.

Picking up on her nerves, Melanie smiled. “It’s
the right thing to do, Georgia,” she said gently.

Dan squeezed her hand.

She smiled at him, pleased he was with her. She knew she had been distracted over the last few weeks and busy with her job at Josephine’s, but Dan had stood by her. She vowed to make it up to him. She took a deep breath as the four-by-four pulled into the smart drive and past the high wrought-iron gates.

Everyone was there waiting – Josephine, Fergus, Shelley and Lucy, and Alice, who was looking slightly confused at seeing the Redgrove trailer.

However, realisation soon dawned on her face, as slowly Georgia and Melanie pulled down the ramp of the box, and Secret gave a cheerful whinny and stepped out. Alice gasped, her hands over her mouth. “Mum?” she said in a trembling voice.

“Yes, Alice. If you want him, he’s yours,” Josephine said proudly.

Alice looked from Josephine, to Secret, and back again. Tears had started to fall down her cheeks, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

A lump was forming in Georgia’s throat, her face felt hot and her eyes started to sting. This was really happening. She was letting go of Secret – the little colt who had come into her life in such a dramatic fashion, but who had never really been hers. She knew Alice would love him just as much as she loved Lily, and although he would never replace her beloved Honey, it was a start.

That didn’t stop the hot tears, though, that were now flowing freely down Georgia’s cheeks as she handed Secret’s lead rope over. Alice, in turn, flung her arms around both Georgia and Secret.

It’s the right thing to do
, Georgia told herself again, but it didn’t make it any easier.

Secret nudged her playfully. He wasn’t as sensitive as Lily was when it came to picking up
on moods, but he could tell that Georgia was upset about something.

“He’s going to be fine.” Josephine smiled at Georgia. “I promise we will never, ever sell him. He’s the pony that taught Alice to smile again. He and Lily are very special.” Then, chuckling, she said, “And I’ve already organised to have special bolts fitted on every gate this afternoon – so he can’t do any more wandering! And, Georgia,” she continued gently, “he will be much loved.”

“I know…” Georgia stumbled on her words, her throat catching every breath. “I know he is going to be the happiest pony, but…”

“It’s hard,” Josephine said quietly. “You have made a very brave decision.”

As if sensing it was time to say goodbye, Secret turned and gently rubbed his head on Georgia’s arm, blowing his sweet warm pony breath through her hair.

Georgia scratched the little spot he loved just behind his ear, and chuckled as he closed his eyes, fluttering his pale eyelashes. She gave him one final pat as Alice hugged her.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For bringing him back to me.”

At that moment, Georgia knew without doubt that she had made the right choice. Sometimes ponies crossed a human’s path for a reason. Lily had appeared on the Welsh mountainside to enter her own life, and now her son had cantered into Alice’s heart as well. And if Lily could say goodbye to her foal, then so could she. She smiled remembering the scene when they had left Redgrove earlier. She had explained to Lily what was happening to Secret, but she hadn’t expected the mare to understand. Yet somehow it seemed as if the palomino could sense exactly what was going on. She nuzzled the little colt
and the two of them stood for a moment nose to nose before Secret had whinnied excitedly and Lily had nudged him towards the ramp.

“You’re welcome, Alice,” Georgia said, looking at the younger girl, whose eyes were shining with happiness. “Secret belongs here, with you.”