Trophy Horse Read online

  ‘Canter circles,’ Norah muttered out of the corner of her mouth as they passed each other again. But she needn’t have worried. Kristy had watched the others practice the routine so many times she could picture every move with perfect clarity. A few strides before she sat deeply in the saddle and as they passed C she squeezed her inside rein, moved her outside leg slightly behind Jigsaw’s girth and nudged his side. She breathed a sigh of relief as he struck off on the correct leg. The faces of the spectators were a blur as they cantered a full circle. Jigsaw’s canter was so balanced and he felt so light in her hand that although she had to trot across the diagonal Kristy knew he would have executed a perfect flying change if she had only asked him to. So it was with a stab of reluctance she half-halted him and asked for a trot at H so she could change reins.

  But soon she was cantering again, exhilarating in the feeling of the powerful horse beneath her. The crowds were clapping along to the music now, but Jigsaw took it all in his long, balanced stride. Emma was right, Kristy thought. He really was a push-button horse.

  At X they slowed to a trot and changed rein. As they paired up again at A William raised his eyebrows at Kristy.

  ‘Alright?’ he mouthed.

  ‘Never better,’ she grinned.

  Norah and Sofia turned off the centre line for their ten metre circles. William and Kristy followed suit. When they rejoined the centre line they lined up behind Norah and rode a serpentine down the school and their wavy windscreen wiper back up again. It took all of Kristy’s concentration to keep the long-strided skewbald gelding in line with the others, especially as they all had to keep pace with Silver. Norah’s face was stiff with concentration as she teased an extended trot out of her stout little pony.

  ‘Nearly there,’ Kristy murmured to Jigsaw. The gelding flicked an ear back at the sound of her voice. She realised she didn’t want the quadrille to end. But the music was building to a crescendo and they just had one final arc of the school to complete before they rode back up the centre line and took the final salute.

  Children and adults alike cheered as they stopped in front of Miss Raven once more, flushed and triumphant. Kristy felt as light as air. All the petty squabbles, the power struggles, the tears and the tantrums were forgotten. Once again they had smashed it. Four best friends doing what they did best.

  ‘Beautifully done. You are all a credit to the school,’ said the head teacher, stepping forward to stroke each of the horses’ noses in turn. When she reached Jigsaw she paused and looked up at Kristy. ‘Norah told me what happened to your horse and I am very sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help -’

  Kristy shook her head. ‘There’s nothing anyone can do. But thank you anyway.’

  22

  Teddy

  The other three were re-living their five minutes of fame but Kristy suddenly had no appetite for it.

  ‘What’s up, sweetheart?’ said her dad.

  ‘I hope you’re not sickening for something, too,’ said her mum, feeling her forehead.

  ‘I’m fine, Mum. Don’t fuss,’ said Kristy, brushing her hand away. And then to the others, ‘Can we go now?’

  She jumped back in the saddle before they could reply and rode towards the side gate. From her sixteen hands high vantage point she had an eagle-eye view and she watched as the crowds streamed towards the main entrance of the school.

  She let the reins slip through her hands so Jigsaw could stretch his neck. He had looked after her today, no question. Not many horses would perform so well for a strange rider.

  She caught a glimpse of a man in her peripheral vision. Something about his bearing snagged a memory. It was the way he walked - with a swagger, as if he thought the world was watching him. Kristy twisted in her saddle to get a better look. He was talking animatedly to a girl with long blonde hair. She had her back to Kristy. But his face was in profile as he whispered in her ear and she doubled up with laughter.

  It was Bella Hayward’s boyfriend Teddy. And if that was Teddy, the girl with long blonde hair must be Bella. And Bella knew where Cassius was. Kristy had to talk to her. It might be her only chance.

  She gathered her reins and pushed Jigsaw into a trot. The big gelding responded immediately, scattering families in all directions as they tried to avoid his pounding hooves.

  ‘Bella!’ yelled Kristy at the top of her voice. ‘Bella Hayward!’ Everyone within earshot spun around to see what the commotion was about. Everyone, that is, except Bella and Teddy, who were so engrossed in conversation they can’t have heard her.

  They’d reached the main gate and everyone slowed to squeeze through. Realising Jigsaw was about to be hemmed in by dozens of people Kristy had no choice but to ease him back into a walk and then stop him altogether. She craned her neck and watched helplessly as Bella and Teddy drifted out of the gate and disappeared.

  ‘Come on!’ muttered Kristy to the crowds. But they refused to go any faster. Suddenly she had a brainwave. If she headed down to the far end of the playing field to the science labs there was a gap in the fence for the school’s ride-on mower. If she could reach it in time she could double back through the staff car park and catch up with them at the front of the school. It had to be worth a try.

  Norah watched, open-mouthed, as Kristy swung Jigsaw round and headed in the opposite direction.

  ‘Where are you going?’ she cried, but Kristy cupped her hand behind her ear and shook her head, as if she couldn’t hear her.

  Jigsaw, glad to be free of the crowds, broke into an easy canter the second Kristy asked and soon they were careering down to the far corner of the field.

  If Miss Raven saw them now she was as good as dead, Kristy thought, glancing behind her and wincing when she saw the hoof marks Jigsaw was cutting into the playing fields so lovingly tended by the school caretaker, Mr Arnold.

  They had almost reached the gap when she heard the sound of thundering hooves behind her. Easing Jigsaw back to a walk she looked back to see Sofia and Jazz bearing down on them.

  ‘What’s wrong, Kristy?’

  ‘I saw Bella. She’s here!’ she cried.

  Sofia looked puzzled. There was no-one within a hundred metres of them. ‘Where?’

  ‘That’s the point,’ said Kristy impatiently. ‘They disappeared through the main entrance. I’m going to try to cut them off before they leave.’

  ‘I’ll come with you. Strength in numbers and all that. What does she look like?’

  ‘Long blonde hair. She’s with a tall fair-headed guy. That’s her fiancé, Teddy. I’ve never met her but I recognised him from when he came to Mill Farm looking for Cass.’

  They clip-clopped behind the science labs, heading for the tennis courts.

  ‘Uh oh,’ said Sofia.

  ‘What is it?’

  Sofia nodded towards the sports hall. ‘Mr Arnold.’

  Kristy swallowed. If the caretaker realised they had trashed his playing fields they’d be for the high jump. Metaphorically-speaking, of course.

  ‘You know the film Madagascar?’ Sofia hissed.

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything,’ Kristy whispered back.

  ‘Be a penguin.’

  ‘A penguin?’

  ‘Smile and wave, Kristy. Smile and wave.’

  They did exactly that, pasting broad grins on their faces and waving enthusiastically at the caretaker. Caught off-guard, he waved and smiled back.

  ‘Works every time,’ said Sofia with satisfaction. ‘See her yet?’

  Kristy had been scanning the crowds of people looking for two blond heads but with no luck.

  ‘It’s no good. We’ve missed them,’ she said flatly.

  ‘Wait, that’s not them is it?’ Sofia said, pointing to a couple in the middle of the throng of people.

  Kristy squinted into the sun. ‘The woman’s about forty and the man’s grey, not blond,’ she said.

  Jigsaw stopped. Kristy clicked her tongue and squeezed her legs but he didn’t budge.

  ‘I thi
nk he needs a wee,’ said Sofia.

  ‘All over the tennis courts! You’ve got to be kidding me, Jigsaw. Mr Arnold will go ballistic,’ groaned Kristy. She stood up in her stirrups, trying to look as nonchalant as possible as half a dozen people turned their heads to see what was causing the sound of gushing water. Remembering Sofia’s mantra, she smiled and waved at a couple. And then her eyes locked onto two blond heads bobbing towards the parked cars.

  ‘There they are,’ Kristy shrieked, sitting back down in the saddle and giving Jigsaw a kick. But the big skewbald was going nowhere until he was ready. And that, judging by the sound of it, wasn’t anytime soon. She looked at Sofia in desperation.

  ‘I’ll go,’ Sofia said and Kristy could only watch as Jazz crabbed sideways along the court towards the car park.

  By the time Jigsaw had given a satisfied grunt and started walking, Sofia and Jazz had long disappeared. So had most of the people. Only the last few stragglers remained. Kristy pushed Jigsaw into a trot and found Sofia waiting for her beside the main school gates. She was alone.

  One look at her face told Kristy everything she needed to know.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Kristy. We were too late. They were just getting into their car and by the time I’d caught up with them they’d raced off.’

  ‘It’s not your fault,’ said Kristy dully.

  ‘It was a red sports car. I’ve memorised the numberplate if it helps?’

  ‘Not really. But thanks for trying. It’s another dead end. I have no way of tracking them down.’

  ‘Oh but you do!’ said Sofia, her green eyes sparkling.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘They were here, weren’t they?’

  ‘Yes, but -’

  ‘And Miss Raven said it was invite only…’

  A lightbulb in Kristy’s head glowed yellow and she grinned. Of course, it was obvious. ‘So Miss Raven must have sent them their invite. She must know where they live.’

  23

  Fortune Favours the Brave

  Miss Raven operated a traffic light system outside her office. If the light above her door gleamed red, fellow teachers and students alike knew disturbing her would have dire consequences. Amber could go either way, but if the light was green it meant their head teacher was happy to welcome visitors.

  Every time Kristy had passed the office that morning, as she’d crossed from the humanities block to the science labs and back again, the light had been red. At last, at lunchtime, it was green. She legged it over to the door and knocked before anyone else could beat her to it.

  ‘Come in,’ said Miss Raven.

  Kristy pushed the door open.

  ‘Ah, Kristy. You must have read my mind. I wanted to speak to you.’

  ‘You did?’ Kristy pictured the hoofmarks on the playing field and the puddle on the tennis courts and braced herself for a ticking-off.

  ‘I did indeed. Take a seat.’ Miss Raven fixed her blue eyes on Kristy’s. ‘By letting Norah Bergman lead the team, and by riding a new horse at the last minute, you have shown both selflessness and courage, two of the attributes we pride ourselves most on here at Meadow Ridge. Our motto, after all, is Fortune Favours the Brave, is it not?’

  Kristy nodded, feeling a dull flush of shame as she remembered how she’d stubbornly refused to ride Jigsaw when Emma had first suggested it.

  ‘I wanted to let you know I’m going to nominate you for Pupil of the Year. The decision rests with the school council of course, but I like to think my recommendation carries some weight.’

  ‘Oh, please don’t,’ said Kristy in a rush.

  ‘Why ever not?’ said Miss Raven.

  ‘There must be loads of people more deserving than me. What about Ellie Brown in Year Seven? She sat in a bath of baked beans for eleven hours to raise money for the hospice! Or the sixth-formers who organised the sponsored walk? They raised loads of money for the PE department. All I did is ride, and riding is what I love to do. Please don’t nominate me.’

  Miss Raven shuffled some papers on her desk. They looked like names and addresses. Kristy dropped her gaze and surreptitiously read the top line. Centenary guest list. Her heart lurched.

  ‘Are you absolutely sure? I have to remind you it’s a great honour, Kristy. Some of our former Pupils of the Year have gone on to great things. Some of them haven’t, of course. But we don’t mention them.’

  ‘I’m one hundred and ten per cent sure,’ said Kristy emphatically.

  ‘As a professor of mathematics, I have to tell you no such percentage exists.’

  Kristy blushed again. ‘Just a figure of speech.’

  Miss Raven placed the guest list back on her desk. Kristy edged forwards but she was still too far away to read it. Could she ask to take a look? Explain about Bella and Teddy and how they were her only link with Cassius? Miss Raven had seemed genuinely sorry for Kristy when she’d found out he’d been sold without her knowledge. And she thought Kristy was selfless and brave - she’d said so herself. Surely she wouldn’t mind if Kristy checked where Teddy lived? Because if she found Teddy, she found Cassius.

  Before she could talk herself out of it, Kristy held up her hand, as if she was still in the classroom.

  ‘Miss Raven? You know you said you were sorry my horse had been sold and you asked if there was anything you could do to help? Well, there is.’

  The headmistress looked at her inquiringly and Kristy pressed on before her courage failed her.

  ‘His new owner…well his old owner really, but, anyway, his owner Arabella Hayward took him without me having a chance to say goodbye. Which is just the pits, because he means the absolute world to me. And now he must think I don’t love him any more. Which I absolutely do.’

  ‘So how can I help?’

  ‘Cass is being kept at Arabella’s fiancé’s place, and I’ve no idea where it is. But I saw them yesterday at the centenary celebration. Which means one or both of them must be on your list.’ Kristy eyed the sheaf of papers on Miss Raven’s desk.

  ‘You think they’re past pupils?’

  ‘They must be, otherwise they wouldn’t have been invited, would they?’

  ‘Probably not. But I have been head teacher here for nearly thirty years and I don’t ever recall having taught an Arabella Hayward, I’m afraid. And I can assure you I have a photographic memory for things like that.’

  Kristy didn’t doubt it for a second.

  ‘But what about Teddy?’ she pressed. ‘He might have been a pupil here, mightn’t he?’

  ‘Last name?’ Miss Raven queried.

  ‘That’s the trouble. I don’t know.’

  ‘Hmm. We have had a couple of Edwards who preferred to be called Teddy. How old would he be?’

  ‘Early twenties?’ Kristy ventured.

  ‘That rules out Edward Flannigan. He must be forty if he’s a day. But it could be Teddy Taylor, I suppose. Can you describe him?’

  ‘Tall, blond, drives a red sports car,’ said Kristy.

  ‘Well, he didn’t have the car when he was here,’ said Miss Raven with an amused smile. ‘But he was tall and fair-haired. So I think he’s probably your man.’

  Kristy felt like whooping for joy. Instead she grinned broadly at her head teacher. ‘So can I have his address?’

  Miss Raven shook her head slowly and said in a grave voice, ‘I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to divulge the personal details of any pupils, past or present.’

  ‘You mean you can’t -’

  ‘Tell you his address? No. I’m sorry, Kristy, I can’t.’

  Kristy felt poleaxed by disappointment. To have come so far and hit another brick wall was harrowing. She slouched in the armchair, defeated.

  ‘No,’ Miss Raven continued. ‘I could lose my job if I told you his address. Which reminds me, I need to pop out to the staff room for a few minutes. You’ll be alright here won’t you?’

  Kristy nodded dully. There was nothing more to say, yet she hadn’t the energy or inclination to haul herself out
of the chair.

  Miss Raven paused for a second by the door. ‘No, it wouldn’t do at all for me to tell you,’ she said with a wink before leaving the room.

  Kristy frowned. Why was Miss Raven, who was usually so severe, winking at her? It didn’t make sense. She gazed around the room as if searching for an answer, and then her eyes fell on Miss Raven’s desk. And to the pile of papers she’d left there. The list of addresses. And suddenly Kristy understood. Miss Raven couldn’t give her Teddy’s address - it would be unethical. But if Kristy happened to stumble upon it by chance, it was alright.

  Kristy leapt out of the chair as if scalded and seized the papers. She shot a look at the door, but Miss Raven had closed it firmly behind her. She probably had a couple of minutes, tops. She licked her thumb and started flicking through, scanning every sheet for an Edward Taylor. She found him towards the bottom of the fourth sheet. She stared so hard at his address the words danced in front of her eyes. Edward Taylor, The Grange, Kingsford. It was a village about five miles out, not far from their old house.

  Hearing footsteps in the corridor, Kristy quickly replaced the papers. By the time Miss Raven pushed open the door she was back in the armchair, playing with the pleats of her skirt.

  ‘Everything alright?’ the head teacher asked, a twinkle in her eye.

  ‘Thank you for -’ Kristy blurted.

  Miss Raven held up her hand as if she was a lollipop lady stopping traffic. ‘There’s no need to say anything. It’s what you do next that matters. And if you remember one thing, Kristy Moore, remember this. Fortune Favours the Brave.’

  24

  Princess Bella

  Kristy gazed up at the clock in the atrium outside Miss Raven’s office. It was only twenty past one. If she was lucky the others might still be in the library. She hitched her bag onto her back and set off.

  The glass panel of the library door was smeared with the fingerprints of a thousand students. Kristy cupped her hand over her forehead and peered inside. Sofia and the twins were at their usual table. The twins were looking daggers at each other. Sofia had her hands in the air as if she was trying to pacify them. Kristy grinned as she pushed the door open. Some things never changed.