The Palomino Pony Wins Through by Olivia Tuffin Page A

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’sthe 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 upon 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