The Palomino Pony Wins Through by Olivia Tuffin Page B

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 coltand 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.”

C HAPTER T WENTY
    “I ’m really sorry,” Georgia said later to Dan just as they were leaving Redgrove.
    After an enjoyable day spent mucking out and grooming the ponies, they had decided that as the evening was still light they would walk back together, cutting across the fields towards Dan’s dad’s farm.
    “What for exactly?” Dan asked cheerfully,standing still and turning to face her.
    “For being so busy these holidays and not having time to, um, you know – go to the cinema with you.” Even saying the words caused Georgia to blush crimson with embarrassment! She concentrated very hard on her boots, not wanting to look Dan in the eye.
    He chuckled good-naturedly. “Georgia, it’s fine. The truth is that every time I’m with you it just feels right, even if we haven’t seen each other for a while.” Now it was his turn to blush. “I love helping you here, and going to shows, and just hanging out.”
    Lightly, Dan touched her arm, and Georgia felt her skin tingle all over.
    “Tell you what,” he grinned, unzipping his rucksack and producing a bag of crisps and a fizzy-drink can. “Let’s have a date right now!” And with a flourish he placed them on the grassand laid out his wax jacket for them to sit on.
    They both giggled a bit as they sat down next to each other, a little awkward about their close proximity. Luckily, Lily chose that moment to canter up to them from the other end of the paddock where she had been grazing. She nudged Dan hard in the back until he laughed and offered her a crisp. Then he stroked her muzzle as she chewed.
    “Now, this is my kind of date,” Dan said, putting his arm around Georgia and drawing her in close.
    Nestled close to him, with Lily beside them, Georgia had to admit it was her kind of date too, and after the drama of the last few days she couldn’t think of anywhere she would rather be.

    “It’s quiet out here,” said Emma a few days later as she helped Georgia sweep up the yard after school. Now that the evenings were getting lighter,Emma had resumed her lessons and was enjoying spending time with the ponies. She had always joked that she was a “fair-weather rider”!
    Georgia leaned on her broom. Emma was right. It was quiet. The three ponies had settled back into their routine really easily, but every now and again they would gaze around the field, as if looking for the bouncy roan colt who used to try and cajole them into playing. Even grumpy old Callie had looked a little forlorn the first night Secret had been gone, despite the fact that now she would be able to graze in peace again! And although Lily clearly missed him, she seemed happy enough to have a quieter time without her boisterous foal.
    Thinking about Secret, Georgia felt the familiar lump rising in her throat. She missed him loads, even though she knew he was in the right place. Alice had texted her a photo of him the previous night, all tucked up in a stable. He had apparentlymade a new best friend in the form of a young Dartmoor colt and the two of them had already been causing mischief! In spite of a tinge of sadness Georgia couldn’t help but smile when she thought about that.
    “Georgia?” Melanie called, walking across the garden, waving a piece of paper. She looked really happy, and excited too. “Georgia, did you win a class on Lily when you were with Josephine?”
    Georgia frowned; it seemed like ages ago. “Yes,” she said. “A ridden