Free Hopes by Linda Chapman

Stuart, but since she’s been out in the field she’s started relaxing. Mind you, she still doesn’t want to come near any human. I don’t think she’s been handled much at all.”
    “The journey must have been really upsetting for her as well,” Ellie said, thinking how it must have seemed through the filly’s eyes. She wouldn’t have known where she was going or what was happening. If the only contact she’d had with humans since she’d been born was being forced into a horsebox, it was no wonder she was feeling wary of people.
    Joe nodded. “Hopefully, she’ll settle down soon. Fern’s lovely. She’s won loads of lightweight working hunter classes. She could have been a show jumper, I reckon. Dad’s really pleased to have her back and to have her foal. She should make a really good brood mare if this filly’s anything to go by.”
    Ellie glanced again at the foal, but then she remembered Spirit. How was he? She caught him and brought him in from the field. Once he was in his stable she checked him over, her heart sinking. He still had the lumps on his chest; they seemed bigger and the swelling on his tummy had grown too.
    The next morning, she had a phone call from John before she went to school. The results of the blood tests were back. They showed anemia and a high white blood cell count, which John said didn’t look good but still didn’t prove anything definite. They had to wait for the biopsy results, which would not be through until Monday.
    It was a long weekend for Ellie. She had to help her uncle at a show on Sunday, although none of the ponies she rode were competing. She wanted to stay with Spirit, but there was no way she would be allowed to miss it. Thankfully, there was so much to do she didn’t have time to think about Spirit much. Joe was riding Wisp and his working hunter pony, Barney, and two of the livery horses were also going: Darcey and Willow who were owned by clients of Len. Ellie hoped she and Joe would be able to sit and talk in the horsebox on the way there—she’d been so busy with Spirit she hadn’t seen much of Joe all week, but Len made Joe sit in the cab with him.
    Ellie noticed more and more as the day went on that Len was keeping them apart, or making sure he was around if they were together.
    The only time he left them alone was when Ray arrived at the show and Len went for a drink with him mid-afternoon after most of the classes his ponies were entered in had finished. Joe and Ellie sat on the ramp of the box, chatting. It was just great to be together. Len came back, looking like he was in a good mood.
    “I want a word with you, Joe.”
    “Sure,” Joe said, looking at him expectantly.
    “On your own.”
    Ellie shrugged. “I’ll go and check what class is on.” There was just the Intermediate Championship that
    Joe had qualified Wisp for still to go. She left them to it.
    When she returned, Joe was preparing Wisp for the championship while Len sorted some things out in the living accommodation. “So what did your dad want to talk to you about?” Ellie asked curiously.
    “Nothing,” Joe muttered.
    “Nothing?”
    “Well, something.” Joe shook his head. “We can talk about it later.” Ellie saw that he looked really unhappy.
    “Are you OK?” she asked in concern.
    “I really can’t talk about it now. The championship will be starting soon. Can you finish Wisp off while I change?”
    “Sure.” Ellie frowned and watched him go into the living accommodation. What was going on? What had Len said to him? He’d been fine before.
    She got Wisp ready, repainting his hooves, tightening his girth and running a cloth over his sleek sandy coat, still puzzling about it.
    Joe seemed distracted throughout the championship and Wisp played up, cantering on the wrong leg and tossing his head. He wasn’t chosen as champion or reserve. However, to Ellie’s astonishment, Len seemed fairly philosophical. “Never mind. Another time,” he said as Joe came out.
    Joe