Free Foxy: Rivalry at Summer Camp by Belinda Rapley Page A

Rosie said, shaking her head. “I’ll never be as good as she is today if I practice for a hundred years!”
    “It’s Skylark’s first time too,” Freddie added.
    “They must
both
be naturals, then,” Mia said, feeling pleased for Holly. “Don’t you think?” she added, turning to Amber.
    “Oh, I didn’t see them jump,” Amber said breezily as Holly rode back to the team. But Mia suspected that she had, because she looked like she’d just sucked on a seriously bitter lemon.
    The rest of the team sailed over the hedge one by one. Amber kicked Copper into it hard, like she wanted him to put in an impressive jump so she could show off. Her pony responded, and put in an even more extravagant leap than Amber looked prepared for. She grabbed the front of the saddle and squeaked, losing a stirrup as Copper touched down on the other side.
    “Right, that’s it for this morning,” Freddie said, as Amber rode back, pink-cheeked. “Give your ponies lots of praise and then get them washed down. The treasure hunt is at three o’clock this afternoon and it’s timed, so don’t be late!”
    The Pony Detectives exchanged knowing glances. They’d need every second of the two-hourhunt, if they were going to find the treasure they were hunting for…

I N the distance, the cross-country jumps shimmered in the afternoon heat. The four teams lined up alongside the paddocks, looking out over the rolling grassland of the estate. Melissa gave them a last-minute safety reminder to not gallop everywhere, and to remember to give their ponies lots of breaks because it was so hot. Then she blew a whistle and the teams cheered and set off in different directions at a canter.
    Each team had been given a copy of a hand-drawn map of the campsite, a list of items to seek out, a saddle bag to put their finds in, and a pen. Amongst other things, the treasures included a pheasant feather, a pigeon feather, a smooth round stone, a plaiting band, an oakapple, a horseshoe and a purple wildflower. Each of the items on the list was worth a single point, except for one, which was worth twenty, but no one knew which.
    The purple team trotted their ponies to the edge of the cross-country course. Then they pulled up by the alder trees that lined the brook.
    “Do you think we should split up so we cover more ground?” Charlie asked, trying to get around the fact that she and her three friends were planning to go hunting for Foxy when they were meant to be searching for treasure with Amber and Holly.
    “Um, okay,” Amber agreed. “How should we do it?”
    Alice suddenly realised what Charlie was getting at. She desperately wanted to stay with the rest of the Pony Detectives, but she also knew that there was no way Amber would agree to go off with Holly as a pair. “How about if me, Amber and Holly head off together?”
    Mia gave Alice a grateful smile. “Sounds perfect.”
    “Why do we have to split
that
way?” Amber muttered moodily. “Why can’t Holly go with Charlie’s group rather than ours?”
    Holly looked awkward for a second, fiddling with her glove.
    “No, let’s keep it like this,” Mia said firmly, glaring at Amber. “Come on, we’re wasting time just standing here.”
    They quickly divided the list in two and headed in different directions. When Charlie glanced behind her, she saw Amber moving Copper alongside Scout, pushing Holly and Skylark to the back of the small group.
    Mia unfolded the map. “I can’t see anywhere on here you could hide a pony. There isn’t a single barn or separate paddock or anything.”
    “Well, this brook marks the boundary of the estate,” Charlie said, peering over Mia’s shoulder. “It starts just through these trees. I think weshould follow it, so we can be completely sure there are no secret hideaways.”
    The girls picked up their reins and trotted along the tree line. To their left they could see the grassy slopes of the cross-country fences they’d jumped earlier. Charlie popped