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

Phantom into canter. Mia and Rosie followed, trailing the meandering brook as it glistened and snaked its way around the edge of the estate.
    They tried to stay in the shade of the trees, and brought their ponies back to walk now and again to give them a break in the heat. The cross-country fences swung away to the left and the brook disappeared out of sight. They kept going straight until the shouts and laughter from the other teams faded into the distance too.
    “There’s a pigeon feather in that bush,” Charlie said, pointing. “We’d better pick it up. At least then we won’t go back empty-handed.”
    “Good point,” Rosie agreed, sliding from Dancer’s saddle. She handed her reins to Mia.“I’ll see if I can find a smooth stone from the brook while I’m down here as well.”
    Rosie grabbed the feather, then ran through the trees and knelt down next to the brook. As she reached into the water for a stone, she looked over at the grassy bank opposite. There were some long scrape marks there, like a horse or pony had dithered on the far side before sliding down. Rosie squinted through the trees on the other side of the bank. Beyond them, there was no estate wall, and she could see a small, winding lane. On the other side of the lane stood a thick hedge, edged with post- and-rail fencing. Dipping her hand into the cold water, she grabbed a round, slimy stone and ran back to tell the others what she’d seen.

    “You’ll never guess what!” Rosie gabbled. “It looks like a pony’s been led from the lane outthere, through the brook and onto the estate!”
    She quickly dried off the stone on a tuft of grass, dropped it in the saddle bag, then jumped back onto Dancer.
    “We’d better check that out,” Charlie said impulsively. She immediately rode Phantom into the trees, towards the brook. “Are you coming?” she called over her shoulder to the others.
    “But we’re not meant to leave Dovecote Hall!” Mia squeaked.
    “This is an emergency,” Charlie replied firmly. “And we’re here now – it’d be a shame to waste this chance to follow up on a lead. Come on!”
    Rosie urged an indignant Dancer down the slope, through the brook and up the other side. Wish followed, picking her way neatly between the trees that led towards a narrow, winding lane. Right in front of them was a large hedge, which almost hid the paddocks beyond from view. Slightly further up the lane to their leftstood a pale blue cottage with a thatched roof. An old lady was in the garden, pruning the flowers. She looked surprised at the sudden appearance of the ponies on the lane, and walked slowly to her front gate.
    “Are you lost?” the old lady asked, looking at them slightly warily.
    The three girls looked at each other for a moment, wondering how to explain what they were up to. Then Mia saw an opportunity.
    “Kind of,” she said, taking charge. “We’re on a treasure hunt for our riding camp. We’ve just come from the Dovecote Hall estate. We’re huge Lily Simpson fans though, so we thought we’d see if we could catch a glimpse of Chestnut Grove. Someone from camp lives there – we’ve been hearing all about it.”
    “Ah, yes, I know about the camp.” The old lady relaxed and smiled warmly. She turned and gestured towards the high hedge beyond her small cottage garden. “Well, this paddock,next to my garden, is the furthest corner of Chestnut Grove. Not that it’s used very often. The front entrance is quite a distance away – off a different lane entirely.”
    “Oh, right. Well, maybe we’ll get to see that another day,” Mia smiled, her heart rate rising. “Thanks!”
    The old lady nodded, then watched as the girls turned their ponies. Mia, Rosie and Charlie couldn’t keep the smiles from their faces as they headed through the trees and back across the brook onto the Dovecote estate.
    “So, there are hoof prints in the brook right opposite the most remote corner of Chestnut Grove,” Charlie said in a