Free The Palomino Pony Comes Home by Olivia Tuffin Page A

the gate and then up the path alongside the stables, which was cool and shaded by heavily laden elderflower bushes.
    “Easy, girl,” Georgia soothed. Breathing in thesummer scents and enjoying the easy rhythm of the Welsh pony, she started to relax.
    Melanie walked next to them, never taking her eyes off the pair as they walked past the house and into the open meadow. Lily was walking out now, her stride fluid, as if she was floating.
    “You little star!” Melanie praised the pony, whose ears were now pricked forward. “Why don’t you try a lap?” she encouraged Georgia.
    Feeling as if she might burst with happiness, Georgia nudged Lily forward. Then, once they had circled the meadow a couple more times, she steered Lily back to the yard.
    There she dismounted and flung her arms round the little mare, covering her with kisses. “I love you so much!” she said as she buried her face into the pony’s golden neck, almost crying with joy. Jemma’s alarming words forgotten now, Georgia felt as though she and Lily could do anything.Nothing could spoil their happiness!
    From now on, she would ride Lily every day until she had restored the palomino’s natural confidence. After that, there would be the prospect of shows and Pony Club camps, long summer rides and winter hacks. It was going to be amazing!

    Later that afternoon, as Georgia helped Melanie in the garden, she spotted Sophie and Tory sunbathing by the pool. Tory was tapping away at her mobile and ignoring Sophie’s attempts at conversation.
    It was odd, really. Tory seemed to be popping in a lot at the moment but never staying for very long. And she was always glammed up nowadays, as if she was ready for a night out. Today was no exception. She was wearing a short denim miniskirt and a yellow vest, her make-up applied thickly, which made her lookmuch older than seventeen.
    Sophie sighed and turned over on to her stomach just as Tory suddenly leapt up, grabbed her bag and left, as if she had just received an urgent text. Barely bothering to say goodbye, she stalked out of the garden, her phone glued to her ear.
    Melanie watched, a frown on her face. “She’s a strange girl, that Tory,” she said confidentially to Georgia. “When Sophie starts university I’m hoping their friendship might fizzle out.”
    Georgia watched Tory as she left the yard. She’d never liked her but what could she say? It was interesting to know that Melanie felt the same though. Georgia couldn’t help thinking that there was something a bit suspicious about Tory’s behaviour lately and there was always the worry that the older girl was going to say something mean to her. Still, with Melanie and Sophie away for the next few days, Tory wouldn’t be around atRedgrove. Georgia sighed happily. She wouldn’t have to think about a single thing apart from her beloved ponies.

C HAPTER S EVENTEEN
    “B ye, Georgia! See you in three days!” Melanie got into the driver’s seat of the four-by-four, Sophie by her side. Then, as an afterthought, she rolled down her window. “Are you sure you’ll be all right, looking after the horses by yourself? Simon will only be here in the evenings, remember.”
    “I’ll be just fine,” Georgia assured her. “Now, off you go!”
    “OK.” Melanie nodded. “Well, thank you. Just text me if there are any problems, won’t you?”
    “I will.” Georgia smiled. “Although there won’t be,” she added. “Em and Dan are going to come and visit and help me out.”
    Georgia waved as the four-by-four disappeared down the drive. She couldn’t believe that Melanie trusted her enough to leave her in charge of the ponies. It was brilliant!
    Pip, who had run alongside her bike as she cycled over to Redgrove that morning, was at her heel as she turned back to the yard. “Come on, girl. Let’s go and check on the ponies,” she said happily, rubbing her between the ears.
    The three of them were standing in their shelter, eyes closed, heads hanging as