Pony Rebellion, page 9
I put Drummer’s assurances to the team—missing out the toe bit. They seemed a bit reassured by it—only Dec looked disappointed. He managed to gaze longingly at Bean even as he ran around changing jumps and holding broom handles. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed, but she seemed oblivious to her admirer—on planet Bean, as always.
The ponies were true to their word and were working enthusiastically. It made such a difference knowing they were trying as hard as we were to make the ride work. The extravaganza was only two weeks away, and we were all getting excited about it.
“What else is going on that night?” Katy asked Sophie. “Will there be anyone famous there?”
“Alex Willard is booked to give a demonstration of his natural horsemanship training methods,” Sophie told her.
“He’s Pia’s biggest fan!” giggled Bean, causing Cat to cast me an evil look. Thanks, Bean, I thought.
“Can you introduce us, Pia?” asked Dee-Dee. “I so want his autograph.”
“And me!” said Katy.
“You girls are pathetic to be asking for autographs,” muttered James in disgust.
“Shut up, James. You don’t know a thing about it!” Katy told him.
“I know Linda is planning a display with her RDA riders and ponies, of course. It should be a good night. I hope you’re all drumming up lots of interest with your families and friends?”
“My mom and dad are bringing tons of people,” said Katy.
“My family’s coming,” confirmed James.
“Our whole family’s turning up,” said Declan, “including Aunt Pam who’s determined to see Bambi perform before…”
“Shut up, Dec!” snapped Cat. “No one wants to know our family history!” I saw her throw her brother a look that would turn most people to stone. Talk about overreact, I thought. Who cared about Aunt Pam?
“My dad’s got a concert that night, but my mom actually said she might bring my sisters,” mumbled Bean unenthusiastically.
This was news! Bean’s family barely ever cared about Bean’s riding. They were too busy being a famous musician (dad) and a famous sculptor (mom) and trainee famous musicians and artists (sisters) to get into Bean’s chosen field.
“She might forget, though,” Bean continued hopefully.
I thought of my dad and Skinny Lynny turning up. Thought of my mom, and I hoped she’d bring Mike, but not on the bike. Mike-the-bike, I thought. It fit. I wondered what my dad would make of mom riding passenger and wearing leather. I wouldn’t put it past him to get a motorcycle—that’s what men going through a midlife crisis are supposed to do, isn’t it? I could picture Skinny clinging on in skintight black, her hair streaming out under her helmet like a tail. I’d have to keep them apart—it would be more than I could handle to have a whole family of bikers. Holy moly, imagine that!
“Let’s try it one more time before we call it a night,” Sophie said. We did, and we weren’t bad, so we were all pretty excited when we took the ponies in and made them comfortable for the night.
“Wow,” said Katy, carefully putting Bluey’s purple saddle pad upside down on top of his saddle to keep the dust off it. “I actually believe we’re going to do this activity ride after all. For a while there, I had serious doubts.”
“Doubts?” echoed Dee. “Only doubts? I was certain the activity ride was doomed and destined for the scrap heap. I can’t believe the ponies are so up for it now.”
Cat stormed in, dumped Bambi’s tack, and fled without saying anything, almost as though she couldn’t bear to talk to anyone. Maybe I was imagining things, I decided.
“What’s up with Cat?” asked Dee. So I hadn’t imagined it. What set her off? I wondered. The practice had gone really well, and she and Bambi hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Oh, it—oh you know, the usual,” mumbled Katy, giving Dee a look.
“Oh, oh, yes, of course,” Dee sighed, nodding her head.
I looked at Katy and remembered that there was still something about Cat that the others weren’t telling me. Some big secret that they were all in on, and I wasn’t. It had cropped up several times in the past, and no one would tell me what it was. It was so frustrating. Would I ever be included? I wondered. Just what did I have to do to be a true member of the gang? Would I ever, ever find out what the big secret was?
James arrived with Moth’s tack, all upbeat after a great practice, and grinned at us all. “We’re getting there!” he exclaimed. “We’re going to knock ’em dead at the extravaganza, the way we’re going!”
I agreed. It was going to be just perfect now the ponies were on board. Nothing could stop us now!
The next week flew by, and we ran through the activity ride routine another four times—just once each practice, so that the ponies didn’t get bored. Our helpers were getting sharper at moving the equipment around, and Leanne was almost, almost enthusiastic.
“It’s looking so cool,” she told us, one evening, “and you’re all getting much more accurate. I only fear for my life about three times per practice now.”
“That’s very funny, Leanne,” laughed Bean. But Leanne stared balefully at her, without a hint of a smile.
“I’m totally serious, Bean,” she told her, deadpan. “You should try holding a broom handle while Bambi jumps over it. Life affirming, that’s what it is.”
“I wish she’d get over herself,” Bean whispered to me.
“At least she’s still helping,” I pointed out. “She could have quit weeks ago.”
“Hummph!” snorted Bean. “She just likes being in on the action and getting into the extravaganza for free as one of the helpers. She’s desperate to impress Jake Hampton, who’s going to watch.”
“The competition rider?” I asked. “But I thought Leanne was still seeing Stuart?”
“Yeah, she is,” nodded Bean. “But Stuart’s been dropped from the Pony Club team, and Leanne’s interest is going down. She’s ready to move on up, as they say.”
“That’s lousy,” I remarked.
“Yup, you’ve got it!” Bean said.
As the day of the Equine Extravaganza grew nearer, some of us were getting sort of jittery at the practices. Others were getting cocky.
“Do we have to go over it again?” grumbled Cat one evening.
“Of course!” confirmed Sophie. “We’ve only got one week to go, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”
“Some of us aren’t as good at remembering things as you are,” Dee-Dee told Cat.
“Oh fine.” Cat sighed, steering Bambi up in front of Drummer. Bambi and Drum started cooing over each other in a sickening, lovey-dovey way. “Let’s get it over with. I need to do some more homework after this.”
The practice began. Drummer felt good, swinging his back and turning in all the right places, before I needed to remind him. He was being so great, I decided I’d give him the rest of the night off once we’d run through the routine. He’d love that. And some extra treats, I thought.
It all happened so quickly. One minute we were jumping the jump box in the middle—we had paced it perfectly for once so that Drummer landed over our first jump just as Bambi was taking off for her second, so I was feeling a bit smug—when I heard a bit of a thud behind me, followed by an unfamiliar voice saying ouch, and a yell.
Uh-oh, I thought, turning around to take a look.
“Stop! Stop everyone!” shouted Sophie, and I saw her running toward Moth with a terribly worried look on her face as James threw himself out of Moth’s saddle, looking toward her hind legs.
“What is it?” cried Cat.
“Oh, James, I’m so sorry,” I heard Katy cry as she leaped off Bluey to stand miserably beside her roan pony, who was muttering to himself.
I still didn’t understand what was wrong, but whatever it was, it seemed serious. We all crowded around Moth.
“What happened?” asked Cat.
“It wasn’t Bluey’s fault…” Katy began. “I was too close. I’m so terrified of getting left behind I was too close to Moth, and Bluey just caught one of her hind legs.”
“Sorry, Moth, sorry, Moth, sorry, Moth,” murmured Bluey, looking totally downcast. James was silent as he inspected Moth’s heel, and Sophie looked grim. Poor Moth held up her near hind and looked miserable. It must have been her unfamiliar voice I had heard say ouch, I thought.
“Walk her around for a moment, James,” suggested Sophie. “See how lame she is.”
Moth hobbled around, snatching up her hind leg, reluctant to put her weight on it. “There, girl, steady now,” whispered James, stroking her neck. Moth looked even more wide-eyed than usual.
“It’s quite a deep cut,” Sophie remarked, “and in a bad place—every time Moth moves it’s going to flex and open. Are her tetanus shots up to date, James?”
James nodded dumbly.
“I doubt the vet can do anything much—it’s in an awkward place to put a bandage. I’ve got some good stuff you can put on it, but I think it will swell up tonight,” Sophie continued grimly.
“Oh, James, I’m so, so sorry,” wailed Katy.
“It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident,” James managed to reply gallantly, even though he looked completely heartbroken.
“It’s a shame it wasn’t Dolly stamping on Moth,” Drum whispered to me. “She’s half the weight of Bluey—he’s so big!”
Everyone was silent as James led a hopping Moth back to her stable.
“Practice over,” declared Sophie over her shoulder as she followed James.
“Now what?” said Dee.
“Poor Moth,” Bean sighed.
“Will she be all right?” Drummer asked me. I reassured him, and he told the other ponies. “Although I don’t think she’s going to be completely healthy for a while, looking at that cut,” I added.
“How can we practice now?” asked Dee.
“We can’t,” Cat replied. “Moth looks set to be lame for ages, so the activity ride’s not going to happen.”
“Don’t be so melodramatic, Cat,” said Katy.
“It’s true,” said Sophie. “The ride relies on having an even number of riders and ponies. With Moth out of action, the ride’s off. For good!”
We all sat around morosely in the tack room. It was the Saturday before the extravaganza, and the mood was one of gloom, gloom, gloom.
“It’s just too cruel,” complained Katy. “We’ve all worked so hard—including the ponies—and now the activity ride is grounded. I’m so disappointed, I could, I could…”
“What?” asked James. “Tease Twiddles?”
“Of course not, James!” Katy snorted. “Honestly, you’ve so got to get over that cat!”
“I can’t. He’s like some kind of feline dictator. He needs to be taken down a peg or two.”
“What are you getting for Christmas?” I asked Dee, trying to change the subject.
“What? Oh, I’ve asked for the most fantastic sequined top from Urban Outfitters, but I think Mom will get me what she usually does—some new showing gear,” Dee told me glumly.
“I’ve asked for a new cell phone,” said Bean.
“So have I!” Cat said. “My one has never been the same since I dropped it into Bambi’s water bucket.”
“Imagine that!” remarked James.
“There must be something we can do!” moaned Katy.
“About what?” asked Bean, poking a cobweb with her whip.
“The activity ride! What do you think?” Katy yelled.
“It’s not going to happen, Katy,” Cat told her. “Accept that.”
“Except that what?” asked Bean. Nobody bothered to put her straight.
Leanne came in for Mr. Higgins’s tack. “You all look like you’ve been condemned to death,” she told us.
“Yeah, well, you know,” Dee said, shrugging her shoulders.
“It’s not the end of the world,” Leanne told us as she disappeared with her tack. Dee pulled a face after her.
“Will you leave that cobweb alone, Bean?” Katy asked her, annoyed. “That’s the second spider you’ve forced to come out of that thing.”
“Where?” I asked, moving away. I hate spiders. Suddenly, Mrs. Bradley appeared with a huge smile on her face. I hope she’s not going to be all happy, I thought. I didn’t think I could stand it.
“Hello, everyone!” she said, closing the door behind her and beaming at us all.
We grunted in reply, not really sharing her mood.
“I’ve been thinking,” said Mrs. Bradley, her eyes sparkling, “and I have the perfect solution.”
“To what?” asked Bean.
“The activity ride!” said Mrs. Bradley. “James must ride Henry!”
Talk about a bombshell! That got everyone’s interest. We suddenly gave Mrs. B. our full attention.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” she continued, sticking out her chin. Like anyone was going to argue, I thought. “Henry will love it, and it will be such a nice change for him. It’s the perfect solution!” she repeated. “And I’d love to see him perform,” she added, grinning.
“Oh, it is the perfect solution!” exclaimed Katy.
“Totally!” agreed Dee-Dee.
“That means the ride goes on. Hooray!” yelled Cat.
“That’s so nice of you, Mrs. Bradley,” added Katy.
James said nothing. Then he gave Mrs. Bradley one of his most devastating smiles (which I’m always hoping he’ll throw in my direction, pathetic as I am) and leaped over to plant a kiss on her wrinkly cheek.
“Mrs. B., you are an angel!” he told her solemnly. Mrs. B.’s face turned bright red under her gray hair, and she looked like she might explode. If I’d known James was going to be so grateful, I’d have lent him Drummer—even though I know that wouldn’t solve anything, but you know what I mean.
“Let’s give it a try out right now!” said Cat. “Where’s your mom, Dee?”
“I dunno, doing something in the stable, I think,” muttered Dee.
Dee disappeared to drag Sophie away from cleaning the kitchen cabinets in the stable, or some other dreary task she was doing to take her mind off the nonevent that used to be the activity ride, and we all galloped off to saddle up the ponies. Meeting us at the school, Mrs. Bradley puffed up with pride at seeing James dashing on her “magnificent” black horse, also known as Henry.
“It’s so strange seeing you on Henry instead of Moth,” remarked Bean. I knew what she meant. Henry was built like a tank and had feathers flowing from his knees and hocks down over his hooves like skirts. I don’t think Mrs. Bradley had ever pulled his mane or tail, and he had a beard and whiskers that would have done Santa proud. Unclipped, he looked like a big, black, hairy yeti next to our clipped and trimmed ponies. Henry also being about twice as wide as Moth, James looked a lot smaller on him than he did on his own chestnut mare.
“If this works, Henry is in for a substantial makeover,” Katy hissed to me, steering Bluey past Drummer.
“You’re not kidding,” I replied. “He needs a complete overhaul.”
“Now, Henry,” I heard Bambi begin, “it’s very simple, this ride. Just watch and learn and copy what we do. You’ll catch on quickly.”
Good, I thought. Henry was going to have the benefit of the other ponies’ experience. He’d soon be up to speed. I hadn’t bargained on Henry’s attitude.
“Get lost!” he replied. “I’m not doing this stupid ride thing with you lot of roll-over-and-do-whatever-the-humans-want ponies.”
“Oh, come on, Henry, do the decent thing for once,” Drummer said impatiently. “You know this ride helps the RDA. We’re all doing it, and it won’t kill you to get on board for something worthwhile for once.”
“No way,” Henry replied. “I, unlike you all, have trained my human, and she does what I want, not the other way around. I’m not part of your pathetic, so-called team. I’m not giving up my cushy life, thanks!”
Bluey shook his head sadly. “Honestly, Henry,” he said, “you miss out on so much with that outlook on life.”
“Pah!” replied Henry rudely. “Go preach at someone else.”
My heart sank. We’d got the other ponies on board so successfully, and now we had Henry to convert. Why was nothing ever easy?
“Dear Henry is refusing to play ball,” I whispered to Katy.
She rolled her eyes in despair. “You’re kidding!” she said.
I shook my head.
“Well, James is no Mrs. B.,” Katy said thoughtfully. “He might just persuade Henry otherwise.”
That was true. James wouldn’t be asking Henry if he minded, ever so, please, to trot like Mrs. Bradley did. James would drive Henry on with strong leg aids and keep him between his leg and hand, so Henry wouldn’t have much choice in the matter. My mind flew back to the image of James urging Henry at the field fence. And Henry being his usual, unresponsive self. It didn’t give me a reason to share Katy’s confidence.
“OK, let’s take it slowly until Henry gets the idea,” Sophie suggested. “Go in your usual position, James, and we’ll see how things go.”
Things went badly. Despite James’s experienced and firm riding, Henry found plenty of ways to ruin the ride.
He cut corners. He was inattentive at the jumps. He went too fast when he should have slowed down. He went slowly when he should have sped up. He jumped crookedly, he stopped abruptly on landing, and he tried to pull the reins out of James’s hands by thrusting his nose to the ground. All in all, he was a total pain, just like our ponies had been during their rebellion. He disrupted the entire ride, upsetting all the other ponies, who were furious.
Mrs. Bradley was mortified.
“Oh dear,” she said, crestfallen. “I suppose you’re just not used to my Henry, James dear. I’m sure when you get to know him, everything will be better.”
