Fern Creek Academy Book 1

Chapter 13: A Nuisance

Hilary was walking up the path on her way back to the dormitory. She had just finished a History lesson and was surprised at how much she had learnt in the past few weeks, currently the class was studying how the Godolphin Arabian had started the line of thoroughbreds in England, it was very interesting.

Hilary had been astonished when Miss Peters had come up to her and praised her for her marks in a previous test.

"You'll do the whole school proud," she had said softly, "Keep it up".

She had then abruptly turned around and walked back down the hall. Hilary had been ecstatic, a teacher, praising her and telling her to continue the good work!!

A similar thing had happened in Riding, the teacher had taken Hilary out when the lesson had finished and told her that she was surprised at the rate that Hilary was improving. Emma had as usual been supportive and just as happy as Hilary.

The only downside was that Amanda had seemed to have found out, she had been annoying Hilary relentlessly, continually making Hilary seem silly compared to her own, prim, proper, form.

Only last Thursday whilst in Equine Care Hilary she had slyly tipped over the container of hoof polish, it had gotten all over Hilary's jodhpur boots and messed up the floor. Amanda had then said loudly enought for the class to hear,

"What a goose Hilary is."

A few girls snickered in the back, Amanda had gone back to meticulously sewing up her Warm blood's braids, not paying any attention.

There was no point in telling the teacher, Amanda would always put on her best smile and feign innocence, the teacher would then tell Hilary that it was simply an accident.

ACCIDENT!!  

The word made Hilary want to scream, she kicked a pebble viciously with her boot and sent it scuttling across the path and into the perfectly trimmed hedges. In the distance she could make out the dark wooden hulk of the stables.

Yess, STABLES!! That was what she needed, some rest from the hectic life of school.

Hilary jogged over the lawn and down the track worn out by hoofs and boots alike.

She stopped at the entrance, inside a few pigeons cooed and flapped off into the dimly lit interior, by now, Hilary knew where Rilby's stall was, she had been there at least a dozen times for various equine related lessons.

A few horses peered their heads inquisitively over the stall, others lay down, resting or munching chaff. Hilary breathed deeply, calming herself down, next stall up was Rilby's stall.

A horse peered it's head over, it's black hair outlined against the white feed bucket, his well groomed, sleek, body, shined and his hoof pawed the ground.

Hilary stopped and stared, this horse was BLACK, her horse, Rilby, was WHITE.

Something was wrong and Hilary knew it, then it hit her, this horse, the one in Rilby's stall, was Amanda's horse, Hilary couldn't remember it's name, Amanda had swapped the horses round, just to make her annoyed. She turned back round again, surveying him, he glared back at her as though saying "This is my stall so back off."

Hilary now understood, Amanda was letting her jealousy out on Hilary for taking her place as top of the class. Still, Hilary couldn't quite understand the need to do something as annoying as this.

Luckily Hilary knew where Amanda's box was, it was a few boxes down, on the left. Hilary peered over the edge, sure enough, there was Rilby.

Hilary flung open the stall door and hugged Rilby hard round the neck,"Oh, Rilby boy," she said. It was such a relief to find him there. Hilary clipped her lead onto Rilby's halter, and checked his surroundings. To her shock she discovered that Amanda had not even given Rilby food or water!!

After taking Amanda's horse back to his own stall, Hilary sighed, why did Amanda have to be such a nuisance!!!