SANDY LANE STABLES, BOOK 5 - DREAM PONY

CHAPTER 8 THINGS GET BETTER

"She'll need total rest for three days. It's just a nasty knock to the knees," the vet said, smiling kindly. She snapped her bag shut and walked back to her car, green boots crunching along the gravel on the ground. Jess watched her go and then turned back to Skylark's stable. Once inside, she flung her arms around the little pony's neck and buried her face into the soft mane. "Everything's going to be all right, Skylark," she said. Jess felt inconsiderate. She shouldn't have jumped Skylark straight away. It was a miracle that she was all right. "Is everything OK?" A voice roused Jess from her thoughts and she turned to see Camilla regarding her from the yard. Jess groaned inwardly. The last thing she needed at that moment was any of Camilla's

advice. But strangely, Camilla was being nice. "I heard about the accident," she continued. "It was bad luck. Daddy said you and Skylark were jumping well." The words 'jumping well's registered immediately with Jess and were enough to ignite a small flicker of pride, but it was what Camilla said first that she didn't understand. "Daddy?" She repeated the words slowly. "Yes," Camilla said. "He was watching you." "But only Amy and Jasper were there," Jess said in confusion. Had someone else been watching her jump as well? "Jess, are you being deliberately dense?" Camilla shook her head. "Jasper is my father. I'm Camilla Carlisle. Didn't anyone tell you that? Surely Amy must have mentioned it." "No," Jess said slowly. "No, she didn't." "Well that was very slack of her. Anyway, I'm just about to take Apollo out for a ride. There's some really good galloping along the coast. Why don't you come with me?" "But - Skylark," Jess indicated her pony. "The vet said she must rest for at least three days." Camilla gave an impatient toss of her head. "Honestly Jess, there's nothing really wrong with her." "The vet said she had to rest. I'm not going to risk it." Jess was quiet but firm. Camilla pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "Well if you feel like that," she said at last. "Then I'll get Amy to tack up Dido instead. She's not being ridden at the moment." "Well, I don't know, I sort of thought I would stay and look after Skylark," Jess said. 

"Oh come on, Jess," Camilla said. "Don't be so wet. It'll be fun. Skylark will be fine here. Amy'll keep an eye on her." Jess looked from Skylark to Camilla. She was furious that Camillahad called her wet. She would show her. Besides, it was a marvellous day for a ride. "All right," she said finally. "But I'll tack up Dido." Camilla shrugged. "Amy's supposed to do that kind to stuff. It's what she's paid for." "It's what I'm used to," Jess said firmly. "Suit yourself," Camilla said as she headed off to find Apollo. Jess turned to Skylark again. "I'll be back soon," she promised, checking the pony's haynet was full. "You take it easy here. It won't be long before we're riding together again." Mounted on Dido, Jess met up with Camilla in the yard. "All ready?" Camilla called over her shoulder. "Let's go." She walked Apollo a little way in front of Jess and Dido as they made their way out of the stables and along the country lanes that wound away from Rychester. Behind her, Jess tried to adjust herself to Dido's rhythem, and settle into the saddle. She was nervous about riding a new pony, especially one as impressive as Dido. Her apprehension wasn't helped when she saw the nonchalant way Camilla rode Apollo. Jess could see that the palomino was skittish. She pirouetted and skipped along the road, spooking at every moving twig. But Camilla didn't seem bothered at all. She controlled the nervous pony with off-hand grace, even turning around to chat to Jess about

nothing in particular. Her apparent ease calmed Jess, and soon she began to enjoy Dido's regular pace. As they turned the ponies into a field, Jess brought Dido level with Apollo. "We're heading towards my stables," she told Camilla. "I mean, the stables I used to ride at - Sandy Lane." "Never heard of it," Camilla shrugged. "Well it's a lot smaller than Rychester," Jess said. "But it's a lovely place." "I'll take your word for it," Camilla said. "Of course nowhere could be as great as Rychester. It was my love of horses that inspired Daddy to set up. He's a business man really, but he adores animals and with the profits from his cosmetics company he started Rychester. Now he's got a stable full of winning horses!" "There are some lovely horses at Rychester," Jess agreed with a slight pang of envy. Fancy having a dad who was willing to set up a riding stables just because his daughter loved horses. "We only have the best, Jess." Camilla flashed a wide grin. "And now we've got Skylark too. She's going to do really well for Rychester, you just see if she doesn't. Come on, let's gallop!" And with that Camilla turned Apollo to the open grass and spurred him on with her heels. In the next moment they raced the length of the field. Jess was so astonished at this abrupt departure that she wasn't able to check Dido, who danced excitedly beneath her and then was off, charging after Apollo like a streak of lightning. Jess didn't have time to think, and in the next moment she had settled into the gallop