SANDY LANE STABLES, BOOK 5 - DREAM PONY

CHAPTER 9 JESS MOVES ON

Jess sat at the kitchen table, chatting to her mother who was making supper. From time to time a strand of hair would fall over her mother's face and she would push it back wearily with a damp hand. Jess thought her mum looked tired and dowdy in her ancient leggings and baggy old sweater. For what must have been the fifteenth time that day, Jess began to talk about Rychester again. "Mrs. Carlisle had Camilla's room photographed for a magazine," she said. "And Camilla's dad set up Rychester Riding Stables just for Camilla. Isn't that amazing?" "Fascinating Jess," her mother said brightly. "I'll have to see what I can do to make your life just that little bit more glamourous. Now, what can I do for your supper tonight? I know you won't want spaghetti bolognese like the rest of us, will you?" 

"Not really Mum, sorry," Jess said, guiltily. She knew that not eating meat caused her mother extra work. But no matter how many times she said she'd just have the vegetables, or make herself a sandwich while the rest of her family tucked into chicken or bacon, her mother would always go out of her way to make her something else. "You're a growing girl, Jess," she would say. "You can't survive on sandwiches. I'll just have to cook you something different." Guiltily, Jess turned away and let her thoughts go back to Rychester. She had spent every evening that week at the stables, and she couldn't help thinking about it. Skylark and she were getting better and better and the more time she spent at Rychester, the more she liked it. Amy was encouraging and Camilla had really taken her under her wing. And Skylark - well, Skylark was the most wonderful pony in the world, and her very own too. Of course, Jess still wished that the accident hadn't happened, but Skylark was better now. Jasper had been right, there was no point in telling people what had gone on. Certainly it would only worry Jess's mum and dad. Most of all, Jess didn't want to tell Rosie about it. It was embarrassment and pride that stopped her. Rosie had already voiced her doubts about Rychester and Jess had decided that there was no point in fuelling them. Indeed, she tried to avoid talking about Skylark to Rosie. Guiltily she realized she'd hardly spoken to her all week. They had both been busy, so it had been rather difficult. Rosie was involved in netball trials after school, and Jess had

 been at Rychester for the past few evenings. So when the phone rang a few moments later, Jess was pleased to hear Rosie's voice at the other end. "I just wondered if you were around at the weekend," Rosie said. "There's a beach ride going out from Sandy Lane. Do you want to bring Skylark along?" "Um-" Jess hesitated, not knowing what to say. It would be a week after Skylark's accident. Several days after the vet had said she'd be OK to ride, but Jess didn't want to push the pony and she had been planning to ride quietly in the indoor school, under Amy's supervision. "I don't think I can, Rosie," she said. "You see, I'm not really used to Skylark yet," she tried. "I think I should get to know her a bit first before I take her out on a hack." "Fair enough." Rosie's voice was quiet but understanding at the end of the line. "I saw another picture of you in the paper by the way. Lovely cheesy grin!" "What, me or Skylark?" Jess laughed now. "You of course," Rosie chortled. "Skylark looks beautiful. In black and white anyway." "She is beautiful, Rosie," Jess said quickly now. "And you will see her soon, I promise." "I can't wait," Rosie replied eargerly. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten all about your old Sandy Lane mates. Are you a Rychester girl now? Posh clothes, daring riding style, that kind of thing?" "Oh Rychester's not so bad," Jess said quickly. "In fact, it's better than I expected... you should see it 

Rosie." Jess's voice rose with ecitement. "The loose boxes are huge, and really smart. That girl we saw on the cliff top ride, the one with the palomino pony, remember? Well, she's Camilla Carlisle, the daughter of Rychester's owner, Jasper... she seemed really snooty at first, but she's all right underneath it all. And the horses at Rychester are wonderful. There's Apollo, and Dido and Skylark of course-" Jess paused for breath. "And I'm riding at Ash Hill too, for Rychester. Jasper Carlisle and everyone at Rychester reckon Skylark's going to be brilliant at jumping. She's really responsive to ride." "Well it all sounds perfect," Rosie said brightly. Suddenly Jess realized that she hadn't asked Rosie about Sandy Lane at all. How could she have been so selfish? "What's the news at Sandy Lane?" she asked quickly, twisting the telephone cord around her fingers. "Am I missing anything?" "Not really," Rosie said. "Nick's been in a bad mood because his flu's come back and lots of people seem to be cancelling rides. I'm definitely jumping Pepper at the Ash Hill Show in the Open Jumping." As Rosie chattered on, Jess's mind drifted back to Skylark. She couldn't wait to ride her pony again. She wondered what Skylark was doing now. Was she was all right? Had Amy checked her for the night? Suddenly Jess realized that Rosie was asking her something. "Jess," Rosie called, "Jess are you there?" "Yes," Jess said quickly. And then because Rosie's hurt silence hung in the air, Jess added. "It sounds like things are pretty busy then."

"I guess so." Rosie's voice was quiet and Jess felt wretched and embarrassed for not paying her more attention. "I have to go," she lied miserably. "My mum's calling me for supper."