A New Beginning Read online

  Finn laughed. “Something like that!” Striding off, he gave a cheerful wave. “Oh, Alice in her palace, you might want to check the back of your jods.”

  Crossly Alice turned round to look at the back of her cream trousers. They were streaked with brown. She must have landed in a pile of muck in the ring when Secret bolted. No wonder the landing had been soft. Groaning with embarrassment, Alice buried her face in Secret’s neck. When she looked up, Finn had gone.

  For the next couple of weeks Alice tried to forget about Finn and deliberately avoided his event at the next show they went to.

  Alice had also begged Fergus not to tell her mum about Secret’s escapades and Fergus had agreed, on the understanding that Alice did some more work with her pony before his next show. And so Alice continued her attempts at schooling, but quietly fantasised about galloping bareback up a meadow, hopping over fallen logs.

  It was a rarity: a Sunday without a show in the diary. Alice’s mum and dad were at a judge’s lunch. It was Fergus’s day off and the show ponies were all getting turned out into the fields for a rest day. Alice was planning on taking Secret for a ride in the top meadow, perhaps even jumping a few of the small logs up there. Then she could laze around for the rest of the afternoon, hanging out with her pony.

  Unfortunately her mum had other ideas.

  “I’m not leaving you here on your own,” she said firmly.

  “Oh, Mum, I’ll be fine. Please?” Alice pleaded.

  “No,” her mum said in a tone that suggested Alice shouldn’t try to answer back. “I’ve asked Fergus if you can go with him while he delivers a pony for his brother.”

  Alice scuffed the floor with her boots, scowling. Great. Her one day off from showing and she would be stuck in the horsebox all afternoon instead.

  “All right?” Fergus said to Alice as he pulled away from Park Farm. She nodded, pulling a piece of hay from her hair, having just made up the evening hay nets.

  They soon arrived at Fergus’s brother’s yard and quickly had the pony, a beautiful mouse dun mare, loaded into the van. To Alice’s relief, the onward journey to the pony’s new home was short. She might even get back to work on Secret, if Fergus didn’t take too long.

  As they approached Rookham Manor, the pony’s new home, Alice gaped. At the end of the drive was a seriously impressive old manor house, although it was a bit run-down. The ponies were stabled in an old coaching block nearby. The air was still, only broken up by the distant hum of bees in the meadows surrounding the yard.

  “Hmmm. I expected someone to be here to meet us. Al, would you mind seeing if you can find someone, and I’ll check on the mare?”

  “Sure.” Alice hopped down from the cab, pleased she had put shorts on that morning. It was a scorching hot day and the manor house shimmered and swam in the air like a mirage.

  “Hello?”

  Alice’s voice echoed around the empty yard as several ponies watched with mild interest from the cool of their stables. It suddenly dawned on Alice that she recognised the ponies. The Highland, the big grey, two matching Dales… It couldn’t be, could it? Holding her breath, she peered into the gloom of a barn.

  “We don’t owe you anything!”

  Startled, Alice moved forward, squinting into the darkness.

  “My name’s Alice, Alice Smalley,” she called out, looking nervously around. This was seriously weird. “I’m here with Fergus. We have a pony for you?”

  Emerging from a corner, a dark-haired boy glowered at her. It was Finn. Alice felt a blush rise to her pale cheeks.

  “Hi … Finn,” she said, trying to sound cool. “We have your new pony—”

  She felt the words die on her lips as Finn glared at her with such fury that she started to back out of the barn. Luckily Fergus now stood behind her. He had an older girl with him, the blonde who rode the big grey. Alice felt as if she were meeting a famous pop star!

  “Finn, this is the new pony I told you about. Marcus said we need—” the girl started, but Finn cut across her.

  “Marcus always says,” he snapped, stalking out of the barn without a backwards glance as the girl stared after him.

  She sighed. “Don’t mind him. Finn’s always mad about something. Teenagers, eh?”

  Reaching out to Alice, the girl shook her hand, smiling. She was in her early twenties and very pretty. “I’m Sasha,” she said. She was wearing a black skirt and cowboy boots, and her blonde hair was tangled and woven with flowers. “Shall we get my new girl settled in?”

  Alice scuffed her feet in the yard as Sasha and Fergus unloaded the Highland and sorted out the paperwork. Finn was nowhere to be seen. It was bad enough crashing into him at the country fair, but meeting like this, when there was clearly something going on between him and Sasha, felt really awkward.

  Alice’s heart sank as Fergus came to find her a few minutes later, looking stressed. “Sorry, Al, just my luck,” he said in exasperation. “Lorry won’t start; I’ve called the rescue truck but we could be stuck here for a bit.”

  Alice groaned. Her dreams of an afternoon with Secret were slipping away. But if Finn had disappeared, she could use the opportunity to get up close to the ponies. They were her horsey heroes after all!

  “Oh no, what a shame!” Sasha appeared by Fergus’s side, sounding anything but sorry as she smiled up at the head groom. “Fergus, can you come and help me measure the new pony? I want to see what costumes we need to make up, or if we have anything that will fit.”

  “Sure!”

  Fergus seemed keen to help, and Alice giggled to herself. At least someone was having fun!

  Left alone again, Alice wandered around the pretty yard and said hello to the ponies, sort of hoping she might bump into Finn again. She patted the sweet pair of Dales ponies, the chestnut thoroughbred and the gorgeous dapple grey Sasha usually rode. He looked like an Irish Draught and was huge, over seventeen hands. The stables themselves were in need of repair and the whole yard had an air of faded glamour, like an old movie star. But Alice had to admit the yard blew her away. It was so different, so romantic, not a solarium or manège in sight, just beautiful historic buildings and flower meadows and gorgeous ponies. She loved it.

  “Hello, sweetheart.” Alice paused next to the snow-white Highland that Finn rode. The pony snuffled against her hands, his velvet muzzle a contrast to his bristly whiskers, and she laughed as he searched her pockets for treats.

  “How are you, my darling?” she said chattily to the friendly pony, tracing the letters on his nameplate on the stable door. “Horatio,” she smiled. “A fine name for a lovely pony.”

  Then she jumped as Finn emerged from the other side of the stable where he had been sorting out rugs. He had an unsettling way of looking straight at her, unblinking, so that her gaze fell first.

  “Do you always talk to yourself?” he said, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

  Alice tried to think of a witty response, but couldn’t. “You like Highlands then?” she said finally, kicking herself inside. What a lame thing to say!

  Finn raised an eyebrow at her. “I like all ponies.”

  When Alice asked Finn what his plans were for the new Highland mare a look of fury clouded his face.

  “Well, we’ll have to find enough money to look after her, for a start,” Finn hissed, his eyes flashing. “But that doesn’t worry Marcus.”

  Alice must have looked confused, and Finn sighed. “Sasha’s my sister,” he explained, “and Marcus is her boyfriend. He’s the one that rides the chestnut. He joined last year. He’s nothing but—”

  He was interrupted by the arrival of Sasha and Fergus. Now Alice could see that Finn and Sasha did look alike, with the same high slanted cheekbones and long eyelashes, although Sasha’s hair was as light as Finn’s was dark. Finn’s mood seemed to worsen when he saw his sister. Ignoring Fergus and Alice he started arguing with her.

  “Why did you buy the mare?” he hissed. “You know we can’t afford her.”
r />   Looking uncomfortable, Sasha tried to diffuse the situation. “That’s not true, Finn,” she hissed back, her cheeks colouring. “Really, it’s not,” she said, turning to Fergus. “She’s all paid for.”

  Fergus held up his hands, and shrugged. “I’m sure,” he said. “Rory wouldn’t sell a pony without a cleared cheque.”

  Stomping off, Finn muttered under his breath. Although Alice couldn’t be sure, she thought she heard the words “gullible” and “naive” and something about paying winter feed bills. Sasha ignored her younger brother and soon she and Fergus were deep in conversation again, and Finn was gone.

  Chapter 8

  Alice wasn’t sure why, but something made her slip off quietly and go and find Finn. He was sitting in the paddock, throwing a tennis ball for a lurcher.

  Alice sat down beside him as he continued throwing the ball, not looking at her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, the sun warm on Alice’s face, before Finn spoke.

  “She’s a lovely mare,” he said, his voice flat. “I expect you think she should be in a show ring, don’t you, doing boring circles?”

  “No.” Alice patted the dog as he dropped the ball. That might be what her mum would think, but not her. “Why did your sister buy the pony?” she asked.

  “Because Marcus told her to,” Finn growled. “Everything’s gone wrong since he joined the Flying Fillies. At first I thought he was OK. I mean, he can ride well enough. But—” he looked round as he said this, as if to check no one was listening “—I don’t think he’s got any interest in the team. Apart from what he can get out of it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Finn looked grim. “I heard him on the phone; he said the team was a waste of time and that Sasha was loaded, which she’s absolutely not.” He glanced at Alice. “He’s up to something. But Sash doesn’t believe me. He came along and swept her off her feet and now she thinks he’s the answer to all our problems.”

  He looked around him, at the crumbling stable yard and the wildflower meadows. “He’s crazy if he thinks he can get his hands on any of this,” he said, his jaw tense.

  “Do you both live here then?” Alice asked. Sasha was obviously older than Finn but she still seemed very young to have the responsibility of such a big house and yard. Finn nodded.

  “Just you two?” Alice couldn’t help herself. “What about your parents?” she blurted out.

  Pain flashed across Finn’s face. “Well, Mum’s dead,” he said shortly, and Alice’s hands flew to her mouth.

  “Oh, Finn, I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  Before she could continue, Finn put his hand up, his expression softening. “It’s OK, how were you meant to know? You don’t know me.” He looked straight at her as he said this.

  “What about your dad then?” Alice asked carefully.

  “Dad’s a horse trainer,” Finn explained. “He’s into natural horsemanship and stuff like that. Not your thing I expect,” he added dismissively.

  Alice frowned. “How do you know? You don’t know me.”

  Finn gave a small smile. “Touché. Well, Dad’s speciality is difficult horses. The sort that won’t respond to anyone else; he just seems to be able to communicate with them somehow. Horatio was totally unrideable when we got him. He bucked his owner off every day and he was going to be put down: they thought he was dangerous. Dad turned him round, gained his trust. All Horatio wanted was someone to listen to him.”

  Alice was fascinated. She couldn’t help but wonder what Finn’s dad would make of Secret.

  “We did all the normal pony stuff growing up. Mum would take us to pony club and shows, that sort of thing,” Finn continued. “But when Dad went away to teach in Spain, he came across some stunt riders and told us all about it. That was that: we were hooked. We never really fitted in at pony club anyway,” he added with a small chuckle.

  Alice listened as Finn explained how his parents had set up the display team, using their brilliant horsemanship skills to train the ponies.

  “It started off with just a bridle, then a rope round the neck.” Finn’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, and once again Alice was struck by just how handsome he was. “Getting the ponies to really trust us. It’s hard to explain. Dad just seems to ask horses to do things, and they respond.” He smiled and paused, a faraway look on his face, and Alice wondered what he was thinking about.

  “You and Sasha are both amazing riders,”

  Alice said, thinking back to all the times she had watched them.

  “There’s nothing like the feeling of standing up on your pony’s back for the first time.” Finn said, his smile growing. “And then we got more daring, and taught ourselves other tricks. The Flying Fillies was just taking off when Mum died…” His voice faltered. “That’s why it means so much to keep it going.”

  “Where’s your dad now?” Alice knew she was asking lots of personal questions, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Finn looked away. “After the funeral Dad took off,” he said eventually, keeping his voice steady. “He couldn’t make Mum better. But he can make horses better.”

  Alice felt tears prick the corners of her eyes.

  Finn explained that his dad had found various jobs along the way, at Montana ranches, Argentine polo farms and Kenyan horse safaris, sending back money each month.

  “What, enough money to keep this huge house and the yard going?” Alice asked in surprise.

  “Luckily there’s no mortgage or we’d never manage,” Finn said. “The house will belong to us when we’re older, but the stable yard already belongs to Sasha. When our grandmother died a couple of years ago, we moved down from the north and took over the place. But even with Dad’s money and the display money we’re only just making enough to feed and care for the horses.” Finn gave a resigned sigh. “Sash has big plans for the Flying Fillies, but we need to replace the costumes and all the tack is ancient and falling apart.”

  Alice had never heard anything like Finn’s story in her life. She couldn’t believe their dad had taken off like that, to ride horses all over the world. And now Finn and Sasha travelled up and down the country for their displays, living alone in this glorious house. It was a whole new world!

  “Is your dad ever coming back?” she asked, totally absorbed in Finn’s story.

  “I don’t know when he’ll be back,” Finn said, plucking at the grass. “He just needed to get away. Mum’s death hit him hard. It was hard for all of us. But we manage, Sasha and me.”

  “But … you’re both so young,” Alice said. She couldn’t help it.

  Finn snorted, narrowing his eyes. “I’m fourteen, hardly young. You don’t need to feel sorry for me.”

  “Alice!” A whistle made her jump. It was Fergus, waving from the yard. “Lorry’s fixed!” he bellowed, indicating for her to come and join him.

  Reluctantly Alice stood up. “Good luck with your new pony,” she said. She wasn’t sure what else she could say.

  “Thanks. See you around. And good luck with Secret.”

  Finn had already stood up, heading back to the stables. Alice watched him go, his dark head held high, his lurcher by his side.

  As Alice and Fergus trundled back down the long drive a few minutes later, Alice squinted through the late-afternoon sun and spotted a pony and rider in one of the meadows. Finn and Horatio. The pony had no saddle or bridle, yet was cantering the most perfect circle, Finn’s hands entwined in his mane. Alice could only stare.

  Fergus slowed the lorry right down, hands over his eyes to shield them from the sun as he watched. He gave a long whistle. “That boy sure can ride,” he said. “Alice, I’ve had an idea…”

  Chapter 9

  A few days later Alice had just arrived back from school when her mum called her over. She was in the yard, wearing jeans and a faded pink shirt. Alice much preferred her mum when she was like this, relaxing with the ponies and Poppy the dog.

  “What, Mum?” she asked curiously. Josephine looked unusua
lly pleased.

  “I think Fergus has found us our new show rider!” her mum said in a satisfied voice, and Alice felt her stomach flip. She suddenly knew exactly what her mum was about to say.

  “The boy, the one who rode Archie when your classes clashed at the fair.”

  Alice was startled. She’d forgotten to ask Fergus how he’d explained Finn riding Archie!

  “Fergus said he was exceptional,” Josephine continued. “And then I hear he was the one you delivered the pony for. I asked around, and he rides for something called the Flying Fillies. Is that the silly thing you were watching a few weeks ago?” She had a look of bemusement as she said this. “Anyway, I thought I’d offer him, Finn Cutler, the riding job. I haven’t found anyone else, and it sounds like he might do very well in a proper riding discipline!”

  Alice winced. Her mum could be pretty blunt at times.

  “Fergus gave me their number, and Finn has agreed to a trial ride,” Josephine said, glancing at her watch. “He should be here any minute now.”

  “What?” Alice’s hands flew to her mouth in horror. There was no time to change out of her detested school uniform: a maroon knee-length kilt and blazer. Then she kicked herself for caring so much, but she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Finn.

  Just then there was a beep as the electric gates opened and a battered Land Rover pulled into the yard. Sasha was in the driver’s seat, some sort of elaborate headdress on her mass of blonde hair, and Finn was in the passenger side. As he got out, Alice saw he was also in his school uniform, a navy polo shirt, but he had a way of making it look cool. He gave her a little smile.

  Josephine’s mouth fell open as Sasha emerged. Not only was she wearing a sequinned hairband decorated with large feathers, but her face was sprinkled with glitter.

  “Hi!” Sasha said nonchalantly, her cowboy boots clicking on the cobbles as she reached forward to shake Josephine’s hand with a big smile. “Oh! Don’t mind me; I’ve just been working on some costumes, and didn’t have time to change.”