Finding Wonder by Lauren St John

Author:Lauren St John
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2023-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

32.

Whiteout

Getting home was easier said than done.

The six cows had found a juicy patch of spring grass and they objected to leaving it. Roo got to see Honey and Rebel in action. They ducked, dived, and wheeled on a dime, shepherding the cows as effectively as Border collies.

The cows were finally on the road and trotting home when one made a break for it. Without any prompting from Roo, Drifter streaked in pursuit.

It was then that the Quarter Horse’s inexperience on the moors showed. She was in full flight when a gully opened up before them.

Panic flooded Roo’s body. It was an impossible leap. They’d never make it. Drifter would surely shatter a cannon bone and Roo would be stretchered off the moors.

But there was no time to stop. Roo felt the red roan’s powerful quarters bunch. Every sinew strained as Drifter hurled herself as high and far as she could over the rocky stream bed. Roo hung on and tried not to look down.

Drifter cleared it by millimetres, albeit with some scrambling. She barely broke stride before getting straight back to work. Within minutes, she’d returned the cheeky cow to the others.

‘Well ridden, Roo,’ said Cormac, openly astonished.

Inside, Roo was silently thanking her big-hearted but sergeant-majorish London riding teacher, who’d demanded that Roo trot and canter in circles, with two pennies between her knees and the saddle, for hours and hours.

‘I’m not sure I’d have stayed on for that leap,’ admitted Calli.

‘’Course you would,’ Roo responded generously. ‘Anyway, it was nothing compared to the skyscraper jump I went over on Wonder Boy.’

She felt a pang, remembering how sweet-natured the chestnut had been with her that day. How she’d sensed he was taking care of her.

Where in the world was poor Wonder now?

Calli was wide-eyed. ‘Are you talking about some riding school pony with the same name as Rhianna Cooper’s showjumper, or do you mean actual Wonder Boy who was stolen last month?’

Roo regretted mentioning Wonder. She wasn’t about to tell Calli that she and Joni had tried to buy him before being hired by Rhianna’s mother to find him. Their investigation was confidential.

‘I mean Rhianna Cooper’s Wonder Boy,’ she admitted.

Calli said enviously: ‘Are you friends with Rhianna?’

‘I’ve met her a couple of times, but we’re not close or anything,’ was Roo’s awkward response.

‘No offence, but if you hardly know her, why would she let you ride her champion horse?’

Calli’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Unless … Was it something to do with your dad? I heard he passed away in January. I’m so sorry.’

Roo fought back sudden tears. Calli’s unthinking words were like salt in a raw wound. She missed her dad and mum every day.

After a pause, Calli pressed: ‘Did one of those Make-A-Wish charities help you meet Wonder?’

‘Sort of.’

It had been weeks since Roo had felt the pain that the girl’s casual remarks inflicted. She clammed up. Not for anything would she relate one detail of her Wonder Boy encounter.

They rode on in silence.

‘Funny about Wonder being stolen, isn’t it?’ remarked Calli, adding hastily: ‘Not funny ha ha.

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