The Midnight Horse by Michelle Bates

Author:Michelle Bates [Bates, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781409554998
Publisher: Usborne Publishing

9

PANIC-STRICKEN

As Kate cycled home that evening through the dark, winding lanes, she couldn’t stop thinking about Midnight. She’d dismissed Izzy’s notion without really thinking about him. What if there was something wrong with the black horse? What if she’d let her irritation with Izzy get in the way of his need? Nick had always said that if anything was wrong with one of the horses, they were to alert him straight away.

“Kate, is that you?” she heard her mother calling as she walked in through the back door. “Where have you been? You said you’d be back by four thirty. You know I worry about you cycling home when it’s dark.”

Kate sighed. “Sorry Mum,” she said sheepishly, putting her head around the kitchen door. “There was something wrong with one of the horses at the yard. And – well, anyway, I’m sorry.”

“Hmm, make sure you’re not late again,” her mother said.

“OK,” Kate said, happy to agree to anything, if only to escape the lecture.

“Come and sit down and have your supper. Dad and I are off out in a moment. Where’s Alex? Alex, your food’s getting cold.”

Kate washed her hands in the kitchen sink, scrubbing away at the dirt under her nails, before she sat down to eat.

“Where are you going, Mum?”

“The Bicknells’,” her mother said. “We won’t be back late.”

“OK,” Kate said as Alex joined her at the table.

“Alex,” she started. “I’m a bit worried about Midnight. He was very unsettled when I left. Izzy really pushed him over the cross-country. He was very tired, and then he wouldn’t eat anything and...”

“Not that horse again,” Alex groaned. “Leave it alone, Kate. It’s none of your business. It’s not as though you’re even a friend of hers.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about,” Kate snapped. “It’s the horse. I couldn’t give two hoots about her.”

“Well, you’ve made that clear enough,” Alex answered.

“What do you mean?” Kate said, through a mouthful of food.

“Well, you haven’t exactly been very nice to her, have you?”

“Well, she’s not exactly the nicest person you’ve ever met, is she?”

“She’s not bad,” Alex said.

Kate felt herself getting cross. “She’s not bad? She’s dreadful. She’s so conceited. All she cares about is winning at Hawthorn.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Alex said, as Kate got up from the table.

“I didn’t expect you to understand, Alex.” Kate walked off, tears pricking her eyes. How could he? How could her own brother take the side of a complete stranger?

“What’s going on?” Mrs. Hardy asked, walking back into the kitchen.

“Nothing,” Kate answered.

“Right,” Mrs. Hardy said. “We’re off in a moment,” she said, as she cleared the plates. “Alex, you’re in charge.”

“Fine,” Alex said, an evil grin spreading across his face. “Did you hear that Kate?”

Kate pulled a face as Alex turned to the sitting room to watch television.

“I’ll leave the number by the telephone,” their mother called, shutting the front door behind them. “Bye.”

Kate was left sitting at the kitchen table. She couldn’t stop thinking about Midnight. What if something was wrong with him? If only she could check.

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