The Pony Question by Jackie Merchant

Author:Jackie Merchant [Merchant, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760652494
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Published: 2020-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Essie stepped out of bed, nearly treading on the laptop, which sat on the floor where she’d put it after reading Moxie’s competition results late into the night. The results were from lower levels, where she’d done well. She’d had just one start at elementary level, two years before, then she’d vanished from competition.

Essie heard the familiar whine of the front door hinges, the sound of her mum getting the Saturday morning paper that the delivery man always chucked into the gate. Opening her bedroom door, Essie watched her walking back across the front yard in her dressing-gown and gumboots, the paper folded open to the back.

Before Francesca even spoke Essie knew she’d found a sale ad in the back of the paper. Her face as she came inside was animated.

“There is a second-hand and antique shop having a closing down sale, fancy coming for a drive?” Francesca asked, heading for the kitchen, turning the kettle on. “It wouldn’t do us any harm to have a change of scenery just for the day? What do you think?”

Essie wanted to say no, she wanted to spend the day with Moxie, she wanted to ring J S O’Brien Performance Horses, but it seemed unfair to send Francesca off by herself to work which was what was paying for Moxie, when they always went together.

Making herself smile, Essie said, “Yeah, sure, I could try Moxie in the little paddock at Percy’s for the day; if he can keep an eye on her, she should be okay in there.” Hesitantly, she asked, “Could we ring the O’Brien people before we go?”

Looking at the clock, Francesca said, “How about we do it when we get back? We can make some notes about what we want to ask them.”

“Yeah, okay,” said Essie, frowning. She knew it was a good idea, but felt impatient just the same. “I’ll go and ask Percy now,” she said, slipping back down the hallway, her socks long over her toes. “What time will I tell him we’ll be back by?”

“Depends on what’s there. I’d say mid afternoon, no later than around three. Do you want to see if Aiden wants to come for the drive?” asked Francesca.

“Yes, can you text Doddsy?” asked Essie. “So if Percy checks Moxie at lunchtime and gives her hay, we should be back to give her dinner?” asked Essie.

“Yep, well before. I’ll make sure we are.” Francesca smiled. “Do you want some breakfast?”

“Yes, please,” Essie said, shoving her feet into her boots. “I don’t care what, I’ll be back in a minute,” she called, pulling the front door shut behind her.

Percy came to the back door in his yard clothes, toast crumbs on the brown wool of his old gardening jumper and a tough old toenail poking through a hole in his sock. Catching her looking at it, he said, “Ask your farrier to call in next time he comes to see Moxie, will you, Ess?”

When Essie explained why she’d come he smiled and said, “Of course I can keep an eye on her, tell me exactly what to do.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.