The Enchanted Horse by Magdalen Nabb

Author:Magdalen Nabb [Nabb, Magdalen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2014-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

“I have to put your blanket on you. You’re so hot with galloping and now you’ll be cold.” She picked up the heavy blanket but no matter how she tried she couldn’t lift it on to Bella’s back. She could only reach up to her shoulder. Bella turned to look at her, with big, gentle eyes, waiting patiently. Irina didn’t know what to do. She tried again but the blanket was so heavy and Bella was so tall that it was impossible.

“I can’t reach you,” she told Bella. “You were only small before and now I can’t reach.”

Bella must have understood, then. She began turning round and round in her corner, pawing and scraping at the straw beneath her feet. When it was smooth and flat she knelt down very carefully and then lowered her hindquarters. Irina covered her with the blanket and Bella at once sat up, straightened her front legs and sprang upright, shaking herself. Irina ran to fetch a bucket of water and some hay – “In case you get hungry and thirsty,” she said, placing these in front of Bella. “Goodnight.” She reached up to stroke Bella’s cheek, but the horse didn’t lower her head and nuzzle her as Irina would have liked. She stood very still and straight, looking very serious, and slowly raised her left front hoof.

“What is it, Bella? I don’t understand. Have you hurt it?” Bella went on standing with her foot raised for a long time. Then, seeing that Irina did nothing, she put it down and lifted the right one, still looking straight ahead and waiting. She lifted each of her four feet in turn. Perhaps, in the end, she understood that Irina didn’t know what to do, so she bent to nuzzle her as if to say Goodnight.

Irina ran into the house and climbed the stairs. As she crept past her parents’ bedroom she heard her father snoring. She ran to her own room and jumped into bed, snuggling down under the quilt. She was so happy that she fell asleep at once to dream of riding over the snowy fields with Bella.

“Irina? Irina!”

Irina opened her eyes and sat up. It was morning and her mother was calling her.

“Irina! I’ve been calling you for the last half hour!”

But Irina didn’t move at once. She was trying to remember something. Something had happened. She felt different today. Then she remembered her dream of riding over the snow. Could a dream make her feel so happy and so different? She got up and dressed quickly. The dream was still whirling around in her head, making her feel confused. She ran downstairs and through the kitchen towards the back door.

“Irina!” her mother said, “where do you think you’re going? You’re already too late to help me with the hens, and now breakfast’s ready.”

“I just want to go out for one minute, please—”

“Sit down,” her mother said. “Your father’s already in from milking.”

Her father walked into the kitchen and Irina sat down at the table.

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