Magic Ponies: Seaside Summer Read online

  ‘We’d better go back now, before someone notices that one of the carousel horses is missing,’ Jess reasoned. ‘Besides, Mai will be wondering why I’m taking so long to close up for the night.’

  ‘Very well. Climb on to my back again,’ Comet invited.

  Jess felt a surge of excitement as she mounted him and wrapped her hands in his mane. There was a final flash of violet light, visible only to Jess, as Comet shot forward. In no time at all, she was sitting on the merry-go-round, riding what appeared to be a normal spotted carousel horse.

  ‘See you later!’ she whispered as she gave Comet a hug before carefully sliding down and putting the canvas cover over him.

  She only just managed to stop herself laughing aloud with happiness. Her dream, of having a pony of her own, had come true! But in a way she could never have imagined – not even in her wildest dreams!

  Chapter

  THREE

  ‘I can’t believe that Uncle Felix wants to leave the circus!’ Mai exclaimed as she poked her head in through the open caravan door early the following morning. ‘How can he even think of staying put somewhere and getting a normal job?’

  Jess was just sitting down to eat her breakfast. She’d had a brilliant dream about flying through the air on Comet. It had felt so real, even down to the softness of his warm gold-feathered wings, brushing against her. The wonderful images still filled her mind.

  ‘Um… yeah. That’s too awful to think about.’ Jess forced herself to concentrate on what her cousin was saying. ‘Maybe Uncle Felix didn’t mean it, about leaving.’

  Jess’s mum smiled at Mai. ‘Come on in. You can’t talk about this stuff on an empty stomach. We’re having scrambled eggs. There’s plenty for one extra.’

  Mai smiled despite herself. ‘Thanks, Aunt Lily.’ Still looking worried, Mai took a plate from her aunt and sat down next to Jess.

  ‘So how come you took so long to shut everything away last night, anyway?’ Mai asked, chewing thoughtfully. ‘You were ages.’

  Jess was taken by surprise. There had been so many people in the big top, all talking at once, that she hadn’t realized Mai had noticed that she was late. ‘I… um, got chatting with… someone,’ she replied vaguely. You wouldn’t believe who it was, even if I could tell you! she thought. ‘What did they say at the meeting?’

  ‘Well.’ Her mum spoke first. ‘New houses are going up everywhere. There’s not much open land left. I’m afraid that your dad thinks Felix has a point.’

  Jess realized with a little jolt of dismay that her mum looked really worried. This was serious. Surely her dad wouldn’t leave the circus!

  She looked at Mai. ‘What does Uncle Oliver say?’ she asked her cousin.

  ‘Dad’s dead against quitting. He reckons the circus is in our blood! I’m with him. The Starklings have been circus people for generations. I’d rather die than do anything else!’ she said fiercely.

  Jess pushed her scrambled eggs around with a fork. Mai was always so dramatic, but this time Jess agreed with her. She couldn’t think of anything worse than living in a normal house in a dull town, instead of travelling to the coast every summer and spending the season there.

  They finished eating in thoughtful silence. Mai thanked her aunt for the food and then she and Jess helped clear away the dishes before they went off to do their chores.

  ‘I’m litter-picking today. Bor-ing!’ Mai said, rolling her eyes. ‘At least I can listen to music while I do it. See you later!’ She plugged in her headset as she wandered away.

  Jess waved to her and then made her way to the temporary stables, where the troop of six handsome circus horses lived during the season. One of them, Samson, a large grey, leaned his head over his stall and nudged at her pocket for the treats she usually brought him.

  ‘Hey! Stop that, cheeky!’ Jess said, laughing, fishing out a mint for him.

  She helped with mucking out and then changed water buckets and filled hay nets. Usually she felt a twinge of sadness, desperately longing for a pony of her own.

  But today she was in higher spirits. She might not yet own her own pony, but she now she had a gorgeous, secret magic pony to keep her company.

  As soon as she’d finished, Jess hurried towards the merry-go-round. Quickly checking that no one was looking, she lifted Comet’s cover and stowed it away out of sight.

  Comet gave a whicker of welcome as he shook himself. ‘Greetings, Jess!’

  Jess stroked his silky spotted neck delightedly. ‘Hi, Comet. We can go for a ride together now to see if we can find Destiny. I reckon we’ve got a few hours before anyone wonders where I am.’

  Luckily he was one of the inner ring horses, so someone would have to look really closely to notice that one carousel horse was missing.

  ‘Thank you, Jess. Climb on to my back.’

  ‘But what if someone sees us?’ she asked worriedly,

  ‘I will use my magic so no one will see either of us while you are riding me.’ Comet pawed at the wooden boards with one front hoof.

  Jess mounted him and almost immediately she felt a familiar tingling feeling in her fingertips as Comet’s spotted coat twinkled with violet sparks and a faint rainbow mist swirled around them.

  ‘Ready?’ Comet neighed.

  ‘Definitely!’

  ‘Hold tight!’ Comet rocked back on to his hind legs and pawed the air before soaring over the other carousel horses in such a huge leap that it felt as if they were flying.

  Jess caught her breath with excitement as they sped away. Comet was thrilling to ride, so smooth and fast. His hooves hardly seemed to touch the ground as he raced onwards at the speed of light.

  Jess crouched low on his back, moving in time to his powerful strides. She had never ridden a pony flat out before, but she didn’t feel the tiniest bit afraid. Shining rainbows gleamed in Comet’s flowing white mane as his magic spread over her, making her feel warm and safe.

  Soon the circus and fairground were far behind them. Jess told Comet that it would be safe for them both to become visible now, as they were not likely to meet anyone she knew. The magic pony nodded and in a flash of sparkly violet magic it was done.

  Jess pointed him towards a quiet, narrow road, lined on both sides with wild-rose hedges. Their sweet scent filled the air as they swept past. ‘This leads to the beach and the cliff tops. From up there we’ll be able to see for miles.’

  Comet galloped on tirelessly. As the beach came in sight, he gradually slowed to a trot and then a walk.

  They began crossing a short stretch of soft sand. The magic pony’s head turned from side to side as his keen eyes searched for signs of Destiny. Jess kept a lookout too, but they saw no other ponies.

  It was still early and the sun wasn’t yet hot. One or two people were walking dogs and a few families with kids were building sandcastles. Jess knew that later on this quiet beach would be teaming with holidaymakers.

  Nearer the shore, there was a long expanse of solid wet sand. The breakers came in with a shushing noise and cool white foam swirled round Comet’s legs as he high-stepped along. With a neigh of pleasure he sped up, kicking up spray behind him as they rode on under a cloudless blue sky.

  Jess felt a glow of perfect happiness spread through her chest. This had to be the best thing ever – riding the most amazing pony in the universe through the shallow waves on a perfect day! She knew she’d never forget it.

  ‘The beach stretches on forever. There are hundreds of caves in these cliffs, and miles and miles of rough land on the cliff tops. However will we find Destiny?’ she asked Comet.

  The spotted pony twitched his silky white tail. ‘We have a special bond because we are twins. If Destiny is close, I will sense her presence. Also, wherever she goes she will leave a trail.’

  ‘A trail? What will it look like?’ Jess asked.

  ‘There will be softly glowing hoof-prints, which are invisible to most people in this world.’

  ‘Wow!’ Jess said, fascinated. ‘Will I be abl
e to see them?’

  ‘Yes. If you are riding me or I am very close to you,’ Comet told her. A flicker of excitement passed over his spotted skin and he stretched his neck to peer up the beach, where a line of ponies were just emerging from a path down the hill.

  Jess had seen them too. ‘Do you think that one of those ponies might be Destiny? Let’s go and see!’

  Chapter

  FOUR

  Jess rose to the trot as Comet’s hooves drummed on the packed sand and he closed the distance between himself and the other ponies.

  She could see now that there were five of them. Four were being ridden by small children, with an older girl on a stocky chestnut mare leading the group. She smiled and waved when she saw Jess approaching.

  Jess felt encouraged by the girl’s friendly expression. ‘Hi! Lovely day for riding, isn’t it?’ she called out, as she and Comet drew level with the riders.

  ‘Yeah! Just perfect,’ the girl said, slowing her chestnut mare. Behind her, the young riders reined in their ponies ‘Take five, everyone. We’ll give the ponies a short rest,’ she said to them with a smile.

  Comet whinnied and gave a friendly blow as he looked closely at the five ponies. They, in turn, tossed their heads and flicked their ears forward. One or two nickered back and Jess’s heart leapt with hope for her magical friend.

  But Comet turned away in disappointment, his head drooping. None of them was Destiny. Jess realized that it wasn’t going to be so simple to find her. She could tell that her magic pony was worried about his twin sister, who was lost and all alone.

  ‘We’ll keep searching. And we won’t stop until we find Destiny,’ she promised him in a whisper, patting his silky neck.

  ‘Thank you, Jess,’ Comet neighed softly. The girl on the chestnut mare looked at Jess curiously. ‘I’m Ellen. Ellen Bridgemore.’ She looked about twelve years old and had short fair hair and a round pretty face. ‘I often bring rides down on to the beach, but I haven’t seen you around here before.’

  ‘Um… no. I’ve only just got Comet,’ Jess said. It wasn’t exactly a fib, because Comet had only just chosen her to be his friend. ‘It’s the first time I’ve been out on a long ride with him. I’m Jessie Starkling, by the way. But everyone calls me Jess.’

  ‘Wow! Your first proper ride? That’s exciting for you both,’ Ellen enthused. ‘It’s great fun working with a new pony and getting to know him, isn’t it? Comet’s gorgeous. Such unusual spotted markings.’

  ‘Yes. Comet’s very unusual, all right,’ Jess said, biting back a grin. She wondered what Ellen would have said if she knew how special Comet really was! ‘Your pony’s lovely too. What’s her name?’ she asked.

  Ellen’s chestnut pony had a glossy coat. Its face was slightly dished, with a gentle expression and large dark eyes.

  ‘Bliss,’ Ellen told her. ‘She’s my favourite, although I love all our ponies. Bliss is so steady and good-natured. She’d lead the ride back home even if I fell asleep in the saddle! My mum owns a riding stable in Lower Treen,’ she explained.

  ‘Really?’ Jess said. ‘It must be hard work looking after all those ponies.’

  Ellen nodded. ‘You bet. But we’re not as busy as we used to be.’ A shadow of worry flickered across her face. ‘A posh new riding stable has just opened up down the coast and some of our customers have started going there. There’s only Mum and me, so I usually help out after school and at weekends and school holidays, like now. There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. Ponies rule, right? That’s what I always say –’ She stopped as she seemed to realize that Jess couldn’t get a word in edgeways. ‘Sorry!’ she said, grinning ruefully. ‘Once I start on about ponies and riding I can go on all day. Mum says she’s going to get me fitted with a “pause” button!’

  ‘That’s OK. I like it,’ Jess said, grinning. ‘Pony talk is my favourite thing! But I don’t know anyone who’s as mad about ponies as me!’

  ‘You do now!’ Ellen joked.

  They both laughed.

  Jess was enjoying herself. She hoped that she and Ellen might get to know each other better. It was great having Comet as her secret friend, but she couldn’t ever let anyone at the circus see him or tell them how wonderful he was. It would be good fun to have a brand-new horsey friend to go riding with.

  ‘I’ve always loved everything about ponies and horses,’ Jess told Ellen. ‘I wanted one of my own for ages… and then Comet suddenly appeared… um, I mean, came along,’ she corrected quickly. ‘Before I got him, I never went for any long rides. I help look after the circus horses, so I was allowed to ride one of them sometimes, but only on site.’

  Ellen’s eyes widened. ‘Circus…? Oh, you’re Jess Starkling! I thought I recognized the name. So your family owns the circus. Mum and Dad took me to see a show there once. Wow! That’s so cool. It must be an exciting life.’

  Jess felt herself blushing. She shrugged. ‘I guess so. I’m used to it.’

  Ellen suddenly noticed that the young riders with her were fidgeting impatiently. She gave them an apologetic grin. ‘Sorry, guys. You didn’t come on a ride to hear me waffling on! Why don’t you go down to the shore? You can ride along in the shallows. But don’t go any faster than a trot and turn back when you get to the Needle, OK?’ she said, pointing to a tall rock formation that was visible in the near distance.

  ‘Can I lead, Jess?’ a brown-haired boy on a fat little bay pony piped up eagerly.

  Ellen nodded. ‘Fine with me, Ross. You’re a confident rider, and you’re used to Sparky.’

  Ross squared his shoulders and sat up straight. ‘Follow me, everyone!’ he said proudly, urging his pony forward. The others followed, heading down to the patch of packed wet sand and the rolling breakers.

  ‘Ellen’s nice, isn’t she?’ Jess whispered to Comet, while the older girl was distracted. ‘Do you mind if I stay and chat to her for a while?’

  ‘I would like that. Bliss is a fine pony too,’ he whinnied good-naturedly.

  ‘Thanks, Comet. You’re the best!’ Jess said, feeling a surge of affection for him.

  After the young riders had bounced away on their ponies, Ellen turned back to Jess. ‘So – tell me what it’s like to live in a circus. And don’t miss anything out!’ she joked.

  Jess grinned. ‘This could take a really long time!’

  While Jess and Ellen chatted, Comet and Bliss breathed in each other’s scent and then gently touched noses, making friends in their own pony way.

  Deep in conversation, the girls hardly noticed the next few minutes passing, but eventually Ellen checked her wristwatch.

  ‘I’d better go and meet those kids and head back to the stables with them. Their parents will soon be back at the yard waiting to pick them up. Mum doesn’t like to keep people waiting. She says it’s bad for business.’

  Jess nodded. She knew all about keeping customers happy.

  Ellen narrowed her eyes to peer at the shoreline in the distance. ‘Here’s Ross leading them back now,’ she said, raising her arm to wave.

  Suddenly warning shouts rang out, and a child’s bright-orange dinghy came careering down to the seashore. One of the ponies reared in fright and leapt forward into the waves.

  ‘Oh my goodness!’ Jess gasped, as the young rider screamed and held on tightly as her pony plunged about in fear.

  ‘Oh no! That’s Lana on Pie!’ Ellen cried. ‘She’s one of our newest riders!’ Kicking Bliss on, she shot towards the commotion.

  Jess was already racing after her on Comet, his white mane and tail streaming out behind him.

  At the shore, Ross had halted his pony. ‘Ellen! It wasn’t my fault. That dinghy scared Pie. Now Lana can’t get him to come back in,’ the boy gulped, close to tears.

  ‘It’s OK, Ross. I saw what happened. I’ll get Pie. The rest of you stay here,’ Ellen ordered. ‘The sea gets deeper just a few metres out.’

  She kicked Bliss on, urging the chestnut into the water. But her usually calm pony hesitated, rolling
her eyes and dancing sideways.

  ‘Bliss can feel the current pulling against her legs,’ Comet neighed worriedly.

  ‘It must be even stronger where Lana is,’ Jess guessed. ‘She and Pie could get swept right out!’

  Further out, Lana seemed frozen with terror as she clutched tight to Pie’s neck. ‘Hold on!’ Ellen called to her. ‘I’ll get help.’ She turned Bliss and rode her back on to the beach. ‘Has anyone got a mobile? We have to call the coastguard!’ she said in a shaky voice.

  The other young riders shook their head. ‘There might be a phone box at the beach cafe,’ one of them said.

  ‘There is no time to waste!’ Comet whinnied. ‘Are you ready, Jess?’

  ‘Go for it!’ Jess told him in a low voice. ‘Don’t worry, Ellen. We’ll get the coastguard!’ she said more loudly.

  She felt a warm prickling sensation flowing down to the ends of her fingertips as bright violet sparks ignited in Comet’s spotted coat and tiny rainbows flashed in his silky white mane and tail.

  Something very strange was about to happen!

  Chapter

  FIVE

  The magic pony gave a determined snort and time seemed to stand still.

  In what seemed like slow motion Comet leapt into the waves, trailing invisible sparks like a shooting star. At the same time a thick mist settled over the sea, hiding them from Ellen and the others waiting on the shore.

  ‘Hold tight!’ Comet warned Jess.

  Jess kept her seat as he galloped effortlessly through the deeper waves. Freezing seawater lapped against her, soaking her to the waist, but Comet’s sparkly magic somehow kept her warm.

  Lana’s terrified pony was panicking. The thick mist seemed like another scary thing to be afraid of. With a shrill cry, it backed up and then spun round as it battled against the treacherous current.