Read Online Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page A

caterpillar eyebrows turned and nodded at the girls. Alice-Miranda held out her hand, which the older fellow shook gently.
    â€˜It’s lovely to meet you, Mr Wigglesworth. My name is Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-KenningtonJones,’ she said with a smile.
    Millie offered her hand too. ‘And I’m Millie,’ she said.
    â€˜Good afternoon, girls, and welcome to Chesterfield Downs,’ Dick Wigglesworth replied.
    Wally introduced the rest of the group. There were four lads in total, all of whom Alice-Miranda insisted on greeting in the usual way.
    â€˜Well, you’d better get back to work, boys,’ Dick Wigglesworth instructed. ‘I don’t think there’s anything else for it.’
    â€˜Is that Rockstar in there?’ Alice-Miranda asked, pointing at the stall behind the group.
    â€˜It certainly is. But at the moment he’s anything but a rock star,’ Dick replied.
    The tiny child could barely see over the stable door. She looked around and saw a milk crate, whichshe collected and placed in front of it and then jumped up to get a better look.
    â€˜What’s the matter with him?’ Alice-Miranda asked as she hung over the door.
    â€˜Depressed, we think,’ Dick replied. ‘Ever since Evelyn went off to hospital.’
    Millie jumped up beside Alice-Miranda. ‘What about when he’s outside?’ she asked.
    â€˜That’s part of the problem,’ Dick informed her. ‘No one’s been able to get him outside.’
    Alice-Miranda whispered to the stallion, ‘Hello boy. Aren’t you a handsome lad?’
    The black beast ignored her. With his head in the corner and his rump turned out towards the onlookers, he responded by lifting his tail to blow some foul-smelling wind in their general direction.
    â€˜Pooh!’ said Millie. ‘That’s disgusting.’
    Alice-Miranda waved her hand in front of her nose. She turned to Dick and Wally. ‘He doesn’t look scary.’
    â€˜You don’t want to open that door, Miss,’ Wally said with a shudder. ‘I made that mistake this morning and he almost took my head off. Makes your Bonaparte look like a kitten.’
    â€˜Does that mean he’s not going to run in the Queen’s Cup?’ Millie asked.
    Dick shook his head. ‘He hasn’t done track work for days. Unless there’s a miracle soon, we’re going to have to scratch him. I suppose there’s always next year.’
    Outside there was an explosion of whinnying. Rockstar’s ears went back and he shifted his weight.
    â€˜Oh dear, it sounds like Chops and Bony are having a disagreement,’ said Alice-Miranda. She jumped off the crate.
    The whinnying escalated. Rockstar replied, softly at first but soon he was making as much noise as Bonaparte. The black stallion wheeled around and charged towards the stall door. Millie leapt down just as he threw his head over.
    â€˜I’d better see what’s wrong with Bony,’ said Alice-Miranda, and began to walk quickly towards the stable’s entrance. She didn’t run, as she knew that it might upset the other horses inside.
    Suddenly the clip-clop of hooves on cobbles echoed through the building and Bonaparte appeared, running towards her.
    His reins were dragging on the ground. Alice-Miranda tried in vain to grab them as he sped past her but she missed and he almost tripped himself up.
    â€˜How did you escape? Bonaparte Napoleon Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, you are the naughtiest pony I have ever known,’ the girl called as she scurried after him.
    The other horses in the stables all perked up, threw their heads over the stall doors and watched the pony’s escapades.
    By now Rockstar was pawing at the ground and whinnying at the top of his lungs. Bonaparte continued to reply.
    Wally and Millie also grabbed at Bonaparte but he dodged both of them and ran straight for Rockstar’s stall. He skidded to a