Read Online Meet Me Under The Ombu Tree by Santa Montefiore - Free Book Online

and La Paz had come out to watch. Usually they all sat together, but today was different; the importance of this match meant that they sat in groups watching the other camp suspiciously. The boys all stood together like packs of wolves, shuffling their feet nervously, one eye on the match, the other on the girls. The girls from La Paz draped themselves over the bonnets of the Jeeps in short A-line skirts and headscarves, discussing boys and fashion, their dark glasses obscuring eyes that more often than not were lustfully hooked on one of the boys from Santa Catalina. Meanwhile the girls from Santa Catalina, Sabrina, Martina, Pia, Leticia and Vanesa watched the handsome Roberto Lobito ride his pony like a dashing knight on a charger up and down the field, his pale blond hair flopping over his beautiful face each time he bent his head to hit the ball. Sofia and Maria kept their distance, preferring to sit on the fence with Chiquita and little Panchito, who played around the sidelines with a mini mallet and ball, so that their attention would not be distracted from their brothers and cousins.
    They can’t lose!’ Sofia protested passionately, watching Santi gallop towards the goal, then pass the ball to Agustin who consequently missed. ‘Choto Agustin!’ she shouted in frustration. Maria bit her lip anxiously.
    ‘Sofia, don't use that word, it isn’t dignified,’ Chiquita said softly, without taking her eyes off her son.
    ‘I can’t stand to watch my idiotic brother, he’s an embarrassment.’
    l Chopo chopo ,’ laughed Panchito, hitting the ball against an unsuspecting dog.
    ‘No, Panchito,’ chided Chiquita, running to the rescue. ‘That’s not a nice word, even if you don’t say it properly.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Sofia. I can feel the wind of change,’ said Maria, catching her cousin’s eye.
    ‘I hope you’re right. If Agustin continues playing like this we’re sure to lose,’ she replied, then winked at Maria behind Chiquita’s back.
    By the fourth chukka, in spite of Santi and Fernando scoring a goal each, Santa Catalina were still two goals down. La Paz, confident that they were going to win, sat back complacently in their saddles. Suddenly Agustin seemed to appear from nowhere, seize the ball and thunder towards the goal unchecked.
    With hearty encouragement from the sidelines he whacked it.
    ‘Oh my God!’ shouted Sofia, cheering up. ‘Agustin’s scored.’ There was an uproar from the Santa Catalina support team, who nearly tumbled off their bonnets with relief. However, his pony didn’t stop at the goal but galloped on victoriously before coming to a sudden halt, throwing a delirious Agustin into the air. He landed with a groan and lay inert on the grass. Miguel and Paco rushed to his side. Within seconds he was surrounded. There passed a terrible few moments that seemed to the distraught Anna to last an eternity before Paco announced that he had nothing more than a sore head and a heavy hangover! To everyone’s surprise he shouted for Sofia.
    ‘You’re on.’
    She looked at him, stunned. Anna was about to object but a moaning Agustin diverted her attention.
    l Como?
    ‘You’re on, now get a move on.’ Then he added gravely, ‘You had better win.’
    ‘Maria, Maria!’ cried Sofia in amazement. ‘It worked!’ Maria shook her head in disbelief and awe - the tree really was a magic tree after all.
    Sofia couldn’t believe her good fortune as she scrambled into a pink shirt
    and mounted her pony. She noticed the boys from La Paz laughing in disbelief as she entered the game. Roberto Lobito shouted something to his brother Francisco and they both sniggered scornfully. She’d show them, she vowed. She’d show them all what she was capable of. She had no time to speak to Santi and the others. Before she knew it the game had recommenced. In seconds she was passed the ball and ridden-off by Marco who nudged his pony against hers, pushing her off-course; she could only watch helplessly