Read Online Ponies at Owls' Wood by Scilla James - Free Book Online Page B

Chase towards High Farm. There was no sign of the white van or the barking dogs. As Hannah turned Polly into the yard, Jess came out to meet her.
    â€˜We can put your pony in the one of the back paddocks,’ she said, ‘she’ll be fine there. There’s that mare of Pete’s I was telling you about so she’ll have someone to talk to. They can get to know each other over the fence.’

    Jess was more talkative today, and Hannah was glad that her new friend was beginning to trust her. She realised that she felt more relaxed, too.
    The two girls got Polly’s tack off and led her through the farmyard and round the back. Hannah was nervous about leaving her. What if she got taken by mistake?
    â€˜Will she be all right?’ she asked Jess. ‘Sorry, but I’m really jumpy.’
    She told Jess about Charley’s pony being stolen and added, ‘I’m terrified that something might happen to Polly.’
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ said Jess, ‘we’ll be able to see her from the back of Gran’s caravan. I was going to take you to meet Auntie Cyn as well,’ she said, ‘but she’s not feeling too good so we’ll just stay at Gran’s.’ They crossed the yard together.
    â€˜Don’t mention the ponies,’ Jess warned.
    â€˜Is that you Jess?’ A woman’s voice called from inside the caravan as Jess opened the door without knocking and signalled to Hannah to come in. Hannah looked round, curious to see what the inside of the caravan would be like.
    It was bright, warm and welcoming, but very small. Hannah had never seen so many china horses. They seemed to be on every surface, some in full harness with carts behind them. Horse brasses and pictures were all over the walls too. There was just about room to move.
    â€˜This is the friend I told you about,’ said Jess, presenting Hannah to her gran.
    The old lady was sitting in a comfortable chair near the window, which, as Jess had promised, looked out over the paddocks where they had left Polly. Hannah held out her hand politely.
    â€˜Hello, I’m Hannah.’
    â€˜And I’m Grace,’ said the old lady. She smiled, and shook Hannah’s hand. Hannah looked at her. Grace was extremely fat, appearing to be more or less jammed into her chair by her size. Hannah wondered how she ever managed to move. She had a cheery face and a lot of white hair. A complicated-looking hearing aid was currently tangled up in it.
    â€˜Sit down love,’ she said, gesturing towards a small table and three chairs. ‘Jess, you go and put the kettle on. There’s some cake in the tin.’ Grace turned to Hannah. ‘I’ve a sweet tooth you know. It doesn’t help my figure but an inch or so of butter icing on top of a good cake is a cheering thing, don’t you think?’ Hannah warmly agreed.
    â€˜There’s less to do in this caravan than there was in the big house, but my daughter and her boyfriend have that now. I suppose I should get out more, and walk about a bit. But I can’t seem to be bothered. I’m glad Jess has met you,’ she went on, ‘she has a lonely time of it here, with just me and Cynthia. Pete’s no parent to her, and she misses her dad. It’ll be good for her to get down to the village and meet other people. I expect you’ve got a lot of friends down there?’
    â€˜Not really,’ said Hannah, ‘my best friend Charley went off to live in Derbyshire a few weeks ago and I really miss her. There’s a new family moved into the house opposite my pony’s field, and Tom, that’s the son, is about my age. But he’s a boy.’
    â€˜Oh dear,’ said Grace, ‘but is he nice?’
    â€˜I’m not sure yet,’ said Hannah, ‘I can’t make up my mind about him.’
    To her surprise, Hannah found that she could talk easily to Jess’s gran. The old lady listened to everything she