Read Online Secret Pony Society by Janet Rising - Free Book Online

that’s hilarious.
    â€œWhat’s new?” James grinned. We were all still smarting from our disagreement, and the air was thick with tension.
    â€œThe travelers are still around,” said Katy, glaring at me. “Still racing their horses, still cluttering up the Sloping Field.”
    James frowned. “Moth’s been on edge all week,” he said. “It’s as though she knows they’re here. I wish they’d go.”
    â€œPerhaps if a certain person didn’t keep making them feel welcome, they would,” remarked Cat, giving me the evil eye. Katy and Bean looked uncomfortable. James picked up on it, of course.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” he asked Cat.
    â€œ Mia’s new friend was at the yard the other day.”
    Oh, seven kinds of hell , I thought. Cat had seen Jazz. And another, terrible thought struck me. If she had seen us talking, had she also seen…?
    â€œI bet she was casing the joint so she and her sort can come back for a raid,” continued Cat. “I bet nothing’s safe, the tack, the ponies. She had a good look at Moth, walked right up to her as bold as you like, and peered into her stable!”
    Yes, she had.
    James looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and astonishment. I sighed.
    â€œIt wasn’t like that. Jazz wanted my help to communicate with her pony. She was only here a few minutes.”
    â€œWhat about Moth?” exploded James.
    So not the reaction I was looking for. This thing with Jazz was getting totally out of hand.
    â€œWell, she did go up to Moth, but it wasn’t at all like Cat says, it really wasn’t…” I trailed off. It was hopeless trying to explain.
    â€œI don’t understand you, Pia,” said James, shaking his head. “What are you thinking of? I know you weren’t here when I got Moth, you didn’t see how she was, but by being friendly with the travelers, it’s as though you’re betraying Moth. It’s as though you’re betraying all of us.”
    I stood with my mouth open. This was so unfair!
    â€œI didn’t invite her!” I shouted. “I didn’t tell her where I keep Drum, she just turned up! What am I supposed to do, ignore her? Refuse to help her? What would you do?”
    â€œThat depends on where your loyalties lie,” said Cat. “With the travelers or with us. Maybe you’re a homeless traveler yourself!”
    I stormed off. I was so angry! Everyone seemed to be blaming me for the travelers’ very existence, and Cat was so taking advantage of the situation and making it work for her. It wasn’t fair. I knew Jazz loved Falling Snow the same way I loved Drummer, the same way Bean, Katy, James, and even Cat loved their ponies. Why wouldn’t anyone see that?
    No one came after me. It wasn’t like the soaps on TV—if it had been, James would have caught up with me and sworn his undying support, assuring me that even though he didn’t fully understand my motives, he’d trust I was doing the right thing.
    Well, this wasn’t a TV soap opera. This was real life, and I was busy falling out with my new friends. I didn’t even need Catriona’s help to do that—I managed to do a pretty good job all by myself. I could imagine how thrilled she must be.
    I went where I always go when I’m upset and I need some help to sort out the problems of life (which seem far too frequent!). My gorgeous bay pony looked up from his hay net as I closed the stable door behind me.
    â€œUh-oh, you look like you’ve got to spend the day with Skinny Lynny,” he remarked.
    â€œI’m the enemy, apparently,” I told him miserably, leaning against the wall.
    â€œWhat have you done now?” asked Drum, still chewing.
    â€œIt’s Jazz. No one seems to understand that she’s not some pony-beating lunatic who wants to steal all the saddles.”
    â€œWell, you don’t know that she