A New Beginning (6 page)

 

The moment her mom stopped on the driveway, Lily shot out of the car and dashed toward the house.

“Er, excuse me, young lady! I could use some help with the groceries,” her mom called after her.

“Sorry,” Lily said sheepishly.

She rushed back, grabbed some bags, and dumped them on the kitchen table.

As she was coming out of the kitchen, the phone rang.

It was Adjoa's mom. “Hello, Lily. Is Adjoa with you? Can I have a word with her, please?” she asked.

“She isn't here,” Lily replied, puzzled.

“Oh my, I was hoping she'd ridden Pixie over to see you,” Mrs. Hardiker said, sounding worried. “Could I talk to your mom?”

Lily passed the phone over. “It's Adjoa's mom.”

Lily waited impatiently while the two moms spoke. “What's going on?” she asked as her mom hung up the phone.

“Adjoa left a note saying she couldn't handle giving up Pixie, and some of her clothes are missing. Mrs. Hardiker was hoping she'd come over here. But it's beginning to look like Adjoa has run away with Pixie.”

“Oh no!” Lily gasped.

Chapter NINE

“It'll be dark soon. Adjoa must be so scared. We have to find her and tell her the news about Greengates!” Lily said to Storm as soon as they were alone in her bedroom.

Storm nodded. “I will take us to Adjoa's house and see if I can pick up a fresh trail.”

Lily felt a familiar warm tingling down her back as gold sparks crackled in Storm's sandy fur and a fountain of golden glitter streamed out of his tail. There was a bright flash and a whooshing sensation and suddenly Lily found herself standing with Storm outside Pixie's field at the back of Adjoa's house.

Storm sniffed around, picking up Pixie's scent. Moments later, he stiffened. Lily saw that his moist brown nose was glowing like a gold nugget. “This way!” he barked, setting off at a run.

Lily followed Storm away from the field and through the streets. They hurried along the main road and then toward the edge of town. The street lights had already come on. Overhead the first stars had begun twinkling in the sky.

Lily grew hot and sweaty as she and Storm followed Pixie's trail, but she wasn't tired. Gold sparks flashed past her as Storm's magic made them travel in double-quick time. Gradually Lily realized where they were heading.

“Greengates is just over there. Adjoa must have taken the bridle path. I bet she's planning to hide in the woods overnight. She'll probably take the short cut across the fields,” she told Storm.

A few minutes later, Storm barked and wagged his tail. “Over there!”

In the twilight, Lily could just make out the figure of a pony and rider against the shadowy bushes. The moon came out from behind a cloud and Lily could see more clearly. “It's them!” she cried.

Lily saw that Pixie was trotting toward the familiar field gate. “That ditch! Adjoa's heading straight for it. Those prickly branches have been cleared away since I told Janie about it, but a pony could still break her leg if she stumbles into it. I bet she's too upset to remember it's there and Pixie won't see it in the dark!”

Storm's midnight-blue eyes flashed. Another rainbow of sparks shot out ahead of him and he leaped forward into the stream of light. Lily felt herself shooting through the air beside him. She and Storm landed a few feet in front of Adjoa and Pixie.

Lily walked forward, holding up her arms. “It's me, Lily! Adjoa, stop!”

Adjoa reined Pixie in. The pony's ears swiveled and her head came up, but she halted calmly a few paces away from the ditch.

“Lily! What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Adjoa cried.

“Don't worry about that now,” Lily said. “That ditch I fell into the other day is right in front of you. Pixie could have stumbled into it. Come over here. I have to tell you something.”

Adjoa urged Pixie over to one side, but she didn't dismount. She looked shaken, but determined. “Thanks for reminding me about that ditch. But if you're going to try and persuade me to go back home, don't bother!” Adjoa said, looking down at Lily.

“Adjoa, listen! I've got some great news,” Lily said quickly before her friend could decide to ride away. “I talked with Janie at Greengates. She's willing to take Pixie into her stable on the condition that you let her be used for the riding school.”

“Really?” Adjoa looked stunned, but her hands loosened on the reins. Her shoulders relaxed as she thought about it. “I wouldn't mind little kids riding Pixie and she'd enjoy the extra exercise. Dad said she was getting a bit fat anyway. But even with Janie using Pixie for rides, it's still going to cost a lot to keep her stabled at Greengates. I still don't know if Mom and Dad will agree.”

Lily's face fell. She hadn't thought of this. It seemed as if there was a flaw in her awesome plan.

Storm jumped up with his paws on Lily's leg and woofed for attention. Lily looked down at him. “You could ask your mom and dad to help,” he suggested in a soft bark.

It was a few seconds before Storm's words sank in. “That's it!” she burst out, her eyes widening.

“What is?” Adjoa said, puzzled.

“I just had a brilliant idea. Come on, Adjoa. We're going back to talk to my parents!” She quickly outlined her plan.

A look of hope came over Adjoa's face. “Do you think they'll agree?”

“They have to. It's Pixie's last chance,” Lily said determinedly, turning on her heel, confident that Adjoa would now follow her on Pixie. At her side, Storm gave an encouraging yelp.

Chapter TEN

Later that evening, Lily sat at the kitchen table eating a pizza with her mom and dad. Storm was curled up under the table.

“You did a great job persuading Adjoa to come home,” her dad said. “Her parents were almost out of their minds with worry. They've been on the phone saying how great you are. Well done, sweetie.”

Lily felt herself blushing. “Anyone would have done the same.”

“I'm not sure that's true,” her mom said, patting her hand. “What I still can't figure out is how you found her so quickly and got up to the field near Greengates in record time.”

“It must be all the exercise I've been doing. Mmm. This pizza's delish!” Lily said, quickly changing the subject. She slipped a small piece under the table for Storm to munch. “Mo-om? Da-ad?” she said in a persuading voice. “I've . . . um . . . got something to ask you.”

Her parents exchanged glances. “I hope this isn't about having your own pony again!” Mrs. Benson said.

“Of course it's not,” Lily said brightly.

“Thank goodness for that!” her dad said.

Lily paused for effect. “It's about me having half a pony!”

Mr. Benson frowned. “Run that by me again.”

Lily grinned. “What I really mean is
sharing
a pony!” She explained about Janie agreeing to take Pixie into the stable and being a riding school pony. “But it's still going to be very expensive, so Adjoa's parents might decide to sell Pixie anyway. But they won't if we help with the costs. And then I'd be sort of sharing a pony with Adjoa. I'd be able to groom Pixie and ride her sometimes. What do you think?”

“I think Pixie's going to be one busy pony!” her dad said, smiling. “But it's an interesting idea.”

Lily held her breath and had all her fingers and toes crossed. At least her dad hadn't said no right away like he usually did.

“I know you, Lily. You'll want to be up at Greengates every night, looking after Pixie and grooming her,” said Mrs. Benson. “I'm still worried that your schoolwork could suffer.”

“I know I might want to do that, but I won't, because I'll know that I have to take turns with Adjoa,” Lily said honestly. “I'll just be so happy to be able to ride Pixie sometimes—and pretend she's all mine until I get a pony of my own one day!”

Her mom and dad exchanged glances.

“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds like a fair arrangement,” her mom said.

“And it's the only way Lily's ever going to give us any peace! So the answer's yes,” her dad added.

“Yay!” Lily flung herself at her parents and gave them both huge hugs and then did a little dance around the table. “I can't wait to tell Adjoa!”

Storm ran out from under the table and jumped up and down, barking excitedly. Lily grinned and just barely managed to stop herself from bending down and picking him up.

Later that night, Lily closed her bedroom curtains, getting ready for bed.

Outside in the street she saw a couple of people taking their dogs for a walk. She jumped into bed and snuggled up under the blankets with Storm.

“Thanks so much for everything, Storm. You kept your promise about helping me get a pony, even though things turned out differently than how I imagined! You're the most awesome friend ever. We're going to have an amazing summer with Pixie and Adjoa!”