Jessica and Jewel (7 page)

We left the path at the next gap in the hedge and cantered up the edge of the field. The muddy grass was slippery and so were my reins, but Jewel picked out a safe path for us. Then we went right through the middle of a meadow, even though the sign said Private Property. As we neared the farmhouse the dog was louder than ever. But there was a high hedge in front of us, blocking the way. To get round it we'd have had to go all the way back to the path and find another way up.
Sally looked at me. “Do you think you can jump it, Jess?” she asked. “If you follow me over?”

I stared at the hedge. It was
massive
. I really wasn't sure, but I knew I had to try. It could be the fastest way to Tegan. “Yes,” I said.

Sally gave a quick nod, then rode Blue up to the hedge and peered over, to check for any hidden dangers on the other side. Then she circled back round in trot. “OK, follow me.”

We trotted on and picked up canter when Blue did, gathering speed. I felt really scared, but I took a deep breath and put my trust in Jewel. Blue did a huge leap over, and as Jewel took off behind him I held my breath and bobbed forward. And then we'd done it – we were over!

“Well done!” cried Sally, as we cantered through the next field.

Up ahead was the farmhouse, and the dog we'd heard, a big Alsatian-type. It was running back and forth along the fence line, barking. I felt a bit nervous, but Jewel didn't startle.

“Come on,” said Sally, and we set off in trot up the pathway in front of the house. We turned a corner and there, huddled under an oak tree opposite some garages, were Tegan and Twinkle. They were both soaked through, and my sister was leaning forward, hugging her pony's neck, her shoulders shaking with sobs. At least she was wearing her hat, though.

“Tegan!” I called.

She jerked her head up and spotted us, then grinned with surprise and relief. But as we drew near, I saw how frightened she was. The dog was throwing itself against the fence by then, barking like mad.

As we reached them I leaped off and handed Jewel's reins up to Sally. Tegan slid off Twinkle, too, and we had the longest hug – I didn't want to let her go, ever.

I waited for Sally to go mad at her – after all, I bet it's the worst thing anyone's done at Pony Camp, ever. That's when I suddenly realized that Tegan might even be sent home early as punishment. Her cold, wet hand slipped into mine and I squeezed it tight. She knew it too. But whatever trouble there was, we'd be in it together – the whole thing was at least half my fault, after all.

We were so surprised when Sally just dismounted and hugged us both, and asked if Tegan was OK loads and loads of times.

Tegan nodded. “Bareback riding's harder than I thought,” she said. “I kept nearly bobbling off in trot, so I had to stick to walk.”

“And thank goodness you did!” Sally exclaimed. “Who knows how far you might have gone otherwise!”

“I got stuck because I was scared of the dog,” said Tegan, still sniffling. “There's a bit up ahead where I thought it could get out under the fence. So we turned back, but I couldn't remember which fork to take on the path, so I had to come back here again. I thought we could shelter under the tree until it stopped raining or even wait for the people who live here to come home and help us. I thought
we'd be stuck for hours and I was so frightened and lonely. I can't believe you found me!”

“
Jewel
found you,” I told her. “She led us along the right paths. And thank goodness we heard the dog barking – that got us here even quicker. But why on earth did you ride off in the first place?”

“I knew you didn't want me hanging around you, Jess,” she mumbled, “and I was really missing Mum and Dad, so I decided to ride home.”

“But we live miles away from here!” I cried, shocked.

“I didn't realize,” Tegan sniffled. “I thought I knew the way, but then it wasn't the path I'd imagined and I didn't know what to do.” She started to cry again. I hugged her tight and Sally said, “Well, you're OK, that's all that matters. And I know you'll never do something like this again, not after the fright you've had. Right, let's
get back to the camp before we get even more soaked.”

“I don't think we
could
get any more soaked,” I said, and Sally and Tegan laughed.

Once Sally had phoned Jody we mounted up and headed back, staying in walk so that Tegan could balance. When we got to the camp we sat in the Land Rover and dried out, and Jody made hot blackcurrant for Tegan and sweet tea for me and Sally over the gas burner. As she sipped her drink, Tegan kept saying sorry to Sally for going off when she knew it was completely against the rules, and to Jody and everyone else for all the worry she'd caused. Luckily, it was so obvious how much she meant it that no one was cross.

It had stopped raining by then and everyone crowded round the back of the Land Rover and made a big fuss of us. We told them what had happened, and I said that Jewel was a heroine because she'd led us to Tegan. So the older girls all insisted on going up to the pony field and making a big fuss of her, too.

Soon after that, Johnny and James made a fire and we cooked sausages and beans over it, and toasted marshmallows. They'd brought the rounders stuff with them, too, and although we all groaned when they suggested playing, as soon as we got started we found loads of extra energy.

I didn't know whether Tegan would feel up to playing after her little adventure, but she was raring to go again. And it was so funny because
whenever James got a rounder he did this weird victory dance. We got so giggly about it that my arms and legs felt weak and I could hardly hold the bat or run! Jody's team won in the end. I was on Sally's, but never mind!

As it started to get dark we all gathered round the fire and toasted marshmallows. Johnny got his guitar out of the Land Rover and we sang a few campfire songs, squealing as bats flew low past our heads in the dusk.

As the stars began to twinkle above us, me and Bailey sang the Sheana song, with the harmonies and everything, and everyone gave us a clap.