Ride by Moonlight Read online

  The morning passed quietly and Charlie was relieved to find that things ran smoothly in Nick’s absence. Sarah popped her head around the tack room door from time to time, but mostly she left them to it. It wasn’t until 5 o’clock that any of the regular riders had time to go out for a hack, and by then it was bucketing down with rain.

  “Typical,” Rosie grimaced, looking out of the tack room window.

  “It’s only a summer shower,” Charlie said.

  “It’s all right for you to say,” Rosie moaned. “You’re not riding.”

  The sentence slipped out so naturally, and Charlie knew Rosie didn’t mean it unkindly, but still he couldn’t stop himself from visibly wincing.

  “Oh I didn’t mean it like that, Charlie,” Rosie started. “I just–”

  “Don’t worry,” Charlie said, cutting her off mid-sentence. “I’ve got to tack up Storm Cloud for her rider anyway,” he said, swiftly leaving the tack room.

  But as he hurried across the yard, raincoat held protectively over his head, he thought about what Rosie had said. Well, it wouldn’t be long before Nick was back and then he’d be riding again, wouldn’t he?

  Quickly, he tacked up Storm Cloud, his mind straying as he led the fragile Arab mare out of her stable. Patiently, he held her head for the rider to mount, and then he stood and watched as the riders clattered off down the drive.

  “Bye,” Charlie called, ducking into the tack room and out of the rain.

  The sky looked thundery and forbidding and drops of water trickled down his back as he settled down to clean the tack. Not ideal weather to be riding, he thought, trying to convince himself that he wouldn’t have wanted to be out on a day like this anyway.

  The time passed quicker than Charlie had expected, and before he knew it six riders, soaked through to the skin, arrived back in the yard.

  “It was awful, Charlie,” Rosie called into the tack room. “We tried to ride to the lighthouse, but it was so windy we had to give up halfway. I’m drenched through. Can you help us with the horses?”

  “Sure,” Charlie answered, looking at the rain teeming down outside.

  Normally he would have hated the idea of getting wet, but he was eager to join in and help out and, with a lighter heart, he stepped outside. For the next half hour, he ran around the yard, helping the others get the horses stabled and bedded for the night.

  The rain was pelting down, and Charlie was so wet that by the end of it, his hair lay plastered to his head in tendrils.

  At last the stable doors were shut and bolted. It had been a long day and Charlie felt pleased to be calling out his goodbyes to his friends.

  “See you tomorrow,” he shouted across the yard, racing into the cottage and out of the rain.

  “Oh Charlie, look what you’re doing.” Sarah’s voice greeted him as he splashed puddles across the kitchen floor.

  “Sorry Sarah,” Charlie sneezed.

  “I think you’d better go and have a hot bath straight away,” she said.

  “Thanks,” Charlie said, gratefully.

  Quickly, he made his way to his bedroom. Shutting the door behind him, Charlie peeled off his wet clothes and grabbed a towel to wrap around him. Crossing the landing, he hurried to the bathroom.

  Charlie felt shivery as he turned the bath taps on full blast. Soon the steam filled the little room and almost immediately he started to feel better. The hot water nearly scalded his feet as he stepped into the bath. Lying back, he let the heat seep through his bones. The bathroom was at the top of the cottage, high in the attic, and the rain pelted hard on the roof top above his head. Charlie felt comforted that he was inside in the warm.

  A clap of thunder rang out, and Charlie’s face was aglow as lightning streaked across the sky. He closed his eyes and let himself relax into thought. Slowly, he let the images of the accident flood his mind. He replayed it...all of it, following it through from start to finish, and this time he didn’t allow the panic to take hold of him. The gallops, the horse falling, the aftermath – all of the pictures flashed through his mind, and yet he didn’t feel that monumental panic. Taking a deep breath, Charlie immersed his head under the water, letting the warmth flood over him and drown out the noise of the gale.

  12

  STORMY AFTERMATH

  Charlie slept better that night...completely slept through the noise of the storm that blew up outside. The window panes rattled heavily in their frames and the rain pelted rhythmically against the glass like tiny hammer blows, but Charlie was lulled into a deeper slumber than he’d had for some time.

  When he woke the next day, the storm had blown over, but he was completely unprepared for the devastation it had wreaked. Sticks and branches lay strewn around the yard, and worse still, one of the fir trees lining the paddock had crashed through the end stable. Luckily, the box was empty, so none of the horses had been hurt, but all the same, it wasn’t good news. The sky was clear and a cool breeze flitted around the stable yard.

  “OK, now I don’t mean to be bossy, but we’ve got a lot of work to do in the yard this morning.” Sarah looked worried as the regulars gathered around to hear what she had to say. Charlie looked at the equally anxious faces of his friends as they stood waiting for instructions.

  “I’ll do as much as I can to clear things up,” she went on. “But if you could go around collecting all the debris, that would be a great help.”

  “Have you told Nick about this, Sarah?” Tom started.

  “No, the phone lines are down, so I haven’t been able to speak to him. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t know. He’d only worry, and he needs to be concentrating on the course. Anyway, do you think you could all make a start on things?” She suddenly sounded weary as she headed back to the cottage.

  “Are you OK, Sarah?” Charlie said, following her into the kitchen. “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “I’m fine,” Sarah breathed softly. “It’s just that – oh, it’s all such a mess this happening while Nick’s away. I wasn’t going to say anything to you lot, but I can’t find the insurance documents for the yard. I remember Nick saying ages ago that he was going to look out a cheaper policy. I don’t know if he ever renewed the old one...argh, I’ll kill him if he hasn’t got it sorted. I can’t phone the insurance company while the lines are down. I can’t do anything,” she said in despair. “Look, I think I’m going to have to go into Colcott and phone Nick from there. Could you keep charge of the yard for me while I’m gone?”

  “Sure,” Charlie said, glad to help in any way.

  “Thank you,” Sarah said appreciatively. “That would be great. I’ll just get my coat.” She disappeared up the stairs as Charlie slipped out into the yard.

  Charlie was pleased to see everyone going about their tasks with gusto, and the debris of the storm was stacked in a pile over by the barn quicker than he’d imagined possible. As Charlie bent down to pick up a couple of branches, he smiled to himself. It was so like everyone at Sandy Lane to pitch in and help out. And then Tom passed by. Charlie turned away.

  “How about you come over to my house for supper tonight, Charlie?” Tom offered. “We could go to the cinema.”

  “That would be great,” Charlie smiled, wishing he’d thought of it first. “Let’s go and get the horses ready for the 10 o’clock,” he went on, turning back to Napoleon’s stable.

  “OK,” Tom answered.

  Ten minutes later, the horses were tacked up and Tom was leading the ride out of the yard.

  “I’ll see you later to sort out arrangements for this evening, Charlie,” he said, twisting around in the saddle from Chancey’s back.

  The horses settled into their easy strides and walked down the drive just as Sarah arrived back in the Land Rover.

  “Well, at least that’s one thing sorted out,” she called, looking a lot happier than when she had left. “The insurance is in place,” she went on, jumping out of the Land Rover. “And the phone people are coming this afternoon.”


  “Did you get through to Nick?” Charlie asked.

  “Yes, I’ve let him know the lines are down, so at least he won’t worry if he can’t get through. I haven’t told him about this little catastrophe though,” she said, pointing at the end stable. The insurance people are sending a claim form.” Sarah gave a sigh. “Now, I’m absolutely exhausted after all that. I might go and put my feet up.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Charlie asked.

  “If you could just carry on running the yard, I’d be grateful.” Sarah smiled at him.

  “Of course, that’s fine,” Charlie answered, as she hurried back into the cottage. And then she poked her head out of the door again.

  “Charlie,” she called him back.

  “Yes,” he looked up.

  “Thanks.”

  “That’s OK.” Charlie felt a warm glow flood through him, pleased that for once he was doing something right.

  13

  SARAH PANICS

  “I can’t believe they still haven’t turned up.” It was 6 o’clock that evening, and Sarah was pacing up and down the hallway, anxiously picking up the phone and putting it back down again, as if by so doing she might miraculously get it working. The line remained dead though, and Charlie didn’t know what he could say to calm her.

  “Even if I go into town and call, I bet the telephone people won’t be there now,” Sarah said crossly. “And I’d probably only get caught in another downpour anyway. I don’t know what this weather’s playing at.”

  The grey sky shrouded the cottage in a dull, empty light, adding a sense of gloom to the evening. “I’ll give them until tomorrow, and then I really will start getting annoyed,” she added.

  Sarah already looked pretty annoyed to Charlie. It was a nuisance that the phone lines were down, and no doubt Sarah really wanted to talk to Nick, but there was nothing he could do about it.

  “Do you think you might have missed them while you were resting?” Charlie asked.

  “Even if I did, it shouldn’t stop them from fixing the outside lines, should it?” Sarah said, crossly.

  “No, no I suppose not,” Charlie said, quietly.

  His remark hadn’t gone down that well, and he judged it might be best to keep out of Sarah’s way. He turned for the stairs and paused.

  “I’m going out soon, Sarah,” he called. “Tom’s invited me to his house for supper, and then we’re going to the cinema. I could always try and call the telephone people from Tom’s.”

  “Oh no, don’t bother,” Sarah said. “We’ll leave it till tomorrow. I’m sorry, Charlie,” she said. “I don’t know quite what’s come over me. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  “That’s all right,” Charlie answered, hanging around in the doorway. “Look, if you’d rather I didn’t go out then–”

  “No, you must go, Charlie,” Sarah said, firmly. “Will you be all right getting to Tom’s house, or do you want a lift?”

  “No, I’ll be fine. I’m going there on my bike, but thanks all the same. Tom’s mum said she’ll drive us to the cinema, and drop me back here afterwards.”

  “OK,” said Sarah. “So what time should I expect you back then?”

  “About eleven,” Charlie said, quickly.

  “Fine,” Sarah said. “But no later than that, OK? I don’t want to sound like an old battleaxe, but whilst your mother’s away, I am responsible for you.” She smiled.

  “OK,” Charlie answered. Hopefully she’d be in bed when he got back, and no doubt she’d be back to her usual self by tomorrow. Hurrying into the hall, Charlie grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.

  “Good night,” he called out.

  “Good night,” Sarah answered.

  Charlie headed for the door. Sprinting across the yard, he grabbed his bike and set off for Tom’s house.

  Sarah didn’t know what to do with herself now that Charlie had gone. The cottage was very quiet. She walked over to the window and drew the curtains. Then she crossed over to the sink and turned the taps on full burst, letting the basin fill up with soapy suds.

  She was completely unprepared for the severe pain that gripped her stomach. Slowly, she turned back to the dishes, but the pain grew stronger. Sarah clutched at her stomach. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. She’d had a pain in her back that morning, but the baby wasn’t due for another two and a half weeks – surely it hadn’t started already. She groaned and turned to the back door, bending slightly to relieve the pain. Tugging the handle, she pulled it wide.

  “Charlie, Charlie,” she groaned. “Are you still there?”

  But Charlie had disappeared, and there was no reply from the depths of the yard. Sarah’s heart sank. What should she do? The phones were still down, and she certainly couldn’t drive. She tried to think. And then the pain came again, much fiercer this time. She tried to breathe deeply as she gripped the kitchen table, unable to move.

  14

  RIDE BY MOONLIGHT

  Charlie walked up the drive to the stables, whistling happily to himself. He’d had a good evening with Tom. It had been awkward at first – neither of them knowing what to say, and the silences over supper had been uncomfortable. No one had said much on the way to the cinema either, but after the film they’d stopped for an ice cream, and then everything had come pouring out.

  At first, Tom had looked serious as Charlie had described the panic he’d felt when Napoleon had torn the reins out of his hands. But as the situation eased, the pair of them had found themselves laughing and joking, even laying bets on whether Sarah’s baby would be a boy or a girl. The evening had passed all too quickly, so that when Tom’s mum dropped Charlie at the bottom of Sandy Lane, the two boys decided to meet up at nine the next morning.

  Charlie looked at his watch now. It was half past eleven. He felt a little guilty as he remembered that he’d told Sarah he’d be back by eleven.

  Charlie could just make out the shape of the cottage as he walked on up the drive, but all was dark and silent. Stumbling over the doorstep, he fumbled to find his keys and then, turning the lock, he pushed open the back door. Silently, he tiptoed through the kitchen and into the hallway, groping along the wall.

  “Charlie, Charlie, is that you?” a weak voice called out.

  Charlie’s heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong. Immediately he switched on a light and burst into the sitting room. There, he found Sarah, crouched over the sofa. She looked as white as a sheet, and her forehead was bathed in sweat. Charlie stood rooted to the spot in fear.

  “What’s happened?” he cried, pulling himself together as he rushed to her side.

  “I think the baby’s coming,” she grimaced. “It’s too soon. I’m scared, Charlie. What if something’s terribly wrong?” she said, breathing heavily. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’ve got to get help. Can you call for an ambulance?”

  “Of course I can,” Charlie said, running to grab the phone. “How long have you been like this?” he cried, the panic seizing hold of him as he keyed in the numbers. Frantically, he thwacked the button, trying to get a dialling tone.

  “It’s still not working,” Sarah gasped. “You’re going to have to go and get help.”

  “Don’t panic,” Charlie started. “Just stay where you are.”

  “Does it look like I’m going anywhere?” Sarah gasped, managing a joke through the pain.

  “OK...OK...I’m off,” Charlie said, and quickly he darted out of the back door.

  The moon was high in the sky, and an eerie white light filtered across the yard, giving a sort of electric feel to the air. Charlie raced over to the barn to collect his bike, and then he remembered. No bike – it was at Tom’s. What could he do? Frantically, he looked around the yard. The Land Rover was there, but he didn’t know how to drive, and he was too young anyway. He’d just have to run for help. He’d have to sprint like mad – the nearest people lived in the cottages over by Bucknell Woods, and that was a good two miles away.
r />   Charlie didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even stop to think. Madly, he tore down the driveway, his arms flailing out in the still night air. Quickly, he plunged around the corner of the drive, past the duck pond, and sprinted into Sandy Lane. A yellow glow from the cottages in the distance lighted his way and Charlie pushed himself faster and faster until he thought his lungs might burst.

  On and on he raced, until his legs felt like jelly. He knew he was going to have to stop. Unwittingly, he found his pace slackening off until he was going no faster than a crawl. And still the comforting cottage lights were a long way off. He’d never reach them in time. Charlie strained his eyes to stare into the distance, and felt the panic seizing hold of him.

  He thought hard. What should he do? Maybe he should turn back to the yard and get help some other way, some quicker way. Yes, that was it. And so Charlie double-backed on himself, willing his legs to start all over again.

  “Not far now,” he muttered as he jogged back to the yard. “We’ll soon be there.”

  Charlie turned back up the drive, not really having a fixed plan of action in his mind. He took a deep breath and looked over to Napoleon’s stable, gnawing at his bottom lip. Cross-country was by far the quickest way to the nearest cottage. He trembled as Napoleon lifted his head over the stable door and whinnied loudly.

  And then Charlie knew he couldn’t stand there deliberating any longer. Sarah could be in danger... Sarah’s baby could be in danger. He’d have to do it.

  Not stopping to think any more about it, Charlie sped into the tack room and grabbed Napoleon’s bridle. There wasn’t time for a saddle. He hurried across the yard and fumbled his way into the dark of the stable.

  “Easy Napoleon, easy does it,” he crooned.

  Putting the bit in the horse’s mouth and throwing the bridle on over his head, Charlie fastened the throat lash and led the horse out into the yard.

  He gulped hard and clenched the muscles in his cheeks. Then he threw himself onto Napoleon and rode bareback into the silvery night.