Riding Holiday Read online

  “Well, you really know how to get someone’s back up, don’t you?”

  “Yes, well, she had it coming to her,” Izzy muttered under her breath, feeling a little guilty. “All those sneaky little comments about Paula – and as for her saying she’d saved Seattle’s life...”

  “Hmm, just what do you think it is they don’t like about Paula?” Kate said.

  “I don’t know,” Izzy hesitated. “You saw how brilliant Paula was that day with Fiery Lad.”

  “Yes, she was, wasn’t she?” Kate said. “It does all seem a bit weird, but-”

  Beeeep. Izzy and Kate’s conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car horn outside.

  “Oh bother,” Izzy said, rushing over to the window. “She’s already here and I’m not ready yet. Cool car...” She turned back to Kate.

  “Why, what is it?” Kate said, rushing over to join her and peering out to see an old red convertible sitting outside. “Yes it is, isn’t it. It’s a bit beaten-up, but still cool. Come on then, let’s go.”

  The two girls bolted down the stairs, calling out their goodbyes.

  “Don’t forget – ten o’clock.” Sally’s voice followed them as they rushed down the outside steps.

  “We won’t,” they called, sprinting across the gravel to the car.

  “Hi,” Paula smiled. “All set?”

  It was just starting to get dark as Izzy, Kate and Paula came out of the movies that evening.

  “That was fantastic,” Kate said. “Absolutely fantastic – the part where Jack told them he was Emily’s real father – well, I’d never have guessed it.”

  “It was good, wasn’t it?” Paula chuckled as they walked over to the car. “Izzy...Izzy, are you okay? You’ve been really quiet all evening.”

  “Yes I’m fine.” Izzy looked up. If the truth was known, she wasn’t fine. She wasn’t fine at all. In fact, she’d been feeling really upset since her run-in with Courtney. She had to hear Paula’s slant on Seattle’s colic. It was really preying on her mind.

  “Paula,” Izzy started.

  “Yes.” Paula looked puzzled.

  “You remember that incident you told us about where you saved Seattle’s life?” Izzy said.

  “Yes,” Paula hesitated.

  “Well.” Izzy looked embarrassed. “I had a bit of an argument with Courtney about it before we left.”

  “Oh what now?” Paula groaned. “I don’t know, those two girls – they never give up, do they?”

  “Well,” Izzy started slowly. “Courtney wouldn’t have it – she said that she was the one who’d saved Seattle, not you.”

  “Well she would, wouldn’t she?” Paula raised her hands in mock disbelief. “She wouldn’t give me the credit for anything. You don’t believe her though, do you?”

  “Well no, not exactly,” Izzy said.

  “Well, either you do or you don’t.” Paula jutted out her jaw. “I told you how weird they’d acted with me since I arrived.”

  “Yes, I know,” Izzy said quickly. “And of course I believe you.”

  Seeing how upset it had made Paula was all the confirmation that Izzy needed.

  “I just can’t believe it,” Paula went on, running her hands through her hair. “Still, I don’t know why I should have expected anything different. I guess I shouldn’t think about it. It’ll only wind me up even more. Look...” Quickly she changed the subject. “You know what we were talking about the other day – about going to Joe Hagan’s? Well, I was thinking I might go over to his farm tonight after I’ve dropped you off.”

  “Oh.” Izzy and Kate didn’t know what else to say.

  “I hate to admit it, but I’m getting a few last-minute nerves,” Paula went on, laughing nervously. “I keep panicking that I’ll get caught. Anyway, I’m sure I’m just being paranoid. You do think it’ll be all right, don’t you?” She turned and looked at Izzy.

  “Well, I don’t know.” Izzy looked at Kate. She felt guilty – after all, they were the ones who’d made Paula think about all of this.

  “It’s the car that I’m worried about,” Paula went on. “I can leave it outside, but what if someone finds it? If only I had a friend who could sit outside and keep watch for me – then I wouldn’t feel so nervous.”

  “Well...” Izzy hesitated. “I suppose we could do that, couldn’t we, Kate? I mean, it wouldn’t exactly be trespassing, would it?”

  “No, I don’t suppose it would.” Kate felt equally torn. She looked at her watch. “It’s nine-forty now. Sally said we had to be back by ten.”

  “We could manage that easily!” Paula exclaimed. “Joe Hagan’s farm is on the way back.”

  Izzy looked at Kate and grinned. “Well, okay then.”

  “Great” Paula smiled. “Then let’s go.”

  Five minutes later, Izzy and Kate found themselves being driven down the highway, the wind whipping their hair. And then Paula was turning on her indicator and they were turning off the road, and going up a steep hill.

  “It’s not far now,” Paula said as the car rattled down a winding road. Finally, she slowed down and turned off the engine, cruising along in neutral.

  “Okay then.” The car ground to a halt and Paula turned to face the two girls. “Wish me luck.” But she didn’t move and Izzy and Kate didn’t know what to say.

  “Okay,” Izzy said finally, snapping out of her seat belt. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Are you sure?” Paula held her gaze.

  “Positive,” Izzy answered determinedly. “You stay here with the car, Kate,” she said.

  “But Izzy...” Kate called plaintively.

  But it was too late. Paula was already springing up the wall and now Izzy was following on behind her. Kate took a deep breath and sank back down into her seat. This was crazy...absolutely crazy.

  “Ssshh,” Paula turned and motioned to Izzy, putting a finger to her lips.

  “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all,” Izzy hesitated.

  “Don’t worry, we’re not going to get caught,” Paula said firmly.

  “Do they have guard dogs in here?” Izzy murmured in a frightened voice. Now that she was inside, she didn’t feel nearly so bold.

  “No, nothing like that,” Paula whispered back. “The stable yard is to the left of us.” Paula flicked on a flashlight. Unsteadily, Izzy crunched forward across the gravel.

  I shouldn’t be doing this, every inch of her body screamed out, and yet she was powerless to stop herself. Like a robot she followed Paula, walking across the grass, ducking under tree branches...until finally they turned a corner and the unmistakeable smell of horses hung in the air.

  “Here we are,” Paula whispered. “Now, this is our plan. I suggest we look in the office together, then I’ll leave you and go on to look around the rest of the yard. I know my way around here and you don’t. We can meet back in the car in ten minutes. Okay?”

  Izzy nodded. She looked at the red-brick building of the office and took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Stealthily, they crossed the yard. Izzy tried desperately to stifle the sound of her feet on the gravel as Paula swung open the door to the office. Izzy walked inside and automatically reached up to find a switch to turn on the light.

  “Don’t do that!” Paula hissed. “Someone’ll be out here in a flash if we turn on the lights.”

  “Sorry.” Izzy blushed in the darkness, instantly feeling foolish. “It’s just that it’s so dark in here.”

  “Which is why we use the flashlight.” Paula flicked it on and let the rays of light bounce around the room. “Filing cabinet, desk...where shall we start?” Paula walked over to the desk and pulled open the top drawer. Holding the flashlight in one hand, she rummaged through the drawer with the other.

  Izzy looked around her in a panic – she didn’t know what to do.

  “Quick,” Paula hissed. “You take the filing cabinet.”

  “Er, but what are we looking for?” Izzy asked uncertainly.

&nb
sp; “I don’t know – anything.” Paula threw her hands in the air.

  Edgily, Izzy made her way over to the other side of the room and began systematically pulling out drawer after drawer. Papers upon papers loomed out at her...veterinary receipts, training bills, breeding certificates. She pushed the drawers back in place.

  “Nothing useful in there,” Paula grimaced, pushing in the last drawer of the desk. “I’ll leave you with the flashlight.”

  “Sure.” Izzy heard the faint click of the door shutting behind Paula. She swallowed hard, then took a deep breath as she stooped down, fiddling with the bottom drawer. Her fingers were all thumbs. She tried to pull it open, but it was locked. Desperately, Izzy looked around her, hoping she might see a set of keys hanging on a hook. She flashed the flashlight around the room and made her way over to the desk.

  Eventually, her legs gave way and she sat down in the chair. Vacantly, she stared in front of her – a jar of pens, paperclips, in-tray...the beam flashed around the desk top, landing neatly on each of the objects and then moving on. And then her heart missed a beat as her gaze came to rest on a single slip of paper with writing on it. As Izzy leaned forward to get a closer look, the words swam in front of her eyes. It was only two lines, but what she saw completely took her breath away. She hadn’t really had a chance to think about what they might find at Joe Hagan’s farm, but what she had found looked like evidence that they hadn’t had a wasted trip...

  Izzy took a deep breath. It seemed as though she had found the missing connection – the only way this man could be getting to the horses at Graytops without actually being there himself. Now all they had to do was prove it.

  Izzy shivered as she stared at the desk. Then, slowly, she reached forward and picked up the piece of paper. Switching off her flashlight, she just sat there for a moment, soaking up the darkness. Then she heard a sound outside – the loud crunching of footsteps on gravel. Quickly she ducked down under the desk as the room was flooded with light.

  “I thought I heard a noise coming from in here,” a man’s voice boomed out.

  Izzy felt sick. It had to be Joe Hagan. And if he came in any further, he’d be sure to find her.

  “You must have been imagining it, Joe,” came a woman’s voice.

  “Hmm, maybe,” the man said, “but you can never be too careful.”

  Izzy peeped out from under the desk and drew her breath in sharply. She hadn’t closed the top drawer of the filing cabinet and it stood there, wide open, for all to see. If they noticed that, they’d be sure to come into the room. She held her breath, hoping against hope... One...two...three...

  “There’s nothing in here, Meg. I must be going crazy in my old age,” the man’s voice came again. “Let’s get back to the house.”

  The light went off and, once again, the office was shrouded in darkness. Izzy didn’t move. It was hot outside, but her teeth were chattering. She had to get back to the car before anything else happened. Her legs felt like jelly. She’d almost been caught – and by Joe Hagan – the man masterminding this whole abomination. And what about Paula? Was she all right? Izzy didn’t like to think what Joe Hagan might do to her if she was caught.

  Izzy pulled up the sleeve of her shirt. The numbers on her watch dial glowed, plain and clear – 10 o’clock. She should have been back at the car by now.

  Izzy uncurled herself from her crouched position and stretched out her legs. She got to her feet and peered out of the office window. The yard was as dark as pitch. It was now or never. Slowly, very slowly, Izzy turned the door handle and made her bid for escape...

  12

  DISAGREEMENTS

  Kate looked at her watch and then back at the wall again. It was ten o’clock and Paula and Izzy still weren’t back. Where were they? One thing was for sure – they were going to be late getting back to Graytops and Sally was going to be furious.

  “Come on, come on,” she muttered, willing the two faces to appear at the top of the wall.

  And then she heard something – the breathless sound of someone running and a scraping sound as someone launched themselves at the wall...and then there was a face – Paula’s. Kate sat there, waiting for Izzy to appear, but there was no sign of her. Swiftly, she unclipped her seat belt and called out.

  “What’s happened? Where’s Izzy?”

  “Ssshh,” Paula said. “They’ll hear you.”

  “They? Who?” Kate said, starting to panic.

  “Joe Hagan and his wife...they’re out there.”

  “You mean, they’re in the yard and you’ve just left Izzy inside?” Kate was shocked. “Then I’m going to have to go in and get her.”

  “No way,” Paula said. “Look, give it ten more minutes, then if she’s not out, we’ll go in after her.”

  It was the longest ten minutes of Kate’s life. Every thirty seconds she kept looking at her watch until eventually she said that enough was enough. But then Paula grabbed her back.

  “Listen...I can hear something,” she said triumphantly.

  And then Kate heard it too – a scrabbling sound from the other side of the wall, and then Izzy’s face appeared, whiter than white.

  “Oh Izzy,” Kate cried. “You didn’t get caught...thank goodness you’re safe.”

  “It was a close call,” Izzy said, her confidence returning now that she was outside the walls. Breathlessly, she jumped down, brushing her hands as she walked over to the car.

  “I’ve been worried sick,” Kate said. “What is it, Izzy? You’re looking very strange. Did you find something?”

  “Well, look, I don’t know how to put this,” Izzy said, turning to Paula and Kate. “But yes, I did. I think it could be important.” She dug deep into her pocket. “It’s not the drugs or anything like that.”

  Kate looked puzzled as Izzy handed her the piece of paper.

  “I found it on the desk inside,” Izzy said.

  Kate uncrumpled it and took in the writing.

  “But this – it’s...it’s Ted’s name, and a mobile number,” Kate gasped.

  “Ted must be the missing link,” Izzy said simply. “Why else would he have given Joe Hagan his mobile number when he could have just been phoned at Graytops?”

  “It would explain everything,” Paula gasped.

  Izzy nodded. “It does seem a bit of a coincidence that Ted was the only person kept on at the stables after the first doping, and then it happened again...I just don’t know why we didn’t think of him before.”

  “Probably because Sally placed so much faith in him,” Kate said gloomily.

  “I’ve never liked him,” Izzy said emphatically. “Remember how he was with me over that saddle?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t make him guilty, does it?” Kate said.

  “No, but this does,” Izzy said slowly. “Who’d have thought it? All we have to do now is catch him.”

  “Whoa, now hold on a minute,” Paula had been quiet during this exchange but now she stepped in. “What do you mean, catch him? The best thing to do is to go to Sally with this piece of paper.”

  “It’s not enough,” Kate said simply. “Sally would never take it at face value – she’d give him the benefit of the doubt and speak to him first and that would give him a chance to wriggle out of it. What do you think, Izzy? You know the Bryant family as well as I do – they think the world of Ted, don’t they?”

  “Yes, they do.” Izzy nodded. “And I have to say I agree with everything you’ve said. Besides, what would we say? We couldn’t tell Sally where we’d been tonight – she’d flip her lid.”

  “But what about Seattle?” Paula looked worried. “You’d be leaving her totally at Ted’s mercy.”

  “Not if we protect her,” Kate stepped in. “Not if we watch Ted night and day.”

  Paula’s eyes narrowed. “It sounds like you’re scared to me – scared of putting your neck on the line for Seattle.”

  “We’re not scared.” Izzy’s eyes flashed. “We’re just being sensible.”
/>   And that was all that was said on the matter. Without saying another word, Paula started up the car and drove Izzy and Kate off into the night.

  By the time Paula dropped Izzy and Kate off at Graytops that evening it was already twenty past ten and no one was saying very much. It wasn’t that they had fallen out exactly, it was just that they had such different ideas about what they should do. And while Izzy and Kate could see where Paula was coming from, they were adamant that they couldn’t, just couldn’t tell Sally – at least not yet.

  As Izzy and Kate walked up the driveway, they realized they were going to have to think of a very good excuse for being late.

  “Maybe Sally’ll be in bed,” Izzy muttered hopefully.

  “I think that’s highly unlikely.” Kate raised her eyebrows.

  “Hmm, I guess you’re right,” Izzy said as they turned the corner of the driveway. “Uh-oh, the lights are on, I guess we’d better face the music.”

  Izzy and Kate jogged the last hundred yards of the driveway and, running up the steps to the house, pushed open the front door and walked down the hallway.

  “Izzy...Kate...” The sight of three worried-looking faces greeted them. “Where on earth have you been? We’ve been worried,” Sally cried. “We thought you might have had an accident.”

  “Oh no, we’re very sorry,” Izzy said, looking across at Kate.

  “Sorry?” Sally looked unsatisfied. “But the movie finished ages ago.”

  “Um, er, we lost track of the time,” Izzy said feebly. “We went for a burger with Paula.”

  “But I told you you had to be back by ten,” Sally said firmly. “Just wait till I see Paula, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”

  “No, don’t do that,” Izzy said hurriedly, and then, seeing the angry look on Sally’s face, she changed her tone of voice. “I mean, we’re sorry and...”

  “Just head up to bed,” Sally sighed tiredly. “We’ll talk about this in the morning.”