Hot Potato (Shelby and Blue) - Alyssa Brugman [43]
'That's not really Gwen Stefani's horse, is it?' asked Olivia, tugging on the sleeve of her mum's shirt.
'I don't think it's true, sweetheart,' her mother answered.
'Well then, whose horse is it?' asked Mrs Edel.
29 A Confession
'Lindsey?' Mrs Edel asked.
Shelby's heart beat fast. She should confess and save her friend – but what if Mrs Edel was so cranky that she sacked Shelby? Where would she keep Blue?
She wondered if Erin would do it. Erin was in the best position, because she had the least to lose, and people expected this kind of thing from Erin.
Shelby knew she should do it herself. It had been her idea in the first place, and if she hadn't bid then Hotty wouldn't be there. Lindsey's mum might evict her, but she would find a new place. It wasn't fair to let Lindsey take all the blame.
She opened her mouth.
'It's my horse.'
Shelby turned, surprised. Hayley had taken the words out of her mouth.
'Hayley!' Mrs Crook's voice wavered with emotion. She slapped her hands to her cheeks and tears sprang into her eyes.
Shelby was thinking that Hayley was very brave, when she realised that Mrs Crook's tears were of joy.
'I thought you were losing interest! Looking after the horses is our special time together. It's so precious to me, and I was sure that you were ready to move on. Oh, Hales!' She rushed forward and wrapped Hayley in a bear hug. 'And now you've gone and bought a pony all by yourself. I'm so proud of you.' She rubbed her daughter's shoulders so fast that Hayley's head jiggled. Mrs Crook looked at Hotty. 'And such a pretty pony too! Oh, this is the best surprise a mother could ever receive.'
Shelby watched all the other mothers trading glances and guessed that they didn't agree.
30 A Perfect Match
It was the Saturday after the barbecue. The four girls sat on the edge of Lindsey's veranda with their gumboots swinging back and forth. Hayley and Erin had finished their lessons. There were no more trail rides to lead. Shelby and Lindsey had already mucked out the stables, and the afternoon feed was still hours away.
Mrs Crook was about to put Hotty on the float and the girls were staying nearby in case she needed help.
'So what did the vet say?' asked Shelby.
'There's nothing physically wrong with her,' Hayley answered. 'It's behavioural. Basically she's a nutcase. Mum wants to get a shrink, but there's no rush. We're not going to ride her anyway.'
'Like a horse counsellor?' asked Shelby. She didn't know such a job existed. That was a career she hadn't considered before.
'Yeah, I know,' said Hayley, rolling her eyes. She slipped her hand into the pocket of her jodhpurs and handed each of the girls a fifty-dollar note.
'You don't have to do that!' Lindsey protested.
Hayley shrugged. 'I'm buying her from you guys. It's only fair. Besides, it's no big deal. You've all lost more than fifty bucks from the whole thing anyway.'
'Yeah, I'm grounded for a gazillion years for messing with the accounts,' Lindsey groaned.
'But at least all your friends come over every day, anyway. Shelby's lost her saddle,' Erin said. 'And I'm not allowed to vote on Australian Idol for a whole year! My dad even confiscated my phone.'
The girls sat in silence. In the paddock across the driveway the two Arabs stood near the water trough taking it in turns to drink. Beyond them Shelby could make out Blue and Hiccup standing under a tree, dozing nose-to-tail.
Shelby leaned back, slipping off her gumboots and wiggling her toes.
'Hey, I've got those exact same socks!' Hayley said. 'Twins!'
Shelby smiled.
'So, what are you going to do with CC anyway?' Erin asked.
'Mum's getting her registered. She's found some imported Riding Pony stallion she wants to put her to.'
'I knew she was good quality!' said Shelby. 'I'm telling you, I have an eye for it.'
'Sorry, Hales,' Lindsey said, 'she's not my cup of tea. I don't like the little ones.'
'That's OK – neither do I, really.' Hayley smiled. 'But she is well put together and quite distinctive. We'll have no trouble getting papers for her.'
'Hey,