Hot Potato (Shelby and Blue) - Alyssa Brugman [6]
When she was at shows she would overhear mothers talking to each other. 'There's Shelby Shaw. Did you know she started that horse training business when she was only thirteen years old? The other two girls are very good too, but it's Shelby who masterminded the whole thing.'
The truck pulled into the driveway and she remembered just how much trouble they would be in if their parents found out what they had done. Lindsey was frowning. It was possible she was thinking exactly the same thing.
Never mind what Lindsey's mum would think, Shelby's own parents were going to go completely berserk! They didn't have very good imaginations. She could try to explain to them about the Shelinderin Pony Training Stud, but she knew they wouldn't understand.
They needed to keep the pony a secret or all three of them were going to be in big, big trouble.
3 A Distraction
As the truck rumbled up the driveway Shelby could see a silhouetted shape in the office window. That was bad luck. If Lindsey's mum had been out in the paddocks somewhere they might have been able to unload the pony unseen.
There was still enough time to confess, and to enlist Clint's help.
'Lindsey's mum didn't exactly . . .' Shelby began.
Lindsey pinched her hard on the back of the arm, but then Clint spoke at the same moment.
'I've just remembered . . .'
It was fate. Obviously she wasn't supposed to tell. 'Remembered what?' she asked.
'No, you first,' he pressed.
'It wasn't important,' she said.
Clint pulled on the handbrake. The truck rocked slightly as the horses shifted about in the back. 'I've just remembered I have something to do at home,' he finished. 'So I can't stay for coffee.'
'That's a real shame,' said Erin, her grin betraying her words.
The chestnut mare came off the truck easily and started whinnying the minute her hooves hit the ground. Her neck and flanks were dark with sweat and her eyes were wide. She wheeled about, snorted and pawed at the ground.
'Shh,' Lindsey said, quickly moving the horse around to the side of the truck out of view of the office window.
'I'll see you girls later in the week then,' Clint said, climbing back into the cab. 'I've got a few trims to do, and some horses to shift on the weekend. I'm sure to catch up with Brenda at some stage. Good luck with your new pony, Lindsey Lu. She's a little ripper, that's for sure!'
Lindsey looked at Shelby with panic in her eyes. Once he backed the truck down the driveway, the chestnut mare would be in plain view of the window. Shelby looked around. There was nothing in the driveway to disguise the horse, not even a tree, and the stables were at least thirty metres away.
'You could run,' Shelby whispered.
Lindsey shook her head. The mare was worked up already. She might go silly and draw more attention to herself.
'I'll go and see what I can do,' Shelby said. It was possible that she could distract Lindsey's mother's attention away from the window.
She sprinted across the driveway and bounded up the steps into the office. 'Hi, Mrs E.'
'So, did you girls buy any horses?' Lindsey's mum asked, shuffling through papers on her desk.
Shelby felt her face redden and her pulse race. Was she joking? Had she seen out the window already? What was the right answer?
'Yep. Sure did,' Shelby improvised. 'Seven truckloads. They should be here any minute.'
'Good-o,' Mrs Edel said, and she looked back down at her paperwork.
Shelby waited for some further comment, but when Mrs Edel didn't say anything more Shelby assumed that it had been a joke.
Through the window Shelby could see Lindsey hauling at the lead rope and Erin waving her hands behind the little pony trying to make her move forward, but she was reluctant, taking dolly steps and shying at each rock and fencepost.
'Is there something else?' Lindsey's mum asked.
'Nope. I'm . . .' She searched for an excuse. 'Just enjoying the vibes.' She knew it was