Holly Webb - Sammy the Shy Kitten

For Daisy

www.hollywebbanimalstories.com

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Extract

Collect them all

Biography

Copyright

See you later, Mum! Emma waved as her mum drove off down the bumpy lane that led to Ivy Bank Stables. She was looking forward to seeing her best friend Keira, but she would see most of her riding-class friends at school on Monday. Really she wanted to say hello to the ponies, and the cats that lived at the stables, too.

Emma didnt always see the cats they were all very shy, almost wild. She wasnt even sure how many of them there were, no one was. Liz, who owned the riding school, said she thought there were five. But Emma was almost certain there were six, and that the skinny ginger cat was actually two skinny ginger cats. Once she thought shed seen him strolling along the roof of the feed store only seconds after hed been sunbathing out by the paddock.

Liz put down food and water for the cats, but only once a day. Mostly they lived by hunting. They earned their keep by getting rid of the mice and rats that sniffed around the stables after the horses feed.

Hello, Sparky, Emma murmured, going to pat the nose of the grey she usually rode in her class. The pony snorted and put his nose over the half-door of his stall. He nudged happily at her hand, searching for an apple or a carrot. He knew Emma always brought him treats. Emma giggled and brought out a piece of carrot. And Ive got Polos for afterwards, if youre good, she whispered. But dont tell the others. Ill just go and let Liz know Im here, then Ill be back to tack you up.

Emma looked around hopefully for the cats as she went over to find Liz, but none of them seemed to be around. She crouched down and peeped behind the tulips in the little flowerbed in front of the office. The ginger cat (one of the ginger cats, anyway) practically lived in the flowerbed, and sometimes hed let her stroke him. Sure enough, there he was, curled up tightly into a stripy ball. He opened one yellow-green eye and glared at her. He obviously didnt want to be petted.

Emma sighed and put her head round the office door.

Hi, Liz. Mum dropped me off a bit early so I could say hello to the ponies. I wanted to see if I could stroke Tiggy, too, but I cant find her.

Tiggy was Emmas favourite of the stable cats she was black and had longer fur than the others, with a thick bushy tail. She spent a lot of time lying in the sun and grooming, cleaning bits of hay out of her pretty fur.

Liz had looked up, smiling, when she first spotted Emma, but now her smile faded. I havent actually seen her for a couple of days. Im starting to get a bit worried. I know the cats arent really pets and they wander around all over the place, but usually Tiggys the friendliest of them all. She doesnt disappear like Susie and Ginger, and shes almost always in the yard.

Emma nodded, frowning. I dont think Ive ever been to the stables and not seen her.

Shes been so hungry lately, but she hasnt come to the food bowls, Liz sighed. Im sure Id have noticed her.

Emma glanced out at the bowls. Liz kept them by the bench in the yard, which had a wooden canopy built over it. It meant that the food stayed dry and the nervous cats didnt have to go inside for it. Emma smiled as she saw Susie, a thin little tabby, slinking over to see if there was anything left. But then she turned back towards Liz.

So Tiggy hasnt eaten anything for two days? she asked anxiously.

Liz shook her head. Not from here, I dont think. Shes a good mouser, so maybe shes just been hunting more. I wish Id seen her around, though.

Emma nibbled her bottom lip. At least the stables is quite far from the main road, she said slowly. Her Auntie Graces cat, Whisky, had been hit by a car a couple of years ago and had broken his leg really badly. He was better now, but Auntie Grace hated him going round the front of the house. She always tried to tempt him back inside if she saw him sitting on the front wall.

Liz smiled at her. Exactly. Im probably worrying over nothing.

She didnt make Emma feel much better, though. Where could Tiggy have gone?

Anyway, Liz said briskly. We should get on. The others will be here by now. She got up and put an arm round Emmas shoulders. Dont worry. You know what cats are like especially these half-wild ones. Well get all upset and then shell stroll in without a care in the world.

Emma giggled. But she wished that Tiggy would stroll in now.

Maybe it was because she was thinking about Tiggy, or maybe it was just a bad day, but nothing seemed to go right for Emma that morning. Tacking up Sparky took ages. He wouldnt stay still he jittered and sidestepped and nibbled at her jacket. Then he nearly trod on her foot as she lead him over to the outdoor arena.

Are you OK? her friend Keira asked, as she finally managed to get to the gate. You look a bit stressed.

Sparkys just being Sparky, Emma sighed. Hes lovely when he wants to be, but

Keira grinned and nodded. I know. Maybe hes just excited.

Hes always excited!

Are you ready, girls? Liz came over to check that their girths were tight. Now, the jumps are a bit higher than last week, but youre all perfectly capable of clearing these fences. Just dont let the ponies try to take them too fast.

Emma nodded a little nervously. She really did love Sparky. The gentler ponies, like Keiras mount Jasmine, just didnt have as much personality as the bouncy grey. But she had a feeling that trying to keep Sparky calm and collected wouldnt be that easy today. Luckily they were going first so Sparky wouldnt get bored. The thrill of riding a fast, eager pony took over as they set off, and Emma had a huge smile on her face by the time theyd cleared the second jump.

Then somehow everything went wrong. Perhaps Sparky decided he didnt like the look of the new rainbow-striped rails that Liz had used for the third jump. He slid round to the left of the jump instead of going over. Emma did her best to encourage him on, but Sparky was determined he swerved sideways round the jump, and Emma felt herself slipping out of the saddle. There was a horrible, slow moment when she knew she was falling. Then all of a sudden she was on the ground, with her ankle twisted and aching, and Sparky standing over her. He looked quite apologetic.

Emma! Liz came hurrying over, catching Sparkys reins and handing them to Keira. Hold on to him, Keira, while I check Emmas all right.

I dont think I rode him at it straight enough, Emma said, wincing as she tried to stand. Ow, my ankle