Olivia Tuffin - A Pony Called Secret: A Time To Shine: A Time To Shine

Chapter 1

T here she was again.

Alice Smalley just had time to make out the bright pink of a T-shirt before the girl flew back round the corner, peering out from behind the old wall next to the shop. Her big dark eyes gazed at Secret as Alice checked the traffic ahead and pushed Secret into a trot to make it round the parked cars before the oncoming tractor met them. When she glanced back, the girl had gone. Alice had seen her nearly every time shed ridden out for the past few weeks, but by the time she was in a safe position to stop the girl was out of sight.

Reaching the drive back to Park Farm, where she lived with her mum and dad, Alice kicked her feet out of the stirrups and gave Secret a loose rein as he headed happily back up to the yard where the cool of his stable awaited, away from the relentless heat that gripped the country. As they headed into July, all the weather reports predicted the hottest summer on record, which was fine, Alice thought, if you didnt have yard jobs to do and a pony to keep fit for a busy summer of showjumping! Shed taken to setting her alarm early and getting out on Secret long before breakfast, which is why shed been surprised to see the girl also up and about.

A beep from her pocket broke through her thoughts and, pulling her phone out, she smiled as she opened a picture message from her friend Finn, who was spending the summer in Spain as part of the Rebel Riders stunt team, training with them at their base in Andalusia. Finn and Alice, whod met when Secret had bolted out across a showground, had been through a lot and he was still one of her closest friends. But now he wasnt around and so even with her busy training schedule it could get a little lonely in the yard. Alices mum, Josephine, one of the countrys top showing producers, had also lost Finn as a rider, but Alice knew his heart belonged with the display riding and not in the show ring. Just as hers belonged in the showjumping arena.

Nice ride? Alices mum greeted her with a smile as she led her own mare, Ella, back up to the yard after a night out in the fields. Ella was a rescue pony, brought back from Spain by Finn and his dad, Angus, who was Alices showjumping coach at Hilltops pony club.

Great. Swinging lightly off Secret, Alice chuckled as he rubbed his head against her. Despite the high temperatures, Secret, who was in peak condition, had barely broken a sweat.

Alice! her mum chided gently. You know you shouldnt let him do that. Bad manners!

I know, Alice grinned. But it is Secret. Then she remembered what she had been meaning to ask her mum. Did anyone move to the village recently?

I wouldnt know. Josephine shrugged. Why do you ask?

Oh, Alice said. No reason really.

Theyd reached the stables now and Alices mum had put Ella into her stable, slipping off her head collar as she gave her neck a stroke. Alice thought back to the girl and wondered who she was. Shed try to stop and say hello next time she spotted her.

Hey, Alice!

Amy, one of Alices friends at the Hilltops pony club, bounded over. Alice was at the equestrian centre for her weekly team training with Angus. When she wasnt riding she often hung out at the caf on site with other members. Hilltops had almost become a second home. The caf had cosy sofas covered with Newmarket blankets, and having a hot chocolate there with friends after lessons had become one of the highlights! Hilltops was close enough to home that Alice could ride over during the summer months, and she had enough time before her lesson to give Secret a break and get herself a cold drink.

Amy fell in step with Alice as she headed back over to Secret in the shade.

Amy grinned and pulled out her phone. Ive had over a hundred messages today asking how Secret is. Everyone loved that picture of him opening the gate! She passed the phone over. Here, have a read.

Alice took the phone, scrolling through the comments. It was a particularly cute photo of Secret, catching him at his cheekiest, his eyes full of mischief as he fiddled with the gate latch.

Just then a new comment flashed up at the top of the screen. Alice could only read the first few words.

Bet she thinks

Alice frowned, passing the phone back. She didnt want to accidentally see any of Amys messages; perhaps it was a school friend.

Think you have a message, she said. It just came up.

Amy took the phone, and then paused, peering at the screen with a frown.

Whats up? Alice looked over at her friend curiously as Amy squinted at her phone and then tapped it a few times, before giving Alice a bright smile.

Oh, she said in a cheerful voice, nothing. Just get some weird spammy messages sometimes. Here, look, you can read the rest!

Alice skimmed through some more of the comments.

Youre my favourite, Secret!

Aw, adorable.

Love that pony!

They were from all over the county, girls and boys who followed Secrets every move via his very own account. Using Alices photos and Amys witty captions, Amy had unofficially appointed herself as president of Secrets fan club, something Alice was both grateful for and baffled by! When Amy had first suggested they set up an account just for Secret, Alice had been sceptical, but her friend had been so insistent that shed given in. Alice barely had enough time to reply to Finn half the time, let alone respond to hundreds of messages from strangers. Ever since his big win at Olympia Horse Show and his heroic antics during his stay in London, Secret had become quite the celebrity. His win had been enough to catapult him into the spotlight, but hed also gained thousands of fans for his bravery during a kidnapping, where he had not only saved two other ponies, but also helped to uncover a fraudulent pony-selling ring. Hed taken part in a parade with the mounted police at the big Christmas show, and in the months since Alice felt as though life had been a whirlwind.

Thats nice. She smiled and handed the phone back to Amy, and started to tack Secret up. Sorry for all the work.

Are you joking? Amy grinned, her eyes sparkling. I LOVE it. And look, another interview request from Pony mag, and someone asking if Secret can open the new saddlery in Matterley. Youre in demand!