Scout and the Mystery of the Marsh Ponies by Belinda Rapley Page B

definitely try to make it earlier, especially as it would mean finally catching up with Mrs Hawk.”
    “But Tallulah’s dad’s due at three o’clock – Scout will be sold by then!” Alice gasped. It felt as if, however hard they tried, Scout’s safety was always an infuriating step away.
    “We’ll just have to try to keep Mrs Hawk here until they come,” Charlie said, frowning.
    “Or we could put a back-up plan into action to stop Tallulah buying Scout. Me and Rosie came up with one while we were waiting for you two this afternoon,” Mia said quickly, “just in case you lost Mrs Hawk across the marsh. It’s all set up – we just need Tallulah to appear today like she said she would and then I’ll send one text…”
    At that moment they heard a car on the bumpy drive, then footsteps. A second later Tallulah was bouncing into the yard, all smug smiles and superiority until she saw Scout, hispink skin showing through his silky wet coat.
    “What are you doing to my pony?” she squealed as Scout shook himself, his hooves scraping slightly on the concrete. She rushed back, wiping the water off her smart top as if it was infected.
    “Er, washing him down?” Alice said, wondering how she’d have reacted if she’d been on the yard five minutes earlier when Scout had been covered in mud. She glanced across to Mia and Rosie who were both looking as smug as Tallulah. They hadn’t had time to explain the plan to her or Charlie, so she’d just have to trust them, she thought, as she noticed Mia fiddling with the mobile phone in her pocket. “Anyway, he’s not your pony yet.”
    Tallulah shrugged her shoulders.
    “As good as. As it goes, I don’t mind if you’re washing him. It’ll just make him look even better for the show on Saturday.”
    At that moment, Mia’s mobile phone started to ring. She answered it after the first ring, putting it on speaker phone.
    “Mia?” The voice at the other end rang out. “It’s Poppy!”
    Mia smiled, watching out of the corner of her eye as Tallulah suddenly perked up and shamelessly listened in.
    “Listen,” Poppy continued. “I know that Scout’s as good as sold, but I just really wanted to jump him before it all goes through. It might be my last chance and I’d love to find out what feel he gives me over a fence and how he compares to Moonlight.”
    “Of course – I know Alice won’t mind!” Mia replied, smiling to herself as Rosie nudged Alice in the ribs and Alice called out that she didn’t mind in the slightest. “How about ten o’clock tomorrow morning? I’ll get some jumps set up for you.”
    “Great,” Poppy said. “Make sure they’re big ones, won’t you?”
    “Will do,” Mia said, before they said their goodbyes.
    “What is Poppy Brookes doing calling you about my pony?” Tallulah asked indignantly.
    “I guess she just wants to find out what she’s missed out on,” Rosie replied. “She was really impressed with his performance in the Eventers Grand Prix last weekend.”
    “I knew I’d made the right decision about buying Shooting Starr. It’s so brilliant that I’ve bought him and she hasn’t!” Tallulah squealed excitedly. “She’ll be so jealous after she rides him tomorrow and realises that even Moonlight’s no match for him! What time did you say she’s coming down tomorrow? Ten?”
    Mia nodded, and Tallulah marched out of the yard looking more smug than ever. As they heard a car door slam shut and Tallulah whizzed up the lane with her mum, Mia and Rosie quickly brought Charlie and Alice up to speed. The four girls collapsed into giggles. Their plan was in place. Now they just needed it to work.

Chapter Fourteen
    “A LL set?” Poppy smiled as she tightened Scout’s girth. She’d mounted him in the little yard where Moonlight was safely housed in the spare stable and pressed him forward into a walk as she lowered her leg and the saddle flap. Alice walked by Scout’s head with Mia on the other side. Charlie and