Angel and the Flying Stallions, page 13
A moment later Roberto Nunez confirmed this. “I’ve just spoken to Miguel and he praised Isadora’s efforts in getting Laeticia back,” Roberto said. “He’s also agreed to organise his men and help us to try and catch the stallions.”
Over the past week there had been sightings of the three stallions, but no one had even come close to corralling them.
“They are still out there somewhere in the hills,” Roberto said. “I am certain of it. But if they try again to take our mares, we will have men ready and hopefully we might track them down. It is not easy to catch a bachelor…” he grinned as he watched the bride and groom take to the dance floor for the wedding waltz, “…although it would seem that Francoise has managed the feat quite neatly!”
It had been a whirlwind of planning and preparations that week for the wedding, but now that Avery and Francoise were actually married Issie wondered what would happen next. Would her trainer move to Spain permanently to be with his bride?
It turned out that Issie had nothing to worry about, as she discovered when the future of the happy couple was revealed during the groom’s speech at the wedding dinner that evening.
“My new wife has made me the happiest man in the world,” Avery told the guests, “and she’s going to be making the eventing riders of New Zealand very happy too…because she will be coming home with me to take up her new role as the head of dressage at Dulmoth Park.”
Issie was thrilled with the news. “Now that you’re coming back with us, you can continue Nightstorm’s dressage training!” Issie told Francoise excitedly.
“Isadora,” Francoise said, “I will be only too happy to help you train, but you are the one who will be in charge of your stallion’s schooling. You have learnt well in your time in the riding school with the jinetes. You proved that in your fight against the stallions. You are a true master of the haute école.”
It was clear that the jinetes agreed with her, for on the table along with the wedding presents there was a gift for Isadora. Jean-Jacques presented it to her and the rest of the jinetes stood by as she opened it. It was a polo shirt marked with the El Caballo crest – the letter C with a heart inscribed inside it.
“Only true El Caballo riders have the right to wear the uniform,” Jean-Jacques said. “You have earned this. You are one of us now.”
“Thank you,” Issie was touched. “For everything.”
Issie had always thought that dressage was the most boring part of being an eventer, but not any more. “If I hadn’t known those battle manoeuvres in the canyon that day, Angel and I would never have survived,” she admitted to Francoise.
OK, maybe there wouldn’t be any stallions to fight in her next competition, but she understood now that dressage was all about harnessing the incredible power of the horse – mastering its movements so you could achieve perfection together as horse and rider.
When she expressed this to Roberto, he nodded sagely. “At last you understand what I was trying to tell you,” he said. “Dressage is the basis of everything we do. What good is power without control?”
“I get that now, I really do,” Issie agreed.
“Then you are ready to take the Little One home,” Roberto said, smiling, “and I wish you both well.”
There were many more speeches about the bride and groom, and when it was Roberto’s turn he paid tribute to Francoise. “She has been my head trainer at El Caballo Danza Magnifico for ten years now,” Roberto told the guests. “It pains me very much to lose a great trainer and a great friend, but I am glad that she has found such happiness with the man I am proud to call my best friend, Tom Avery.” Roberto took a moment to compose himself before he continued.
“Many people have asked me how I will ever replace such a brilliant head trainer. And I am very lucky that I have someone who has proven his skill and expertise and is now ready to take over the reins at my side at El Caballo Danza Magnifico…” Roberto raised his glass in a toast. “I would like you all to drink to the appointment of my new head trainer – my son, Alfonso Nunez!”
There was much hooting and cheering from the jinetes at this news. Alfie, who had no idea that his father had planned to give him the job as head trainer, looked completely stunned.
“I told your father that you were the perfect choice for the job,” Francoise said as she gave Alfie a hug. “You are a brilliant trainer, Alfie, and, with you in charge, the horses and the jinetes will be in good hands.”
The speeches were over – or at least so Francoise thought – but then Roberto cleared his throat once more and tapped on his crystal sherry glass to get the attention of the room. “I see that you have all left wedding presents on the table for the bride and groom,” he told the crowd. “However, I have a special gift for the bride that is much too large to leave on the table. I would like to give it to her now.”
As he said this, Jean-Jacques appeared with Francoise’s wedding present. He was leading Angel, who wore a giant silver bow tied around his saddle.
“You are giving Angel to me?” Francoise could not believe it. “But Roberto! He is one of your very best stallions.”
“And you will take the very best care of him – he will be happy with you,” said Roberto, smiling. “Besides, who else can ride him here? You know he will not let a man on his back.”
“He is a great stallion,” Roberto went on. “Perhaps one day we may see more colts and fillies with his famous El Caballo bloodlines filling the fields of Chevalier Point.”
“Thank you, Roberto,” said Francoise, her eyes filling with tears.
Issie was overwhelmed too. They had come here to bring Storm home and now Angel would be returning to Chevalier Point as well!
“I may come and visit you soon,” Alfie told her. “We are preparing once more for a world tour with the horses and we shall put Chevalier Point on the itinerary.”
Farewells were so much easier when you knew you were going to see each other again.
“It’s crazy,” Issie told her mum. “A week ago I thought you were going to end up staying in Spain with Roberto. Now, it seems like we’re taking half of Spain home with us instead!”
Plans had been made for the horse transporter to pick up Angel and Storm on Sunday morning. And so, on Saturday evening, when Roberto suggested that they all take one last ride together around the farm, everyone agreed. Even Mrs Brown was keen to have a last ride on Ferdinand.
“I shall miss him,” she admitted, patting the chubby chestnut pony on his wide rump.
“Don’t worry Mrs B.,” Avery reassured her, “I have a couple of bomb-proof ponies at Dulmoth Park that would be perfect for you.”
Issie led the way on Storm and the six riders rode in single file around the dusty path that led down past the olive grove and through the hills. The sun was shining brightly, and at one point Issie looked up to the horizon ahead and saw the glimmering outline of a horse against the skyline. She was certain it was Mystic, silhouetted against the Spanish sun. It was as if he was checking up on Issie and Storm one last time. Then, with a flick of his mane, the grey pony cantered off and was gone.
Nightstorm raised his head in the air, looking out to the horizon, and let out a loud whinny.
“Easy, boy,” Issie reassured him. “He’ll be back. You’ll see him again soon.”
She gave Nightstorm a firm pat on his glossy bay neck. It was hard to believe that tomorrow, after more than a month in Spain, she would finally be taking her horse back to Chevalier Point.
Once the stallion was home, then the real adventure would begin. After all, they had come here to reclaim Storm so that Issie could train him to compete as her international eventing horse. Although, with everything that had happened since they arrived, Issie wondered whether their plans might have changed. But she needn’t have been concerned.
“Storm is everything I had hoped he would become and more,” Avery reassured her. “This horse is destined for greatness, Issie. He’s going to be an international eventer and you’re going to be on his back all the way to the top.”
They were going home. And they were preparing for a new, even more exciting journey. This time, it was serious.
This time, they were taking on the world.
The Pony Club Secrets series:
1. Mystic and the Midnight Ride
2. Blaze and the Dark Rider
3. Destiny and the Wild Horses
4. Stardust and the Daredevil Ponies
5. Comet and the Champion’s Cup
6. Storm and the Silver Bridle
7. Fortune and the Golden Trophy
8. Victory and the All-Stars Academy
9. Flame and the Rebel Riders
10. Angel and the Flying Stallions
Also available in the series: Issie and the Christmas Pony
(Christmas special)
Coming soon…
11. Liberty and the Dream Ride
Copyright
www.stacygregg.co.uk
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2010
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Stacy Gregg, Angel and the Flying Stallions
