Abbey Leads the Way Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Copyright Page

  Abbey gazed up at the stone roof of the clubhouse as she daydreamed. She was imagining herself riding a black pony at top speed.

  Abbey had been pony riding before, but had never ridden really fast. She really hoped that this weekend she would have her chance.

  ‘Hey!’ Olivia shouted, waving the dice at Abbey. ‘Your turn.’

  It was raining outside. Inside the clubhouse, Abbey, Olivia, Matilda, Maddie, Emma and Kate were lounging on beanbags playing a board game. But Abbey was starting to get bored and fidgety. She just felt too excited to stay seated one second longer.

  ‘I don’t want to play anymore,’ she said, heaving herself out of her beanbag. She shook out her arms and legs. Abbey really didn’t know how her friends could just sit around. Weren’t they excited, too?

  ‘Come on!’ Abbey said, ‘A trail ride and two sleepovers! What could be cooler?’

  The other girls grinned up at her.

  ‘You’re right, Abbey,’ Olivia said. ‘This weekend is going to be the coolest!’

  ‘Well, only if it stops raining before we get to Matilda’s grandma’s farm tomorrow,’ said Maddie, shaking the dice.

  Abbey’s best friend, Matilda, nodded. ‘Yes, riding in the rain isn’t much fun.’

  Abbey flung open the clubhouse door. ‘Guess what?’ she called excitedly. ‘The rain’s stopped! And the sun is coming out.’

  ‘Yay!’ the girls all cheered at once.

  ‘Well, maybe we should head off then,’ said Kate.

  ‘Yes, we really should go and pack for our trip,’ said Matilda.

  Soon the six friends were racing up the quarry hill together. Abbey reached the top first, of course. She looked across the quarry as she waited for her friends.

  The quarry used to be a stone mine, but it had been abandoned long ago. Now it was overgrown with plants, especially clovers. One hot summer’s day, Abbey and her friends had found a four-leaf clover at the quarry. Finding that special clover made the girls feel lucky, so they decided to wear a four-leaf clover charm as a symbol of their friendship. After all, a four-leaf clover is like best friends: hard to find and lucky to have!

  They often joked about who saw the four-leaf clover first, but Abbey knew it was her.

  Soon after finding the special clover, they found the old miners’ shed. Carved into the wall of the quarry, it was well hidden behind hanging trees and overgrown bushes. The Forever Clover girls were the only ones who knew about the shed. It became their very own secret clubhouse.

  Abbey touched her four-leaf clover charm, feeling very lucky indeed.

  That night, Abbey checked off her list.

  ‘Well, Moby,’ she told her little black puppy, ‘that’s all my clothes packed.’

  Moby was curled up on her bed. He blinked sleepily at her.

  ‘OK,’ said Abbey, ‘now for the really important stuff.’

  Abbey collected what she called her ‘survival gear’ – her backpack, a map of Outer Davey’s Bay, where Matilda’s grandma’s farm was located, dried fruit, and the cool keyring compass that her brother Archie had given her for Christmas.

  Archie appeared in the doorway. ‘Here you go,’ he said, dropping a pile of coloured plastic.

  ‘What’s that?’ Abbey asked.

  ‘Rain ponchos,’ Archie said. ‘We’re not going to the footy this weekend, so I thought you might want to take them with you.’

  ‘Thanks, Arch,’ Abbey said, packing them into her backpack with her survival gear. ‘Even though I doubt we’ll need them.’

  Matilda’s dad drove the girls out to the farm early the next morning, and soon they were enjoying a delicious morning tea on the sunny porch of Matilda’s grandma’s farmhouse.

  ‘This farm really is huge,’ Olivia mumbled around a piece of poppyseed cake.

  ‘It needs to be,’ Matilda’s dad said. ‘Matilda’s grandma and Pop run trail rides as well as train horses.’ He turned to Matilda’s grandma. ‘And recently you’ve been buying neighbouring properties to run trail rides through too, haven’t you, Mum?’

  ‘That’s right, dear,’ said Matilda’s grandma, offering a tray of scones.

  Abbey looked out at a nearby mountain as she smothered raspberry jam on her third scone. ‘Is that Mount Padbury?’ she asked.

  ‘Why, yes, it is,’ said Matilda’s grandma, surprised. ‘Most people think it’s Mount Lofty.’

  ‘Oh no,’ said Abbey. ‘Mount Lofty would be south from here.’

  ‘Abbey is so good at geography,’ Matilda told her grandma proudly.

  Abbey’s cheeks went as red as her raspberry jam.

  Matilda was rocketing up the driveway on Rosie the pony. Abbey watched on with wide eyes as Matilda rode into the paddock, cantering hard and fast. Then, in one graceful move, Matilda pulled Rosie to a stop and leaped off her back.

  Abbey clapped until she thought her hands would wear out. Now it was her turn to feel proud of Matilda. She really was an amazing rider!

  ‘OK, girls, this is Rosie the pony,’ Matilda’s dad said. ‘Each of you will ride her around the paddock so we can test your riding ability. That way Pop and I can choose the right ponies for your trail ride.’

  From the middle of the paddock, Pop yelled, ‘Gavin, who’s first?’

  The girls all started shouting at once. After what seemed like forever, Matilda’s dad chose Kate.

  Abbey groaned. She had so wanted to be first. She leaned on the paddock fence and watched Kate.

  Kate had been to Pony Club and had done heaps of riding with Matilda, and it showed. Abbey thought Kate was almost as good as Matilda.

  When Matilda’s dad was choosing the next rider, Abbey made sure she was the loudest. ‘Me, me, me!’ she shouted, hopping up and down on the spot.

  But he chose Maddie, who was closest to the paddock. Then, after Maddie, he chose Olivia, who had strapped on a riding helmet before Abbey realised what was happening.

  Abbey clicked her tongue and frowned.

  Matilda saw her bestie’s grumpy face. ‘Don’t worry, Ab. You’ll get your turn.’

  Abbey shook out her arms and legs, preparing for her big ride. She had to be next.

  ‘Emma, your turn,’ Matilda’s dad shouted.

  Abbey sighed deeply. I guess someone has to be last, she thought. Then Abbey realised she was lucky last. She smiled to herself and leaned on the fence to watch Emma ride.

  ‘And who are you supposed to be?’ Pop was asking Emma. He looked surprised at Emma’s all-pink outfit and sparkly necklace.

  ‘I’m Emma!’ Emma said, sitting up in the saddle.

  ‘Girls,’ Pop shouted, ‘see your friend’s riding posture?’ He pointed at Emma’s back. ‘She’s straight from ear to shoulder to hip to heel. Perfect!’

  Before Emma had even dismounted, Abbey was racing out onto the paddock.

  ‘Well, Sparkles, you just might be a natural rider,’ Pop was telling Emma.

  Abbey grinned as she grabbed the riding helmet from Emma. She was determined to show Pop that she was a natural rider too!

  Abbey sat up in the saddle as straight as she could.

  ‘OK,’ Pop told her, ‘nudge Rosie gently with your heels to get her walking.’

  After all of that waiting, Abbey didn’t want Rosie to walk. Instead of nudging her gently, she dug her heels into the pony’s flanks. She pushed Rosie straight into a trot!

  Abbey was so excited that she forgot to rise to the trot by
lifting herself up and down in the saddle. Instead, she bounced around on Rosie’s back like a sack of potatoes.

  ‘Stop!’ Pop yelled.

  Abbey pulled Rosie to a stop.

  As soon as Pop started explaining how to rise to the trot, Abbey remembered that Matilda had shown her how to do it before. Abbey was very quiet as she practised rising to the trot for Pop, but her cheeks burned.

  ‘You need to take riding slowly,’ Pop told Abbey as he helped her off Rosie. ‘Don’t run before you can walk.’

  Abbey wasn’t exactly sure what Pop meant, but she was pretty certain he didn’t think she was a natural rider.

  The girls headed back up to the farmhouse to pack their picnic while Matilda’s dad and Pop went to prepare the ponies for the girls’ ride. As they walked together, Kate suggested they ask if they could go on the trail ride on their own, just the six of them.

  ‘Kate, Abbey, come on then,’ Matilda said. ‘Let’s go ask Dad.’

  At first, Matilda’s dad wasn’t sure. He knew that Matilda was an excellent rider and Kate was very good, but the other girls were less experienced. Matilda reminded him that she had helped Pop lead lots of beginner trail rides around the farm before. After some thought, he agreed to let them go by themselves on the condition that they took a phone with them and they were very careful. The three girls promised straightaway.

  Abbey, Kate and Matilda came running up just as their friends were carrying their backpacks onto the porch. The other girls were so excited when they heard they could go riding by themselves.

  ‘OK, girls, come and get your ponies!’ Matilda’s dad yelled over their squealing.

  Only Matilda was riding a horse – her own horse, Cody. The other girls were given ponies.

  Olivia was given Rosie. Maddie had asked for the smallest pony, so she was given Tiny.

  Abbey hopped from foot to foot. She really hoped the black pony was hers.

  ‘White Lightning is for you, Sparkles,’ Pop told Emma. ‘And, Miss Pony Club, this is Black Thunder, ’ Pop said, handing the reins of the black pony to Kate.

  ‘And for Miss Trotter,’ Pop said to Abbey, ‘we call this one Snail.’

  Abbey’s cheeks burned. How embarrassing! she thought. She had so wanted that black pony with the cool name, but she’d ended up with Snail. Snail! What could be slower than a snail?

  Snail nuzzled her. He was a handsome pony, brown with a white star on his nose.

  ‘Well, you don’t look slow,’ Abbey whispered to Snail.

  Matilda’s dad yelled to get the girls’ attention. Matilda and Abbey ran over.

  ‘Here’s the phone, Matilda,’ her dad said. ‘It has my number and Grandma’s number in it. Remember, we’re only a phone call away if you need us for anything at all.’

  ‘Thanks, Dad,’ Matilda said, sticking the phone in her pocket.

  ‘So take the girls on the beginners’ trail ride,’ Matilda’s dad told her. ‘The one along the stream path. Follow it to the picnic paddock, about half an hour from here.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Matilda nodded, ‘I know. And then half an hour past the picnic paddock is the bridge.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right, Matilda,’ her dad said, pleased. ‘Go past the bridge and follow the stream path to the right until you reach the old oak tree.’

  Matilda nodded. Abbey listened too. The other girls were busy. Kate was adjusting their helmet straps.

  ‘At the old oak, the path leads away from the stream and takes you across the grazing paddock and back to the farmhouse,’ Matilda’s dad said.

  ‘Got it, Dad!’ said Matilda.

  Her dad smiled and went to help Maddie onto her pony.

  ‘What’s up, Ab?’ Matilda said, noticing the concerned look on Abbey’s face.

  ‘Matilda, are you sure we shouldn’t ask your dad to draw us a map?’ Abbey asked.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Matilda said. ‘I’ve been on this trail ride heaps. I know exactly where to go.’

  Abbey nodded and put on her backpack.

  The girls mounted and Matilda led Cody to the front. Matilda threw her arm up in the air and shouted, ‘Follow me!’

  The Forever Clover girls were off on a trail ride adventure!

  Abbey quickly worked out why her pony was called Snail. He kept stopping to eat grass! She yanked hard on the reins to pull Snail’s head up from the ground, but he was very stubborn.

  Abbey growled. ‘They really should call you Stop, or Greedy Gobbler,’ she told him.

  She could see her friends riding together further down the track. She felt angry and left out. Why did I get the slow pony? she wondered. In frustration, she nudged Snail’s flanks over and over.

  Snail started walking, but he soon stopped.

  Abbey sighed. ‘Yes, Greedy Gobbler, it must be time for another snack.’

  She loosened the reins to let Snail eat. Abbey looked around, at the glittering stream, the green paddocks and the rocky face of Mount Padbury. It really was a beautiful day. She spotted a few dark clouds near the top of Mount Padbury, but the sun was still shining brightly.

  So if Mount Padbury is north, she thought, that means we must be travelling west.

  Abbey looked down at Snail. He was busy gobbling as usual. She quickly pulled off her backpack and got out her keyring compass.

  After she put her backpack on, she nudged Snail’s flanks. He walked slowly, but Abbey didn’t care about that now. She was checking her compass. Yes, she was right. They were heading west.

  Abbey began enjoying the ride, holding out her compass in different directions.

  So now we’re moving a little to the south, she thought, watching the needle on her compass move down a little. ‘West-southwest, to be precise,’ she told Snail.

  Up ahead the other girls had reached the picnic paddock and were dismounting.

  Soon Abbey and her friends were enjoying sandwiches, scones and fruit. They chatted nonstop about their ponies. Abbey told them all about naughty Snail.

  After lunch, Abbey sat yanking angrily at Snail’s reins. He was up to his old tricks again.

  Her friends were heading very slowly down the track. She knew it was because of her and her silly snail of a pony. All at once Abbey felt embarrassment and annoyance bubbling up inside her. Hot tears pricked her eyes.

  When Snail lifted his head, Abbey knew it was now or never. She fiercely rubbed away her tears. ‘Snail! Let’s go,’ she yelled and gave his flanks a real whack with her heels.

  This time, Snail did go – straight into a trot. Abbey remembered to rise out of her saddle. She felt like a professional rider!

  ‘Faster, come on!’ Abbey shouted. She kept nudging Snail’s flanks, and then the rhythm of his hooves changed.

  Snail wasn’t trotting anymore. He was going fast. Snail was cantering!

  Abbey sat back in the saddle, feeling like a champion. She had shown that lazy, slow Snail exactly who was boss. As she shot past her friends, Abbey’s face was one huge grin.

  In her excitement, Abbey pulled her reins left and Snail cantered down a new path. The ground was rocky and uneven.

  During the bumpy ride, Abbey’s helmet loosened a little. She could feel it bouncing around on her head, and it kept flopping down over her eyes. Abbey knew this was no time to let go of the reins to tighten her helmet strap. So she just gripped the reins tighter and yelled at Snail to slow down.

  Hooves thundered behind Abbey.

  ‘Stop!’ Matilda shouted.

  Abbey pulled the reins but nothing happened. She was still pushing Snail’s flanks with her heels.

  ‘Stop nudging him,’ Matilda yelled. ‘Pull the reins, lean back.’

  Straightaway Snail stopped.

  Abbey pushed up her helmet and tightened the chinstrap. ‘Matilda, that was awesome!’ she said, grinning.

  Abbey was surprised at Matilda’s serious face. She was just about to ask Matilda what was wrong when the other girls trotted up.

  ‘Abbey, are you OK?’ Kate asked. ‘You lo
oked like you were about to fall off!’

  Abbey looked at her friends’ worried faces, and she realised how scared she’d have felt if Emma, Maddie or Olivia had ridden off quickly. They were beginner riders, too. Something could have happened.

  The excitement of her wild ride faded. ‘I’m OK,’ Abbey said, and then she fibbed, ‘Snail just took off.’

  ‘Oh, I almost forgot,’ Olivia said. ‘Look what I found in a puddle.’ She held out a muddy mobile phone.

  ‘That’s the one Dad gave me,’ Matilda said. ‘It must have fallen out of my pocket.’

  Matilda played with the phone as the girls continued riding slowly along the path.

  ‘It’s not working,’ Matilda told Kate.

  Abbey felt really bad. If she hadn’t raced off, the phone wouldn’t be broken.

  Kate gave a shout. ‘Matilda, is that the stream we were riding along?’ she asked, pointing to the glittering water up ahead.

  ‘Oh, yes, it must be,’ Matilda said, looking up from the phone. ‘I haven’t been down this path before, but maybe it does take us back to the stream path.’

  When they reached the water’s edge, Abbey thought the stream was much wider and faster flowing than before. She was just wondering if they had joined the wrong path when she saw a bridge up ahead. Matilda’s dad had told them about that.

  ‘I don’t think this is the right bridge,’ Matilda said, pulling Cody to a stop. ‘I remember it being wooden.’

  ‘Perhaps the wooden one was replaced with a metal one,’ Emma said. ‘It looks new.’

  ‘Dad didn’t say anything about that,’ Matilda said. ‘Did he, Ab?’

  Abbey shook her head.

  ‘What did he say, exactly?’ Kate asked.

  ‘He said after the bridge follow the stream path around to the right until we reach the old oak tree,’ Matilda replied.

  ‘Let’s do that then,’ said Kate.

  ‘Maybe we should just go back the way we came,’ Matilda suggested.

  ‘No, no,’ Kate said firmly. ‘We should follow your dad’s instructions.’