Loving Spirit

until it came off. Ellie stood helplessly, notknowing what to do. From behind her she could hear Len swearing loudly. He had heard the noise and come out of the ring with Joe to see what the commotion was about.
    ‘What the flamin’ heck’s going on? Who let that ruddy pony out?’ he bellowed. ‘And why are you all standing round like gormless halfwits? Someone get hold of them NOW!’
    Stuart had disappeared into the barn and was coming out with a feedbucket and two leadropes. He rattled the pony nuts. ‘Here, Barney lad. Come on. Here you go.’ Barney stopped trotting round and pricked his ears. With a greedy whinny, he cantered over and thrust his head into the bucket. Stuart quickly threw the rope round his neck and Helen ran over to grab hold of him, while Stuart went to tempt Milly.
    ‘Got you,’ he said as Milly put her head in the bucket too.
    ‘I’ll take her,’ Ellie offered.
    ‘Oh, no,’ Len said, pointing his finger at her. ‘You’re going nowhere, miss. I want to know exactly how that pony got out of his stable.’
    Ellie met her uncle’s furious gaze. ‘Um … I … well …’
    ‘It wasn’t Ellie’s fault,’ Joe jumped in. ‘Don’t blame her, Dad. I didn’t warn her about Barney and the locks.’
    Ellie looked at him swiftly.
    Len’s eyes narrowed. ‘How could you be so daft? You should have told her. You know no one works in that barn without knowing about the locks. Imagine if the ponies had got out on the road. As it is, the mare’s probably lamed herself. Haven’t you got a brain cell in that useless head of yours? Thick as two bloody planks you are. Flamin’ –’
    Ellie was unable to bear Joe being shouted at because of her for a second longer. ‘It wasn’t Joe’s fault!’ she burst out. ‘He did tell me. I forgot.’
    She saw Joe give a quick desperate shake of his head. The next second she realized why. Len’s anger instantly turned to fury. ‘You lied to me?’ he said, staring at Joe. ‘Of all the …’ Stepping forward, he grabbed Joe’s shirt and brought his face right up into Joe’s, his eyes blazing. ‘Don’t you ever, ever lie to me!’ he thundered. He shoved Joe away from him with such violence that his son fell down on the stony ground with a smack.
    Ellie held in the whimper that would have escaped from her if she hadn’t been terrified it would make everything worse.
    Joe gingerly pulled himself up to a sitting position, but wouldn’t meet anyone’s eye.
    Turning away, Len marched over to where Stuart was examining Milly’s leg. ‘What’s the damage?’ he said curtly.
    ‘A small cut. Bit of swelling starting. I’ll hose her down, boss.’
    Len nodded and then walked towards the house, shaking his head in disgust.
    For a moment there was silence. Helen led Barney into the stable block, one hand on his nose, the other holding the leadrope tight. Sasha took the others down to the yard, looking subdued.
    ‘Well, that helped,’ Luke said drily to Ellie as she ran over to try and help Joe up. But Joe shook his head at her quickly and stood up himself.
    Ellie swallowed, still reeling from seeing Len lash out at Joe like that. It was all her fault.
    ‘Leave it out, Luke,’ Joe muttered, his face red.
    Luke shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
    Ellie looked at Joe. ‘Joe … I’m … I’m sorry.’
    He took a breath. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve had worse.’
    ‘I just wanted to stop him.’
    ‘Look, forget it,’ Joe said. ‘Just don’t leave the lock off Barney’s door again, OK?’
    ‘Never,’ Ellie promised, still feeling awful.
    Joe managed a smile. ‘Don’t look like that. It’s fine. I’d better go and untack Picasso before he puts a foot through his reins. God knows what would happen then. Why don’t you go and see if Stuart needs a hand with Milly?’
    He walked away, leaving Ellie standing on the slope, overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions –misery, guilt, hatred of her uncle and the urge to run, it didn’t matter where, she just wanted to get far, far away. Across the wintery fields, she could see the bare peaks. The desolate grey sky pressed down with just a single bird flying across it. She wished with all her heart that she could be somewhere – anywhere – else.

Chapter Four
    Over the next month Ellie gradually got used to living at High Peak Stables. She tried not to think about her parents and the numbness settled back over her, sealing around her in a protective layer. She worked hard, hiding her