Loving Spirit

bought him at least they’d have each other. ‘I want him.’ She turned back to Joe. ‘And I’m not going home without him.’
    He looked at her stubborn face and groaned.
    ‘And here we have lot 178. A grey gelding, seventeen years old. Sold unwarranted and unsound,’ the auctioneer announced as the grey was led into the ringby the man in the brown overalls. The horse walked slowly, his head hanging low, his hooves stumbling on the ground.
    The crowd around the ring gave the horse quick dismissive glances and then looked away, chatting among themselves.
    The auctioneer glanced over to where a burly man in a hat was standing near the entrance. Joe had told Ellie that was the meat man, buying horses to ship overseas or to go for pet food. He had also warned her that horses were sold in guineas and not pounds, and that he knew she would have to pay taxes and extra things like that on top. ‘The highest you can go is two hundred and twenty-five pounds,’ he’d warned her.
    Ellie clutched her purse in her pocket.
    ‘So what am I bid for this horse?’ The auctioneer sounded as if he wanted to get it over and done with as quickly as possible. ‘Let’s start at two hundred.’
    There was no movement in the crowd. Ellie went to stick her hand up, but Joe grabbed it. ‘You might get him for less,’ he hissed.
    ‘One hundred and fifty then?’
    The meat man touched his hat in a bored way. ‘One hundred and fifty I’m bid,’ said the auctioneer. ‘One hundred and fifty. Going …’
    Joe nudged Ellie and she quickly stuck her hand up.
    ‘We have a bid to the left,’ the auctioneer said, clearly surprised. ‘That’s one hundred and seventy-five to my left.’ The meat man touched his hat again. ‘Two hundred pounds.’
    Ellie raised her hand. ‘Two hundred and twenty-five to my left …’
    Ellie’s heart pounded. Please, please, please don’t bid any more , she silently begged the meat man.
    Her heart plummeted as he bid again.
    ‘That’s two hundred and fifty.’
    ‘No!’ Ellie whispered in despair. ‘Joe …’
    ‘Bid again,’ he told her quickly. ‘I’ve got some money with me.’
    She raised her hand.
    ‘That’s two hundred and seventy-five to my left …’
    Ellie looked at the meat man. Relief rushed through her as she saw him give a brief shake of his head.
    ‘Are all bids done? Going, going … gone !’ The auctioneer struck his hammer down.
    Ellie swung round. ‘Oh, thank you, Joe! Thank you!’ She flung her arms round him.
    ‘I can’t believe you’ve actually just bought a horse,’ he said, looking at her, almost in awe.
    ‘Neither can I!’ she said dazedly.
    Just then, one of the officials came over to take Ellie’s name and details.
    The man told her where to go and pay. Joe gave her some money from his wallet. ‘That should beenough. I’ve got enough left to go and buy him a headcollar and leadrope while you pay.’
    Ellie threw him a grateful smile and hurried to the little hut where people paid for the horses. As she waited, the realization of what she had just done began to sink in. What was her uncle going to say? Where was she going to keep the horse? What if the horse needed loads of vet treatment? What if her grandma and the people in charge of her inheritance wouldn’t let her have any money to pay for his keep? The adrenaline pumping inside faded and she began to feel sick.
    She paid the money over the counter and, holding the receipt in her hands, she walked slowly back to the pen. Oh God , she thought over and over again as the reality hit her. What have I done?
    Joe was standing there. Despite his words from earlier he was stroking the horse’s neck and talking quietly to him. The horse’s eyes were half closed and he looked as if there was hardly any strength left in him, but as Ellie approached he put his head up and let out a low whinny.
    In that instant, Ellie pushed aside all her worries. She broke into a run. ‘Hi, boy,’ she said as she reached the pen. He nuzzled her hands.
    ‘So what are you going to call him then?’ Joe asked.
    Ellie thought for a moment. A word came to her. She tried it out in her head.
    ‘You can always name him later, I guess,’ Joe went on when she didn’t say anything. ‘You don’t need to name him now and –’
    ‘No, I know what he’s called,’ Ellie interrupted. She looked at the horse and spoke softly. ‘His name’s Spirit.’
    The horse’s eyes met hers.
    Ellie opened the gate and went inside the