Alex remembered that the older girl’s dad was Tim Hall-Chapman, a top showjumper.

‘Yeah! Trust me, by the time I’ve finished putting you two through your paces, you’ll be jumping like professionals,’ Saffron said with a determined glint in her eye.

‘Um… good.’ Alex’s smile wavered a bit. She wasn’t sure whether Zoe’s cousin meant that as a promise or a threat.

Chapter
FOUR

‘No, not like that! Do it like this!’ Saffron instructed bossily, waving her arms as Alex assembled the last jump. ‘Hurry up!’

Alex sighed. It had taken the three girls over an hour to set out the course of jumps in the field. And Saffron had found fault with every one of them.

Alex bit back a rude comment as she repositioned the poles for the third time. Finally, the last fence was in place and Saffron gave her a thumbs-up sign.

‘I’m surprised she didn’t want me to fetch a ruler to measure the jumps too,’ she complained to Comet in a whisper. ‘Anyone would think this was a proper showjumping arena!’

Comet’s sandy mane stirred in the cool breeze blowing off the moors. ‘Saffron seems to want everything just right.’

‘Tell me about it!’ Alex grumbled, as she mounted the magic pony.

As they rode back down the field to Zoe and Saffron, Alex’s mood lightened. Comet was wonderful to ride. She loved the way he moved with a smooth stride, arching his supple neck and holding his head high.

When she stopped next to Zoe and Maxi, the big brown-and-white pony turned his head towards Comet and gave a friendly blow. The two ponies were already getting on well.

Alex took a deep breath. ‘OK. Ready at last. Who wants to go –’ she began.

‘Me first!’ Saffron was already urging the grey forward. She and Princess streaked towards the first fence.

‘She’s dead keen, isn’t she?’ Zoe said admiringly, gazing after her cousin.

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ Alex murmured.

They watched as Saffron handled Princess expertly and sailed over all the fences. The grey trotted back to them with her ears pricked.

‘Way to go!’ Zoe cried. ‘That was great!’

‘Well done, Saffron!’ Alex added. She had to admit that Saffron was a brilliant rider.

Saffron pulled a face. ‘Those pathetic jumps are easy-peasy! Princess could almost step over them. We’re used to much more challenging ones,’ she boasted.

They might be pathetic but they’re the best we’ve got! Alex thought, a bit miffed, especially after all the fuss Saffron had made about getting them just right. Besides, her dad had gone to a lot of trouble to gather together the poles and other stuff, so they could have fun jumping.

Zoe went next. Alex and Saffron sat side by side, watching and calling out encouragement from where they sat on their ponies.

As Maxi cantered towards a fence, Alex noticed that Zoe was leaning a little too far forward.