‘I’d better be careful I don’t step on her toes with my hooves then, or fidget too much when she’s grooming me,’ Twilight said.

Lauren looked towards the farmhouse in the distance and thought of Hannah asleep in bed. Would their plan work?

CHAPTER

Sevan

In the morning, Lauren was woken up by the sound of Twilight whinnying loudly outside. She lay in bed for a moment, still half-asleep and trying to get her thoughts together. She was sure there was something she had to remember…

Her eyes blinked open. Of course! She sat up. They were putting their plan into action. Jumping out of bed, she went to her window. Twilight was standing by the fence, neighing.

Lauren heard the sound of Hannah’s door opening just along the corridor. She raced back to bed and jumped under the cover just in time.

There was a tap at the door.

‘Yes,’ Lauren said.

‘Lauren, it’s me, Hannah.’ The door opened and Hannah looked round it. ‘Twilight’s whinnying like mad outside.’

‘He must want his breakfast,’ Lauren said, making her voice sound weak. ‘I should get up but I don’t feel well at all.’

‘What’s the matter? Do you want me to get your mum?’ Hannah asked, looking worried.

‘No,’ Lauren said quickly. ‘I feel sick. If I could just lie here for a bit I might start to feel better.’

Outside Twilight whinnied again, even more loudly.

‘Oh dear, I suppose I’d better get up and feed him and Magpie,’ Lauren sighed. ‘I guess I can always come back to bed afterwards.’ She began to sit up.

‘No, wait, Lauren. I can feed them for you,’ Hannah offered. ‘Don’t get up.’

‘Are you sure?’ Lauren said.

‘I’ll be fine,’ Hannah said briskly. ‘You mustn’t get up if you feel ill. Look, just tell me what to feed them.’

‘A scoop of bran and one of pony nuts and some soaked sugar beet,’ Lauren replied. ‘When Magpie’s eaten he can go out in the field. Oh, and,’ she added as Hannah nodded and began to turn away, ‘I usually groom Twilight after his breakfast, but of course you don’t have to do that…’

‘It’s fine, Lauren,’ Hannah interrupted. ‘I can easily groom him. You just rest and get better. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll go and get dressed.’

She left the room. Lauren went to the window and gave a thumbs-up sign to Twilight. He whinnied and headed for the gate.

Lauren put her dressing gown on and then sat on the window seat and watched what was happening. She saw Hannah get to the field and start bustling about, feeding Twilight and changing his water.

As Twilight drank from the clean water bucket, he snorted and sprayed her with water droplets. Hannah smiled and pretended to scold him. Lauren felt a buzz of hope. Hannah looked like she was enjoying herself.

Hannah turned Magpie out and then she fetched the grooming kit and tied Twilight up to the fence.