As she crouched down to brush the mud off his legs with the bristly dandy brush, Twilight nudged her in the small

of her back with his nose. She almost overbalanced. She grinned and said something to him. He looked at her cheekily.

Hannah straightened up and rubbed his face. He pushed his nose against her chest. For a moment, Hannah looked uncertain what to do, then she smiled and gave him a quick hug.

‘Well done, Twilight!’ Lauren whispered under her breath.

Hannah removed Twilight’s waterproof rug and took the soft body brush out of the grooming box. As she settled down into a regular rhythm of sweeping the brush over his coat and then cleaning the bristles on a metal curry-comb, a look of happiness gradually settled on her face.

Twilight sighed happily and as she brushed his neck, he turned his head to rest his muzzle on her shoulder. Hannah paused and gently tickled his nose. He blinked up at her and she kissed him.

Lauren felt like shouting in delight. Twilight was doing a brilliant job at showing Hannah how great ponies were. She jumped to her feet. She couldn’t stay in her bedroom any longer. She had to go downstairs!

Pulling on her jeans and sweatshirt, she hurried outside.

Hannah was grooming Twilight. She looked round when she heard Lauren’s footsteps on the path.

‘How are you feeling?’ she asked in concern.

‘Much better,’ Lauren said. She decided to take a risk. ‘Thanks for helping, Hannah. You can leave me to finish stuff off here if you want.’

She held her breath as Hannah hesitated. Please don’t say yes; please don’t say yes, she thought.

Twilight snorted and nuzzled the older girl’s arm.

‘Well, I don’t mind helping you,’ Hannah said slowly. ‘It’s been fun doing stuff this morning.’

‘Well, I’d love a hand if you don’t mind,’ Lauren said.

‘No problem,’ Hannah replied.

Lauren got another body brush and they finished grooming Twilight together and then they started on Magpie.

‘Are you planning on riding this morning?’ Hannah asked.

Lauren nodded. ‘I’ll ride Twilight first and then I guess I’ll have to ride Magpie.’

‘Or I suppose I could come for a ride with you,’ Hannah suggested. ‘Then you wouldn’t have to ride both of them. I’d need to borrow a hat though.’

‘I’ve got two,’ Lauren said quickly.

Hannah patted Magpie. ‘Well, why don’t we do that?’

‘Cool!’ Lauren agreed casually but inside she was jumping up and down in delight. Twilight snorted and she knew he was really pleased too.

The two girls went inside and had a quick breakfast of toast and apple juice and then they hurried back outside. As they tacked the ponies up, Magpie fidgeted in excitement.

‘He seems quite lively,’ Hannah said as the piebald pony swung his head up and down. She looked slightly nervous.

‘You can always ride Twilight if you want,’ Lauren offered.

‘No, no, I’ll be fine,’ she said determinedly.