Alice-Miranda Shows the Way Read Online Free PDF

must be some kind of superman,’ Millie commented, looking around at the stalls with their fresh straw. The tack room was positively gleaming and there wasn’t a thing out of place. ‘I hate to say it but he makes Wally look lazier than Chops.’
    Alice-Miranda clicked her tongue and Bonapartewalked out into the bright sunshine. Millie was having a quiet word in Chops’s ear. Whatever she said must have worked because as soon as they were outside he began to trot.
    The two girls decided they would take their favourite route over to Gertrude’s Grove, have their morning tea there and then head to Caledonia Manor. Mrs Smith had supplied them with a lovely spread comprised of roast beef sandwiches, poppy seed cake, apples and a couple of chocolate-iced cupcakes thrown in for good measure. Millie was carrying it all in a small leather satchel attached to the side of Chops’s saddle.
    The ponies walked and trotted through the woods before they reached the clearing that led up over a rise and then down to Gertrude’s Grove. Millie challenged Alice-Miranda to a race and the two girls found themselves cantering along, enjoying the warm sun on their faces and the breeze in their hair. But just as Millie reached the top of the hill, she tugged violently at Chops’s reins and the pony came to a jerky halt. Alice-Miranda pulled up beside her.
    â€˜What’s the matter? Why did you stop?’ she asked.
    â€˜Look down there.’ Millie pointed at an array of vehicles: trucks and trailers, caravans and the odd car. The whole of the flat beside the stream had been transformed into a giant camping ground.
    â€˜I wonder who they are,’ said Alice-Miranda.
    â€˜Carnies,’ Millie replied.
    â€˜You mean show people? The ones who run all the rides and things at the show?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜Yup.’ Millie began to wheel Chops around.
    â€˜Where are you going?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    Millie wrinkled her nose. ‘We can’t go down there now.’
    â€˜Why ever not?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜Because they’re carnies ,’ Millie said.
    â€˜But what’s wrong with them?’ Alice-Miranda turned Bonaparte back around and scanned the impromptu camp site.
    â€˜I don’t know exactly, but I heard Charlie telling Howie last year that they weren’t to be trusted,’ Millie said. ‘I think there were some robberies around the village when the show was on. But I don’t think Constable Derby ever caught anyone.’
    Alice-Miranda had never met anyone who ran a carnival before. ‘That’s a bit unfair, don’t you think– blaming the carnival people? It could have been anyone. And if they’re so terrible, how come everyone loves it when the carnival comes to town? These people earn their living making children happy. If they were really dangerous, surely they wouldn’t be welcome at all.’
    Millie thought about it for a moment. Her friend had a point. ‘Maybe we should just go and see Miss Hephzibah and Miss Henrietta?’ she suggested. ‘And we can meet the carnival people another time.’
    â€˜Look,’ said Alice-Miranda, pointing. ‘There are some children. I think they’re playing a game. Come on, don’t you want to say hello?’
    Millie shrugged. Before she had time to protest, Alice-Miranda and Bonaparte were trotting towards the group of youngsters who were running around in a large clearing beside the caravans.
    â€˜Alice-Miranda,’ Millie called, but her words were carried away on the breeze. There was only one thing for it. Millie kicked Chops in the flank and raced to catch up.

A s Bonaparte jogged towards the caravans, Alice-Miranda could see a group of about ten children kicking a ball. A chubby girl standing on the sideline looked up and pointed at her, then shouted something, and the game came to an abrupt halt. All eyes were on the two