Magic Ponies: A Special Wish Read Online Free PDF Page A

to a sweep of hillside covered with sparse-looking grass. Marcie squeezed Comet into a gallop and Ian and Sally did the same. Rabbits dived for cover as the ponies sped past.
    Ahead of them the ground rose steeply to where an old stone building topped the hill.
    ‘Race you to the top!’ Sally cried, crouching low on Fiddler.
    ‘You’re on! Whoo-hoo!’ Ian yelled, urging Rufus forward.
    Comet couldn’t resist. He shot after the ponies in a lightning burst of speed. In a thunder of hooves, he streaked past them, his dark grey tail flying out behind him like a silken banner.
    ‘Yay! Eat our dust!’ Marcie yelled over her shoulder.

    Rufus and Fiddler stretched out and gave chase, but they couldn’t match Comet’s powerful stride. Marcie thought she noticed the shadow of a large horse spreading across the hillside as Comet raced past, but then it was gone, so she must have imagined it. They reached the brow of the hill, twenty lengths ahead of the others. She reined Comet in beside the water tower and they stood waiting for Ian and Sally.
    ‘What kept you?’ Marcie joked, as they rode up.
    Ian laughed. ‘I thought Rufus was fast, but Comet can really move!’ he said admiringly.
    ‘That was fun!’ Sally said, her face glowing.
    They sat in a line looking out at the view over the green rolling hills. In the distance they could see a grey smudge, where the hills met the sky.
    Marcie wondered where Destiny could be hiding in this wide-open space, broken only by isolated farms and the occasional sheep pen or shepherd’s hut.
    They continued on, riding more slowly and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. In the fold of two hills, there was a fast-running stream and they stopped to let the ponies drink.
    Marcie bent close to whisper to Comet. ‘I haven’t seen any signs that Destiny’s been this way? Have you?’
    Comet shook his head, twitching one ear disappointedly. ‘Not yet.’
    An hour later, Ian announced that he was hungry and suggested they go back to Blackberry Farm for lunch. And with rumbling tummies, everyone agreed.
    Back at the farm, Ian and Sally untacked their ponies. Drift lifted her head and nickered a welcome from the paddock, seemingly very pleased not to be by herself any longer. As the ponies all seemed to be getting on well together, Ian suggested that Marcie turn out Comet with them.
    Mrs Bale made an enormous and hearty lunch, which they ate at a big wooden table in the farmhouse kitchen. Baked potatoes with cheese and salad, followed by home-made scones with strawberries and cream, all washed down with lemonade.
    After lunch, Sally took Marcie up to her bedroom and excitedly showed her all the cups and rosettes she’d won on Fiddler. Marcie found herself having the best time she’d had since Lara had lived in her village. She would have liked to stop longer, but thought she’d better check that Comet was still happy at being left in the Bales’ paddock with the other ponies.
    Sally walked out to the stable yard with her. ‘I had a great time today,’ she said, a smile lighting up her pretty face.

    ‘Me too,’ Marcie said. ‘Thanks for showing me your trophies and stuff.’
    ‘That’s OK. I’ve just got a brilliant new book about braiding manes and tails. You can borrow it sometime, if you like.’
    ‘Sounds great. Thanks,’ Marcie said warmly, pleased that she and Sally were now getting on so well. Maybe she’d ask her to come over soon and they could watch her favourite Black Beauty DVD.
    Ian was in the tack room, hanging up clean bridles and folding horse blankets. ‘I’ll do this all by myself, then, shall I?’ he teased, rolling his eyes at his sister.
    ‘Yeah! Why don’t you?’ Sally gave him a playful shove, but began helping him.
    Marcie grinned. Those two were a double act! Shaking her head slowly, she walked the few metres to the paddock.
    ‘Are you ready to go home now?’ she whispered to Comet.
    ‘Yes. I thought I might go out searching for Destiny