Ponies at Owls' Wood Read Online Free

the far fence. A very scruffy coloured cob, with a tangled mane and tail, and shaggy legs caked in mud. Her own pony was a distance away, looking surprised.
    Polly whinnied at Hannah, as if to say, ‘Look what’s happened!’
    Hannah stood and stared. What was going on? Had someone just put a pony into Polly’s field without even bothering to ask? What a nerve! She climbed the gate and walked slowly across the grass towards him, noticing as she did so that he was very thin for all his shaggy coat and mud. Who on earth could have put him here? The horse had his head up and looked ready to bolt.
    I must move quietly, she said to herself, and not look him directly in the eye. She spoke softly to the pony: ‘Who are you?’ Hannah decided to turn back so as not to frighten him, and walked up to Polly instead. ‘What’s been going on Polly?’ she asked her pony. ‘Who is this muddy skewbald and who brought him here? And what am I supposed to do with him?’ This was not the kind of field companion she’d imagined.
    Hannah went over to the gateway to see whether there were any clues. The grass had been flattened somewhat but nothing looked out of the ordinary. It had been pretty dry lately so there weren’t any marks from either wheels or hooves. It was a mystery.
    She looked again at the new arrival. He was watching her, and as he turned his head Hannah could see a red weal around his neck, as if he’d been tied with a rope. Her heart melted. She tried to approach him, walking even more slowly. He let her get a bit closer this time before moving away.
    â€˜Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you,’ she told him, ‘when you feel braver about me I’ll see what I can do for your sore neck. You’ve got a lovely head – very handsome. I could call you Jack – you look like a Jack.’ She left him to watch her while she caught Polly and tied her up by the shed.
    â€˜I didn’t think ponies could read,’ she said to Polly, ‘but that poor boy seems to have come of his own accord. There’s no message anywhere. I wish you could tell me what went on in the night.’
    With Jack to talk to and Polly to ride, the morning passed quickly. Hannah took some time to get to know Jack. She wanted him to begin to trust her. She began by sitting quietly near to where he was grazing, but taking no notice of him at all. Then she got up and wandered around the field, feigning interest in various bits of grass. She knew he was watching her. Eventually, curiosity overcame him and he moved closer to where she was standing. Hannah held out an open hand and he stretched his neck out to sniff it. He didn’t feel the need to run off, as Hannah spoke gently to him but didn’t try to touch him. Instead, she turned away and went to make a fuss of Polly. She wondered whether Polly was feeling anxious, but she seemed fine. The contrast between her plump glossy condition and Jack’s matted coat was startling.
    â€˜We’ll make friends with him, you’ll see,’ she told her pony. ‘I reckon it won’t be long before he’ll let me bathe his neck.’
    Hannah was about to set off home when a voice called her from the gate. Tom was staring at the new arrival with disapproval.
    â€˜What’s that scruffy object in your field? Have you found someone to share already?’
    â€˜He just appeared, actually. I don’t know where from.’
    â€˜Call the police,’ said Tom at once. ‘You can’t have animals just turning up all over the place.’
    â€˜Don’t be stupid,’ said Hannah, ‘I’m going to find out why he’s here. Something’s definitely going on. Can I have one of your crisps?’
    Tom was munching crisps and Hannah was starving. He gave her the rest of the bag along with an old and very dusty half a Twix bar without much wrapper.
    â€˜Thanks,’ she said, eating