Fortune and the Golden Trophy. Stacy Gregg

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      Issie hoped that her mother would be there when she got back. She was desperate to tell someone about the mysterious arrival of the strange pony in the paddock.

      “Mum?” Issie called as she shucked off her riding boots at the front door. “I’m back! Are you home?”

      “We’re in here!” Mrs Brown called back. “In the kitchen.”

      We’re in here? What did that mean? Who was there?

      Issie walked down the hall to the kitchen. Mrs Brown was at the kitchen worktop, pouring hot water from the kettle into the teapot. Standing beside her, putting some chocolate biscuits on a plate, was a boy who looked a couple of years older than Issie. He had black hair and his fringe, which was far too long, fell over his face as he turned around. He pushed the fringe back carelessly with his hand revealing a pair of penetrating blue eyes. He looked almost unbearably handsome and Issie felt her heart leap. The last time she had seen this boy he had been kissing her goodbye on the front lawn of Blackthorn Farm.

      “Aidan!” Issie couldn’t believe it. “Ohmygod!”

      There was no chance of kissing Aidan now, even if he was supposed to officially be her boyfriend, because her mum was standing there staring at them both. And besides, even if her mum hadn’t been there, Issie thought, Aidan was acting kind of odd. She would have expected him to come up and at least give her a hug, but he was being all cool, sort of distant and aloof.

      “So,” he said, hiding his eyes under his fringe, acting casual in a really awkward way, “how have you been? How was the trip back from Spain?”

      “Good,” said Issie, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “I sent you a postcard. Didn’t you get it?”

      “Yeah,” Aidan said, “I got it. Why didn’t you call me? I thought you’d call me when you got back…”

      “I was going to,” Issie said, “but I’ve only been back for, like, a day.”

      “Sure,” Aidan said, “you’ve been busy. I understand…” But he didn’t look like he understood at all; in fact, he looked rather put out.

      “What are you doing here anyway?” asked Issie.

      Mrs Brown put down the teapot and placed her hands on her hips. “See? I told you!” she said to Aidan. “Issie had no idea you were coming either. Oh, this is so typical of Hester!”

      Issie didn’t understand. “What are you talking about, Mum?”

      Mrs Brown shook her head. “It appears that your Aunt Hester had another one of her genius plans that she forgot to tell us about. She’s sent poor Aidan here out of the blue. He was just explaining it to me when you arrived.”

      “Aidan?” Issie was still confused. “What’s going on?”

      “Ummm,” Aidan began, “there seems to have been a bit of a miscommunication. I thought you and your mum were expecting me. Didn’t you get the email that Hester sent you?”

      Issie shook her head. “I only got back from Spain yesterday. I haven’t checked my emails for days.”

      “Oh,” Aidan said, “so I guess you got a bit of a shock finding the piebald at the River Paddock?”

      “Totally!” Issie said. “How did you know? I turn up at the paddock, Coco is missing and instead there’s this crazy piebald lying on the ground fast asleep, snoring like a train.”

      “I don’t have a clue about the Coco part,” Aidan said, “but I can explain the piebald. I drove him up from Blackthorn Farm in the horse truck this morning and dropped him off at the paddock.”

      “But why is he in the River Paddock?” Issie was still confused. “Who does he belong to?”

      Aidan groaned. “That’s the thing…Hester was supposed to tell you…I thought you already knew.” He paused. “Issie, I don’t know how to say this, but…” Aidan winced, “he’s yours. I brought him here for you.”