Chapter 8

The next day, Bob let Carmelita out of the barn for some fresh air and exercise. Maggie held the blanket while Bob tossed the piglets, but only one had a hard time flying. While the mother pig was still outside, Maggie cleaned the stall and played with the piglets. She was putting the pitchfork back where it belonged when she noticed the brush they had used for the palomino unicorn during its short stay in the stable. With the brush in her hand, she went to look for Bob.

‘Would it be all right if I gave this brush to Lily?’ Maggie called. ‘The palomino unicorn has been staying near her waterfall and they’ve become friends. When he was here, he loved it when she brushed him with this.’

Bob stepped out of a stall to take a look. ‘Sure, give the brush to Lily. It will make both of them happy.’

Maggie giggled. Bob was wearing his funny hat again and she laughed every time she saw it. He put on a pretend-serious face and said, ‘I’ll have you know that this hat is very special to me! My dear old mother made me this hat when I was a young man. I love this hat, despite what other people might think.’

‘Your mother did a lovely job,’ Maggie said, trying to look just as serious.

‘If you’re going to the waterfall, can I go, too?’ Leonard asked from the next stall. ‘I really like the taste of that water.’

‘Sure,’ said Maggie. ‘But please be nice to Lily. Water nymphs are sensitive people.’

‘People say rude stuff to me all the time!’ Leonard replied with a snort. ‘Do you know how many people are shocked when I talk?’

‘Even so …’ Maggie began.

‘All right! I’ll be nice to your friend. But she had better be nice to me,’ Leonard finished under his breath.

When all her chores were done, Maggie saddled Leonard and led him out of the stable. As soon as she was on his back, the horse walked a short way before breaking into a trot. He slowed again as he entered the forest, and they heard shouting just ahead.

‘I throw stones best!’ shouted a goblin. ‘You watch. I hit turtle first try!’

‘I better than you! I hit turtle now!’ cried another.

‘I recognise those voices,’ Leonard told Maggie.

‘So do I!’ Maggie replied.

Maggie was about to reach for the tip of a unicorn horn that she kept in her pocket when she saw Lily. The water nymph was walking out of the water towards the goblins with her own unicorn horn tip in her hand.

When the goblins saw the shining piece of horn, they screeched and ran into the forest.

‘I’m happy to see you using it!’ Maggie called to Lily.

The water nymph turned and smiled when she saw Maggie. ‘That little bit of unicorn horn has helped a lot!’ Lily told her. ‘I love how it scares the goblins away. I still can’t thank you enough for giving it to me.’

‘You deserved it after you helped cure the unicorn,’ said Maggie. ‘Here, I brought you something.’

Sliding off Leonard’s back, she walked to the pool and handed the brush to Lily. ‘You said that the palomino unicorn was living around here. I know how much you both liked it when you brushed him. Bob said that you could have this.’

‘That’s so thoughtful!’ said Lily. ‘Thank you! And please thank Bob for me too.’

‘I’m glad you like it,’ Maggie said, beaming. ‘I like giving things to people who appreciate them. My stepsiblings always took things without ever saying thank you. Peter was the worst.’

‘I saw him about an hour ago,’ said Lily. ‘He was heading towards the stable. Did he come to talk to you?’

Maggie shook her head. ‘I didn’t see him.’

‘He was carrying a sack and had a big smile on his face,’ said Lily. ‘I had a feeling he was up to no good. I really don’t like that boy.’

Leonard snorted. ‘You’re not the only one!’