THE NEXT MORNING Poppy and Grandpa travelled over to Camomile Cove for a visit to Ned’s. Daisy was waiting for them at the station, as planned.
“Why don’t you go to Mum’s for coffee, Grandpa?” suggested Daisy. “We’ll be about an hour down at the shops.”
“Oh, I see,” joked Grandpa. “I’m too embarrassing to be seen round town with, am I?”
“In a word, Grandpa, yeah!” laughed Daisy, giving her grandfather a hug.
Poppy loved wandering around the cobbled streets of Camomile Cove with her cousin. There were so many pretty shops selling clothes and shoes, crafts, jewellery and cakes. The whole town nestled into the pretty cove so that the golden beach and blue sea could be seen from almost every point.
“Are we going for a chocolate nut sundae at the Lighthouse Café after Ned’s?” asked Poppy. “I’ve got enough money for both of us!”
Daisy smiled at her little cousin. “Yes, if we have time. But we must try their new special. It’s a hotfudge and vanilla–ice-cream tower with real fudge pieces! It’s so delicious,” she told Poppy.
“Yummy!” enthused Poppy as she linked arms with Daisy.
They made their way along the High Street, passing Daisy’s father’s antique shop and Bijou, their favourite clothes boutique. Once they reached Ned’s they lost themselves in the smell of saddle soap and the assortment of gorgeous pony accessories. There were shelves full of ointments and medicines, vitamins, toothbrushes, hoof picks, pony shampoo, tail guards, fetlock boots in jazzy patterns, blankets, rugs and saddle covers. Poppy loved all the riding hats, jodhpurs, gloves and jackets. The shop had once been an old coaching inn, with stabling for horses while their owners took refreshments inside.
“I can’t decide what to buy!” exclaimed Poppy, loving everything she saw.
“Well, what about some pony shampoo so Twinketoes smells of roses at the competition?” suggested Daisy.
“That’s a good idea. And what are you going to get for Parsley?” asked Poppy.
“Fetlock boots to protect his legs and fly repellent to keep the pests away!” decided Daisy.
Just as they were paying at the counter, the shop bell jangled and two very glamorous girls came in. They were Lilac Farrington and Fern Zitelli. The two girls were firm friends once more, after their huge falling out over the You’re a Star! talent contest.
They were wearing lovely cream jodhpurs, padded green jackets with cord collars, and short brown jodhpur boots, which Poppy thought were very smart.
“Oh, hi, Daisy, hi, Poppy!” called Lilac as she saw the cousins at the cash desk.
“Hello, Lilac,” they replied. “Hi, Fern!”
“Are you entering the Pony Club competition?” asked Lilac.
Poppy and Daisy nodded.
“Me too!” said Lilac. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve got a new pony!”
“Oh, someone did mention it,” said Daisy. “Are you pleased with him?”
“Just a bit!” Lilac replied. “He’s adorable. How would you like to come and see him? He’s just along in Sandcastle Stables on the seafront.”
Poppy and Daisy looked at each other. This was an offer they simply couldn’t refuse. After Lilac and Fern had bought some saddle soap and hoof oil, the four girls strolled along the beach, chatting about ponies and the competition all the way. Poppy thought Lilac seemed much nicer now, even if she was still a bit of a show-off.
Poppy’s mouth fell open when she entered Sandcastle Stables. It was a professional stable for racehorses and other liveried ponies. The yard was pristine, the stall doors gleamed with varnish and all the horses looked like they’d been given beauty treatments. Poppy had never seen anything like it.
Fern had a pony there called The Duke, who looked very handsome, and in the stall next to his was Lilac’s new pony.
“And here is Black Beauty!” she announced proudly as she opened his stable door.
An exquisitely beautiful black pony emerged from the darkness. At first Poppy only saw the white diamond between his eyes; then his glossy black coat came into focus. He had huge inky-blue eyes, a dainty head and a flowing black mane and tail. He was the most perfect pony Poppy had ever seen.
Lilac very kindly asked the girls if they would like to ride him around the yard.
“No thank you, Lilac,” replied Daisy before Poppy had a chance to say anything. “I’m afraid we’re running out of time. We said we’d be an hour and we haven’t even been to the Lighthouse Café yet, but thanks for letting us see him. He’s a beauty for sure!”
Poppy was a little disappointed. She would have loved to spend more time with Black Beauty and try him out.
As they walked back to the café, Poppy couldn’t stop thinking about Lilac’s pony and the amazing stables. Everything there was so much plusher than at Riverside.
“Why don’t you keep Parsley here?” asked Poppy. “I’d definitely keep Twinks here if I lived in Camomile Cove.”
“Poppy, it’s very expensive. All that matters is how much you love your pony and how well you look after him,” said Daisy. “And anyway, remember that fabulous practice course we have now at Riverside, with Sally’s old jumps!”
“I know,” agreed Poppy, “but I would have loved to ride on Black Beauty!”
“Sorry about that,” apologized Daisy, “but you should never get on a horse you don’t know much about. He’s gorgeous, but he looks quite highly strung. We don’t want any bumps or bruises before the competition, do we? But at least we’ve seen him!”
Poppy nodded. She was still daydreaming about Black Beauty as she tucked into her delicious fudgetower ice cream at the Lighthouse Café. It was nearly as tasty as the chocolate nut sundae, but not quite!