3

Jack

Breakfast was always fraught and today was no exception. Hannah was in the kitchen trying to find a clean t-shirt in a basket of ironing that nobody had ironed. Most of the white clothes were now a uniform grey, after someone had left a black sock in the machine and washed everything on hot. To top it all off, there was a smell of burning toast.

‘Has anyone seen my car keys?’ Her father asked this every morning. ‘I put them here on the table.’He rushed about, leaving a trail of crumbs and marmalade. ‘And my mobile? That was here last night when I went to bed. Who’s had it? Come on, confess!’ He left muddle behind him wherever he went in the house. Today it was smears of butter and brown shoe polish on the kitchen tops. He kissed Hannah absent-mindedly at the door.

‘See you tonight Poppet,’ he said, ‘look after yourself.’

From time to time Hannah wondered if it was actually legal to go off for weeks and leave your children defenceless and without enough food. She felt she could understand how social services might get phone calls from people like her, especially in her darkest hours when her brother had eaten everything in the house. She’d said as much to Sarah, a friend of hers at school.

‘What, ring social services and risk losing all your lovely freedom? You’re mad.’ Sarah had declared. ‘What I’d give for a bit of neglect! My parents are interested in everything I do and it’s awful. They keep wanting me to talk to them, and they ask me where I’m going all the time. It’s far worse than not having any food.’

It was still early when Hannah arrived at Polly’s field on her bike. There was no sign of Tom, and she was glad to have a bit of time on her own with her pony. She wanted to groom her and wash her tail before they went for a ride, but as she leaned over the gate to see where Polly was, she got a shock. She couldn’t believe her eyes. A skewbald pony was standing in Polly’s field over against 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.

‘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.

‘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.

‘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.

‘What’s that scruffy object in your field? Have you found someone to share already?’

‘He just appeared, actually. I don’t know where from.’

‘Call the police,’ said Tom at once. ‘You can’t have animals just turning up all over the place.’

‘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.

‘Thanks,’ she said, eating it all quickly. ‘I’m going to go to the Steeple Chase again tomorrow,’ she told him, ‘but this time I’ll go round by the wood and try and look from the back of High Farm without that man noticing me. I’ll go on my bike.’

‘I don’t think you should,’ said Tom at once. ‘He was horrible.’

‘I don’t care,’ said Hannah, ‘I’m positive he’s hiding something. And someone’s put that pony in here to keep him safe, I’m sure of it. So I’m going again. Then if I get something more to go on I’ll do what you say and ring the police.’

‘If you must, I’ll come with you,’ said Tom, ‘but you’ll have to leave it till Thursday. My mum’s sister is ill and we’re going to see her tomorrow. I can’t come until the next day.’

‘Well,’ Hannah was doubtful, ‘I don’t want to wait too long. I’ll see in the morning. But thanks for the offer.’

‘I definitely think you should wait for me,’ said Tom again.

‘Don’t fuss,’ said Hannah as she got her bike to leave.

‘And make sure you tell your dad about that creature,’ said Tom. ‘And think about ringing the police.’

‘Yes, sir,’ she called back as she cycled away.

Later that day her father came home in a good mood, but Hannah had no intention of telling him about Jack, or her plan to try and find out more about the horses at High Farm. She didn’t want him getting worried and telling her not to go to the Chase. He’d probably just ring up the police anyway, and she wasn’t ready for that. The arrival of Jack had made things much more complicated.

‘Hey!’ she said as he came into the kitchen, ‘you’ve been shopping!’ The kitchen floor was strewn with empty carrier bags and the worktops were covered with jars, tins and boxes.

‘Wicked!’ She gave her dad a kiss and for a few minutes forgot all her anxieties. Food! She took three packets of Hula Hoops up to her room, and hoped someone would do some cooking soon.