A Magical Friend by Chloe Ryder Page A

walls, a sea view and, to Pippa’s delight, there was an old horseshoe nailed to one of the roof beams.
    â€˜Horseshoes are lucky,’ she said happily.
    Pippa skipped down the stairs into the kitchen, where Mum was searching their luggage for the bag containing the food.
    â€˜We’ll have our lunch on the beach,’ she said, packing sandwiches, cake, apples and drinks into a picnic hamper.

    The gate at the end of the garden opened on to a winding path that led down to the sea. Pippa was too excited to walk along it. Instead she galloped down the path, pretending to be a fiery stallion, until she reached a horseshoe-shaped cove. Pippa stared in wonder at the golden sand and sparkling blue water stretching away from her.
    The cove felt so secret and special it made Pippa’s insides fizz with excitement.
    â€˜It’s magic,’ she whispered softly.
    Pulling off her sandals, she ran across the powdery sand to the sea, where tiny, white-crested waves were licking the shore. Just as Pippa was about to paddle in the water, her eyes were drawn far out to sea. What was that at the mouth of the cove?
    Pippa stared in amazement at two animals splashing in the water. ‘They look just like seahorses!’ she gasped.
    Pippa raised her arm to shield her eyes from the sun so she could take a better look. They really did look like seahorses, and they were almost as big as real horses, with gracefully curved necks bobbing above the water and long spines sticking up along a spiky mane. One was pale pink and the other was green with dark freckles. Pippa blinked and rubbed her eyes, sure she was imagining things, but when she looked again the two animals were still there, splashing water at each other with their curled tails.
    Behind her Pippa could hear Mum, Miranda and Jack laughing together as they made their way on to the beach.
    â€˜Quick!’ she called, waving at them. ‘Look at this!’
    â€˜What is it, darling?’
    â€˜Seahorses,’ Pippa said.
    â€˜Where? I can’t see them!’ Jack wailed.
    â€˜Seahorses!’ Miranda exclaimed. ‘How can you see a tiny seahorse from here?’
    â€˜They’re giant ones,’ Pippa said.
    â€˜I can’t see anything.’ Mum stared out to sea.
    Miranda giggled as she ran over. ‘I see them! The red one’s wearing a hat!’
    Pippa’s heart leapt, then sank right down to her bare toes. Miranda was teasing her! Besides, the sea was empty now. The seahorses had disappeared.
    â€˜I did see two seahorses,’ Pippa insisted. ‘They were playing together.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Pip. There’s no such thing as a giant seahorse,’ Miranda said scornfully.
    â€˜Pippa, you’re too big for that sort of make-believe,’ Mum said gently. ‘Come and help me set out the picnic.’
    Pippa gazed at the sea but there was nothing there except for the herring gulls gliding over the bay. But the seahorses were real – Pippa knew she hadn’t imagined them. Full of confusion, she hurried after Mum.
    â€˜Do I have to eat now?’ she asked. ‘I’d like to have a paddle first.’
    â€˜Go on then,’ Mum said. ‘Be careful. Don’t go deeper than your knees.’
    Pippa ran back to the water’s edge. The sea was lovely and warm. She waded out until she was knee deep. The water was so clear she could still see her feet. Pippa wiggled her toes in the sand.
    â€˜Ooooh,’ she said. ‘That tickles!’
    Looking down, Pippa saw two tiny seahorses swimming around her feet.
    â€˜Wow! This place is full of seahorses!’
    Pippa bent down for a closer look.
    The moment her fingers touched the water they began to tingle. The feeling was so incredible that Pippa felt sure some kind of magic was at work. Gently, she moved her fingers to get the seahorse to swim to her hand. The tiny animal was almost there when, suddenly, with a loud whoosh , the