before we have to head back to Harry’s – we need to concentrate.”
Rosie saluted Mia, making Charlie and Alice giggle as they all turned their attention back to the notebook:
Clue 1
Solid metal gate, standard. New padlocks on there – maybe put on since the theft of Moonlight?
Clue 2
No tack was stolen with Moonlight.
Clue 3
Tracks on the pa…
Tracks on the path – hooves only – whoever took Moonlight must have led him away from the yard on foot to begin with because there was no way they could load him into a trailer or horsebox without being heard.
Clue 4
Person who stole Moonlight must be local to know about him and how to get him away from Hawthorn Farm.
Clue 5
Could be a local dealer – stealing to order?!
Clue 6
Harry Franklin – dealer who has a yard close to Hawthorn Farm.
Clue 7
After inspection of his yard, Harry Franklin has a pony ( Moonlight? ) which he wants to keep hidden.
Clue 8
Phone call – Harry arranging for someone to come and collect the pony that they’ve made him keep hidden.
They sat back, satisfied.
“There’s no point getting settled, everyone,” Mia said, turning the page on her notebook to reveal the following:
Action Point 1
Stake out Harry Franklin’s yard to watch for mystery person collecting mystery pony (Moonlight?).
Action Point 2
Get photo of pony (Moonlight) as he is picked up from Harry Franklin’s yard, to use as hard evidence.
“We’ve got to go back there without any further delay,” Mia announced, jumping down from the fence.
“Has anyone actually thought about how we’re going to get there? There’s no way I’m walking that far!” Rosie complained. “And we can’t take the ponies out again – they’ve done enough today already and they’d be a bit of a giveaway, anyway, unless we teach them all to hide under that big bush.”
“We could cycle,” Charlie suggested. “It’s only two now, so we could be there by three at the latest.”
“Great – my bike’s got a puncture, I can’t go,”Rosie huffed but was secretly pleased. She didn’t like the idea of cycling so far in the blazing summer heat one little bit.
“We could take it in turns to double up?” Alice offered.
“I hardly think so. You don’t want to be carrying around a lump like me,” Rosie said, puffing herself out to make herself look as big as possible.
“Well, if you’re staying you won’t mind me asking if I can borrow your brother’s bike, seeing as I haven’t got my own here,” Mia said, pleased that she’d thought of it first – Rosie’s brother Will had a really good bike. “But if you don’t come, Rosie, and we find Moonlight, you lose your share of any reward.”
Rosie narrowed her eyes. “But I got the clue about the hoof prints.”
“Look, come or don’t come. Either way, we have to get going. And I think we should call our parents to let them know we’ll be late home.” Mia got up briskly, reaching for her mobile.
Charlie and Alice followed. Alice turned to see Rosie sitting moodily on the fence still, gently pulling Dancer’s ears, and thought for a second that she really was bailing out. But as they turned the corner Rosie suddenly jumped down and ran to catch up. When she saw Alice and Charlie smiling to themselves, she dropped back to a grumpy walk.
Fifteen minutes later they were ready to leave the yard. Mia had found Will out in one of the fields checking on the sheep. He’d cheerfully headed back to the yard and wheeled out his huge red bike for her, and Rosie had reluctantly agreed to take it in turns to double up with the others.
Alice was first to cycle with Rosie as it had been her suggestion. Rosie sat on the saddle and steered while Alice held the handle bars and pedalled standing up. After about a quarter of a mile Alice was exhausted and Rosie swapped onto Charlie’s bike, but Charlie couldn’t manage to pedal hard enough to keep her small bike goingwith Rosie sitting on it.
Rosie saluted Mia, making Charlie and Alice giggle as they all turned their attention back to the notebook:
Clue 1
Solid metal gate, standard. New padlocks on there – maybe put on since the theft of Moonlight?
Clue 2
No tack was stolen with Moonlight.
Clue 3
Tracks on the pa…
Tracks on the path – hooves only – whoever took Moonlight must have led him away from the yard on foot to begin with because there was no way they could load him into a trailer or horsebox without being heard.
Clue 4
Person who stole Moonlight must be local to know about him and how to get him away from Hawthorn Farm.
Clue 5
Could be a local dealer – stealing to order?!
Clue 6
Harry Franklin – dealer who has a yard close to Hawthorn Farm.
Clue 7
After inspection of his yard, Harry Franklin has a pony ( Moonlight? ) which he wants to keep hidden.
Clue 8
Phone call – Harry arranging for someone to come and collect the pony that they’ve made him keep hidden.
They sat back, satisfied.
“There’s no point getting settled, everyone,” Mia said, turning the page on her notebook to reveal the following:
Action Point 1
Stake out Harry Franklin’s yard to watch for mystery person collecting mystery pony (Moonlight?).
Action Point 2
Get photo of pony (Moonlight) as he is picked up from Harry Franklin’s yard, to use as hard evidence.
“We’ve got to go back there without any further delay,” Mia announced, jumping down from the fence.
“Has anyone actually thought about how we’re going to get there? There’s no way I’m walking that far!” Rosie complained. “And we can’t take the ponies out again – they’ve done enough today already and they’d be a bit of a giveaway, anyway, unless we teach them all to hide under that big bush.”
“We could cycle,” Charlie suggested. “It’s only two now, so we could be there by three at the latest.”
“Great – my bike’s got a puncture, I can’t go,”Rosie huffed but was secretly pleased. She didn’t like the idea of cycling so far in the blazing summer heat one little bit.
“We could take it in turns to double up?” Alice offered.
“I hardly think so. You don’t want to be carrying around a lump like me,” Rosie said, puffing herself out to make herself look as big as possible.
“Well, if you’re staying you won’t mind me asking if I can borrow your brother’s bike, seeing as I haven’t got my own here,” Mia said, pleased that she’d thought of it first – Rosie’s brother Will had a really good bike. “But if you don’t come, Rosie, and we find Moonlight, you lose your share of any reward.”
Rosie narrowed her eyes. “But I got the clue about the hoof prints.”
“Look, come or don’t come. Either way, we have to get going. And I think we should call our parents to let them know we’ll be late home.” Mia got up briskly, reaching for her mobile.
Charlie and Alice followed. Alice turned to see Rosie sitting moodily on the fence still, gently pulling Dancer’s ears, and thought for a second that she really was bailing out. But as they turned the corner Rosie suddenly jumped down and ran to catch up. When she saw Alice and Charlie smiling to themselves, she dropped back to a grumpy walk.
Fifteen minutes later they were ready to leave the yard. Mia had found Will out in one of the fields checking on the sheep. He’d cheerfully headed back to the yard and wheeled out his huge red bike for her, and Rosie had reluctantly agreed to take it in turns to double up with the others.
Alice was first to cycle with Rosie as it had been her suggestion. Rosie sat on the saddle and steered while Alice held the handle bars and pedalled standing up. After about a quarter of a mile Alice was exhausted and Rosie swapped onto Charlie’s bike, but Charlie couldn’t manage to pedal hard enough to keep her small bike goingwith Rosie sitting on it.
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