My Secret Unicorn by Linda Chapman Page A

her.
    â€˜Yeah,’ Lauren muttered.
    Twilight nuzzled her arm.
    â€˜Do you still want to go for a ride?’ Mel asked.
    Lauren nodded and put her foot in the stirrup. ‘Yes.’ She swung herself on to Twilight’s back as Hannah mounted Magpie and the four of them rode into the woods.
    It was strange riding through the trees and remembering all the times she had met Mrs Fontana there, but there was something comforting about being with Twilight and the others. They rode to where the banks and hills were. Hannah had a great time on Magpie. He was fast but responsive and she soon had him cantering up and down the slopes. ‘This is great!’ she exclaimed.
    She saw Lauren’s face and looked guilty.
    Lauren didn’t want Hannah feeling bad for enjoying herself. After all, she’d never even met Mrs Fontana.
    â€˜It
is
fun, isn’t it?’ she said, forcing herself to smile. ‘Come on, Twilight!’ She cantered him after Magpie. ‘Who wants a game of tag?’
    â€˜Me!’ the others all cried.
    They raced round, chasing each other on the ponies.
    â€˜We’ll have to come here again when I next visit,’ Hannah said when they finally began riding home.
    â€˜Yes, we could have a picnic if it was the summer,’ Mel said.
    â€˜Maybe we could even ask if we could camp out here,’ said Jess. ‘And get Grace and Jo-Ann to come.’
    â€˜That sounds brilliant!’ said Hannah. She began to plan with the others what they could do.
    Lauren patted Twilight’s neck and let them talk. The afternoon had been better than she had thought it would be, but now she was longing to turn him into a unicorn and for them to just be on their own.
    After supper that night, Lauren helped Hannah pack her things so that they could spend as much time as possible with the ponies the next day before shehad to go. Hannah smiled at Lauren as they finished and closed her case. ‘Thanks. It’s been brilliant being here, Lauren.’
    â€˜Will you ask your mum and dad if you can come again in the summer?’ Lauren said.
    â€˜Definitely!’ Hannah replied. ‘Maybe I can stay for a whole week then. Oh, Lauren! Thanks for reminding me how much I like being with ponies. I’m never ever going to let myself forget again.’
    â€˜I won’t let you!’ Lauren said, smiling at her. ‘I’m going to be emailing you photos of Twilight and Magpie all the time.’
    â€˜You’d better be!’ Hannah said. Sheyawned. ‘I’m tired. It must be all the riding.’
    They hugged each other and said goodnight. Lauren went to her room and waited for her parents to go to bed too. Luckily they liked to go to bed early because of having to be up to feed the animals on the farm in the morning. While Lauren waited, she looked through the chest. The book was very old and seemed to contain lots of information about the different types of unicorn magic and what it could be used for.
    Lauren rubbed her head. It was fascinating but she couldn’t take it in. She still couldn’t quite believe that she was supposed to be one of the Keepersof the Unicorns’ Secrets. How could she be? Surely she didn’t know enough about unicorn magic.
    As soon as the house was quiet, she pulled her jeans back on and crept outside.
    Twilight was waiting for her. She said the spell and turned him into a unicorn.
    â€˜Oh, Lauren!’ he snorted. ‘I can’t believe Mrs Fontana is dead.’
    â€˜I know,’ Lauren said. ‘And I’m supposed to be the next Keeper of the Unicorns’ Secrets. But how, Twilight? I don’t know enough.’
    Twilight looked at her, his eyes deep and dark. ‘Mrs Fontana wouldn’t have chosen you if she didn’t think you coulddo it, Lauren. And you’ve got the book and I’ll help you.’
    â€˜I suppose,’ Lauren said, feeling slightly comforted. ‘What do you