Stables S.O.S. Read Free Page A

“but when I saw her she was talking about getting one of those stair lifts in her house—she said she was always a bit out of breath whenever she climbed the stairs. She never said anything about her son or building on the land.”
    â€œSo her devoted son—not—has big plans he’s neglected to tell her,” James said grimly.
    We were all quiet. How horrible , I thought. Could relatives do things like that? Surely Mrs. C would have something to say about it. She wasn’t exactly a shrinking violet. But, of course, one never knew how people behaved with their family, and Robert Collins looked kinda hefty. I imagined him intimidating Mrs. C—she was pretty tiny—shouting and making her sign papers. I shuddered.
    â€œLet me make some more inquiries,” Sophie suggested. “If this were to happen, we would all have to be given a month’s notice to leave…”
    â€œA month!” I said, dismayed. Could we all really have to go in a month?
    â€œIt’s in your contract,” Sophie said. I realized I hadn’t read mine properly when I’d come to Laurel Farm. All that small print—boring. Now it seemed very important indeed.
    â€œBut, Mom, we can’t just all go!” wailed Dee, waving her arms about.
    â€œWell yes, actually, we can if we have to,” Sophie told her matter-of-factly.
    â€œ Where? ” Dee asked.
    â€œThere are plenty of other stables around here,” said Sophie calmly.
    I stared into the distance. How awful to be the new girl again. I’d only just started to feel part of the gang here. And Drummer had made good friends—one very good friend—at last. The thought of moving physically hurt. I felt a pang in my stomach.
    â€œCan’t you tell Mrs. Collins?” asked James.
    â€œI could,” agreed Sophie, “but I wouldn’t like to just yet. She’s still frail, and she doesn’t need any extra stress. This Robert Collins will need to get planning permission and that takes a while, so I don’t think there is any need to panic—yet, anyway.” She pressed her thumb to her lips, thinking. Unlike her daughter, Sophie oozed sophistication in her immaculate breeches, shining, long leather boots, and crisp white shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a bun—she looked like she was about to go to the show, instead of coming back from it. I wondered whether Dolly had won the tricolored ribbon or Sophie’s horse, Lester. Now didn’t seem the time to ask.
    â€œAlthough he could want us out before he applies for planning so there’s nothing to stop him,” Sophie continued. “Leave it to me,” she told us. “I’ll find out more. Nothing is going to happen yet—we haven’t been given notice, so don’t worry too much before we know the facts. My friend Helena’s husband is in the planning department. I’ll give her a call later to ask some questions. Now, Dee, we have to get Lester and Dolly out of the trailer and settled in their stables. They’ve worked hard today. Come on!”
    I hardly felt reassured. Sophie always knew someone who knew someone who was helpful for this and that and if anyone could find out what was going on, she could, but she hadn’t given us any reason to suppose that we could actually do anything about the development. She had seemed almost resigned to moving. Perhaps it didn’t matter as much to her where her horse was stabled. It was our gang that was threatened. I couldn’t believe how, in an instant, our whole world had come tumbling down.
    As Dee led Dolly down the ramp, we all drifted away back toward the field and leaned miserably on the fence. I could see Drummer. He was still eating. It was his favorite thing to do. How much longer would he be able to munch the grass at Laurel Farm?
    â€œMrs. Bradley will be terribly upset to have to find somewhere new for Henry,” I said, thinking of