Moonstone Promise Read Online Free Page A

beaten a track along the river flats to Lawson’s property to visit her favourite horse, Wally, and to check on Marnie’s belly size. The mare wasn’t due for weeks yet but it was all Jess ever talked about.
    She took a swipe at Luke’s foot and laughed. ‘I like watching them. Anyway, I don’t have a horse to ride. Dodger’s foot still isn’t right.’
    â€˜You know you can ride any of Harry’s horses.’
    â€˜How is he?’
    â€˜Who, Harry?’ Luke looked down. ‘Not good. Tired. Cranky.’
    â€˜How about Annie?’
    Luke just shrugged. ‘Wanna come for a ride?’ He gestured at Legsy’s rump.
    â€˜Where to?’
    Luke thought about it. ‘Mossy Mountain?’ It was the biggest mountain in the district, with a winding trail through palm forests and fern-covered cliffs. It took two hours to ride to the top. The view was amazing.
    â€˜Does he double?’
    â€˜Dunno,’ Luke grinned, ‘only one way to find out.’
    â€˜What if he bucks?’
    â€˜I s’pose we’ll fall off.’
    Jess climbed through the fence. ‘I’m game.’
    He held out an arm, and she grabbed it, springing up behind him. Legsy instantly lurched sideways. Jess squealed and clung to Luke’s waist, nearly dragging him off.
    â€˜Get your feet out of his flanks,’ he said, pulling the colt around.
    â€˜They’re not in his flanks,’ cried Jess.
    â€˜We just got to get him used to us both. Give him a pat on the rump.’
    Jess leaned back and gave the colt a loud slap on the rump, making him startle and jump forwards. ‘Whoa!’ she screamed.
    â€˜Not like that!’ said Luke, grabbing at Legsy’s reins.
    â€˜I thought this horse doubled,’ laughed Jess.
    â€˜I thought you could ride!’ he answered.
    â€˜Who told you that? It’s a vicious lie!’
    He felt two hands push into his back, then turned to see her somersaulting backwards over Legsy’s rump and landing on her feet on the ground.
    â€˜Yeah, right.’ Jess could ride all right. She was small and agile and brilliant at vaulting; she’d ridden in mounted games with her best friend Shara for years. Luke could tell she was stirring Legsy up on purpose.
    â€˜Try again?’ she asked, climbing up onto the fence. ‘Back him up.’
    Luke reined Legsy’s rump towards the fence. Jess patted him, more gently this time. ‘Easy, fella.’
    Legsy snorted and shifted about, unsure.
    â€˜Gee, he’s nervous,’ said Jess. ‘Who broke him in? They did a crap job.’
    â€˜Me,’ said Luke, indignant. ‘You getting on, or you just gonna do clown tricks all day?’
    Jess leapfrogged onto Legsy’s rump and wriggled up onto his back.
    Luke let the colt’s head go, and they set off towards Mossy Mountain.

    As they passed the Pettilow property, Legsy began nickering and prancing about beneath them. He let out a loud squeal. Out beyond the trees a brilliant white horse grazed along the river flats.
    â€˜Chelpie’s out again ,’ said Luke. He had lost count of how many times he’d come across the mare and led her back to Katrina Pettilow’s place. He had even fixed the fence a couple of times, without so much as a thank you from the Pettilows.
    â€˜She’s always out,’ said Jess. ‘If I had my phone on me, I’d ring the ranger.’
    â€˜She just wants some green-pick,’ said Luke. ‘There’s hardly any grass in her paddock, poor thing.’
    â€˜Katrina should look after her better,’ said Jess. ‘Look at her big wormy belly. She needs a good stomach-drench.’ He felt Jess shudder behind him. ‘Ugh, she’s so . . . nasty, and weird. I don’t know what it is about her.’
    Like Jess, Luke couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was about Chelpie. She was always on the outer. Other horses