COBWEB
John Barker
Copyright 2012 by John Barker
Smashwords Edition
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Children’s Reading Material
For Phoebe
G.E.R
1.
“Pheebs, are you up yet?” called Phoebe’s dad.
“Coming, Dad.” Phoebe replied, as she ran down the stairs. She stopped to look in the mirror in the hallway. Her shoulder length, brown hair was in need of a brush but she opted for a quick comb with her fingers instead. She frowned at the redness below her nose. She had had a cold for the last couple of days and excessive blowing had caused the redness. She took a small jar of Vaseline out of her pocket and dabbed some on the sore. Satisfied, she hurried along in to the kitchen.
It was a sunny July morning and Phoebe was staying with her dad on his farm. Her first duty of the morning was to feed her horse Cobweb. He was a handsome dark grey, fifteen hands high with a black, flowing mane. Her father had given Cobweb to her for her birthday when Phoebe was ten, two years ago, and he was the best present she had ever had.
There was fresh toast on the kitchen table and she quickly spread some jam on a piece before taking a large bite. Her dad sat at the table sipping coffee and reading the paper. Although it was early, he would have already done a lot of work on the farm but would have a lot more to do before the end of the day. Working a farm began early and ended late.
She left the farm house and walked across the yard towards the stable. As she drew nearer she knew something was wrong. Cobweb, who would always be at his stable door, was nowhere to be seen. Phoebe suddenly became worried and ran as fast as she could to the stable door. When she got there, she let out a cry of despair. Cobweb was on his side not breathing.
“Dad,” Phoebe screamed, “Come quickly, something’s wrong with Cobweb.”
Her dad appeared at the farm house door and, seeing the look of alarm on his daughters face, quickly ran over to her. As soon as he saw Cobweb lying on the floor he put his hand on Phoebe’s shoulder.
“Phoebe,” he said in a soft voice, “Go indoors and phone for Mr. Quigley. I need to have a look at Cobweb.”
Phoebe ran back in to the farm house, her eyes filled with tears. She knew Cobweb was dead but her heart refused to believe it. With shaking hands she dialed the vet’s number and waited for it to be answered.
“Hello,” said Mr. Quigley, cheerfully.
“Oh Mr. Quigley please come quickly” sobbed Phoebe down the phone.
“Phoebe, is that you? Whatever is the matter?”
“It’s Cobweb, I think he’s dead. My Dad’s with him now but he isn’t moving.”
“I’ll be right over,” said the vet. “Give me five minutes.”
Phoebe hung up and rushed back outside. Her dad was walking back across the yard towards her. He was shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, darling,” he said. “I’m afraid Cobweb has died. I’m so sorry.” He scooped his daughter up in his arms and held her tightly. Her face was on his shoulder and he could feel her sobs racking her body. He carried her back in to the farm house and settled her in to a chair in the kitchen. Wiping her eyes with a tissue, her dad spoke gently to her.
“Mr. Quigley will be here soon, love. He might be able to tell us what happened to Cobweb but I’m sure he died peacefully.”
Phoebe didn’t speak. Her beloved Cobweb was dead and nothing could bring him back. She felt an enormous loss, almost like a part of her was missing and without that part she could never be whole again.
Her dad patted her hand and crossed to the window, unsure of what to say to his daughter that would make her feel better. They stayed in silence for a few minutes before it was broken by the sound of tyres crunching on the gravel outside.
“Here’s Mr. Quigley,” said her father. “I think you should stay here while I talk to him.”
“No!” said Phoebe, firmly. “I want to come too. He was my horse and I want to know what happened to him.”
Her father hesitated for a moment then nodded.
“I understand. Come along then.”
They both made their way outside just as Mr. Quigley stepped out of his Land Rover, a black case in his hand. He wore a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows and a bright yellow handkerchief protruded from the breast pocket. He took it out and blew his nose with a loud “Parp”. “Damn cold.” he muttered to himself, stuffing the handkerchief back in his pocket.
He held out his hand to Phoebe’s dad.
“Morning John,” he said shaking hands. “I believe there’s been a tragedy.” He looked down at Phoebe who was stood by her father’s side, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
“Hello Phoebe,” he said to her, “I’m very sorry, I really am. Perhaps you better take me to see Cobweb.”
Phoebe led the vet over to the stable and stopped short of the door. Her dad put his arm around her and they both waited outside while Mr. Quigley went inside. It was several minutes later when he emerged, his face grim.
“Tell me, John, when was the last time you or Phoebe saw Cobweb alive?”
Phoebe and her father looked at each other. “It must have been about eight o’clock last night. Phoebe had been riding him most of yesterday and then we both fed him in the evening before it got dark.”
“And he seemed fine to you? No shaking, irregular breathing, nothing like that?”
“No,” replied Phoebe. “He was fine.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “We had a lovely day together. He rubbed his nose in my hair when I said goodnight…” She broke off and buried her head in her father’s chest.
Mr. Quigley shook his head sadly. “Well, on examination, I would say that his heart failed. However, for a horse as young as Cobweb, heart failure is very uncommon. It’s possible that he was poisoned but I won’t know for sure unless I do an autopsy.”
“Poisoned!” exclaimed Phoebe’s dad. “Poisoned by what?”
Phoebe had lifted her head and was staring at the vet.
“As I said, I can’t be absolutely certain until I perform an autopsy.” He paused, his eyes on Phoebe. “If you would rather I didn’t, I could ask Phil Carter at the next farm to give you a hand to bury Cobweb.”
“No, I think we need to know for sure. I’d appreciate it if you’d find out exactly how Cobweb died.”
“Very well.” Mr. Quigley gave his nose another blow. “I will send someone to pick him up as soon as possible.”
Phoebe gave a cry of anguish and ran from the stable. Her father called after her but she kept running, out of the yard and in to the paddock where she rode Cobweb. Used to ride Cobweb she thought. She ran through the paddock and in to the wood that bordered her father’s farm. She didn’t stop until she reached her tree house, climbed the ladder and threw herself on the floor, sobbing.
When she finally returned to the farm a couple of hours later, the stable was empty. She picked some wild flowers and walked over to the corner of the paddock, near where the big oak tree stood. She had often sat in its shade, her back against its trunk, Cobweb standing close by. She laid the flowers at the base of the tree and closed her eyes for a moment then walked over to the farm house where her father waited anxiously for her.
2.
All that day and the next, Phoebe spent most of her time in her bedroom and wouldn’t talk to anyone. At the weekend, just as her father was finishing feeding the pigs, Mr. Quigley’s land Rover turned in to the drive. Phoebe heard his car from her bedroom and came rushing outside. Mr. Quigley shook hands with John and smiled a greeting at Phoebe.
“The autopsy confirmed what I suspected.”
He pulled a metal tin and a sheet of paper from his bag and offered them to John.
“Cobweb’s ashes as you requested.” said the vet, tapping the metal tin. “He died from Yew poisoning, I’m afraid.”
John looked at Phoebe.
“But how would he have managed to eat Yew leaves?” he said. “We know that it’s fatal to horses and certainly don’t have any growing on the farm.”
Mr. Quigley nodded in agreement. “Which could only mean one thing.” he said. “Cobweb was deliberately fed them by someone, which makes this a matter for the police.”
Phoebe shook her head in disbelief. “Who would want to poison Cobweb?” she said, tears springing to her eyes. “What harm did he ever do to anyone?”
She ran back in to the house and in to her bedroom falling on to her bed sobbing. John shook Mr. Quigley’s hand and bid him farewell then went in to the cottage and phoned the police. Later, he and Phoebe went together in to the paddock and sprinkled Cobweb’s ashes on the grass that he would no longer tread. The wind caught some of the ashes and carried them away across the field and beyond, before lifting them high in to the sky.
That night Phoebe was woken by the sound of hooves on the yard outside. She got up and crossed to her bedroom window, peering out. The moon was bright and lit up the whole of the yard and even though she could still hear the sound of hooves, she could see nothing. Puzzled, she went back to bed and dreamed of Cobweb. In her dreams, she was riding him along a beach, the surf of the sea occasionally under his feet, spraying up and around her. They galloped at breakneck speed, the surroundings a blur when, all of a sudden, Cobweb turned and headed in to the sea. However, instead of going in the water, they galloped along on top of the silvery surface, on and on towards the horizon.
3.
The next morning she got up late and went downstairs for her breakfast. She didn’t much feel like eating but she knew her father would worry otherwise. As she ate her cereal she heard the sound of hooves walking across the yard. She put her spoon down and listened. The hooves were slowly fading as though the horse was walking away from her and towards the paddock. She grabbed her coat and rushed outside. Her father was in the stable giving it a fresh coat of paint. Phoebe glanced over to him.
“Dad?” she called. “Did you just hear something?”
Her father stopped painting.
“Like what, love?” he asked.
Phoebe shook her head. “Never mind.”
She continued across the yard and entered the paddock but it was empty apart from the big Oak. The flowers she had placed at its base were now dead and withered. She walked over, stood in front of it and closed her eyes.
“I miss you Cobweb.” she whispered.
She could hear the wind stirring the leaves in the trees and the sound of the crickets in the long grass.
She felt a warm breath on the back of her neck and turned around. Cobweb stood before her, his handsome face just inches from her own. She stared at him in disbelief then, with a cry of joy, threw her arms around his neck.
“Cobweb,” she gasped. “Is it really you?”
Cobweb whinnied and tossed his head.
And then she heard his voice.
“Yes Phoebe. I’m here.”
Phoebe stared at the horse in amazement. “I can hear you.” she said. “I can hear you in my head.”
Cobweb nodded. “Yes. I can send my thoughts into your head so it seems like I’m talking to you.”
Phoebe shook her head slowly and then looked at him sadly. “Are you a ghost Cobweb? I mean, are you really dead and…and, I don’t know. Am I just going mad?”
Cobweb looked down at the dead flowers and didn’t speak for a moment.
“No Phoebe, you aren’t going mad. This might be hard for you to believe but it’s true. I am a ghost and only you can see and hear me. To everyone else, I’m invisible.”
Phoebe wiped her eyes on her sleeve and then stroked the horse’s nose. “But why,” she asked. “Mr. Quigley said you were poisoned. Who would want to do such a thing?”
Cobweb snorted and tossed his mane. “I’m sorry Phoebe, but it was Connie.”
Phoebe gasped, shaking her head. “No it couldn’t have been. Not Connie.”
Connie had been Phoebe’s best friend from her old school before she moved away with her mother and started at a new school, where she had found her new best friend, Grace. Tears were beginning to build in Phoebe’s eyes when Cobweb suddenly spoke up.
“Don’t cry Phoebe. Climb on my back and we can go for a ride. It will be just like old times.”
Phoebe wiped her eyes and pulled herself up on to the horses back. She had never ridden bare back before and thought it would be difficult, but her body seemed to become one with the horses and she wasn’t at all afraid of falling off. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it would look like if anyone saw her, a girl on an invisible horse. What would they think?
“Won’t people think I look odd, floating along on thin air?” she asked Cobweb, smiling.
Cobweb shook his head.
“When you are riding me, you too are invisible.” he replied.
She laughed out loud as Cobweb tossed back his head and started cantering, Phoebe holding on tightly to his mane. She felt exhilarated with the wind blowing through her hair, her fingers curled around the beast’s hair. They cantered over the meadow and down the lane towards the village. They had only travelled for a while when Phoebe saw a pub up ahead with an old man staggering out of the door. He was bald and wore a heavy overcoat even though the midday sun was shining brightly. Sunglasses covered his eyes and he was muttering to himself. Phoebe decided to have some fun and rode up to the old man.
“Hello old man.” she said, giggling.
The old man stopped in his tracks and looked around.
“Who’s there?” he demanded. “What do you want?”
Phoebe giggled again. “He can’t see us, Cobweb.” she laughed.
The old man pulled himself up straight. “I may not be able to see you,” he said haughtily, “but I can certainly hear you and you are a very rude little girl.”
Phoebe pulled on cobweb’s mane, turning him around and, with another giggle, rode off. The old man shook his head angrily and began walking again then stopped as he realized he had left something in the pub. Muttering to himself once again, he made his way back indoors.
“Oh, that was brilliant” said Phoebe, patting the horses flank. They had ridden back to the paddock and now stood in the shadows beneath the big oak tree. “What fun we’re going to have, Cobweb.” She hugged the horse. “What adventures!” She stopped suddenly and anger filled her face.
“Why?” she asked. “Why did Connie poison you? I’ve never done her any harm so why did she do this?”
Cobweb didn’t answer but put his nose in her hair and snuffed. Phoebe patted him again in reply and tried to smile. “I’m just glad I still have you,” she whispered. “You mean everything to me, boy. Everything.”
“We must keep this a secret.” said Cobweb. “Nobody must know about me, Phoebe. Can you do that?”
Phoebe nodded eagerly. “Yes, of course. It will be our secret.”
Cobweb rubbed his nose in her hair and snuffled.
“Come to the paddock at midnight tonight.” he said. “There is something I want you to see.”
4.
Phoebe had set the alarm on her mobile to vibrate and put it under her pillow. It woke her just before midnight, the vibrations rattling round her head like a dentist’s drill. She left her pyjama bottoms on but pulled a jumper over her top half and pushed her feet in to her trainers. She crept stealthily down the stairs, being careful not to make any noise. The farm house was old and gave off enough creaks and groans without her help. Her father was bound to be asleep as he was always tired after a long days work, but he was also a light sleeper. She made it to the hallway without causing too much of a crescendo, then crept through to the kitchen and out the back door. Cobweb was waiting for her in the paddock, standing proudly, almost statuesque. The night was silent. Phoebe ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck.
“I want you to meet my friends.” he told her.
Phoebe looked around the field. Although it was only lit by the moon, and therefore difficult to see very much, she was pretty sure the paddock was empty
“I can’t see anything, Cobweb.”
“Hop on.” said Cobweb. “Then you will see.”
She took a hand full of his mane in one hand and laid the other on his back, counted to three and jumped. Instantly, her ears were barraged with the noise of horses whinnying and the sound of hooves on mud.
The field was full of horses.
There were all different breeds, Appaloosa, Hanoverian, Friesian and even a lumbering old Shire. There were greys, bays and black and they were all running and jumping and having a wonderful time. Then they all stopped and turned to face Phoebe and Cobweb.
In groups of two’s, threes or fours, they all walked up to Cobweb and bowed before him, head down, front left leg bent.
“Why are they bowing?” whispered Phoebe.
“I will explain later.” Cobweb replied.
Once the bowing ceremony had finished, the horses went back to having fun. Phoebe could feel Cobweb trembling beneath her and looked down to see his legs shaking.
“Cobweb?” she asked, smiling. “Do you want to join in?”
The horse didn’t even answer but reared up and then galloped in to the midst of horses. Phoebe clung on and laughed with delight as the horses ran around chasing each other.
“This is like a party!” shouted Phoebe. “A ghost party.”
“Some of these horses are over three hundred years old.” said Cobweb.”
Phoebe gasped. “Do you mean all these horses lived here once?”
“Yes. At one time this field was home to all of them. It has a lot of history.”
He raced after a frisky filly who jumped over a small fence with Cobweb close behind. Phoebe felt a mixture of joy and sadness. She was deliriously happy playing with all the different horses, but the thought that they were all ghosts upset her. The filly they were chasing looked very young and hadn’t had much of a life. Then Phoebe thought, who was to say the filly wasn’t happier now than when she had been alive. Not all owners were nice to their horses. Cobweb caught up with the horse and then veered off to chase another. Phoebe squealed and held on tight.
An hour later she was back in her bed, exhausted but happy. As she lay there she realized Cobweb hadn’t answered her question about the bowing ceremony. She would ask him tomorrow. She closed her eyes and was asleep within minutes.
5.
The next morning, she woke late and ran down stairs and straight to the paddock forgetting about her breakfast. Her Dad called after her but all she could think about was seeing Cobweb.
The field remained empty and no voice entered her head as it had done when he had spoken to her. She thought of the old man yesterday. He hadn’t seen her because she had been invisible. Cobweb must be real. A horrible thought entered her head and she turned away from the paddock and slowly walked towards the village where the pub was.
Did I just imagine it all, she thought. And what about last night? Was that just a dream?
The doors to the pub were closed and locked and not due to open for a few hours yet.
She started walking in the direction the old man had been going and hadn’t gone far when she spotted him coming out of a house further up the road. He wore the same overcoat that he had worn yesterday and the sunglasses were still perched on his nose but it was the addition to his outfit that made Phoebe lower her head and cry.
The old man carried a white stick before him, for he was blind and that is why he hadn’t seen her and Cobweb yesterday.
I wasn’t invisible at all. Cobweb’s not real.
Phoebe’s sobs alerted the old man and he stopped in his tracks.
“Hello, are you ok?” he asked.
Phoebe wiped her eyes and sniffed.
“Hello. Yes, I’m ok, thank you.” she said, miserably.
The old man cocked his head and nodded. “Ah!” he said. “The little girl from yesterday. Come to be rude to me again, have you?”
Phoebe shook her head then realized the old man couldn’t see her.
“No,” she spoke up. “I’m sorry about yesterday, I was just happy, excited. I didn’t mean to be rude. I didn’t realize you were - you know.”
“Blind?” finished the old man. “Yes, from birth. Never seen the light of day, as they say. Actually, I don’t even know what a day looks like.” He paused, “You don’t seem so happy today, little lady.” He lowered his head to the level of Phoebe’s and she could see the reflection of her face in his glasses. “In fact,” he continued, “you seem proper sad.”
Phoebe sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve.
“It’s ok,” she replied. “I just made a mistake yesterday, but now I realize that dreams can’t come true”
“Oh dear!” said the old man, straightening back up. “Well I’m sorry to hear that, my dear. Whatever it is, I’m sure it will get better.” He pushed the glasses up on his nose.
“Well, I must be off now. Things to do and nowadays they seem to take much longer.” He turned to leave then a thought struck him.
“You’re smaller today.” he stated.
Phoebe looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” she asked.
The old man stroked the grey stubble on his chin. “Well yesterday when you spoke to me, you were up here,” he said, holding his hand above his head. “And today, you’re down here.” He lowered his hand to Phoebe’s level.
Phoebe stared at him, realization slowly dawning on her, then with a loud squeal, she turned on her heels and ran as fast as her legs would carry her back to the paddock.
And there was Cobweb.
She ran to him and buried her head in the side of his neck.
“Oh Cobweb, I thought it wasn’t true, I thought it was just a dream.” She moved in front of the horse and looked in to his eyes. “I couldn’t find you. Where were you?”
“I can’t always be here, Phoebe. It makes me very tired if I stay here too long. That is why, when I can, I go to rest.”
“Where do you go?”
Cobweb tossed his head and whinnied. “I stay here, only it’s not here.”
Phoebe shook her head. “I don’t understand. How can it be here but not here? It either is or it isn’t.”
Cobweb walked over to a nearby tree stump and stopped, looking at it. “When I go to the other place, this is still a huge oak, similar to the one over there. The field is full of horses and cows and people.” He paused. “But not you.”
Phoebe nodded. “You mean everything’s dead, don’t you? In this other place, it’s full of what was once here. Like all those horses last night. How does everything fit?” she asked.
If Cobweb had been able to, he would have smiled. “It just does.” he said, softly.
“Can we go for a ride?” Phoebe asked, excitedly.
“Of course. Hop on.”
Phoebe giggled as she mounted her horse. She dug her fingers in to his mane and gripped his side with her knees and then they were off. Cobweb started to gallop and Phoebe lowered her head and raised her bottom in to the correct position. The wind streamed through her hair as they sped over the field, easily jumping the fence, and in to the adjacent field, on and on.
Eventually, they came to a children’s playground. There was already a small group of children there and Phoebe thought they were playing but, as she got nearer, she could hear and see what was happening.
A group of kids, about the same age as herself, had surrounded a small boy. He had short blonde hair that was tussled and the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. A splash of freckles covered his nose and the top of his cheeks, similar to Phoebe. He sat on the grass, his jacket torn and a cut on his lip oozed blood. The rest of the children laughed at him and chanted.
“Freak. Weirdo. Mummy’s boy.”
Phoebe expected to see the boy on the ground crying, but instead, he glared up at them, defiantly. One boy, larger than the rest, stepped forward and bent down towards the other boy.
“Hadn’t you better get back to your mummy? She might need her bottom wiping.”
The other children laughed at this but the boy on the ground shook his head slowly.
“You really are stupid, aren’t you?” he said, quietly.
The big boy clenched his fists. “What did you say?” he demanded.
Phoebe whispered in Cobweb’s ear. “I think it’s time we did something.”
The horse nodded in agreement and strode over to the group. He went to the nearest child, a girl who was jeering at the small boy, and pushed her with his nose. She fell forward on to her knees and looked around sharply.
“Who did that?” She demanded.
The other children just laughed at her and turned their attention back to the boy at their feet. Cobweb went over to a boy and pushed him, sending him sprawling on the grass. This time the action did attract the children’s attention.
“What’s happening?” asked one child.
“Who’s doing it?” asked another.
Cobweb walked through the children and up to the big boy, his nose only a few inches from the child’s face. Of course the boy could not see Cobweb or even feel or hear him unless the horse wished it. Which was right now. With a loud whinny that almost shook the rooftops, Cobweb pushed the boy in the chest, causing him to land rather hard on his bottom. His face went from surprise to shock to pain and he suddenly burst out crying. This was enough for the other children, and they all ran away screaming, the big bully rubbing his bottom, which would more than likely feature a nasty bruise by the morning. Cobweb and Phoebe were left alone in the park with the boy who still sat on the grass looking after the fleeing children with a look of bewilderment.
There was a small building nearby and Phoebe whispered in Cobweb’s ear to go behind it. Once they were out of sight of the boy and anyone else who might be watching, Phoebe dismounted, instantly becoming visible again. She stepped out from behind the building and walked over to the boy who was picking himself up off the floor, dusting down his trousers. Now that she was close to him, she could see that he was the same age as her, only smaller.
“Hello” said Phoebe.
The boy looked at her warily then softened when he realized she hadn’t been in the crowd of children.
“Hello,” he said. “Where did you come from?”
Phoebe pointed to a part of the park where she didn’t think the boy would have noticed her.
“Over there. I saw what those kids were doing to you. They’re just a bunch of cowards, picking on you like that. My name’s Phoebe, by the way.”
“Hello Phoebe By The Way. My name’s Jack.”
Phoebe looked puzzled then saw the joke and laughed.
“Don’t worry about that lot,” continued Jack, “I’m used to it by now.”
“What’s their problem anyway?” asked Phoebe. “I heard them say something about your Mum.”
A flash of anger passed over Jack’s face then was quickly gone.
“My Mum’s an invalid,” he said. “I have to do a lot of things for her, but not what they said.” He looked down and Phoebe could see tears in his eyes. Cobweb had walked over to join them and although he was only visible to Phoebe, she could see Jack suddenly shiver and look around himself.
“Well I think that’s a very brave thing,” said Phoebe. “Not something to be laughed at.”
“It’s not brave!” snapped Jack. He looked down and his voice softened. “Anyone would look after their own mum.”
“Well I can’t see that big bully looking after anyone but himself, can you?” asked Phoebe.
Jack laughed. “No, you’re probably right there.” He looked at her for a moment, his eyes piercing. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around. Are you new to the village?”
“I used to live here, but moved away with my Mum. Now I just come back to visit my Dad but I generally just stay on his farm when I’m here. We live up the hill in Rose cottage. Do you know it?”
Jack nodded. “So what made you venture in to our little village today?”
Phoebe glanced at Cobweb. “Oh, I don’t know. I fancied a change of scenery I suppose.” She suddenly remembered Connie.”And maybe to visit an old friend” she added.
There was a bleeping sound and Jack pulled a mobile phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen.
“Look, I’ve got to get back home. I might see you around again.” He started to jog away then turned and looked back. “I was thinking of going to the cinema tomorrow afternoon, to see the new James Bond film. Do you want to come?
Phoebe felt herself blushing but answered, “Ok, what time?”
“Meet me here at two o’clock.” With that, he turned and ran out of the park leaving Phoebe and Cobweb alone.
Phoebe stood looking after him for a moment then felt Cobweb watching her.
“What?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing.” replied Cobweb. “He seems like a very nice boy.
“I only said I would go to the cinema with him. I couldn’t really say no after he had just been bullied like that, could I?”
“Of course not.” answered Cobweb. “That would have been rude.”
Phoebe scowled at Cobweb then grinned. “He does seem like a nice boy though.” She glanced around to make sure no one was looking then hopped up on to Cobweb’s back. She leant forward and whispered in his ear, “Even if he was Prince Charming, I’ll never love anyone more than you Cobweb.” She thought about that for a few seconds and added, “Well, you’re equals with my Mum and Dad anyway.” She patted his neck.
“Home, my faithful beast.” she cried, jokingly and Cobweb lowered his head and galloped at breakneck speed over the fields, jumping any obstacle with ease, until finally coming to rest in the paddock of her father’s farm. The journey had left Phoebe breathless but Cobweb breathed as normal, as though he had merely trotted a few yards.
Phoebe jumped down and patted his flank. “Phew, that was fast, Cobweb. Any faster and we’ll meet ourselves coming back.” She looked over to the freshly painted stable where Cobweb used to sleep.
“You don’t need that anymore, do you? No grooming, no mucking out.” She felt sad in a small way. Those chores were all part of being a horse owner but she didn’t say this to Cobweb. She was just more than grateful that she still had him, even if he was a ghost. She stared at the stable, puzzled.
“I wonder why my Dad painted it? You don’t think he’s going to buy a new pony, do you? Cobweb, I don’t want a new pony, I have you.”
“But your Dad doesn’t know that, Phoebe. Besides, I won’t get jealous. It would be nice for you to have a real pony again and I will always be here.”
Phoebe wondered if he had read her mind and suddenly felt guilty for feeling sad a moment ago.
“Will you always be here, Cobweb? I mean, you won’t have to leave me after a time.”
Cobweb lowered his nose and gave her a soft nudge. “I will be here as long as you want me to be.” he said.
Phoebe smiled. “I suppose I better go in and see my Dad. He’ll be wondering where I am.”
“Of course,” said Cobweb, following her to the gate. “And you need an early night so you are nice and refreshed for your date tomorrow.”
“Cobweb!” exclaimed Phoebe. “It’s not a date. I’m just going to see a film with him, that’s all.”
“Exactly - a date.” said Cobweb and promptly vanished before Phoebe could reply.
She was left staring at the space he had occupied a second ago. Good grief, she thought, it is a date. She looked at the farm house and wondered whether she should mention her date to her father. He had always been very protective of her and didn’t know how he would react to her seeing a boy. She decided not to say anything. Besides, she was only going to the cinema with him. She might never see him again after that, and anyway, where was the harm in having a boy as a friend if she did see him again? With these thoughts and the day’s events rattling around her mind, she climbed over the fence and strolled across the yard to the house.
6.
She spent the following morning cleaning her room and keeping out of her Dad’s way. She felt herself blush every time she thought about Jack so busied herself even more with the cleaning. After a light lunch, she announced she was going out exploring for the afternoon and she would be back in time for tea.
“It’s good to see you’re getting over things.” said her Dad.
Phoebe realized that in her father’s eyes, she wasn’t showing enough grief over Cobweb. As far as he knew, Cobweb was dead and she would never see him again.
“I just keep busy, Dad.” she told him. “It helps me forget him.”
He ruffled her hair and kissed her forehead. “Look, I know I’ve been very busy lately, what with the farm and everything, but I’m thinking of getting some help and as soon as I do, I can spend more time with you.”
“Daddy, I’m ok, really. I know you have a lot to do, especially…” she paused. “Especially as you’re on your own.”
Her father turned away and went over to the sink, started to wash the dishes a little too roughly, then stopped. He turned back to her and smiled his lopsided smile that she loved. The one that said everything’s ok. She went over to him and hugged him.
“Bear hug.” she said and he squeezed her tighter.
“Go on then, child of mine. Go and explore and I’ll expect you back for tea.”
She gave him a kiss and ran out of the back door and across the yard. He watched her climb over the fence and run across the field. He frowned as she suddenly stopped and started waving her arms in the air. She turned and saw him watching and waved then carried on running across the field. Still puzzled, he went back to the sink and carried on with the washing up.
Phoebe arrived at the park a little before two o’clock still laughing. Cobweb walked beside her.
“What must my Dad have thought.” said Phoebe. “I must have looked pretty strange when I was stroking you.”
“You must be careful, Phoebe. You never know who might be watching.” Cobweb’s voice was stern and this caused Phoebe to stop laughing.
“I understand.” she said. “I will be more careful in future, I promise.”
She stopped talking as she had spotted Jack further up ahead and suddenly she was nervous. She tried to calm her nerves as she drew nearer to him.
“Hi.” He greeted her.
“Hello Jack. I hope I’m on time.”
She noticed him shiver as he had done yesterday and wondered if perhaps he could sense Cobweb’s presence. Cobweb must have had the same thought because she saw him move away a few feet.
They walked through the park chatting.
“I hope you like James Bond.” said Jack. “I’ve seen all of them. Sean Connery was the best. What about you? Who do you like?”
“Oh, I like him the best too.” Phoebe lied. She had never actually seen a James Bond film in her life. She noticed Jack pull the front of his jacket together.
“Are you cold?” she asked him, glancing back at Cobweb who was several paces behind.
“Yeah, I keep getting a shiver go down my spine. What’s that saying? Someone’s stepped on my grave.”
Phoebe laughed nervously then stopped in her tracks when she realized Cobweb had stopped and was standing with his head to one side, his ears pricked up.
“Are you ok?” asked Jack.
“Someone’s in trouble and needs our help!” said Cobweb.
“What!” exclaimed Phoebe?
“I asked if you were ok.” said Jack.
Cobweb snorted and tossed his mane. “There’s a fire. A child is trapped. We must go now and save him.”
Phoebe turned to Jack. “I’m sorry. I have to go.” She ran away from him towards the building that she had dismounted behind yesterday.
“I’m really sorry.” she shouted over her shoulder.
Cobweb was waiting for her behind the building and she jumped up on his back and with a flick of his mane and a kick of his hooves, they galloped out of the park.
Jack ran over to the building and rounded the corner but there was no one there. Phoebe had vanished in to thin air.
7.
Phoebe clung on tightly as Cobweb galloped down roads and over fields. After a few minutes, Phoebe began to hear sirens and Cobweb pulled up in a long road lined with large detached houses. Two fire engines and three police cars surrounded one particular house that was completely ablaze. The downstairs windows had shattered with the heat and now tongues of fire wrapped themselves around the frames. The place was an inferno and the firemen were desperately unraveling the hoses. Nearby, a woman was screaming.
“Lucy! Lucy, my baby is still in there.” she sobbed. “I’d only just put her down to sleep. Please get her out.”
She was frantically trying to get past the restraining policemen and enter the building. Another policeman spoke in to his radio.
“No Sarge’. It appears the lady had put her child to bed for her afternoon nap and then gone in to the garden to do some work. By the time she noticed the fire it was too late to go back inside, it had spread like…well like wildfire. No Sarge’, we don’t know the cause of the fire. No, there were no smoke alarms.”
There was a loud whoompf as the living room ceiling collapsed.
“She’s on the top floor, in the attic.” said Cobweb.
Phoebe looked up and could see a small window set high up in to the roof of the house, obviously where the attic had been made in to a bedroom.
“What are we going to do?” asked Phoebe. She didn’t bother trying to keep her voice quiet. There was so much noise going on, no one could hear her anyway.
“We need to get to her, quickly.” answered Cobweb. “She doesn’t have much time. Hold tight.”
Before Phoebe could say anything, Cobweb reared up, tossed his head and galloped towards the blazing house. To Phoebe’s surprise, he veered towards the side of the house that was a solid brick wall and galloped faster. At the last moment, he jumped and Phoebe screamed as his hooves left the ground and horse and rider flew through the air and straight towards the wall. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact. Instead, she felt a little tug of resistance, almost like pulling ones hand through water. Opening her eyes, Phoebe found herself still sitting astride the horse, only now they were inside the burning house. The fire crackled all around them, flames licking at Cobweb’s hooves, the smoke thick and black.
“Don’t worry.” came Cobweb’s voice inside her head. “While you are riding me, the fire can’t touch you and the smoke won’t choke you. Now, we need to get upstairs fast.”
He trotted over to the stairs and began to climb them, cautiously. Phoebe looked back at the wall that they had jumped through. Apart from the wallpaper that covered it, now peeling and burning, the wall itself was intact.
“Did we just go through that wall?” asked Phoebe.
“Ghosts can do that, Phoebe.”
“But I went through it as well and I’m not a ghost, Cobweb.”
Cobweb whinnied and began to climb the second staircase that would take them to the top of the house. The fire gave chase and shadowed them as they ascended. Below, she could now hear water rushing in to the bottom half of the house as the firemen battled to put out the fire. The flames hissed loudly in anger as they in turn battled to stay alight.
“We’re here.” said Cobweb, as they reached a door on a small landing. The flames had reached the door frame and the heat had melted the handle and the plastic name plate that hung from the door. It read Lucy’s Bedroom, and had daisies around the edge. The smoke had followed them up the stairs and hung thick on the landing, making visibility poor. Cobweb turned his back to the door and gave an almighty kick with his rear legs. The door crashed open and slammed back against the wall. They entered the room, Phoebe ducking her head under the archway. On the bed in the centre of the room, lay a small girl, no older than two or three. She looked asleep, tucked in with her Barbie duvet cover pulled up to her chin. Evidently, she had fallen asleep sucking her thumb because it was still firmly planted in her mouth.
“Phoebe, this is important.” Cobweb told her. “You have to climb down and put Lucy on my back.”
Phoebe started to swing her leg across the horses back but his voice stopped her.
“Wait. Once you get off me I can no longer protect you. You will be able to feel the heat and breathe the smoke. You have to be quick, Phoebe. Do you understand?”
Phoebe looked at the girl, her hair long blonde hair fanned out on the pillow, like a halo. She brought her leg over Cobweb’s back and jumped to the floor. Almost instantly, the smoke filled her lungs and she coughed violently. She felt dizzy and her eyes stung. She looked back at the door and could see the flames creeping their way in to the bedroom. She quickly went over to the girl and shook her, but Lucy didn’t respond.
“Quickly Phoebe.” urged Cobweb, nervously stamping his hooves. Phoebe lifted Lucy in her arms and carried her to Cobweb. She was overwhelmed once more by the smoke and gagged, almost dropping the child. She summoned all her strength and lay Lucy face down across Cobweb’s back.
“Hurry, Phoebe. Climb back on me.”
She could hear Cobweb speaking in her head but his voice seemed to be distant. She felt very tired and wanted to just lie down and go to sleep. She closed her eyes and wondered why it was so warm.
She was jolted awake by a sharp pain in her arm as Cobweb nipped the skin on her arm with his teeth.
“Climb on Phoebe. Please.” he said, gently.
With her last ounce of strength, she swung herself on to Cobweb’s back and instantly gulped down sweet fresh air. Lucy lay in front of her, her body limp. Phoebe bent over her and tried to see if she was breathing.
“I don’t know if she’s alive.” she told Cobweb.
“Hold on,” he replied. “And try not to scream.”
Phoebe shrieked as he ran straight at the wall, passing through it and falling twenty feet to the ground below, landing with barely a jolt. He quickly trotted out of sight behind a fire engine and Phoebe dismounted. She carefully lifted Lucy off the horses back and gently laid her on the floor. She climbed back on to Cobweb and shouted in her loudest voice.
“Over here.”
A paramedic peered curiously around the side of the fire engine and, seeing the girl the girl lying prone on the ground, rushed to her side.
“Oxygen.” he shouted. “I need oxygen now!”
Phoebe and Cobweb watched as another paramedic appeared followed by two police officers and then the mother who ran over to her child, sobbing. A mask was placed over Lucy’s face and oxygen was pumped in to her little lungs. She gave a cough and opened her eyes. She reached out for her mother and they hugged each other tightly.
Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief as they walked away from the scene.
“Phew, that was close, Cobweb.”
“You were very brave, Phoebe. I’m very proud of you.”
Phoebe smiled and they were silent for a moment.
“Cobweb?” asked Phoebe. “When I’m riding you, am I a ghost as well? Is that why I could go through that wall?
Cobweb didn’t answer for a while, then nodded.
“In a way, yes. When you ride me, you become a part of the world that I now live in.”
Phoebe giggled. “It’s cool being a ghost.”
Cobweb stopped and turned his head to look at her.
“Being a ghost isn’t cool.” he admonished. “Being alive is cool. Being able to smell the grass, to feel the warmth of the sun on your back, that is cool and something to treasure for as long as you can.”
He lowered his head and looked at the field around him. “To taste the sweet soft cud, to feel the earth beneath my hooves again, that would be cool.”
Phoebe leant forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m so sorry, Cobweb. I didn’t mean that. I wasn’t thinking.”
Cobweb whinnied and carried on walking.
“It’s ok, but you must cherish life, Phoebe, for you never know when it might end.”
Phoebe’s thoughts turned to Connie again and the flash of anger returned.
“We need to pay Connie a visit.” She told Cobweb. “I want to know why she did what she did.”
“You mustn’t let anger cloud your judgment, Phoebe. She might not have known what she was doing.”
They had arrived back at the park by now but there was no sign of Jack.
“So what exactly did happen? Where were my Dad and I?”
“You had put me in my stable and said goodnight then gone inside the farm house. After about twenty minutes, I heard the top stable door being opened and so went over to see who it was. It was Connie. I remember she used to come around a lot when you were friends. She stroked my ears then fed me the leaves. I couldn’t see what they were in the twilight but they tasted ok. It was only a little while later that I felt ill.”
“She must have known what she was doing,” Phoebe fumed. “Yew doesn’t grow around the farm so she must have brought them with her. She wanted to hurt you, Cobweb.”
“You may be right,” answered the horse. “But it’s too late to do anything today, you have to go in for your dinner and I am tired. We can go and see her tomorrow if that is what you want.”
They trotted back to the paddock and Phoebe jumped down from Cobweb’s back. She patted his flank.
“Go and have a nice rest, Cobweb. You deserve it.”
“I will,” replied the horse. “And you go and gave a good bath. You need it.”
Cobweb disappeared and Phoebe looked down at herself. She had gone out smartly dressed, fresh and clean. Now she was coved in grubby, black marks and her clothes reeked of smoke. The kitchen light was on in the farm house and she could see her Dad moving around in the kitchen as he finished preparing her dinner. She took a deep breath and went inside. Her father took one look at her.
“What happened?” he inquired.
“What do you mean, Dad?”
He took her by the shoulders and gently spun her around so she was looking in the mirror that hung over the large fireplace. Her face was completely black from the smoke and her hair was bedraggled and wild.
“Oh, that.” she said, thinking quickly. “They had a bonfire going in one of the fields and they let me watch.”
Her dad nodded slowly. “Ok, well you better have a bath before we eat dinner. I thought we might have a relaxing evening watching TV. Just Dad and Daughter.”
She headed towards the stairs. “Ok.” she said, smiling. “That will be nice.”
“Yes,” said her father, also smiling. “and then perhaps, you can tell me who Jack is.”
Phoebe stopped midway up the stairs.
“Jack?” she asked.
Her dad came to the bottom of the stairs and leant on the newel post.
“Yes, Jack. He came round here a little while after you went out. Said he met you in the park but then you vanished; literally. He was quite concerned.”
Phoebe laughed and hoped she didn’t sound nervous.
“Oh him. He’s just a boy I met in the park who was being bullied. I didn’t actually vanish; I jumped over one of the fences in to Claire’s garden.
“Claire?”
“Yeah, you know, Claire Young. She used to go to riding school with me. Her house backs on to the park and I suddenly remembered I hadn’t seen her for a while.” She paused, realizing she was rambling.
Her dad raised an eyebrow.
“Isn’t it customary to knock on someone’s front door when visiting? Not to just abseil down their garden fence unannounced.”
“Well, yes but…..”
Her father held his hand up.
“Also,” he continued. “If you had arranged to meet Jack, which he says you had, wasn’t it a bit rude to just run off and leave him standing there. He said he’d bought cinema tickets for you both. Why didn’t you tell me that was where you were going?”
Phoebe suddenly felt very sorry for Jack and sorry for her dad for not telling him the truth.
“I didn’t think you would want me being friends with a boy.” she said, softly “I know how protective you are of me, that’s why I lied and said I was going out exploring. I’m sorry Daddy.”
Her father reached up and took her hand in his. Even though she was quite grown up now, his hand still completely enveloped her own.
“I do worry about you,” he told her. “and I want to keep you safe, but you have to live your life and having boyfriends is all part of growing up. What I don’t want, is my little girl being rude or mean to anyone, no matter who they are. Why did you run off and leave him?
Phoebe shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose I just got nervous.”
She hating lying to her Dad but what could she tell him? Her invisible ghost horse had whisked her away so they could rescue a child in a burning house? Silence, at that moment, seemed the best option.
“Go on then,” her Dad sighed. Go and get your bath, but tomorrow you can go and apologize to Jack, young lady. Do you have anything else planned?
“Actually, I thought I might pop over and see Connie.”
“Connie! I didn’t think you and she were friends anymore.”
“We just lost touch, that’s all.” Phoebe carried on up the stairs and went in to the bathroom, turning the taps on. The steam filled the room quickly and she rubbed the mirror with her hand to clear the condensation. She bared her teeth and laughed at the image reflected back at her. It would take a lot of soap to get herself clean. Her thoughts turned to Connie and what she would actually say to her. She decided to wait and act on impulse. She got undressed and eased herself in to the bath letting the bubbles cover her. The water quickly turned grey.
“Don’t be long.” shouted her father from downstairs.
Phoebe thought back to the last few days and found it hard to believe the events that had taken place. She had discovered her beloved horse was now a ghost, she could become invisible and together they had rescued Lucy from a burning building. What else is going to happen? She thought.
She finished bathing herself and went downstairs for her tea, and then spent the evening watching re-runs of Mr. Bean whilst cuddled up to her Dad on the settee. By 10 o’clock she felt very tired and dragged her body up to bed, a mug of hot chocolate in her hand. She fell fast asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Once again, she dreamed she was riding Cobweb. They were galloping through a field of wheat but the wheat was on fire, blazing all around them. Cobweb didn’t know which way to run. He kept running one way then rearing up when faced with the flames and running in another direction. She wanted to tell him that the fire wouldn’t hurt him, but she couldn’t speak. Cobweb reared again and she was thrown from the horse. He ran off without realizing she had fallen, too scared, only escape on his mind.
“Cobweb!” she screamed.
Cobweb turned but couldn’t see her. The smoke and flames hindered his vision.
“Phoebe!” he shouted. The flames crept closer to her now, reaching out.
“Phoebe!” cried Cobweb, dashing through the flames.
“PHOEBE!”
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment. It was still dark outside and the house was silent.
“Phoebe!” Cobweb’s voice entered her head. She sat up and looked at her bedside clock. The numerals glowed 2:11am. She hurriedly crossed to the window and looked out. Cobweb stood on the cobble stones below looking up at her.
“We have to go.” he said. “There is a child lost and she’s in danger. We have to help her.”
Phoebe nodded. “Give me a minute to get dressed,” she whispered. She turned from the window but Cobweb called her back.
“Phoebe, there’s something you should know. The child that needs our help….”
“Yes?” urged Phoebe.
“It’s Connie.”
8.
Phoebe dug her knees in to Cobweb’s side and clung on to his mane as they raced through the night. She had quickly dressed and hurried down to the waiting horse, only pausing to grab her coat and mobile phone on the way out. She had quietly closed the back door of the cottage, so as not to wake her dad, and mounted the horse, instantly becoming invisible.
“Where are we going?” she shouted to Cobweb. The wind blew her hair over her face and she brushed it away. She was glad she had brought her coat with her. Although it was summer, the nights were still a bit chilly, especially when racing, at heaven knows what speed.
“To the coast.” replied Cobweb.
“The coast? What’s she doing there?”
“She ran away, that’s all I know. She is too far away for me to be able to sense the exact danger. I won’t know until we get there.
They continued to gallop at lightening pace across the countryside, the surroundings a blur. As they got nearer to the coast, Phoebe remembered one of the dreams she had had, about riding Cobweb in to the sea. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Cobweb came to a stop at the top of a cliff, the sea some 200 feet or so below them. The moon was shining brightly and reflected off the water’s surface. Looking down made Phoebe feel giddy.
“So where is she?” she asked.
Cobweb nodded to his right where part of the cliff jutted out.
“She’s in there, trapped. The water will fill the cave soon and she can’t swim.”
Near the bottom, Phoebe could just make out a dark shadow in the gloom, which she presumed was the cave entrance. As she watched, she thought she saw a soft light flicker on then off again. The sea had risen to just under the opening and it wouldn’t be long before the water started pouring in to the cave.
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