Storm and the Silver Bridle by Stacy Gregg Read Free Book Online

see sense. I certainly think it’s better than sitting here and doing nothing.”
    “We?” Francoise looked at him. “So now you are coming too?”
    “It looks that way, doesn’t it?”
    Francoise sighed and shook her head. “You are bothimpossible, I think. But you are also right. I would do the same if I were you. I will book the air tickets. El Caballo Danza Magnifico will pay your fares. There is a plane leaving tomorrow night. We should be on it. Pack your bags, and organise your passports. I will call you with details later and meet you at the airport.”
    And with that, Francoise disappeared out the door. There was the sound of her car squealing on the gravel driveway outside and she was gone.
    “Well,” Avery said, looking at Issie. “Looks like we’re off to Spain then.” His face dropped suddenly and Issie could tell from his expression that he had just remembered something. “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
    Issie did have school tomorrow. In fact she had another whole week of school to go before the winter-term break. However, this was the least of her problems. She might have been able to convince Francoise to let her come to Spain, but convincing her mum to let her go halfway around the world to track down the horse thieves who had taken her colt? That would be flat-out impossible.
    “Let me speak to your mother,” Avery suggested. “I’m sure if I explain she’ll listen to me.”

    “You must be kidding!”
    It turned out that Avery was being a little optimistic when he said that Mrs Brown would listen to him. They had woken her at 6 a.m. and tried to put her in a good mood before they popped the question by making her breakfast. But it soon became clear that it would take more than bacon and eggs to bring her round.
    “You expect me to let Isadora go to Spain with you to hunt down horse thieves?” Mrs Brown shook her head in disbelief. “Tom! This is crazy and you know it!”
    “Mrs B,” Avery began, “it’s perfectly safe. We’ll go over there and prove the colt is ours, talk to the authorities if necessary…” He locked eyes with Issie’s mum. “Amanda, you must trust me. You know I would never put Isadora in any danger. But this is the best chance we have of getting the colt back.”
    “Why don’t you just call the authorities and let them handle it?” Mrs Brown said.
    “Call who exactly? Interpol aren’t going to chase around Andalusia to get a girl’s horse back for her!” Avery said. “Believe me, Amanda, if I thought there was any other way…”
    Mrs Brown shook her head. “Then maybe we have no choice, Tom. Maybe we’ll just have to let Nightstorm go.”
    Issie felt the blood freeze in her veins. “Mum? You can’t mean that!”
    “Issie, I can’t let you go over there by yourself!”
    “But I won’t be going by myself!” Issie said. “Tom will be there, and Francoise too! They’ll look after me. And I’ll call you every day.”
    “This is madness, Issie. Apart from anything else you’ll be missing school.”
    “Last week of term is just a muck-about week, Mum—everyone knows that. I’ve finished all my work.” Issie looked at her mother with pleading eyes. “I’m fourteen years old. I’m old enough to do this.”
    “You’re still my baby,” Mrs Brown objected.
    “And Storm is my baby,” Issie countered, “and he’s out there right now on his own and he’s probably terrified. He needs me.” She paused. “Mum, I can’t leave him with those men. I can’t just pretend that Nightstorm doesn’t exist and go on with life. He belongs here, with me and with Blaze. I have to get him back. And you have to let me go.”
    Mrs Brown looked at her daughter’s face, the strong determined set of her jaw, and the fierce wilfulness that burned in her. They were so alike, mother and daughter—both with their long, dark hair, willowy limbs andolive skin. But there were differences between them too Issie was so headstrong, and so independent,