Chapter Four

Mrs. Perriman hurried around, getting the picnic lunch ready, as it was clear that the matter was settled. The twins went about their usual chores of making beds, washing dishes, tidying the cottage, picking flowers from the garden, milking the goat, and brushing Father’s collie dog. These were all jobs of help to their parents.

Later, when the twin’s lunch was packed, Mother set out to do her shopping. When Father set Lass, the collie, free from her chain, and was saddling Sally for a general round up of the sheep, Pat and Tess, with their two ponies, were ready and waiting for a grand ride.

Along the quiet lane they trotted, to end in a gallop along the ridge of the hills, towards the gate.

Here Father left them. With shouts of “Goodbye, see you later,” they proceeded on their way. After a long ride, they came upon a lonely little path leading deeper into the wood. Patsy at once dismounted, and told her always obedient pony to “stay”. Moonlight did so. With a gesture to Tess to follow, they went along the path, deep into the wood. Suddenly Pat stopped dead. “Shush,” she whispered. “And look,” breathed Tess.

There before them, almost hidden in the trees, was a little hut. Two men were sitting on the ground, obviously very pleased with themselves. Beside them stood Bonzo and Taffy. Patsy signalled to go and at once Tessa followed. Creeping back to the ponies, they mounted and quickly and quietly, disappeared.

“Phew,” said Patsy, breathless.

“Let’s get out of here,” gasped Tessa.

“Let’s go back to that stream we saw further back.”

At the stream was the pleasant sound of the rippling water, but the twins didn’t hear it. They had more important things to discuss.

“They must be the thieves,” said Tess.

“Yes, shall we tell Dad?” asked Patsy.

“No, let’s keep it a secret, and rescue the horses by ourselves,” replied Tessa.

“Oh yes. That’s a marvellous idea.” said Patsy, “Now let’s have lunch, I’m starving.”

Chapter Five

In bed that night, the children chattered excitedly, until Mother growled, “You are not going to the woods again if you are not quiet and go to sleep.”

That really quietened the twins considerably, and after whispers of “Night Sis,” and “Don’t sleep in,” the twins slept soundly. Next morning they woke late, to find their picnic lunch already packed. Mother had gone to visit Mrs. Lee and Father had gone to town to arrange for his sheep to go to the sale. The twins knew this because a note on the table read like this:

After a plate of steaming hot porridge and a glass of milk, left ready for them by Mother, Pat and Tess saddled their ponies and set out for the woods. At the stream they left their lunch and later left the ponies at the entrance to the little track. Creeping along quietly, they came in sight of the hut, which now appeared empty, and the two horses were grazing nearby. Two horses, did I say? Now there were three, for there stood Taffy, very proud indeed of a little black filly which was trying out its very wobbly legs.

Tess crept over to the hut and peeked in at the window, just to make sure that nobody was about. As there was no one to be seen, the twins slipped halters they had brought with them, over the heads of the two horses. The little filly followed unsteadily, as the girls led the horses away.

“I have a plan,” said Pat, “We’ll take them to that old barn nobody uses and leave them there for the night. Then tomorrow when Mum and Dad and the Lees go to the sale we’ll take them back.”

“Oh yes, that’s a great idea,” laughed Tess, “We’ll take them back when nobody’s around and then clear out before we’re seen.”

They collected their lunch and decided to eat it at the barn, where they were going to leave the horses. Later they rode happily home.

Chapter Six

Mother and Father returned home while Pat and Tess were walking the ponies round to cool them off.

“How did you enjoy your day girls?” asked Mother. The twins exchanged a quick glance.

“It was a grand ride Mum, and a super lunch,” said Pat cheerily.

“Evenings come so quickly,” said Father, during tea, “I was having a fine talk with an old friend. Felt like I could have talked for hours.”

“They certainly do,” Patsy agreed.

The next morning was, as usual, bright and sunny. After a fine breakfast, the two excited children set out on their fit and prancing ponies. At the barn, the two stolen horses were glad of a bag of oats each, after a long night in the spooky old barn.

It was a long ride to the barn so the girls had a snack while the horses were eating.

Pat watched the horses carefully as they hungrily cropped the grass, while Tess rode to the Lees farm to see if they had left for the sale. Tess cantered back to say that the farm was deserted, but the girls decided to give the horses a bit of exercise before taking them back to the Lees farm.

After that Tess wrote a note in a disguised hand writing, to pin to the Lee’s door. It read:

Later they returned the horses to the corral and Tess pinned the note to the door. The girls then hid until the Lees returned and saw the horses in the corral and the note on the door.

“They looked so surprised,” laughed Patsy.

That night Mr. and Mrs Lee were invited to the Perriman’s for tea. After the meal, the adults were talking while Tessa and Patsy cleared up and washed the dishes. “So that’s the story,” finished Mr. Lee.

“I’m glad the thieves were caught, and my horses back safe and sound, thanks to the help of the mysterious helper. I sure wish he would introduce himself, as I’d like to say thanks very much.”

“Oh, I’m sure whoever it is knows how very grateful we are,” said Mrs Lee.

The twins secretly exchanged a wink. “We won’t show ourselves, and they’ll never guess,” whispered Patsy.

“They sure wont,” smiled Tessa, “it’s our secret.”

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