Cobweb And The Saluka Diamond

By John P Barker

The second in the Cobweb series of stories about a young girl and her ghost horse. In Cobweb and the Saluka diamond, Phoebe and Cobweb must turn to crime in order to thwart a couple of crooks. Fortunately, they have the help of a mysterious black horse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John P Barker
• Release date: Dec 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310853708

John P Barker

My name is John Barker and I have been writing, as a hobby, for many years now. A couple of years ago, I wrote a story for my daughter and called it Cobweb. It is the story of a young girl and her ghost horse who have various adventures together. As she enjoyed it a great deal, I decided to publish it for others to read. After receiving emails from readers asking for more, I have now written a second story and hope to write a third soon.

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Cobweb And The Saluka Diamond

By John Barker

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, then please make arrangements to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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

Copyright 2013 John Barker

Forward by the author.

The one thing an author strives towards, especially a new author, is an appreciation of his work by you, the dear reader. There is no greater proverbial carrot than a good review or kind email to encourage an writer to continue his work. Fortunately, I have been honoured to receive both for my previous story, Cobweb, and hope that this one is enjoyed equally.

Thank you.

J.B

1.

Any minute now, said Cobweb, for the second time that evening.

You said that ten minutes ago! said Phoebe. She shifted her bottom a bit to try and get some feeling back in to it. She had been sitting on Cobweb for an hour now and was beginning to feel a bit stiff. It had been warm when she had left the cottage earlier that evening but it had grown steadily chillier in the past half hour and she shivered slightly. Now she wished she had dressed in more than a t-shirt and jeans.

They were in a large field on her father’s farm. The dark, hulking shape of a tractor sat a few yards away; silent and formidable.

She looked up at the midnight sky and tried to pick out the north star but it was too cloudy. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance startling Phoebe and she reached down and patted Cobweb’s neck for comfort.

Cobweb was her horse but he was unlike any other, for Cobweb was a ghost horse. He had been poisoned by Phoebe’s so called best friend Connie, a fortnight ago, but had come back to Phoebe in spirit form. Only Phoebe could see Cobweb or hear him speak, and when she rode him, she too became invisible to other people. Together they had already had adventures and now Phoebe thought back to two nights ago when Cobweb had whispered in her ear and told Phoebe of a magic gift that she alone possessed.

Cobweb, do you mean that there are others who can see ghost horses but only me that can do that other thing?

Cobweb nodded his head. That’s right. There are twelve others in this world that can ride with spirit horses but you are the thirteenth and that means you have an extra ability, one that has my kind very excited.

Why though? asked Phoebe, idly stroking the horse’s shaggy mane.

Why? Because of what it means to a ghost horse...

No, interrupted Phoebe. I mean, why me? What has me being the thirteenth got to do with it? Thirteen is an unlucky number isn’t it?

Not if you are a horse, replied Cobweb. The number thirteen is a very special, magical number to a horse. He whinnied and turned his head to look at Phoebe. Of course you would only know that if you were a horse. You should be very proud that this gift has been bestowed upon you.

I am, Cobweb, said Phoebe, pained. I just don’t understand. She glanced down at Sacha, her Staffordshire Bull terrier puppy. She sat on the ground near Cobweb’s feet, yawning and scratching behind her ear. Although the dog could not see Cobweb or Phoebe at that moment, she could hear her mistress talking and so waited patiently for Phoebe to appear again.

Phoebe sighed. Tell me again exactly how I do this.

Before Cobweb could answer the air suddenly went still and Phoebe knew that it was too late, the moment had finally come. Just like last time, she heard the distant rumbling of galloping hooves gradually getting louder and then, in an instant, horses started to appear out of thin air. It was almost like a large barn door had been suddenly thrust open allowing them their freedom.

Like once before, the horses came forward in two’s and three’s and bowed in front of Phoebe and Cobweb, before turning away and galloping around the field in excitement. Phoebe counted at least forty horses of all different breeds.

The last horse that came before them, stooped low and stayed where he was. He was a chestnut stallion with a flash of white along his nose, and four white socks. His back was bowed, his mane was lank and lifeless and Phoebe could see grey around his muzzle.

This is old Trouble, Cobweb told Phoebe. He was an old horse when he died and he has been a ghost now for over a hundred and fifty years.

Cobweb walked over to where Trouble stood and gently nudged him with his nose. The other horse nudged Cobweb back and then both whinnied.

He was a good, kind horse and very worthy of being the first, he said softly.

Cobweb circled the horse slowly then came to stand a few paces away. All the other horses stopped what they were doing and formed in to the shape of a large horseshoe with Cobweb and Trouble in the middle.

Tell me what to do, Cobweb, said Phoebe, quietly. She felt emotional and