Finding Freeway

By Stella Perrott

On their way home from a horse show, Lizzy and her parents encounter a small dog darting perilously close to the freeway. Compelled by compassion, they rescue the frightened animal and welcome him into their family, naming him Freeway. His origins and intended destination remain a mystery, sparking curiosity and wonder.

Freeway proves to be a bundle of joy and energy. He’s affectionate, brave, independent, and playfully mischievous, delighting in accompanying Lizzy and her friends on their horseback rides across the moors.

However, intrigue deepens when Freeway mysteriously vanishes one evening, only to return with an unexpected and lavish item. Questions abound: Where did he find this luxurious gift? What secret adventures is Freeway embarking on?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035848416

Stella Perrott

Stella grew up in the beautiful landlocked African country Zimbabwe. Some of her fondest memories are evenings spent with her family around a log fire under the African night sky. A great animal lover, her mature-years have allowed an opportunity to spend time with her children, grandchildren and their many pets, Stella and her family share a love of all creatures great and small. Her young adult books capture the adventure, joy, and humour of having animals in your life. Enjoy the escapism of Stella’s fresh uplifting fiction.

Book preview

About the Author

Stella grew up in the beautiful landlocked African country Zimbabwe. Some of her fondest memories are evenings spent with her family around a log fire under the African night sky.

A great animal lover, her mature-years have allowed an opportunity to spend time with her children, grandchildren and their many pets, Stella and her family share a love of all creatures great and small. Her young adult books capture the adventure, joy, and humour of having animals in your life. Enjoy the escapism of Stella’s fresh uplifting fiction.

Dedication

My Animal loving granddaughters

Emma, Joy, Anna and Jessica

Copyright Information ©

Stella Perrott 2024

The right of Stella Perrott to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035848409 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035848416 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.co.uk

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

A huge thank you to Cherie Michele Basile for her expertise in editing this book for me

My daughters; Rachel Gerber and Toni Symmonds for proof reading and their never-ending support

My darling sister Avril for her never failing, support and encouragement

To Stephen Scott from Yet Another Creative. Thank you for setting up my website and for your ongoing technical support

Book cover: Thank you to Daniel, Tania, Lucy and James for the photo of Monty

Chapter 1

The Training Show

It was a beautiful sunny June summer day in Devon, England, when the Hamilton Equestrian float drove four excited riders through the showground gates at Sheridan Waters Equestrian.

‘Woohoo!’ shouted Harri as they disembarked. ‘The winning teams have arrived.’

Oscar, Harri’s stepdad, stepped out of the float and lowered the trailer ramp. Harri was first to lead her pony, Dancer, down the ramp onto the field. Lizzy was next, leading Magic, and followed by Philip and his pony, Liberty.

‘Stop sulking!’ Oscar snapped at his daughter Jacquie. ‘We agreed to work as a team today, and as you didn’t help with loading the horses, you can’t expect anyone to help you offload Bonny.’ Jacquie dragged her feet as she made her way up into the horsebox and reappeared, leading Bonny. As she reached the top of the ramp, she slapped Bonny on the hindquarter, sending the frightened pony bolting down the gradient and across the fields.

Fortunately, someone caught her halter and walked her back, handing the reins to Oscar. ‘That was lucky, pal. The gates are open to allow vehicles in;’ the stranger pointed towards the gates. ‘There’s a busy freeway out there.’

Oscar thanked him and made his way back. He was angry with Jacquie. ‘I’ve had enough of your tantrums, my girl. If you can’t behave yourself and take proper care of Bonny – this will be the last show you enter.’

Jacquie gave a sneaky, injured look. ‘It’s not my fault, Dad. I only gave her a little tap to move her down the ramp. I didn’t expect her to bolt off like that.’

‘Okay, no harm done.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Let’s get organised, guys!’ He called to the others. ‘I want the four of you to look over your ponies and make sure they’re sound after travelling, then saddle up. I’m going to confirm your event times on the program.’

Harri (short for Harriette) was fourteen, and together with her younger brother Philip, they lived with their mother, Fiona, and stepfather, Oscar, at Hamilton Equestrian – approximately half an hour’s drive from today’s Training Show. Jacquie lived with her mother in London but spent the school holidays at Hamilton Equestrian.

Lizzy was fourteen, like Harri, and she had travelled with her pony, Magic, in the Hamilton Equestrian float to the Training Show. She lived with her parents and grandparents on the property next door to Hamilton Equestrian.

After the journey, Lizzy spent some time checking that Magic was sound before she collected her saddle. Where’s my saddle? Lizzy frowned, looking at the empty saddle rack. Someone must have already taken it out for me.

She leaned out the door and shouted, ‘did one of you take my saddle out for me?’

‘It should be there, Lizzy. I saw you put it on the rack,’ Harri replied.

‘Well, it’s not here now.’

Philip joined in. ‘I saw Jacquie take a saddle out of the trailer – she put it in our barn.’

Lizzy was dumbfounded. She found it hard to believe that Jacquie would do such a thing, especially after we’ve gone out of our way to include her in all our activities.

‘Jacquie, did you take my saddle out of the trailer and leave it in the barn at Hamilton Equestrian?’

Jacquie shrugged her shoulders. ‘I saw a strange saddle on the rack and I didn’t know it was yours. I asked who it belonged to – you should’ve said something.’

Harri cut in. ‘Lizzy and I were loading the ponies, including your Bonny, so we wouldn’t have heard you – if you really said it.’ Her eyes flashed with anger. ‘Now Lizzy doesn’t have a saddle.’

‘It’s not my fault,’ Jacquie protested. ‘I didn’t know it was Lizzy’s.’

Lizzy was seething. ‘I don’t understand why you’d take anything out of the trailer. What difference does it make if there’s an extra saddle? I think you did it deliberately to keep me from competing – it wouldn’t be the first time.’

‘Ha, that’s a laugh! You don’t stand a chance on that grey donkey.’ Jacquie had finished saddling her pony and swung into the saddle before trotting off.

At that moment, Lizzy saw her parents’ car arrive, and she ran over to greet them. Now she was older;