Disclaimer:
I do not own The Saddle Club but I do own the O'Rylis' and the plot. As much as I want to own Red and stuff him under my bed for keepsakes, I can't. So, without much further ado I'd like to introduce The Saddle Club: Bumble Bee's Return. It was an original story that I thought of whilst watching the first season on the ABC network and it hasn't come out until now. I've recently just graduated high school and now it's the time to let my creativity flow, so for readers who have read this story in the past… I hope you enjoy as this is a complete re-write but still your favourite characters and there dramatics are still here. It was posted long ago, thank you to my faithful reviewers.
Chapter 1: The Return
The stallion's hooves thundered against the hard, cracked ground of outback Australia. Alex's heavy drizabone stuck to her back as sweat poured down her back, who knew the weather could change so quickly in twenty minutes? Just twenty minutes ago, it was pouring down rain and now the sun was blistering hot. Her pack horse was trailing along behind the pair, lugging their gear. As they came to the crest of the hill, Alex grinned.
Below them stood their old home town, Willow Creek.
The black stallion pawed the ground in anticipation to keep moving, sweat was pouring off his beautiful body. Although the hill looked directly onto the town, in the distance you could make out the faint outline of Pine Hollow Stables, this was Alex's destination. Looking over her shoulder, Alex saw her packhorse following easily and he came to a standstill beside her. Both horses nickered as the familiar smells of the town that lingered on the warm, summer breeze. Jesse, the packhorse was born in Willow Creek and Viper was only a foal when they moved away to South Australia.
Dismounting from Viper's saddle, Alex landed lightly on her feet. Ground tying Viper, she removed her jacket and tied it to Jesse's ever growing pile of luggage. She untied his lead rope from Viper's saddle and clipped it to his halter, rubbing his forelock.
"We're home now, Jess." She looked towards the edge of the town; a small child's park was littered with children and their parents. Pulling out a set of binoculars, she looked around the all too familiar park and spied the old cattle trough on the other side of the fence which was beneath a canopy of trees.
"We'll take a rest down there boys, we'll move again in a few hours after the heat dies down a little." She loosened Viper's girth and picked up the horse's lead ropes, leading the way down the hill on foot. The horses followed easily, as they passed, small children ran to the fence to try and pat the horses. Smiling, Alex kept walking as the parents stood up wearily.
"Next time," she smiled at the small children and passed through a gate with the horses in tow. She ground tied them again and filled the trough, people in the park watching on curiously.
"This town will never change, always wanting to know what someone else is doing except minding their own business." She laughed, rubbing Viper and Jesse's neck as they drank deeply. Alex remembered the time her and her best friend, Red, climbed these trees. He fell out of one of them and broke his wrist, stopping him from riding for three months. He wasn't happy; she recalled as she grabbed her water canteen from the saddle and took a swig. Sitting down and leaning against a tree, she remembered her childhood year's right in that very spot.
"Red!" cried a small girl, running along with her hair trailing out behind her in a messy pony tail.
"Lexi!" replied a small boy with hazel eyes, he dropped out of the tree and embraced her in a hug.
"I thought your dad said no," he questioned; a cute but confused look passed his usually calm features.
"Well, I told Miss Jessica that I'd be going to the shops to get an icy pole and that gave me half an hour to come and see you." The girl giggled, hugging her friend back.
"Would you like to get one with me? I saved an extra dollar from my last pocket money so I can get you one too." Alex grinned, feeling proud that she had saved and that she could get her special friend something.
"That would be great; I'll get you something next time." Red grinned back and together they took off to the corner shop where they sold raspberry and lime flavoured icy poles.
"I want to get a green one this time," said Red as they walked into the shop, the familiar ringing of the corner shop bell alerting their arrival to the shop keeper. Old Mister York came out from out back, grinning like he usually did when greeting his customers.
"Hello Mr York," Red and Alex called, taking a seat at the bar. The old man bustled forward and pulled their favourite icy poles out from behind the counter.
"One raspberry one for the lady and a…" He paused, grinning at Red as he wondered if the shop keeper knew his favourite colour.
"Lime green one for the gentleman," Red's mouth dropped open, how did he know!
"Creepy," Red muttered to Alex who was happily sucking away on her icy pole, she handed over the correct amount of money and the pair sat there in the air conditioning.
"How's your father doing, Alex?" Mr York asked, cleaning a few classes with a cloth.
"He's doing fun; after mama passed away he's been really busy with the horses. I mean, I don't mind but I would like to play a game of twister with him…"
Mr York nodded, "Lassie, it's going to be hard on him for a while. Maybe you could make him a card telling him you love him?" the old man suggested, knowing what the small girl must be going through. She was only seven years old and didn't fully understand that her mother was dead and never coming back, the small boy Red O'Malley was her only friend and he supported her very well as he didn't have parents of his own.
"He'll just put it in his draw and not read it; it's what he's done with the other ones I've made him." Alex sniffled, looking down at her lap; she hated crying in front of her friends and family. Red petted her knee softly in comfort; he noted that he should give her a big hug when they were alone.
Alex came back to the present, ten years later and the man still hadn't changed. Sighing, she looked at her watch and took a sip of water; her horses were happily grazing in the shade. It was ok to leave now and the horses wouldn't over heat too much.
