Where the Crickets Sing

One – Camping in Lantern Waste

Two – It All Goes Wrong

Three – The Pony Trek

Four – The Last Ride

Five – The Explosion

Six – Messing About in Boats

Seven – The Storm’s Gift

Eight – Sonnet

Nine – The Accident

Ten – New Life

Eleven – Raggle–taggle Gypsies

Twelve – Dad’s Mistake

Thirteen – Grinding Work

Fourteen – Digging for Gold

Fifteen – Liklik Longlong

Sixteen – The Cabin in the Pines

Seventeen – Inspections

Eighteen – Angel Disappears

Nineteen – Pigs in the Barn

Twenty – Rooftop Lullaby

Twenty–one – In the Ditch

Twenty–two – Tiger Attack

Twenty–three – Cream, Glorious Cream

Twenty–four – The Birthday Surprise

Twenty–five – Buckets of Rain

Twenty–six – The Gypsy Pony

Twenty–seven – The Rag Tag Bunch

Twenty–eight – Mom Has a Meltdown

Twenty–nine – Across the Prairie

Thirty – Saving Skinny

Thirty–one – Polly Plummer

Thirty–two – Flibbertigibbet in the Wars

Thirty–three – Smelly Feathers

Thirty–four – Grandma’s Struggle

Thirty–five – Daughter of Eve

Thirty–six – Happy as a Cricket

Acknowledgments

About Rosie Boom

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Chapter One

Camping in Lantern Waste

The trees rustled in the gentle morning breeze and murmured to each other along the banks of the Great River of Narnia. The soft munching of cows mingled with the joyful morning chorus of hundreds of birds. Blue smoke curled up through the spreading branches of the totara and karaka trees and disappeared into a cloudless sky.

It worked! Milly triumphantly stoked the campfire. It actually worked. She beamed at her brothers and sisters. No need to light the fire for our breakfast this morning. It came to life again as soon as I took the clods of earth off.

Well done, chook, said eighteen–year–old Kate. Handy thing to know how to do, huh.

Yes, and it’s so simple. All you have to do is cover the fire with clumps of earth at night and then pour some water on them.

Eight–year–old Jacob looked admiringly at the crackling fire. You can learn quite a lot from books. If Mom hadn’t read us Swallows and Amazons we wouldn’t have known how to do that.

Yes, well let’s not waste the fire, you slow–pokes, said Milly. It’s breakfast time. Someone run up and get some fresh eggs from the hen house.

I’ll go! Jacob darted off through the glade of Lantern Waste and sprinted across the meadow. His blond hair flew behind him as he ran. Only the matted patch that looked like a bird’s nest on the back of his head failed to take flight.

Ellie broke off two long sticks from a fallen branch and poked a piece of bread on each of them. Why don’t you and I do the toast, Sam? Milly can heat up the frying pan ready for the eggs. They sat on either side of the fire holding the bread over the flames and turning the sticks until the toast was nicely browned. Kate set the plates on top of a tree stump.

Only a few minutes passed before Jacob could be seen running back to the camp site. He had half a dozen eggs nestled in the sag of his tee–shirt. As he knelt down by the fire, he gently tumbled them out onto the long grass.

Did you say thank you? Milly picked up a large brown speckled egg and cracked it into the pan. Jacob looked at her quizzically.

Milly rolled her eyes. To the hens.

Oh, I forgot. Jacob picked up his chosen egg and cracked it into the cast iron pan beside Milly’s.

Kate laughed and rumpled his hair. Not to worry. I’m sure they’ll forgive you just this once. She put the toast on the plates and began to butter the slices. Did anyone hear the lions roaring this morning? They were making a real racket. Must have been hungry.

Jake and Sam both shook their heads. I didn’t hear a thing, said Sam.

Milly looked up from the fire. I could hear Aslan roaring when I got up to do the fire.

Ellie peered into the pan at the golden eggs. Well, I can hear something roaring and rumbling now, but it’s not the lions. I’m starving! Let’s have breakfast.

By the time they’d finished and cleaned their plates in the river, the sun had risen well above the totara trees behind The Ruins. Their new home was slowly taking shape. Dad hoped to finish the framing of the upstairs, get the roof on and close the whole house in before the end of summer. He was determined not to spend a third winter in the barn. Mom kept telling him that, for a pessimist, he was being awfully optimistic. And besides, the rest of the family was more than happy to have another year in the barn.

Milly lay on her back in the long grass and stared up at the sky. It was a soft gentle blue through the lacy umbrella of green leaves. The tall, dark trunks of totara, gum and karaka trees stretched up like giants above her. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the countryside rejoicing in another summer day. She could hear the crickets and cicadas singing and Kate talking to the boys, but her mind filtered them out. She began to dream of galloping bareback along a shoreline, with the thunder of surf and hooves all around her and the taste of salt on her lips. She had been looking forward to the Pony Club horse trek out to the beach for months, and it was finally just a few days off.

Kate’s voice broke into her thoughts. Come on, guys. We’d better get back to the barn. Dad’s keen for us to help with the clean–up today.

Groans rose from the grass around her. A lot of people had come to their ninety–year–old barn for a New Year’s Eve celebration and the place hadn’t been tidied up yet.

Do we have to? asked Jacob.

Milly glowered at him. You need to do more work around the place. And learn not to complain.

‘You’re a fine one to talk, laughed Ellie. Who moans and groans when she’s asked to do the dishes?"

At least I do lots of other work, Milly shot back. She loved helping Dad on the farm and looking after her animals, but she wasn’t so keen on housework.

Kate stood up and rumpled her sister’s hair. And no–one would argue with that, chook. Anyway, why don’t we just get on with it? We’ll be done in no time with everyone helping.

They threw some water on the fire and then made their way across the meadow. Milly kicked at a piece of charred wood lying in a large circle of blackened grass—all that was left of the huge New Year’s Eve bonfire. She chuckled at the memory of Prince Caspian, the pheasant, racing beside the tractor and then riding high on each log as Dad lifted them onto the bonfire. Prince Caspian seemed to think he was the supervisor on the job.

When Milly reached the barn, she saw Mom and Dad sitting together on the rustic love swing. Shasta, their tabby cat, sat beside them, purring contentedly.

How are the campers? Mom asked. Did you have any problems with possums?

Sam nudged Dad along the seat and sat down beside Mom. We heard them a few times in the night, but they stayed away from the tent. Angel must have scared them off.

Their rough–haired Jack Russell heard her name and rested her nose on Mom’s knees, gazing up with amber eyes. Angel had been part of the family for seven years. It was easy to remember how old she was because they had got her just after Jacob’s first birthday. What a good girl. Mom fondled her ears.

Do you realise Angel will be eight soon? Jacob stroked her head thoughtfully. That’s because I’m going to be nine in a couple of weeks. His eyes got a dreamy look in them. And then the year after that I’ll be ten. Ten! That mean I’ll be half child, half human.

Loud guffaws from the whole family stopped Jake from elaborating further.

Josiah choked on a spoonful of muesli. Half human, eh? The nineteen–year–old grinned wickedly at his youngest brother. I always knew there was something different about you.

Jake grinned back, not bothering to correct his own mistake, enjoying the fun and attention.

Dad’s blue eyes crinkled in his tanned face. Well, my little half human, are you ready to do some real human work today?

Jacob’s shoulders slumped.

Mom laughed and gave him a hug. Don’t be so dramatic, darling. It won’t take long with eight of us helping. And can I give you some advice? Don’t be too eager for your birthdays to come along. Being nine can be pretty exciting. Ten can wait for a while.

Yeah, you listen to her, Jake. I wouldn’t mind being nine again. Milly groaned. I’m going to be thirteen this year! That’s so old!

Dad laughed as he got up and went over to find his rubber boots. Angel watched him expectantly, eager to join in the action. Dad gave her a pat. Look at Angel, kids. She’s keen.

Do you know what Pooh Bear said? Mom asked as she searched for her boots. ‘When you see someone putting his Big Boots on, you can be pretty sure an Adventure is going to happen.’ So let’s all put our boots on and have an adventure.

I can’t. Someone must have taken my sneakers, complained Ellie. They’re not here.

Perhaps your sneakers have sneaked away. Josiah glanced at Mom, sure she would appreciate his joke.

Good one, Joe, she laughed.

But Milly didn’t want to move. The sun’s warmth seeped into her like butter into hot toast.

Jacob gave her a quick dig in the ribs as he went past. Come on, lazy. She jumped up and raced after him.

Leave him alone, warned Mom. Save your energy for the clean–up. Oh, and Milly, I just remembered. The farrier rang last night. He’s coming out this afternoon to shoe the horses ready for the trek.

All thoughts of revenge forgotten, Milly spun around. Really! What time?

Two, or two–thirty. So we need to have them by the barn ready for him.

Milly glanced over to her western saddle and felt a hot flush of excitement race through her. She could hardly wait for the beach trek. She looked at the others impatiently. Come on, you guys. Hurry up. I’ve got lots to do today.

Chapter Two

It All Goes Wrong

Peony’s dark coat gleamed in the sun. Milly had given her pony a hose–down to cool her off before the farrier came. Mom had hosed Pharaoh too. He had danced and pranced around her and flicked water with his nose until Mom was drenched. The farrier put down Peony’s leg and wiped the sweat off his brow. Milly felt proud at how well–behaved Peony had been. She hoped Pharaoh would behave himself. He probably hadn’t been shod for years.

Mom led her white Arab into the shade of the tree. The farrier stroked his neck and let Pharaoh sniff his hand. Fine looking horse. He fingered the brand on Pharaoh’s left shoulder. 82. So he’s twenty –seven, eh? Wouldn’t know it. He bent down and lifted a front hoof.

Mom’s a bit worried about him being too old to go on the long trek, said Milly.

The farrier gave a laugh. No need to worry. These Arabs are the best endurance horses in the world. They were born to gallop across the desert for hours. They’ve got big hearts, you know.

Milly nodded. She could just imagine Pharaoh galloping across the desert with a sheik on his back, tail held high.

I’m more worried about how my tail bone will handle it, truth be known, said Mom. I broke it ages ago and it still gives me trouble. Pharaoh reached up and nibbled a strand of willow.

The farrier glanced up from his work. There’s your horse’s answer to aches and pains. The bark and leaves of the willow have aspirin in them. And horses seem to know that.

Aha! said Mom. That’s good to know. But I think I’ll take my own pain relief out just in case. And I’ll put a sheepskin over my saddle. That should help.

That night at the dinner table, all talk centered on the trek. Auntie Penny had offered Ellie the chance to ride her big half–draught horse, Seth. In addition, she would take out all the gear and set up camp. Grace, their cousin, was taking her chestnut quarter horse, Eva.

How are you going to get the four horses out to the starting place, Rose? asked Dad.

I think the plan is to take Seth and Peony out to the farm near the start of the trek tomorrow night. Then we can leave early the following morning with Pharaoh and Eva. It’s been a bit of a challenge working out which horses would float best together. Penny’s a bit worried about Eva. They’ve had a lot of trouble trying to get her to load onto a float in the past. We’re hoping Pharaoh will be a good role model.

Dad winked at the boys. Should ride a motorbike. They do whatever you tell them to.

Mom smiled at her husband. Perhaps. But horses don’t run out of petrol way out the back of a farm. Then she looked at Milly. Ellie, make sure you—

Milly rolled her eyes. Mom! I’m not Ellie.

Mom nodded apologetically. Fine. I know that.

She gets all our names muddled up, Sam told Milly. Sometimes she calls me Joe, Jake, Chris and even Kate before she gets my name right.

Joe leaned back in his chair. Well, she used to call me all your names, too, when I was a little baby.

Mom spluttered with laughter and Joe grinned at her.

It took Jake a moment to catch on. But we weren’t born when you were a baby.

Oh, weren’t you?

Kate gave her brother’s shoulder a friendly punch. Joe, you should be a comedian. Then Mom could come to all your shows and laugh at your jokes.

I would too! grinned Mom. Anyway, Milly—make sure you sort out all your tack tonight and put it in the back of the truck. And both you girls pack your clothes. And make sure you put in some warm clothes and a raincoat.

Milly and Ellie jumped up from the table and ran off.

And what am I going to do while you all head off to your various events? asked Dad. Work, work, work, while you shirk, shirk, shirk, I suppose.

His family smiled at him, refusing to feel guilty.

You could come to the kid’s camp with us, Dad! said Jake and Sam together.

Yeah. You could come and be a leader like Kate and me, said Joe. And go for a run at five every morning and make sure all the noisy kids behave.

Dad got up and put his plate on the bench. Maybe I’ll just stay here and keep building the house for my runaway family.

An early mist covered the ground when Milly woke at six and looked out the loft window. A fiery red sunset had blazed in the sky the night before, with the promise of a fine day for the trek. The barn seemed quiet and still. Joe and Kate and the two boys had headed out to their camp the day before, and Ellie was still fast asleep. Milly went over to her and gave her a small shake. Wake up, Ellie! It’s the trek.

Ellie’s eyes flew open and excitement flooded her face. Together they raced downstairs and into Mom and Dad’s bedroom. Mom was sitting up in bed, reading.

I’ve been awake for ages, she said. Too excited to sleep. And nervous. I hope Pharaoh and Eva float alright. And I hope my broken tail bone handles five hours in the saddle.

You’ll be just fine, Mom, Ellie reassured her. And I reckon Pharaoh will teach Eva some manners.

When they reached Auntie Penny’s the mist had evaporated. The leaves of the poplars and alders shook and sang in a gentle warm breeze. Auntie Penny had backed the float into the driveway by

Grandma and Grandpa’s and she and Grace stood by the gate holding Eva and Pharaoh.

Hope you don’t mind, Rose, Penny called out. I caught Pharaoh for you. Thought it would be good to get started as soon as possible. This could take a while.

Milly glanced at her face. She looked excited but slightly anxious.

No worries, called Mom as she parked the truck.

Milly saw G and G smiling to her from their window. She ran in to say hello while Ellie and Mom loaded Penny’s car with all their gear.

It didn’t take long before they were ready to load the horses. Auntie Penny tied a long rope to one side of the back of the float. We may not need it but I’d like to have it ready, just in case.

Mom took hold of Pharaoh’s halter and whispered in his ear. Then she led him up the ramp and into the float. Eva whinnied nervously and stamped her feet. Pharaoh nickered back to her.

Fantastic! said Auntie Penny. That was easy. Can you stay in there with him, Rose, while we try Eva? There’s some hay in there for them.

Milly and Ellie stood to one side of the ramp. Auntie Penny stood on the other as Grace walked Eva towards it. The chestnut’s head went up and she strained back on the lead rope.

Talk to her, Grace, said Auntie Penny.

Trembling, Eva placed one tentative hoof on the ramp, then another.

Milly grinned at Auntie Penny. This was going to be easy. Then Eva pulled backwards, jerking Grace’s arm. Pharaoh fidgeted inside the float.

Never mind. Try again. Auntie Penny’s voice was calm. But Milly could see the worried lines on her face.

Eva’s muscles trembled beneath her shiny golden coat. Time and time again, she placed her front hooves on the ramp, only to move backwards and rear. Sweat soon dripped from her sides and foamed in her flank.

Auntie Penny wiped her brow. Okay, we need to use the rope. This time I’ll bring it gently behind her rump as she goes up. Milly and Ellie, can you be ready to lift the ramp if she goes in?

The girls nodded and moved into position. Grace looked tense as she led Eva towards the float. Eva’s nostrils blew in and out as she approached it. As soon as her two front hooves were on the ramp, Ellie placed a hand on Eva’s rump. Auntie Penny moved behind her with the rope. Eva’s big back quarters bunched and trembled when she felt the rope, but she stood still. Soft voices filled the air as everyone murmured encouragement. Step by step, Eva picked her way up the ramp. Pharaoh nickered to her and turned his head to watch. At last, she stood trembling beside him. Grace handed the halter rope to Mom, slipped out the little side door and went around the back.

Good girl. Good girl. Mom stroked Eva’s drenched neck and offered her some hay.

Auntie Penny clipped the chain into place behind Eva. The ramp groaned as Ellie and Milly lifted it into place.

Yes! Milly grinned over at Grace.

With a loud snort, Eva lurched backwards, half rearing inside the float. There was a loud crack as the chain snapped and snaked through the air.

Look out! cried Mom.

Milly felt Eva’s full weight hit the ramp, driving it from her hands and sending her crashing to the ground. A searing pain flashed through her leg as the ramp fell on it. Eva charged backwards. Milly heard the pounding of hooves on metal and several people shouting. Then Auntie Penny was beside her lifting the ramp off her leg. Oh, Milly. Are you alright?

Milly nodded as tears began to course down her face. Her leg and elbow burned like fire. Her face felt as if it had been hit by a rock. Grace stood nearby, holding her head and crying.

Can you move? asked Auntie Penny. I’m worried Pharaoh might rush out at any moment.

Milly took hold