Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage by Cathy Woodman

Author:Cathy Woodman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arrow Books

Chapter Twelve

No Foot, No Horse

I’m grooming Rafa outside his stable on the Sunday morning after the fete when Robbie rides up and looks over the grey stone wall outside Wisteria House.

‘Hi,’ he calls from Diva’s back. ‘How are you?’

‘Okay, thanks.’ I pause from scrubbing at the mud on my horse’s shoulder with his rubber currycomb. I tap it against the stable, knocking out a cloud of dust. ‘And you?’

‘I’ve been better.’

‘How is Nelson?’

‘Matt’s coming out to see him again in the week.’

I don’t probe any further. Obviously, he’s showing no sign of improvement.

Someone shrieks, ‘Look at me!’

It’s Maisie, but I can’t see her at first. A white face with pricked ears appears through the honeysuckle and brambles that clamber across the top of the wall, followed by Maisie’s hat and eyes as she stands in her stirrups, balancing precariously.

‘You’re off the lead rein,’ I say, avoiding Robbie’s gaze.

‘Yay!’ She punches the air. ‘We’re going down to the river. Do you want to come?’

‘I won’t, thank you.’

‘I’d really appreciate it if we could arrange to talk sometime,’ Robbie says. ‘Would you be able to come over for coffee or tea later this afternoon? Maisie’s going to play with a friend.’

‘I wanna stay and see Flick.’

‘You’ve agreed to go to Chloe’s. Please, Flick.’

‘No, I’m all right. Another time.’

‘Oh, go on,’ Robbie joins in. ‘I was hoping that you might have forgiven me.’

‘I don’t want to discuss it,’ I say, swapping the currycomb for the body brush. I’m happy with my horse. I don’t want to revisit the day before. What’s done is done.

‘What are you and Flick talking about?’ Maisie frowns and hauls on Paddington’s reins as he takes a mouthful of leaves from the tree that overhangs the wall.

‘Nothing,’ Robbie says. ‘That’s a fib. It must be something.’

‘It was inconsequential chat.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Never mind. We’re talking about the price of fish,’ he says.

‘Oh?’ Paddington turns his bottom towards Diva, making the mare flatten her ears.

‘No kicking.’ Robbie pushes her away.

‘What sort of fish?’ Maisie asks.

‘Salmon, mackerel … all kinds.’ He flashes me a brief smile. ‘Are you sure we can’t persuade you to come with us?’

‘Quite sure,’ I say. ‘Good luck with the vet, by the way.’

Robbie thanks me for my concern and the two of them ride away along the lane. Rafa fidgets, wanting to go with them, and I feel a little mean for spoiling his fun. He would have enjoyed the company of the other horses.

As the sound of two sets of hooves fade into the distance and one of Louise’s chickens clucks to announce that she’s laying an egg, I wonder why Maisie’s revelation about Kerry and the wedding bothers me so much. We weren’t a couple. We were two mates having a good time, that’s all, and today Robbie looks far from the romantic hero, with his tired eyes and tatty old sweat top. I’m trying to make him appear less attractive, but he’s still as gorgeous when he looks slightly wrecked … no, more than ever.

I

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