The Secret Years by Barbara Hannay

Author:Barbara Hannay
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760140175
Publisher: Penguin Group Australia
Published: 2015-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

18

Lucy was up early next morning and waiting, somewhat nervously, on the terrace. She hadn’t asked Nick about the correct riding gear but she assumed her leather jacket, jeans and RM boots would be suitable. The weather wasn’t promising. It had rained again during the night, leaving puddles on the path and, although it wasn’t raining now, banks of grey clouds loomed on the horizon and a cold wind blew in from the sea.

She’d pulled her hair into a practical, army-style knot, but, even so, wisps had pried themselves free and already they were blowing annoyingly in her face.

Nick came striding around the corner, all long legs in jeans, and wearing a rusty corduroy coat over a navy sweater. ‘We’re in luck,’ he called. ‘It’s not raining.’ He glanced to the horizon and gave a shrugging smile. ‘Not yet, at any rate.’

They dodged puddles as they went to the stables, which were built of weather-stained, mossy grey stone that no doubt had been standing there for centuries. Inside, the place smelled predictably of horses and straw, but Lucy found the aroma rather pleasant. Stooping, Nick sorted through a wooden box on the floor and selected a brush, which he gave to her. ‘Hang on to that for a moment.’

Then she followed him down a cobbled passage.

‘This is Fenella,’ he announced as he stopped at a stall and rested his hand companionably on the neck of a chestnut horse with a pretty white blaze on her forehead.

‘Hello, Fenella.’ Lucy’s nervousness returned. Fenella was very tall and her ears were pricked, her nostrils flared and quivering.

‘I’ll fit her with a head-collar and bridle,’ Nick said. ‘That’ll make her secure.’ The gear was hanging on a nearby post and as he slipped the leather straps over Fenella’s head, Lucy found herself distracted by his hands, which were wonderfully large and masculine, with long, strong fingers that looked surprisingly gentle and deft. As he worked he talked quietly to Fenella, calling her a ‘dear old girl’ and ‘a good sort’.

He secured Fenella with a rope to a corner post. ‘Now you can have a go at grooming her,’ he said. ‘You can use that brush.’

Lucy hadn’t expected this. She looked down at the brush in her hand and felt a bit self-conscious. ‘Is there a right or wrong way to do it?’

‘Not really. Just go with the flow. Normally, you’d use a currycomb first, to loosen up any dirt or stray hairs, but she’s actually pretty clean, so this is mainly about giving you a chance to get to know her. It’s a good idea to become acquainted while she’s still in the stall.’

‘I see.’ It made sense, Lucy supposed, and as she tentatively touched the comb to Fenella’s coat the horse appeared to relax, which was reassuring. She pressed a little harder, sweeping the comb in downward motions over Fenella’s flank. ‘She seems to like it.’

‘Oh yes. She’d let you do that all day.’

‘Maybe it’s a bit like going to the hairdresser’s.’

Nick laughed at this and it occurred to Lucy that he understood what it was like for a novice.

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