Love Thief: The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts

Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

We settle into a pattern for a few days, me working both the farm and controlling the construction at Cornhill. Marshall and I interview some trainers for the racing yard. I like a sister combo—Molly and Lisa Dickson. Both women bring different things to the party as trainer and assistant. They’ve apprenticed to trainers in the North and over in Ireland. And Molly has been over in America, again as assistant trainer, and feels she’s ready to step up. Marshall and I agree on them, so offer them the yard.

They’re getting their team together, but as they may only have a few horses, it doesn’t need to be too large, and we set a date for July 31st to give us a chance to get the accommodation sorted. We’ve offered them setting up monies and Kellen has decided to buy a horse or two with Xander, of course. Marshall is in charge of picking, along with the girls.

As I’ve been in Devon, I’ve been trying to engage Becky and the women who are at ‘the Cottage’ with Gabe. I feel I need to rise above everything that has happened, and as I will be spending the summer with them, want to try to at least make it a little comfortable. I’ve offered for them to come to the races for a hospitality day. I’ve invited them for dinner. All have been declined for one reason or another, but it’s two days to the off that puts the final nail in my coffin with them.

The problem? Pinky.

She’s been exiled to Greystones Farm for causing disruption with Mr. Tubbs’ tinder dates. It’s a busy time for him, April to October, and the ladies are feeling the love. Pinky, fed up with being kept in the barn that resembled a maximum security prison—with cameras, electric fences and literal guards in the shape of two goats named Magnum and Higgins who bleat every time she tries a move—decides to find an easy mark. She set her sights on the three Purcell boys, visiting us before we moved off to the festivals.

Of course, they don’t really believe our tales of devilry the pony is capable of and allow her to lure them in with little whinnies and a bit of prancing around. She playfully butts the goats, who, to be fair to them, bleat and try to warn the Purcells she’s up to no good. But the foolish boys just laugh at Pinky’s antics and egg her on.

She loves a show, a crowd her utopia, so she puts on a full song and dance and waits for the smallest of the Purcells, Eamonn aged six, to sit on the wrong end of the gate. Or, in Pinky’s case, the right end.

She gently butts him off it and into the paddock. Eamonn, crying with laughter, lays on the paddock floor until one of the security goats tries to butt him with his horns. It was probably in warning, but obviously Eamonn doesn’t know that. Pinky prances and the twins Colm and Oisin, aged ten, open the gate to pull poor Eamonn out.

Having created the perfect opportunity, Pinky makes her dash for the gate, butts Oisin out of the way, dodges Colm, and is free.

Luckily for us, and unluckily for Pinky, we’re all at Greystones.

Pinky heads home to Tubbs, but, knowing not to take the roads, puts her head down and goes native across the fields.

She does, however, get a good head start on us, as the Purcells didn’t want to admit the pony had outfoxed them when it was discovered that the pony had in fact flown the coop.

Marshall and I jump on our motorbikes, and the Purcells each have monkey bikes, so a posse of two motocross bikes and three kids on monkey bikes set off in hot pursuit.

As we follow her tracks across the fields, we see Ian and Dave, who tell us they saw her grazing in one of the fields and assumed she should have been there. They put out an SOS on farm radios to watch for the pony who should be weaving her way home to Crockett and Tubbs.

We reach Coulters Hollow, the fields behind the Farm Cottage, and my heart sinks when I see the tracks headed that way. They veer off, however, toward the orchard.

Marshall shouts she’ll be in there getting her lunch, so he turns to the orchard and the three Purcell boys go through the gap in the hedge toward the Cottage on the monkey bikes.

I follow them through the gap, making sure they’re all okay and to cut Pinky off if she comes out of the orchard. Which she does. At a full gallop. With Marshall not far behind.

The Purcells head for the house, gazebo, and pool. And of course Pinky follows them. I shout to the boys in warning, but Oisin, going too fast, sees the pool late. Fortunately he stops the bike before it goes into the water, but he slides off it straight into the pool, followed by Colm.

Unfortunately it’s full of women. Topless, drunk, or high women, but definitely all screaming fit to murder.

Eamonn pulls up and looks at me. “Aunty Kitten, why are those women naked? It’s not dark yet.”

Ah, the sweet innocence of a child.

Pinky then decides the water looks cool enough to drink, and needs it after a few apples. Setting herself, but clearly getting entranced by her own reflection, she leans too far forward, and splash! She’s swimming with Oisin, Colm, Tiff, and Texas.

Becky runs for the studio, and next thing we have all the band, plus Jurgen, joining in with the general mayhem.

Pinky, seeing the human love of her life, Kellen, starts to whinny at him to come and get her.

What a sight we are, me on my motorbike with goggles on, Eamonn with a miniature pair on (I had bought them all a pair), stood hand in hand watching a pony, two boys and two women all try to avoid each other in a pool.

The boys get out first and are dying with laughter. Emptying water from their goggles, they pull up their bikes that are still teetering at the edge of the pool, and start them up again.

“Are you getting her?” I ask Marshall.

“Not a chance. She’s your pony, midarlin’, time to get wet.” He laughs at me and I put my goggles down and smile at Eamonn, all fake solemnity and puppy dog eyes.

“I’m going in, Eamonn. Remember me to your dad, and tell him I love him.”

He solemnly nods his head. “I’ll help, Aunty Kitten.”

“No, baby, you stand guard with Marshall.” I pass him across to Marshall and grab the headcollar and rope.

Stalking past the men who are rolling with laughter, I grab Kellen. “Come and lure her out, she’ll come to you. Stand at that end and she can get out, it”s shallow.”

I jump in, fully clothed, herding Pinky and the two screaming women towards the shallow end.

Becky stands at the edge of the pool, glaring at me. As if it’s my fault the damn pony is horny all the time. The little boys are leaping around in excitement, giving advice and grabbing Pinky by the mane to hang on to her, whilst she stands canoodling with Kellen.

“Oh my beautiful lady,” he croons at her, “did you miss me? Were you coming for me?”

I interrupt the make out session and say, “Stop being nice to her, she’s the devil.” Pinky just stands and stares adoringly at him. I clip the lead rope onto the headcollar and she is finally secure.

“My hair, my nails, all ruined,” Tiff, standing at the side of the pool, sneers out under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear her. She glares at me and Pinky from under her long eyelashes. “My quiet day by the pool, trampled on by you and your pony.”

I look around in amazement. “And how exactly did we do that?”

“You herded that thing here on purpose,” she grinds out quietly, fuming, and pointing squarely at Pinky.

“Why else would you be dressed like that? You did it so you could ride those stupid bikes over here and upset us,” Texas hisses from behind her friend. “Gabe, do something,” she pouts at him.

Not quite done herself, Tiff adds, “She definitely did it on purpose. She told those boys to get in the pool.”

Oisin looks around in amazement and comes to defend me, but he doesn’t get a chance. Eamonn has heard enough. He and Colm go around the back of all three women and push them back into the pool.

All three boys start bellowing at the screaming women in the pool. “Don’t you shout at our Aunty Kitten. She didn’t do anything. The pony got out. She pushed Eamonn off the fence.”

I stand and start to laugh, full on laugh, and the three little boys all start laughing too.

“Typical Purcell and Greystone, back in business,” laughs Xander, coming to high five the boys. He rubs Eamonn’s head. “Just like your daddy. He would never allow anyone to shout at Kitten, either. Good work boys.”

“Good boys?” shouts Texas. “Good work? That’s it. It’s either her or us on tour. We’re not going if she goes.” She’s finally climbed back out of the pool and is glaring and pointing at me.

“Same goes for me,” says Tiff, and she and Texas turn their attention to Becky.

I raise my eyebrows at her. Is she going to chuck her lot in?

“Same for me,” says Becky.

I look up to the sky in exasperation. They are being ridiculous, and it doesn’t have to be like this. “I did none of this on purp?—.”

“Enough, Evie!” Kellen barks out with a dead straight face. Xander has come to stand next to me, so do all the Purcells. The twins are hanging onto my hands and Eamonn is clutching my legs.

Becky starts to say, “She’s been—” but Kellen holds his hand up to silence her.

The women clearly think he’s going to send me packing and stand glaring at me with smug looks on their faces. I just shrug at him, and lift my hands in a what could I do gesture.

“We’ll sort this out later,” he instructs.

“No,” I shake my head, “we’ll sort it now.” No way am I being dismissed in front of this lot. He can go fuck himself if he thinks that’s happening.

I see Xander smirk. He knew I wouldn’t go quietly. He looks at Kellen in as much as to say ‘your move buddy,’ as do I. Kellen raises his eyes to the heavens.

“Is Uncle Kellen sending you away, Aunty Kitten?” asks Oisin. He turns to Kell and pleads, “It was not her fault, Uncle Kellen. The pony butted the goats and then Eamonn.”

We all start to laugh again as Eamonn does an impression of Pinky butting him. I fall on the floor in hysterics and the boys all pile on.

“Get your goggles down boys, we’re under attack,” I tell them. They all put their goggles down, me included, and we’re all rolling around on the grass.

Marshall sighs and shakes his head at us all, taking the Pony from Kellen and tells me he’ll see me at home.

“Right then, who’s going and who’s staying?” I demand, standing back up and facing them all. I cock my hip at Kellen and the boys all follow suit.

Xander can’t contain his laughter. “Yeah, Kellen,” he says, “who are you sending home?”

The girls have all moved to stand with Gabe and Levi, who are standing on the same side of the pool as Kell, a clear divide it seems.

I’m really pissed now that Kellen is not backing me. I know he thinks I’m a pain in the arse, and cause trouble, but not this time. I decide to take matters into my own hands.

“Tell you what, I’ll make it real easy for you. I’m out. Let’s go boys.” I grab the boys bikes and they jump on.

“Just wait a fucking minute. I did not say for you to go,” Kell shouts, panicked, as I go to get my motorbike.

“But you did not say for me to stay, either.” I get on the bike, and carry on glaring at him. “Don’t bother coming back to Marshall’s. Stay here with these bitches, just about your barrow.” I rev the bike before he can drag me off it. He’s steaming, and when he grabs me, Colm runs into him on his monkey bike.

“Get off our Aunty, get him boys!” They all turn their bikes to drive into him, and only Xander plucking them off the bikes stops them from mowing him down.

“Fucking Purcells. Is it genetic that you defend her?” Kellen shouts as Colm rams him with his miniature motorbike.

I lean over and grab a crop from the bike and hit him with it.

“Get the crops,” shouts Eamonn. “Get them.” They’re like savages, charging in, yelling and whacking.

“Stop,” shouts Bug, who’s appeared round the side of the house. “Boys, what the hell are you doing?”

Eamonn bursts into tears. “They’re shouting at Aunty Kitten, and she didn’t do anything wrong.”

Bug looks at his boys with goggles, monkey bikes, and crops and then at me in the same gear, just about to wallop Kellen. He smiles and says, “Just like old times,”

Then he morphs into full-on playful protector mode and growls, “Who”s hurting my kitten? You better not be Marcus, I’ve got back up,” and he points to the three miniatures of him.

Kellen smiles and Xander steals the crops off the boys, except Eamonn’s who’s jumped into his daddy”s arms.

“Don’t let Uncle Kellen send Aunty Kitten away. We love her. She lets us ride bikes and eat chocolate really late. Stop him Daddy, you’re bigger than him.” And just for good measure, he points at Kellen.

I look at Kell. “Well, am I going?”

“Never my love, you just don’t give me a minute. You’re insane, Kitten. Of course you’re not going, you’re my wife.”

The women are not backing down. “Well, we’ve got a problem with her,” puts in Becky. “Levi, tell him she has got to go. There are more of us, outvote them.” She points to Xan and Kell, clearly believing Xan won’t go against me.

“I’m sorry, Becky,” Levi says, “but you’ll have to go. You set the ultimatum, not Evie. She’s never said she didn’t want you here, although I’m sure she’s thought it.”

“Gabe, what’s it gonna be brother?” asks Xan. “They can’t stay, you’ll have to recruit two more.”

All the girls are aghast. They can’t believe they’re essentially now on the outside looking in. They start shouting again at me, Gabe, and Levi. Levi pushes them towards the house while Kell takes hold of my arm, pulling me off the bike and into his body.

“Just about my barrow, really?”

I shrug at him. “Enough, Evie,” I mimic.

“You’re feral and you’ve got these boys feral. They were normal yesterday and look at them today,” he looks down at Colm at his feet, “trying to kill their uncle in your defence.”

“Don’t mess with us, then. It’s that bloody pony. She’s feral, she played them.”

Bug calls to his brood, “Right boys, saddle up. Let”s get back to Cornhill. Kitten, come home. Nikki sent me to tell you dinner’s not far off.”

The boys all get on their little motorbikes, and Colm turns to ask Kellen, “You won’t send her away, will you, Uncle Kellen?”

“No, Colm, no. I won’t.”

“Promise, Uncle Kellen,” says Oisin.

“God in heaven, lads. No, she is going nowhere.”

They all grin at him. “Just checking,” says Oisin.

Bug comes over and kisses me. “Give ‘em hell, Kitten.” He laughs and takes his three young sons off towards the road and back to Cornhill.

“Crop again, Kitten? You’re getting a bit handy with that thing,” Kell laughs out.

“I like it,” I tell him, and bat my lashes at him.

Xander laughs, “Oh god, that was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t know how you manage it, you always get in ridiculous situations.”

“Pot and kettle,” I retort. “We have a problem, though, with the girls. They hate me, and I don’t know why. I’ve invited them to tea and all sorts this week, but they aren’t interested. I don’t get it. I literally have done nothing really.” I’m shaking my head in disbelief.

“Ah, but you married the golden goose,” says Xan, “how dare you.” He drags me out of Kell”s arms and into his. “You didn’t do anything, they just don’t like the fact you’re different. Look at you today and look at them.” He gestures around the pool area, littered with empty wine glasses, discarded beauty products, drug paraphernalia.

“It doesn’t make me better or worse, just different. You can’t see Tiff on this bike? With these goggles on? Three savages on her tail and a delinquent pony?” I ask. “I don’t know what I can do to make it better. I’ve tried, honestly, I’ve been nice.”

Kellen starts to laugh, throwing his head back and finally gets out, “You smashed a dining room up with a baseball bat, flattened my Ferrari with a tractor, then tried to drown them with a pony, motorbikes and three wild children. Not sure you’re coming back from that.”

Our phones all ping in unison. Kell gets to his first and his face pales as he reads out the messages.

James

WTF Dad? You did not try to send mum away. Colm just WhatsApp me

Bucky

leave Pinky alone. She needs love from Tubbs. And Mum’s going nowhere. Eamonn phoned

“Fucking kids,” Kellen scowls.

I check my message.

Sunshine

MUM stay put. I’ll come back. Eamonn is crying.

Xander’s phone rings and he looks at it. “James,” he answers and starts to laugh. “Yep all true. No you don’t have to, she’s going nowhere. Eamonn’s like his daddy, over emotional when it comes to your mother. No, they”re here. Do you want to speak to them?” He nods and hands the phone to Kellen.

Kell puts the phone to his ear. “James, stop shouting. I never said she was to go, she never gave me a chance. No, why would I do that? I”m married to her, of course I love her.” He rolls his eyes at that. “James, those women are history. They started it. Pinky wasn’t to blame really either. Yes she’s here.” He hands me the phone, blowing out a breath. “He wants you.”

“Hey, baby,” I say to him.

“What the fuck, Mum. Did he tell you to go?” James is up a height.

“Not really. He just didn’t say things fast enough,” I placate him.

“Are those women leaving? They’ve wanted you gone since Vegas,” he says.

“Yeah, I know. I think so, not sure to be honest, we’ll see.” I blow out a breath.

“Well, I can come home and evict them from the cottage if I need to. I’m not bothered about upsetting Gabe or Levi, for that matter.”

I smile at that, he really wouldn’t be.

“I know, baby, but you don’t have to. I’m fine. Make sure you tell Bucky.”

“He’s here, he can hear you.” I grin into the phone. “Hey, baby, hope you’re ok and enjoying yourself. I’ll send you the pictures of the day. They’ll be on the CCTV. It”s like a comedy sketch. Although Pinky was making out with Kellen, so maybe don’t look, Bucky.” I start to laugh and we say goodbye.

I turn and look at the two men in front of me. “I’m off,” I say to them both. “If you’re coming home, come, but I think you both have stuff to sort.”

I nod towards Gabe as he comes out of the house. “Gabe, I didn”t do any of that on purpose,” I tell him. “I’m sorry if it causes you a problem.”

He sighs, “It’s not you, Evie, it’s them. I’ll find someone else on the festival circuit. Might be nice for a change,” he grins at me.

I go home and wait to see the results of the day. It turns out the only survivor is Becky, who I actually think is the ring leader. Telling Levi she felt she had to back them both. That she couldn’t go against them publicly when she lives with them, and she is actually fine with me. ‘Yeah right’ I think. She’s had all her chances and blown them all. No, not a friend at all. And we are far from fine.