Chapter Eight
Dagmar
D agmar lifted a saddle from the hook. She routinely had to inspect the tack, and as there were no lessons until later, this was the best opportunity. She wasn’t expecting anyone, so when she heard voices approaching, she stopped to listen. Caitlin had gone home to study, but it was probably just some horse owners dropping by to check on their animals. As they had full, part and a couple of DIY liveries, it was entirely likely, but she liked to make sure. She peered into the courtyard to see Ophelia and Brann.
Could she slip back in again unnoticed? These two were very demonstrative and didn’t mind public displays of affection. Dagmar wasn’t surprised Caitlin left the house to avoid them. This wouldn’t be the first time Dagmar had walked in on them mid-kiss. Maybe if she was as beautiful as Ophelia and had a boyfriend as sexy as Brann, she might want to do the same, but she wasn’t and she didn’t, and she wasn’t that thrilled about watching them either. Thankfully they seemed to be talking and nothing else – for now. She should make her presence known in case they were thinking of nipping in here… to do whatever they fancied.
‘Hi,’ she said.
Ophelia spun around and Brann put his hands in his pockets, grinning.
‘Hello,’ Ophelia said. ‘I was just looking for you.’
‘Were you?’
‘Indeed.’ Ophelia’s eyes were sharp. ‘I’ve just seen the bank account, and James has paid for a block of lessons. And I saw an email saying he was starting today. When is he due in?’
Dagmar kept her face impassive. ‘He’s already been. He wants most of them to be early in the morning or in the evening.’
‘I see. I suppose that’s to fit around his work.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘I wish I knew what he was up to.’
Brann gave a little shrug. ‘He definitely didn’t look like he’d ever been riding in his life. When I saw him here before, he looked like he’d never even been on a farm.’
‘Did he say anything to you?’ Ophelia looked at Dagmar.
Dagmar shrugged. ‘Not really.’
Ophelia studied Dagmar’s face. ‘Well, it seems very strange to me.’
‘I just teach the lessons.’ Dagmar held out her hands. ‘Doesn’t really matter to me why he’s taking them.’
‘True.’ Ophelia gave her a half-smile. ‘I’ve been thinking. With the extra lessons and everything, we could employ some more staff. It’s long overdue.’
Dagmar’s stomach tightened. ‘Maybe,’ she said, and while she knew it was true, she could also see problems.
‘Caitlin says it’s a lot of work,’ Brann added. ‘She can be a lazy so-and-so like all teenagers, but I believe her. You did a great job teaching her to ride when she was in a bad place, and that’s what you should be able to focus on; not all the livery stuff too.’
‘I manage.’ Dagmar gave him a brief smile, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She always found it hard to believe he was Caitlin’s dad, and even stranger that he had a son who was twenty. He just didn’t look old enough – and neither did Kristi. They must have been very young parents.
‘I know you manage,’ Ophelia said. ‘But managing isn’t thriving. We want you to have a bit more breathing room. I’ll start looking into it.’
Dagmar ground her teeth. The idea of someone new filled her with dread. It meant getting to know another person, meeting someone different and hopefully liking them. She coped with Caitlin and Francesca because they were young and not officially staff. What if Ophelia employed someone much more “out there” than Dagmar, someone who would take over? Dagmar’s insides roiled. She didn’t see herself coping well with that.
She forced a smile. ‘Ok. Thanks.’
Brann nodded. ‘If Caitlin was a bit older, she’d probably want to do it, but I’d like her to at least sit her exams first, though if she’s anything like me and her mum, she’ll find a more practical job than an academic one.’
‘Of course.’ It made sense, though Dagmar had never done well with exams. Her calling had always been horses, and she’d been happy to take an Open College course on equine studies alongside the job here. But it wasn’t up to her to make that decision for Caitlin, and she didn’t even feel she could mention it to Brann without seeming too pushy.
‘We’ll keep you updated,’ Ophelia said.
‘Thanks.’ Dagmar backed into the tack room, her gaze darting to Brann and Ophelia as they crossed the yard. Brann put his arm around her shoulder, and she tucked her hand into the back pocket of his jeans. Honestly, they should get a room. Or maybe I should look for some romance for myself . It might make her less uptight about it. But how she’d go about that now, she really wasn’t sure. Sometimes she felt like a regency spinster transported to modern times. She didn’t really fit anywhere except with horses.
When she finished inspecting the tack, she tidied up a bit, then went outside. Everything was quieter now, and the lessons weren’t until later. She could use this time to do some shopping and nip in to see her mum. But the conversation with Ophelia and Brann lingered, unsettling her. The idea of new staff gnawed at her, making her tense and a little twitchy.
She grabbed her keys and headed for the truck. The drive to Glenbriar was always pleasant, and a brief change of scenery would do her good.
As she drove, the landscape rolled by, lush green fields and trees around the lochside blurring together. She usually enjoyed these sights, but her thoughts kept circling back to new staff.
Just what I need.
The idea of having to interact with someone new, to explain her routines and preferences, was daunting. She barely managed with the people she already knew. Gripping the steering wheel, she thought of some stranger coming in, disrupting her carefully constructed world.
And then there was James and the lessons. Another worry to add to the list. What if she accidentally blurted out something to Ophelia?
The truck rumbled along the country road towards Glenbriar. When she arrived, she parked in the car park of the small supermarket, unclipped her seatbelt, and got out. She only needed a few things. She didn’t eat a lot, and she had to be frugal. Her wage didn’t go far. As soon as she had what she needed, she’d nip down to the Cosy Bean Café for a chat with her mum. Boy, did she need it. If anyone could help her clear her head, it was her mum.
When she pushed open the door to the Cosy Bean Café, the familiar bell jingling overhead. Sadly, there were no customers, but the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods was like a comforting embrace. Her lovely mum stood behind the counter, scribbling something on a notepad. She looked up and smiled as Dagmar approached.
‘Hi, darling. Good to see you, love. What can I get you?’
‘Just a coffee, please.’ Dagmar leaned on the counter.
Dotty nodded and started making the coffee. ‘How’s your day been?’
‘Busy. And complicated.’
Dotty set the coffee in front of her. ‘What’s happened?’
Dagmar took a sip of the coffee. ‘I’m not sure if you remember someone I was at primary school with called James Charlton.’
Dotty raised an eyebrow. ‘Of course I do. He stole your Schleich horse and upset you so much.’
‘Exactly.’ Dagmar knew she’d remember. ‘Don’t tell anyone this…’ She knew it went without saying, but she’d promised not to say anything. ‘But he came to the stables the other day asking for lessons.’ She recounted the story to her mum and how he’d said they were to be “refresher” lessons.
‘But he was lying?’
‘Yes. He’s never ridden a horse in his life. Ophelia’s desperate to know why he’s doing it, and I can’t tell her the real reason.’
Dotty’s expression turned concerned. ‘Why not?’
‘He’s doing it to impress someone rich – I better not say who – with a view to marrying her. But he doesn’t want anyone to know, especially Ophelia, so don’t tell anyone else. I probably shouldn’t be telling you, but it’s all so confusing.’
Dotty nodded slowly. ‘I won’t tell a soul.’
‘It’s stressing me out. I hate keeping things from Ophelia. She’s my boss. I didn’t want to teach him at all, but he made me an offer I can’t refuse.’
‘Oh?’ Dotty frowned. ‘Nothing bad, I hope.’
‘He said he’ll save the café.’
‘What?’ Dotty gaped at her.
‘Yup. He read my social media post, and he said he’ll use some community fund at Duchan Fayre to save the café if I get him riding well enough to fool this person into thinking he’s been doing it all his life.’
‘Dear, dear. Are you sure you can trust him?’
Dagmar let out a wry laugh. ‘No, I’m not sure I can trust him at all. But then, I never trust anyone.’
‘Oh darling, you get that from me. After your father, I found it so hard to trust. It’s easier to have many acquaintances but few close friends.’
‘But you’re outgoing and sociable. I’m not.’
‘You were always a quiet and thoughtful girl.’
‘Ophelia’s also talking about hiring new staff, which means more people, more complications.’
Dotty reached across the counter and patted Dagmar’s hand. ‘I know you’ve always liked horses better than people, love. But sometimes, you’ve got to let them in a bit, even if it’s hard.’
Dagmar sighed, her shoulders slumping. ‘I know. It’s just… new staff means new routines, new dynamics. I’m not good with change.’
‘You’re stronger than you think,’ Dotty said. ‘And as for James, just do the lessons. I’m not sure I believe he’ll do anything for us in return.’
‘Well, he’s promised, so he better.’ Dagmar took another sip of her coffee. The worst thing was, she wanted to believe him. Her heart ached for him to be telling the truth and to save this place. It would help so much. But her mum was right. She just had to keep her head down, do the lessons and not let anything complicate matters further.
The following morning, Dagmar plaited her hair again, as she did every day. James was due, and he was going to try tacking up Conker himself. Once he’d got the hang of that, she would teach him more about body language and how to use rewards. Whether he remembered it all was another matter. If he failed in front of Lady Victoria, would he blame Dagmar and refuse to honour his promise?
Trusting him wouldn’t come easy. Not with his history.
When she arrived at the upper paddock, she saw a figure leaning on the fence, silhouetted against the rising sun. Was that James already? She marched towards him. As she approached, his shape got clearer. He had on a greyish blue sweater with the sleeves rolled up, and he rested his forearms on the fence. His clothes always looked expensive, even the casual ones, but they’d get wrecked. Horses were messy. A fact a lot of people overlooked. Ophelia always looked immaculate somehow, but it was a mystery to Dagmar how she did it.
‘Morning.’ He straightened up and faced her.
‘You’re early.’
‘I thought I’d come and have a chat with Conker. He’s going to have to put up with me tacking him up this morning, so I’m doing a bit of bonding.’
‘Oh.’ Why did that surprise her? Maybe it shouldn’t, but she hadn’t thought of him as someone who would actually care about the horses – just his chances with Lady Victoria.
Dagmar gave him a nod, trying to keep her expression neutral. ‘Well, let’s get started then. You can lead Conker into the stables.’
‘Ok.’
‘But you’ll need to fetch a head collar first.’
He pulled a face. ‘You want me to go into the tack room just to come back out again?’
‘Yeah… Why?’
He groaned. ‘I can hardly walk. I feel like I’ve been run over by a bus.’
She gave him a little smirk, then pulled the key from the chain on her belt, made her way to the tack room door, and opened it. ‘Well, you better get used to it. Lady Victoria won’t be very impressed if she sees you walking like that.’
‘Nice.’ He raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
‘This is Conker’s tack here.’ She led him to the far corner of the room that was neatly laid out with stations for each horse. The whole thing had been built by Brann and still smelled of new wood, as well as the leather of the saddles and the overriding smell of horses that was everywhere.
‘This one?’ James lifted a collar from the hook.
She nodded.
He gave a small smile and went back outside. ‘You see, I was paying attention.’
She opened the gate to the paddock, and James approached Conker, speaking to him in a low, soothing voice. ‘Hey, remember me? I’m back. Hopefully, I don’t cause you too much trouble. And maybe you’ll do the same for me. Just be a good lad and hold still. That’s it.’
Dagmar watched, her arms crossed over her chest. This was better than she’d expected.
James reached out his hand and let Conker sniff it. ‘Are we good?’
Conker nudged James’s hand. James slipped the halter over Conker’s head.
‘That’s it, now walk on.’ He led him out of the paddock. Dagmar followed, raising an eyebrow at the way he held the rope, just like she’d showed him. His grip was a lot looser on the reins than yesterday. Not bad for a first go.
Once they were in the stables, Dagmar helped him get Conker into his stall. ‘Start with a good brush down.’ Dagmar handed him the grooming kit. ‘Get him used to your touch before we put the tack on.’
James took the currycomb she explained was for his muscly areas. ‘Sounds sensible. It’s like buttering him up for the main event.’
Dagmar felt the heat in her cheeks. Was he making a euphemism? Was that what he was like in bed? Did he take things slow? One thing was certain, she’d never find out. Maybe she’d die an old maid and never discover if she liked being buttered up before ‘the main event’.
He ran the brush over Conker’s neck and shoulders. ‘You like that? Then let’s have some more, huh? That’s a good lad.’
Dagmar swallowed. This was a really bad moment for her to be thinking stupid thoughts, like did he say that kind of thing to his dates? Did anyone? Who knew what people said to each other in intimate moments? She suspected Brann and Ophelia would have no qualms about talking dirty to each other during sex. Their eyes said it even in public.
Dagmar had him move onto the dandy brush and then the body brush, trying to rein in her straying thoughts as James listened to her instructions and groomed Conker while talking to him in that low, soothing voice.
‘That should be enough,’ Dagmar said after a few minutes. She fetched the saddle and saddle pad, placing them on a nearby stand. ‘Remember, saddle pad first.’
James took the saddle pad and approached Conker. ‘You ok for me to put this on?’ He held it out before draping it over his back. ‘Like this?’ He frowned at Dagmar. ‘I think it looked neater when you did it.’
‘A bit more forward,’ Dagmar said. ‘You want it to cover his withers properly.’
James adjusted the saddle pad, then picked up the saddle. He hefted it onto Conker’s back, struggling to get it in the right position. The saddle slid off to the side. ‘Ok, this is not as easy as it looks.’
‘Yeah. Try swinging to lift it higher and placing it more gently.’ She mimed what she meant from outside the stall.
James tried again, this time getting the saddle in place. He looked over at Dagmar and raised his eyebrow. ‘What’s my rating so far?’
‘I don’t give out ratings. Now check the girth.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ He fumbled with the girth straps, not looking as confident as he had with the brush. Conker shifted slightly.
‘Take your time,’ Dagmar said. ‘Make sure it’s snug, but not too tight.’
James nodded. He secured the girth, then stepped back, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. ‘How’s that?’
Dagmar inspected his work, tugging the saddle pad up over the withers for better clearance. ‘Not bad. A bit more practice and you’ll have it down.’ Then she had Conker stretch his front legs forward to make sure there was no pinching under the girth, under James’s watchful eyes.
He grinned when she finished. ‘Great. I’m not sure I’ll have to do my own tacking up if I go riding with Victoria. Won’t she have grooms?’
‘No doubt, but she might like doing it herself.’
‘I haven’t even met her yet.’
‘I have,’ Dagmar said.
‘Have you?’ He met her eyes and stared as if trying to extract the story from her wordlessly.
‘Well, yes. At horse shows and events.’
‘What’s she like?’
Dagmar gave a little shrug. ‘She seems ok.’ It wasn’t like they were great friends and Dagmar so rarely warmed to people. She assumed somebody like Lady Victoria Bruce wouldn’t give her the time of day unless she wanted her as part of a riding team. That was the only time Dagmar became popular.
‘That’s hardly a glowing review.’
‘Well, I don’t know her well. Ask Ophelia about her. They’re second cousins or something.’
‘That might be a little awkward.’ He straightened up and put his hands on his hips. The pose opened his chest wide, and he looked a lot broader and muscly than she’d noticed before. Again, she must stop noticing this kind of thing, but old habits died hard, and she’d crushed on James forever.
‘I guess. Now, do you want to lead Conker out?’
‘Sure.’ As he passed her, he gave her a little smile. Was this ever going to get easier? She doubted it. But what could she do? Nothing. She just had to let these moments exist, because in a few months’ time, James wouldn’t need her anymore and the next time she saw Lady Victoria at a horse show, she may well have a new boyfriend on the scene. A boyfriend Dagmar was grooming especially for her.