CHAPTER 40
Early the following morning, Linford’s stable manager checked the saddle on Jess’s mare. “Ladybird’s all set to go, Jess.”
“Thanks, Noah.” She stroked the mare’s soft face as the manager turned to Robert.
“How experienced are you?”
He laughed. “Been riding since I was a boy.”
Noah nodded. “Take Zeffre, so. He can be a bit frisky but if you handle him well you’ll have no trouble.”
“Is someone else out riding?” Jess asked, as Noah led the grey gelding out of its stable.
“Yup. Another couple went out a bit earlier – it’s a grand day for it.” He fitted the bit and bridle and checked Zeffre’s saddle. “You’re all set.”
“We should probably completely avoid the west side,” Jess suggested as they mounted the horses. “We don’t want to risk damaging the film set.”
They walked the horses out of the yard.
“East side is it, then.” Robert flashed her a grin. “Let’s see what sort of horsewoman you are.” He clipped the gelding’s flank with his heels.
Jess was laughing by the time she caught up with him. “That wasn’t fair, you just took off!”
His eyes glinted. “Okay, why don’t we race properly? You decide the route.”
She thought for a moment. “Twice around the castle and then from here to the far east boundary.”
“You’re on.”
This was perfect, Jess thought a while later, as she let her mare do an easy canter around the perimeter of the castle. It didn’t matter who won – the most important thing was that she and Robert enjoyed doing the same things. The riding was proof.
Okay, by the looks of it he’d already crossed the first field and was halfway to the far east wall.
On second thoughts, maybe winning mattered a little. She didn’t want him thinking she wasn’t competitive – she could be as competitive as anyone.
Pressing her knees against the mare’s flank, she urged her on.
She was halfway across the field when she realised the rider wasn’t Robert – it was Adam.
But before she could double back, he heard her approach and slowed his pace, reining in his mount to turn to her.
Catching her breath, Jess drew closer. An awkward silence stretched between them and she knew he was probably remembering the same thing as her – the time they’d ridden out together on his parents’ farm.
Which was obviously why he was staring at her like that.
She should say something. Comment on the good weather, maybe. No, she couldn’t make small talk with Adam about the weather. Before she could think of anything, he gave a brusque nod and galloped off.
Nicely handled, Jess. It didn’t help that he’d just glared at her before taking off like that. She was pretty sure he’d been glaring. God, it was like a scene from some period drama – only without the brooding sexual tension.
Obviously.
She sighed. Thing were starting to feel a bit stupid – it was like they’d suddenly become bitter enemies. And whose fault is that, Jess? You haven’t exactly been nice to him since he came down.
He and his girlfriend were clearly the couple Noel had mentioned. Which shouldn’t matter at all to her. She was here with Robert, riding in the grounds of a five-star hotel on a beautiful summer day.
Speaking of which … She looked around. Where was Robert?
Jess had started to head towards the east boundary, when she spotted him galloping back towards her.
Noah had said the gelding was frisky but he hadn’t mentioned how fast he was.
Still, Robert was an experienced rider and no doubt he had full – shit, why wasn’t he slowing?
If anything, he was riding faster, clods of turf flying up as he galloped directly into her path.
Fuck, first the German Shepherd, now Robert’s horse! “Come on, girl!” Quickly, Jess edged her mare out of the way. Did Robert know he was riding like a maniac? Maybe he’d lost control of Zeffre.
“Woah there, boy, slow down!”
Shit, he had lost control. She had to do something! At that moment, Robert thundered past, his eyes wide, his face red and sweaty, and Jess’s mare startled, rearing up.
“Easy, girl!” Jess pressed herself hard into Ladybird’s back and hung on tightly as the mare whinnied loudly and reared again. Just a hundred yards ahead, the gelding reared too, flinging Robert backwards onto the ground.
“Robert!” Oh, God, Zeffre could kick him or trample him to death. Instead, the gelding took off in the opposite direction, and before Jess could do anything, her mare took off after him.
“Slow down, girl!” She pulled back, every muscle in her neck and arms and back straining as she tried to rein her in, but the mare galloped faster. Panting now, Jess became aware of another rider approaching from behind.
“Hang on, Jess!” Adam closed the distance between their horses. “Shush, steady now, girl! Steady now!”
Beneath her, the mare began to slow fractionally, as Adam repeated the command in a low, calm voice. Soon Ladybird had slowed enough to allow Jess to bring her under control. Adam dismounted and helped her down, holding on to her as she fought to catch her breath.
“Is Robert –?”
“He’s fine, he wasn’t injured.” Adam’s jaw clenched. “Stupid fool.”
Her legs were shaking. “Thank you for your help.” She stroked Ladybird’s flank soothingly, aware that Adam had let her go. “I’ve no idea what happened, to be honest. Something seemed to spook Robert’s horse and then mine got spooked too.”
He’d opened his mouth to speak when they were interrupted by somebody shouting. They turned to see Robert hobbling across the field.
“You okay, Jess?”
She nodded. “Adam helped me to calm Ladybird. He just told me you were okay. What happened?”
“I’ve no idea!” He wiped his hands on his riding jacket.
Adam glared at Robert. “I know exactly what happened. And I’m going to make it my business that you never ride any of our horses again.”
“Calm the fuck down, mate! Something spooked my horse, that’s all.”
“And instead of trying to calm him down, you pulled viciously on his reins, making him more afraid!” Adam’s voice was steely.
Robert rolled his eyes. “Listen, mate, thanks for helping my girlfriend, but we’ve got it from here.”
Adam stepped closer. “I saw you. Now, I personally don’t care if you break your neck. But you put Jess in danger.”
“I didn’t put her in danger. And I didn’t do anything wrong.” Robert stepped into Adam’s personal space. “Now fuck off!”
Adam’s jaw clenched tightly, and for a brief moment Jess was sure he was going to punch Robert. “Say that again. ”
Jess found her voice. “Stop it now – both of you!”
Robert opened his mouth to say something else but at that moment the gelding trotted back into view, stopping a short distance away to graze.
“We should get the horses back,” Jess said, quickly. “And then you should probably get checked out to see if you’re okay.”
There was a tense moment, then Robert shot Adam one last disgusted look before turning sharply and stalking over to Zeffre.
As Jess reached for Ladybird’s reins, Adam caught her wrist. She shook it free.
“I appreciate what you did,” she said in a low voice, “but why would you accuse Robert like that? The guy is hurt from the fall, he’s probably still in shock, and you were a complete shit to him.
It wasn’t his fault that Zaffre bolted. Something spooked him.
It can happen. And we were racing, Adam! You couldn’t have seen anything.”
Adam’s jaw was rigid. “I grew up around horses, remember? I saw what I saw, Jess – you think I’m making it up?”
“So you’re saying Robert is lying?” She took a breath. “You’d better go find your girlfriend, Adam. She’s probably wondering where you are.”
Jess took the reins and started to walk back. Robert had already ridden ahead. That was the right thing to do. The best thing to do after taking a tumble was to get straight back on the horse. But, right now, she simply didn’t feel like it.
Instead, she walked slowly back to the stables, trying to shake the tension from her body. Things would have been fine if Adam hadn’t shown up. Oh, who was she kidding? She probably would have been thrown from her horse too if he hadn’t stepped in to help.
Not that it was any excuse to attack Robert like that.
Given that he’d ridden back without her, it was obvious he was still upset. Which he’d every right to be. Just not with her.
Still, he was probably a bit embarrassed. He was an experienced rider and it should have been the perfect start to their day. Maybe after he got checked out they could grab lunch together later on.
And with a bit of luck, she’d be able to steer the conversation well away from Adam.