Chapter 9
There was something about the air on the farm. I thought I’d be overthinking about Henry and everything but I slept like a log, and woke up to my room flooded with sunlight.
Then I heard Maple barking. And voices outside through the window I’d left open when I went to bed.
Groaning, rolling over and stretching, I climbed out of bed and pulled on the dressing gown Willow had lent me. Heading downstairs, I saw the front door was open so I walked out to see what all the commotion was about.
‘There you are!’ Willow cried when she turned around to see me in the doorway. I pulled my dressing gown tighter. Everyone else was dressed. ‘Come and see what just arrived!’
Sheepish at being in bed so much later than the rest of the farm, I reluctantly walked out of the door and joined the group gathered in the driveway, blinking at the bright sunshine outside.
Dylan and Blake were there with Willow and her dad with Maple sat by them, letting out a small growl. There were two men I hadn’t seen before and when I stepped closer, I realised then that they were each holding something that was causing all the drama.
‘Willow,’ I said, shaking my head with a smile when I saw that each man was holding a lead attached to a Shetland pony – one was a lovely reddish-brown colour with a cream mane and tail, the other was mostly the same reddish-brown but with white patches.
‘What have you done?’ Adam added with a sigh at his daughter. He turned to me. ‘Is this your doing, Daisy?’
I swallowed down a giggle as my uncle looked very unimpressed. ‘I might have reminded Willow of that time we and Sabrina kept asking you and my aunt to buy ponies…’
My uncle shook his head. ‘Oh dear, I remember that…’
‘How did you find them so quickly?’ I asked my cousin, marvelling that two ponies were already here.
‘I was talking to Dylan while we were buying drinks in the pub yesterday and Craig here heard and called me first thing this morning,’ she said, gesturing to one of the men.
‘Said they have been trying to sell their two ponies for a while. And I was thinking that the tractor rides we offered at the pumpkin patch were really popular so for summer, why not offer pony rides? And Blossom and Jasmine are just too cute. Plus, we love flower and tree names around here,’ Willow said, beaming at the ponies as she went over to stroke them.
Maple followed cautiously. ‘You will all be great friends,’ she promised her dubious dog.
‘We’ve never kept ponies or horses. It’s too much work; that’s what I told your mother all those years ago,’ Adam said.
‘You two really are like peas in a pod sometimes,’ he added under his breath.
I got the impression usually he saw that as a good thing but sometimes, like now, he definitely did not.
‘They will be so easy to look after, won’t they?’ Willow addressed the men she had clearly bought the ponies from.
They quickly nodded.
‘See?’ She gave a triumphant look at her boyfriend and dad.
‘You’re thinking of offering kids rides on them? Who will manage that, though?’ Dylan asked her. ‘And where will they live at night?’ he asked, with so much patience, I assumed this was often the dynamic around here: Willow coming up with ideas while the other two debated things more rationally.
‘They can live in the small barn; I’m sure it was used for horses before we came to the farm,’ Willow said, only answering one of his questions.
‘I could help you get them settled in,’ Blake said out of nowhere.
‘I have a horse, after all. Well, my sister currently looks after her at my family home. She runs a riding school there.’ He moved towards the ponies.
‘I’d love to help,’ he said, his face relaxing into a smile.
There were those cute dimples again. I wish I hadn’t noticed them.
Again. Surely, my brain had more important things to be thinking about right now?
‘Oh, that’s right,’ Willow beamed at him, then faced her boyfriend. ‘See? Blake can help us!’
‘What about when he leaves in two weeks?’ Dylan countered.
So, Willow turned to her dad instead. ‘Don’t you think visitors will love them?’
‘It’s your farm now, love,’ Adam replied but he shook his head. ‘I just hope you’re not taking on more than you can handle. Maybe I can do more…’
Willow shot me a pleading look. I knew she was worried about her dad’s health and wanting him to move into retirement, not take on extra things on the farm.
‘Don’t worry,’ I assured them all, ‘I’m staying for a while; I’ll help too. The ponies will be really popular, I bet. And they can be part of the new pick-your-own experience we’re going to create.’
‘You really want to stay and help?’ Willow asked me again. I could tell she wasn’t sure whether to fully believe that I was going to stick around after being away for so long. But I wanted to. Being here just felt… right.
‘I really do. For as long as you need me,’ I promised. Immediately, I felt better too. Like some of the weight on my shoulders had lifted a little bit. I wasn’t so lost now; I had a plan. I was going to do some good while I decided what I wanted for my life. Free to make my own decisions again.
Blake looked over at me and smiled, like he knew what a big deal this was for me.
‘Yay! See, Dad, Dylan? We have enough help,’ Willow said excitedly.
‘I think this summer will be our best yet,’ Willow said as one of the ponies leaned over to chew on the necklace around her neck.
‘Oh, shit,’ she yelped, stepping away. ‘I better take my mum’s necklace off around these guys,’ she said.
‘They can be a lively pair,’ Craig, one of farmers, said with a chuckle. ‘But they’ll feel part of the family in no time.’ He handed one of the leads to Blake and one to Willow as he and the other man stepped back and turned towards their truck to head off.
‘Out of interest – why were you selling them?’ Adam asked as Blake and Willow started to encourage the ponies to walk towards the fields behind the farmhouse. Maple hurried after them with a bark, clearly keen to help herd the ponies.
The men exchanged a look.
‘They can be a bit… mischievous,’ Craig said finally. He waved. ‘Okay, bye!’ Then they hastily climbed into their truck.
‘Mischievous,’ Adam repeated, then he turned to me and Dylan. ‘Is it me who thinks that word sounds ominous?’
‘Not just you,’ Dylan agreed. ‘Willow said she got them at a very good price. But Blake is great with horses so I’m sure they’ll settle in quickly, right?’
Neither of us had an answer for him.