Chapter One #3
The cluster of homes were quaint and beautiful and made me think of my childhood books by Beatrix Potter.
But these “cottages” were far from small.
They were all interlinked, with the same diamond-patterned lead windows, gray stone, and ivy-covered walls as the main house.
They were like miniature models of the real thing.
“You each get a home to yourself—bedroom, bathroom, et cetera, but there’s a huge communal kitchen and dining area that is the heart of all four properties. For now, there’s just you both residing here, but we are expecting two more female riders later in the season.”
“Who?” Sage asked, bluntly as always.
Mila smiled excitedly. “Clara Thompson, the great British dressage rider, and Lenora Ackland from the British eventing team.”
“We know Lenora, somewhat,” Sage said with an approving nod. “She’s good people.”
It was true. Lenora had been at some of the same training facilities as Sage and me over the past few years.
But we had never met Clara Thompson, though I knew who she was.
The professional horse world was small once you were in it—a goldfish bowl.
Clara was the most beautiful rider to watch in the dressage arena, the only exception being Felix Knighton.
The ATV carrying our luggage pulled up behind us, and the young men who met us at the gatehouse took them to two adjoined cottages.
Victoria jumped out of their ATV too. “Sage, you’re in Snowdrop,” she said and pointed to her cottage.
“And Hallie, you’re in Buttercup.” A small smile pulled on my lips at the cottages’ cute names.
I glanced at the others, seeing name plates on their respective doors reading “Daisy” and “Daffodil.”
Victoria opened the doors, then handed us our keys.
“Both have been stocked with new towels, fresh sheets, and toiletries. The kitchen has been stocked with food and drinks too.” Sage nudged my arm with hers and shot me an approving nod.
In our careers, we’d had some accommodations that could be deemed just above wild camping.
I should’ve known that Knighton Equestrian would only provide the best for their riders.
Nothing this famous family did was inferior.
“We put in grocery orders twice a week, so please just fill out the form in the kitchen when you want to add something.” Victoria reached into her pocket.
She pulled out two car keys. “You also each have a car while you are here.” Victoria nudged her head forward, gesturing to a couple of brand-new black Land Rover Defenders in the parking spots to the side of the cottages.
“Now, that’s what I’m fucking talking about!” Sage said and rushed across the courtyard to open her car and slide in. She laughed out loud when she realized she was in the passenger seat, then climbed out. “Forgot y’all drive on the other side over here!”
I snorted with humor too, and Sage flicked her middle finger at me before rounding the car and getting in on the correct side.
“Hallie,” Victoria said. “Please.” She gestured to the now-open door of my cottage.
“Thank you,” I said, and entered. The first thing that hit me was the sweet scent of vanilla, then the old-fashioned paneled walls.
“Wow,” I said, and walked to the living area.
A large open redbrick fireplace took up most of one wall, with a huge, comfortable-looking beige-colored couch and TV against the other.
Scenic paintings adorned the lavender-painted walls.
The floor was made of lightly colored flagstones that carried throughout the cottage.
My bedroom upstairs was vast, with a four-poster bed and a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking one of the grazing paddocks.
The field was free of horses right now, but I could only imagine how idyllic it would be when it was full.
I made my way back down the stairs to the kitchen. I couldn’t help but laugh when Sage came rushing through from another door (clearly the one to her cottage). “Well, hell’s bells, Hals! This place is fucking insane!”
Sage opened every cupboard in the cream-colored, Shaker-style kitchen that was the size of most people’s entire homes. There was a huge skylight above us, flooding the place with daylight. Then she came over and looped her arm over my shoulders. “I think this’ll do, Hals. What do you think?”
“It’ll do,” I said sarcastically, as Victoria knocked on the door behind us and peeked her head through.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“More than,” I said.
Victoria smiled proudly, and I could see just how much she loved this place and her job.
That was always a good sign, especially as some equestrian facilities could be toxic places.
No one would believe half the shit that went down on the professional circuits.
Bitching and fighting were just par for the course.
“I’ll let you both rest and get settled in today.
Then tomorrow, we’ll have you meet Leon and assign your horses for the season. ”
“Yes! Bring it on!” Sage said, rubbing her hands together.
“Perfect,” I said too, and my heart started racing.
Leon Turner was, hands down, the best show jumping trainer in the world, and I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t the main reason Sage and I agreed to ride Knighton horses.
He had been the one to personally recruit us.
I’d been told by my trainer in the US that the Knightons gave Leon carte blanche on recruitment.
If he said you were worthy of a Knighton horse, no one questioned it, even if two women from the wrong side of the tracks got the most coveted spots.
As potential future Team USA riders, both Sage and I had opportunities to ride American-bred horses at some of the best facilities in the States.
But like many riders, we were given the chance to train abroad with other trainers.
For us, it was Leon Turner who had asked for us personally. That wasn’t a chance anyone gave up.
Both Sage and I had already dominated the Under-25s international Grand Prix circuits. But now we’d aged into the big leagues. We were young and hungry, and we wanted to be the best, and Leon Turner, along with Knighton horses, was the trainer to help us achieve that.
“Mila and Horatio will be here in the morning to collect you,” Victoria said, then hesitated at the doorway. “I truly am so excited that you’re here. You’re both some of my favorite riders, and I cannot wait to see you soar even higher.”
Victoria exited the cottage, leaving me with a contented, warm glow running through my veins. Sage kissed me on my cheek and leaned her head against mine as we took in the pretty view. “Five-Star Grand Prix champions and Olympic golds are coming our way, Hals. I can just feel it.”
I was normally much more cautious than Sage when it came to achievements and our future, never wanting to jinx things. But something about this place, this equestrian “Field of Dreams,” made me feel that was possible too.