CHAPTER EIGHT #4
‘I’m so sorry. I haven’t really spoken about this to anyone and I’m now using you as free therapy on top of abusing your services as our local knight in shining armour.
’ She was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him.
He was quiet, not forcing his opinions on her, seemingly patient and completely without judgement.
‘I reckon you could do with a day off,’ said Rafe, ignoring her bashful apology.
‘Louis and I are going across to Leicestershire tomorrow for a day’s hunting in the playground with the Cottesmore.
You should come with us. It’s a Tuesday – your grandfather won’t mind if you miss one morning and Tuesdays tend to be quiet at North Place. ’
‘Oh, that’s so kind of you. I can’t though, I haven’t got a horse.’ Sage was relieved to have an extremely valid excuse to hand.
Her mother had loved to hunt but had died after a fall on the road when Sage and Casper were nine.
Sage had often accompanied her as a child, her mother leading her from her handsome bay hunter while, as fieldmaster in his scarlet coat, her father led them all on his huge black gelding, Wrecker.
Sage remembered the excitement, the adrenaline and the thrill of it all, but she also vividly remembered the sad sight of the bedraggled and defeated little fox fleeing for his life and not making it.
After the accident, the gut-wrenching fear she’d felt seeing her mother, immobile and absent in her starkly white hospital bed, had haunted her ever since.
Her mother had never regained consciousness, and Sage had never been hunting since.
‘That’s all right, you can ride Ajax. I have two hunters.
I was going to take them both anyway but Warhorse will be over the moon to do a full day.
He loves the game,’ said Rafe, his voice noticeably softening as he spoke of his horse.
Even though it was more of a trail chase than a hunt, now that tracking foxes had been banned, it was just as exhilarating.
Sage was tempted. ‘Am I not allowed to ride Warhorse?’ She knew she was pushing her luck. She did not know why she said it but she felt an urge to test him in some way.
‘You’re certainly allowed, Sage – if you can get on him!’ It was a challenge.
‘Now?’ Sage was asking his permission to try; she felt she needed to redeem herself and prove her horsemanship in front of him.
‘Have at it.’ Rafe gestured towards the door with a flourish.
‘I’ve got these two little rascals,’ he added, with a nod of his head towards Hal and Custard.
‘Warhorse’s tack is still by his door. He’s the huge grey on the far side – his will be the giant head leaning all the way out!
’ He lifted Hal easily into the saddle and led them back out into the stable yard.
Sage walked across the immaculate gravel quadrangle, recognizing the noble Warhorse at once. Bypassing the saddle and bridle that had been abandoned outside his stable, she lifted a hand to stroke his head. At once, the animal flew backwards, raising his head in alarm.
‘Ah. This is not going to be straightforward, is it?’ she asked a grinning Rafe.
‘It took me about six months to be able to touch his ears – the poor old fellow has had it tough in the past. I would be extremely surprised if you could even get a headcollar on him, let alone tack.’
‘Well, I’m not going to waste your day, or mine, trying – not today, anyway.’ The idea of getting out of Newmarket and away from her worries for a day was irresistible. ‘I would love to go with you tomorrow, though, if your kind invitation to ride Ajax still stands?’
‘Of course.’ Rafe led Custard over to where another grey horse leant out of his stable.
This one had a dappled, iron-grey coat and a dark, blue-black mane and tail.
It was the horse Rafe had been riding the first morning she had noticed him, jumping the gate.
He was beautiful and had kind, inquisitive eyes.
‘This is Ajax.’ Rafe pulled his ears gently and the horse butted his pockets good-naturedly, looking for treats.
‘Go on, Hal – you can give him one of your Polos, you won’t even need to get off your pony. Ajax is a big softie.’
‘Are you sure? He’s spectacular.’ Sage stroked the gelding’s head in admiration.
‘I’m sure.’ Rafe was elated but hid it, saying, ‘Right, you two are huge time wasters and I have a million things to do now. Meet me here at about half past eight tomorrow morning, Sage. Ajax will go in the lorry with the others and we will meet them down there – I’ll drive.’
Sage left the yard, dazed. She knew that she would not entirely forget her catalogue of troubles tomorrow but the prospect of a day off from tunnel vision worrying about them made her spirits soar.
Alarm bells were clanging quietly about the motives of this handsome, generous man but she was not sure that she could have resisted his invitation, even if she had really wanted to.
Wondering if they had time to go to the phone shop and get a new SIM card, Sage headed back out towards the high street.
‘Sweeties?’ Hal asked serenely, as ever the master of timing.