of Fleetwood Fancy — Verity’s prize mare — through the other horses warming up. Her mane was all braided, and she was in high spirits, restless as one of Verity’s minions walked her around. The prospect of beating her time seemed much more untenable here, a ridiculous pipe dream, but fuck it, we’d be going for it anyway.
I was unloading Samson when the guys arrived, and my mum was with them. She looked great — in a rich peach lipstick and a dark green summer dress, her hair bouncy and light. And so did, Carl and Rick.
In fact, they looked really fucking great.
“It’s not the races.” I laughed as I looked Carl up and down. His suit was impeccable, his hair too styled for a cross country course.
“Thought I’d make the effort. No law against looking smart, is there?”
I shook my head. “No, no law.”
“Only social conventions.” Rick elbowed him. “But we’ve never really taken much notice of those.”
“Thanks for coming,” I said, and kissed them both. I gave my mum a hug and she was quiet but smiling. “You’ve met, then?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Carl and Rick kindly picked me up this morning, so I can have a glass of bubbly when you come in first.”
I laughed, gestured across the field to Verity’s camp. “I doubt we’re up to that, but we’ll give it our best.”
“You can do anything,” Carl said. “Just give it your all.”
“Go Sammy!” Rick said, and gave Samson a hearty pat. But he was more interested in mints than encouragement. He dug his nose straight into Rick’s trouser pocket, and left a smear of horsey drool. “Cheers for that, boy.”
He wiped it down, tried to hide it with his shirt, but it made me laugh. “Teach me for dressing up,” he said.
“Teach you for bribing the horse with treats,” Carl said. He took a step forward and Samson didn’t flinch. “The beast likes me for me, Richard, not for cheap mints. We have a mutual respect.”
I rolled my eyes at my mum. “Horse rivalry.”
She didn’t say a word, but her eyes were happy. Maybe she liked them.
Maybe she even approved.
I could hope.
Verity was up in the listings early. I kept my distance as she took her position at the start of the course, nervous as I saw the Faverley posse out in force to see her off. My dad looked smart, almost as smart as Carl, and Olivia had a stupid purple hat on. Seb and Dommie were in slacks and jumpers, their hair all posh-boy ruffled. I made sure they couldn’t see me, ducking out of view as Verity’s name was announced over the tannoy.
Miss Verity Faverley riding Fleetwood Fancy.
Her brothers gave a cheer as she prepared to ride. The horse was already warmed up, she was raring to go, dancing on the spot, her head up high in Verity’s face.
They didn’t know each other, not really. Verity looked slightly awkward, her shoulders way more tense than they should have been.
A sliver of hope warmed me. Maybe, just maybe.
They took off like a rocket, the mare charging at a gallop right from the start. I held my breath as she took her first jump, a simple brush fence, and they cleared it easily. The horse had a beautiful pace, and a beautiful jump. She landed with ease and motored along and my heart dropped a little. I pushed it aside.
Rick wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “How you feeling, pretty lady?”
I squeezed his waist. “Excited. Nervous.”
Carl appeared at my side, kissed my hair. “You’ll be great.”
I stood happily between them, pulled them both close, and Mum looked curiously, but didn’t comment.
“There’s David,” Carl said, and he held up a hand before I could stop him.
My father approached, with his proper family in tow, and my stomach tightened. Olivia and my mum faced off, and you could have cut the air with a knife.
“All set?” my dad asked regardless, and I nodded.
“I hope so.”
Olivia looked twitchy, she took his arm. “We should get going, darling. We can catch Verity at the water jumps if we’re not tardy.”
Urgh.
Seb and Dommie looked at me, and looked at Carl and Rick. They didn’t say a word.
“You could go ahead,” my father said to his wife. “I could catch you up.”
She looked like he’d slapped her, and the shock hit me, right in the belly.
“But we should go together…” she said.
“I’ll stay with Katie awhile. I’d like to meet Samson.”