A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,114
night, Tay went into his father’s study and shut the door before he phoned his Aunt Gill.
“Hello?” she said tentatively.
“It’s your favourite nephew.”
“William!”
“Ha ha.”
“Tay! It’s so good to hear your voice. How are you?”
“Doing well. Did Mum tell you I was going to London?”
“Yes. I hoped you’d come out and see Blue and me before you left, but I understand.”
“Well, I’m back and I want to come and see him and you tomorrow. Take him out for a ride.”
“That’s great.”
“And I have a favour to ask. I have a friend who needs a job. He’s worked with horses before. If you don’t need anyone, would you still give him a job and I’ll pay his wages? Obviously, I wouldn’t want him to know. Just a couple of days a week would be great.”
“Oh Tay, I can’t, I’m sorry. I’m overrun with teenage girls. And I can’t let you pay. If he had an accident, I’d be in trouble.”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“Sorry but it’s still a no.”
She hadn’t even paused to gasp in shock. Tay smiled.
“What time can we come?”
“Around ten? I’ve got a group going out and you can start off with us.”
“Thanks, Gill.”
THEY LEFT DOG IN THE house before they set off the next morning. Tay didn’t want to take the risk of him upsetting the horses. It was another lovely day, but not quite as warm. Ink had just shrugged when Tay had told him there’d be no job at the stables. Tay wanted Ink to be doing something when he had to work. There was no point busking in Beadnell.
Ink had his face turned to the window, taking in everything they passed. Tay had given him a running commentary.
“Sea, more sea, ooh more sea. That’s Holy Island. Also known as Lindisfarne.”
“Have you been there?”
“A few times. Because it’s so local, it was one of the things we studied at primary school. The island was raided by Vikings in the eighth century. A lot of monks were killed and abducted. The view at the time was that it was probably their own fault for not being pious enough, which seems a bit uncharitable. There’s a place in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles that says one of the omens of the invasion were fiery dragons flying across the firmament. I drew lots of pictures of those. My mum framed one. My sisters always pretended it looked like a cat.”
“I can’t draw, but Ru was really good.”
“What were lessons like in the YOIs?”
“I was taught on my own for a while before I was allowed to mix with the others. I think to make sure I had my story straight. There was no hiding, not really. The teacher just did her job, didn’t interact much. But she had to cover every subject and art wasn’t something she was good at. I mostly had to teach myself. Boredom is a great self-motivator. As was hope.”
“Did you do as well in your exams as you said?”
“Yep. I thought it might make a difference, that I’d get a better job when I was released. But it didn’t.”
Tay winced. He didn’t like that every conversation seemed to bring Ink down. He made the turn to his aunt’s stables and hoped riding worked some sort of magic.
“What have you said about where I’ve come from?” Ink asked as Tay parked.
“Nothing. We can tell her we met in London and you’re looking for work up here. She won’t ask questions.”
Tay left his crutch in the car. The more practice he got walking without it, the better. Gill was in the yard with a bunch of people, but when she saw Tay, she excused herself and came over. On the point of giving him a hug, she hesitated. “Can I touch you?”
“Depends where you’re thinking of touching me. Don’t be pervy.”
She laughed and hugged him. “It’s so good to see you up and about.”
“It’s good to be up and about.” Tay pulled away. “This is Ink.”
Ink held out his hand. “Hi.”
“Hello.” She shook his hand. “So you can ride? Even with hair that colour?”
Ink smiled. “Yes. I worked for a horse trainer for five months and rode almost every day.”
“Marmaduke’s saddled for you, though I might swap him for Sol. He’s a bit feistier. Come and say hello to Blue and watch he doesn’t bite you. It’s only you, by the way, Tay. He bites no-one else, but he might object to Ink.”
Blue turned as Tay approached. His ears went up and he stamped his foot and whinnied.