15
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Ru woke to find a text from Jasim.Be at the junction with Batt’s Lane at 7.30.He deleted the text and looked up where Batt’s Lane was. Not far but he’d take his bike and hide it in a field.
Ru was still smiling as he went to look after the horses.A date!He felt soppy for being so excited, but he couldn’t help it. He’d never even been to the cinema before, not even as a small boy. When some of the others began tacking up, ready to take five ponies out, Ru did the same.
Mike came up behind him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Paolo told me to cover for Rodrigo.”
“No way.”
“He did,” Poppy called.
Mike glared at her, then turned back to Ru. “You think you can take four out with you?”
“Yes.” Ru had done it many times before and with more than four,andbareback. Though not standing on a horse’s back. He could see Mike wanted him to fail.Too bloody bad.
“When you fuck up, you’re gone.” Mike said under his breath.
“Why don’t you like me?” Ru said quietly.
“What?”
“I’ve done everything I’ve been told to do. I work hard. I don’t understand why you don’t like me.”
“Just fuck off.” Mike walked away and Ru wondered if the guy didn’t even know why he didn’t like him.
“You okay?” Poppy called.
“Yes, thank you.”
Poppy and the others took their ponies out and Ru wished he’d asked about where to position his. Some only liked to be led from one side and not every horse got along. He’d have to hope his five behaved. He’d hardly set off for the track before Elsa, on his far right, started pulling.
“Elsa! Slow down. We’re not racing. Take it easy.”
As Elsa tried to edge forward, Shiloh slammed on the brakes, yanking Ru’s shoulder. It was like trying to control five wayward children, all intent on doing their own thing, but Ru had no intention of messing this up. He fought for control all the way down to the gate where he saw Paolo leaning against the fence, watching. He opened the gate to the track for Ru, and Ru walked the horses through.
“Morning, Boss.”
“Morning, Ru. Watch Cinna. She prefers to be on the outside.”
“Thanks.”Shit.
“It will do her good not to get her own way but she’ll fight you. Walk, run, trot, and canter if you feel okay, but don’t overdo it today. Not them or you. Though you look as though you’ve done this before.”
“I have.”
All the other sets were ahead of him, but Ru kept an eye on what they were doing because he didn’t want to suddenly find horses coming up fast behind him. Trying to manoeuvre his five wasn’t easy. A spooky shadow cast by a waving branch was ignored by four ponies but Shiloh treated it as a death threat and bumped Elsa. It was a struggle to get them to behave. By the time Ru had moved into a gentle canter, his hands were cramping from holding the four lead reins as well as his own.
Because he’d expected Mike to come tear-arsing past at some point, he was ready for it and kept his set under firm control. Mike passed much too close. Ru’s ponies didn’t flinch, but that had been reckless.
“Mike,” Paolo yelled. “Watch your line.”
Ru suspected he’d pay for Paolo’s criticism. Gradually the ponies settled down and did what Ru wanted them to without him making much effort, and he was able to relax. He saw Poppy on her mobile as she cantered her set and he chuckled. When the others began to head off the track and make their way back to the stables, Ru followed.
By the time Ru had returned with a second set of ponies, he was tired. Mike had stayed well away from him on the second outing, and had gone back to the stables before him, but Ru could sense trouble coming. Sure enough, as Ru finished looking after the horses he’d taken out, Mike shoved him into an empty stall.
“What was that plaiting crap you did with the nag?” Mike asked.
