“I’m surprised you’ve not strangled him already.” Ink smiled.
“Hey!” Ru mock-glared. “Whose side are you on?”
“Jasim’s not going to do anything to risk his livelihood. Riding on a beach is fine. Stop worrying.”
No, Ru wasn’t going to do that.
But the next morning saw the four of them, Dog left at home, riding on Bamburgh beach in the sunshine and when Ru saw the joy on Jasim’s face, he stopped worrying and started to enjoy himself. They rode at the edge of the surf, the horses’ hooves splashing the water into shining droplets.
When they slowed to a walk, Ru told himself not to ask Jasim if he was all right. He knew he was verging on being annoying. He moved on ahead with Ink, though he could still hear what was being said behind him.
“You’re so fortunate having this on your doorstep,” Jasim said to Tay.
“Shush. Don’t spread the word. We’re saved from holidaying hordes by our weather, which is not hugely warm. In the winter, this beach is magical and sometimes, as a boy, my friend Jonty and I, had it entirely to ourselves. We used to pretend that was our castle, this was our beach.”
“I was thinking we’d go to see Hadrian’s wall before we went back.”
“There’s so much to see up here it’s hard to choose what to do,” Tay said. “And like Ru, Ink hadn’t seen any of it. There’s still lots I want him to see.”
“I want to show Ru the world,” Jasim whispered. “I want to give him the world.”
Ink shot Ru a smile. He’d heard Jasim’s whisper too.
“Hey, Tay. Race you. Leave these two in peace,” Ink called and kicked his horse on.
As Ru watched his brother and Tay fly down the beach, Jasim came up at his side.
“You haven’t asked if I’m okay for the last thirty minutes,” Jasim said. “Don’t you love me anymore?”
“No, you annoy me.”
Jasim laughed.
“Don’t stop doing that, though, will you?” Ru turned to face him. “Annoying me?”
“Not for the rest of our lives.”
Ru’s smile lit up Jasim’s heart.
