Jasim sighed. “With a finely chiselled head, dished face, long neck and high tail carriage?”
Ru grinned. “Not sure about some of that, but I suspect you have lots of energy and intelligence. I’ve seen you play polo so I know you have courage. I think you’re noble as well. Have you developed bad habits with the wrong handler?”
What an interesting question. “Would I know if I had?”
Ru shrugged. “Arabians don’t tolerate fools.”
“No, we don’t. We like to have our own way. Get into bed. Rest. I’m going to go and fetch you a drink. Tea, coffee, fruit juice, water, lemonade?”
“Anything cold, thank you.”
Jasim brought water and lemonade upstairs along with a Mars bar and paracetamol. Ru was lying in bed. He’d put one of his T-shirts over the pillow where his head was resting.
“How are you feeling?” Jasim put everything on the bedside table.
“My head aches.”
“Take two of these.” He pressed two tablets from the blister pack and put them next to the water. “Paracetamol.”
Ru sat up and took the tablets. “Will someone look after Cookie and Joni and Cheyenne?”
“I’ll make sure they’re taken care of.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat a Mars bar.”
“That was for me.”
Ru looked mortified and Jasim smiled. “You can have it.”
“Thank you. It would be very mean to show me chocolate then eat it yourself. Just for future reference.”
“Noted. You need to rest and avoid anything stressful or strenuous for the next few days. So no TV, no workbooks.”
“Not even helping Georgia out now I’m making extra work for her?”
“No and no riding.”
“I haven’t been allowed to anyway. Not yet.”
“I asked Georgia to give you a helmet and boots.”
“She did, but…”
“But what?”
“Nothing.”
What the fuck had been going on with Ru? Jasim stared at him, but Ru met his gaze without flinching.
“When you’re better, you can exercise my ponies with the others. You can ride Cookie and Joni in your free time, whenever you like.”
“Thank you.”
Jasim backed away towards the door. “I’m going to keep coming in to check you’re okay.”
