Jas had only come into her life four months ago, and Cassie couldn’t believe she’d ever managed without the younger woman’s practical efficiency and boundless energy. Without family of her own nearby, Cassie had finally given in to Pippa’s pleas that she needed some backup at home, and had quickly found Jas. The daughter of a former colleague, Jas was taking a year out to decide on a career after dropping out of a law degree. In the meantime she’d moved into Cassie’s spare room and helped with whatever needed doing. Cassie really appreciated having someone she trusted on hand to help care for Isla and Rory, who both adored her.
‘I always try to put the children first, but working for a business that’s twenty-four seven is getting harder, and I often seem to be saying no to someone.’ She dropped her head into her hands, voice muffled. ‘Oh, it’s all such a mess. If only Ewan were here…’
‘Darling.’ Pippa pulled Cassie into her arms, holding her fiercely. ‘I’m so sorry he’s not. What can I do?’
‘You already do so much,’ she muttered into her shoulder. ‘You’re a constant support, and I lean on you and Raf too much.’ She could mention his name while Pippa couldn’t see the guilt on her face and suspect a reason for it.
‘Please don’t think that,’ Pippa said gently. ‘I’m here for you always; we both are. I know how much he loves all of you.’
‘He actually said that?’ Her question was a startled one. Surely he hadn’t meant…
‘Not in so many words, but you know what I mean. He’s always cared about you.’
Of course he hadn’t said he loved her. Why would he? ‘And we care about him.’ Cassie fumbled for a tissue as she eased free. ‘As long as we’re not holding him back.’
‘Never think that, because I know he doesn’t. So have you thought about what you’ll do if they offer you redundancy? Maybe a change would be good, and you could take some time off to decide what’s next.’
‘I’m really not sure.’ Cassie scrunched the tissue between her fingers. ‘If they’ve already decided, then I doubt I’ll even have a choice. I’ve always worked, even through university, and I can’t imagine not having that routine or pulling those hours.’
‘Try not to think about the meeting now, if you can.’ Pippa rummaged in a cupboard and removed some empty cardboard egg boxes. ‘You’ve still got a few days off to enjoy first.’
The back door flew open and the girls burst in, Lola and Maud bounding behind.
‘It’s a colt,’ Harriet yelled, waving her phone wildly. ‘Flo’s had her foal, Mum, and it’s a boy. He’s so cute, a piebald, which is black and white, and Gil says he’s beautifully marked.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful.’ Pippa dashed across to hug her, and Cassie followed suit, all huddled around the phone.
‘He’s gorgeous, Harriet, so sweet,’ Pippa said wistfully.
‘Gil said you can see him if you want, but just quickly, okay? They need time to bond.’
‘Shall we?’ Pippa looked at Cassie, who nodded eagerly.
‘Absolutely, I’d love to.’
Rory and Alfie were outside the stables when they arrived. Posy, their resident Shetland pony, who loathed Gil as much as she adored Harriet, was banging her door impatiently, cross at being left out of the excitement. Pippa paused to make a fuss of her, and Posy flattened her ears the moment Gil left Flo’s stable to stand nearby. He grinned as Pippa and Cassie crept nearer to peep over the door.
‘Oh, he’s adorable,’ Cassie murmured. Flo was standing, and the foal was trying his best to get to his feet as well, staggering through the shavings on uncoordinated limbs before toppling back over. Flo began to lick him, and he shook his head, large ears flapping noisily. His black face was brightened by a white blaze, and on his left side, a white shoulder and tummy ran into black quarters splodged with more white, a fluffy tail short above black legs and four white socks.
Cassie gripped the stable door as the foal tried to stand again. This time he managed to stay upright for a few moments before skidding back onto the shavings as Flo nosed him gently. Cassie shot Isla a smile, and her daughter beamed back at sharing such a special moment.
‘I’m keeping an eye to make sure he takes a drink,’ Gil said. ‘It’s vital he gets that first feed of colostrum, but so far the signs are all good. And I don’t think the stallion was another cob,’ he added drily. ‘The foal’s finer boned than Flo, and a pretty big one for a thirteen-hand mare. Perfect size for riding when he’s old enough, I reckon.’ He smiled at Harriet, still recording these first few minutes in the foal’s life on her phone.
Cassie swiped at a happy tear sliding down her face. ‘So what are you going to call him?’ she whispered to Harriet.
‘I thought Hero, because Flo was starving when we brought her home, and the foal has survived even though she was so neglected.’ She gave Gil a grin. ‘And because I’m surrounded by them.’
Chapter Three
Following the excitement of Hero’s birth and happy he was doing well after a first feed, Harriet and Isla decided to join Cassie for her walk to Dorothy’s so the ponies could have some peace. Gil headed into the practice, and she wasn’t expecting Raf to return after he and Allegra had left the lunch. He decided to join the walk, so Rory opted to come too, the girls still enthusing about the foal when the five of them set off.
A flicker of sorrow pricked at her burgeoning happiness as they strolled, reminding her that Ewan would never be a part of Hartfell as she and the children were. And with his parents’ imminent move from Galloway, so much of the life she had known with him would vanish. Was this progress, she mused, forging a new life and experiencing new places without him? She supposed they had no choice. However bereft she still felt at times, it was her children’s loss that pierced her most. But right now Rory was laughing at something Isla had said, a welcome break in their usual squabbles.
‘I didn’t think you’d want to come with us,’ Cassie said to Raf idly. In a retro band T-shirt and a pair of jeans ripped across one knee, her stomach somersaulted unhelpfully when his eyes caught hers. She was determined to keep conversation casual and not stray towards questioning him about Allegra, or the house he had viewed.
‘I’m not that scared of Dorothy.’ He grinned as Harriet dropped back and tucked her arm through his. ‘So this is nice. Am I still your favourite uncle?’
‘Yeah, but don’t tell Freddie.’ Harriet bumped into him on purpose. Jonny’s youngest son Freddie was only four years older than Harriet, and they were more like cousins than uncle and niece.
