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7
Denby was settling in well at the stables and so far, Arnold had been around when Gus and his daughter visited. They seemed to show up at around four o’clock on the dot, but Hazel hadn’t seen much of them since she’d found herself doing the accounts and chasing up orders – hay was needed, a new saddle they’d had on order for Peony was delayed, and then she was in talks with the equine vet to arrange various vaccinations. And each time she’d been in the office, Hazel had sneaked a look at the drawing Lucy had given her, showing Gus in all his glory. And the more she saw the man out and about, the more she realised how well Lucy had done with her drawing. She’d long since got rid of her own efforts, which would never have had the same effect, one that made her pulse race a little, the heat rise to her chest.
Hazel had loved meeting Joan at the weekend and greeting Denby. He was a magnificent horse, generally obedient, and had found his place here easily. Hazel had ridden him twice, Arnold once, both able to agree which riders would be the most suitable for him and vice versa. It was always important to match horse and rider. The last thing you wanted was a rider on a horse who was too lively for them or a rider who grew frustrated if they were ready for jumps and cantering and had been assigned an older horse who didn’t go into those things with gusto.
The only downside of Denby’s arrival that day had been James turning up. She didn’t usually mind too much, but it was clear she was incredibly busy, the way she’d told him she would be, and he’d wrapped her in a hug that she didn’t wholly appreciate when it was in front of a client. She’d definitely seen Arnold cast daggers their way with James’s car parked where he’d been asked not to. And Hazel had appreciated him turning up even less when he informed her of why he was there.
‘That the new horse?’ he’d asked, looking Denby’s way.
Hazel had stepped back from the fence and left Joan, Gus, and Abigail to have time together. ‘That’s the new horse.’
‘Handsome fella.’
‘You’re not wrong there.’
‘You ridden him yet?’
She nodded to the horsebox with a chuckle. ‘He’s just got here, don’t want to scare him off.’ She caught Gus looking their way.
‘Not up to you to show them around,’ said James, wearing jeans rather than suit trousers given it was a weekend, but a designer label T-shirt to go with them, its emblem to one side of his chest. He tutted at the clump of mud or possibly horse poop caught up on his shoe.
‘It kind of is,’ she said, trying to keep the hint of annoyance from her voice. ‘Use the boot scraper inside the stable block.’ He sometimes used the fence and it annoyed her immensely because they frequently hung saddles or other pieces of tack there as they got horses ready and the last thing you wanted on your saddle straps or reins was a clump of mud or anything more sinister that you’d then have to clean off before you could get going with what you intended.
Once he’d scraped away the dirt the way she’d suggested, he asked her what time she finished today. ‘Come on, Hazel,’ he urged when she said not until late. ‘I know you think I’m hassling you, but I have someone I’d like you to meet. That’s why I turned up without calling you.’
‘Who is it?’
‘Someone from college who I’ve been in touch with for a few months. He’s been in charge of a riding stables in Cornwall and just moved back this way.’
‘He’s a friend?’
James tilted his head this way and that. ‘Kind of, but more than that, he’s someone you can talk to about taking on here. Come on, Hazel, I bet you’re turning down people for lessons without you teaching.’
‘The idea is to get me back to it, not get someone else to take over. Haven’t we been through this?’ She thought they had, and she’d been clear then too.
‘It’s a good solution temporarily.’
‘And I’ve told you, it’s not what I want. It’s not what Arnold wants.’
‘So you’d rather lose business?’
‘James, just because you get to advise people in your line of work, it doesn’t mean you need to do it with me.’
‘Someone has to.’ But he sighed. ‘I’m sorry if you think I keep going on about it. But as far as I can see, you’re not doing anything to get back to teaching and sooner or later, something will have to change. You admitted that yourself and I can see the strain you’re under and the toll it’s taking on Arnold.’ With a smile, he added, ‘Those filthy looks he gives me definitely hint that he’s had enough.’
‘He’s frustrated that he always has to remind you of where to park, James.’
‘I know, I’m sorry. I forgot, again. But parking aside, think about it. Taking someone on here – not just anyone but someone reliable – might be a solution, even only in the interim. Or maybe you’ll like him so much it’ll be long-term. You don’t know unless you try.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘I’m just trying to help you out here.’
‘I know.’ And it was her own fault. She had moaned to him more than once that she was feeling more stressed lately, and because she didn’t elaborate, she couldn’t blame him for thinking he’d found the ideal solution. Maybe she was being pig-headed; perhaps if she got in some extra help rather than having this whole business rest upon her and Arnold’s shoulders, it might just be the way through to the other side. She could take time for herself, work through her issues, and then be able to move forwards to get things back to the way they were before.
‘You could do the other thing I suggested,’ James said.
She only had to glare at him to tell him the answer was no. ‘I’m not selling a part of a family business. A business I love, that is a part of me, that I will never ever leave.’
‘I think you’re making a mistake. You need to see the bigger picture.’
He was infuriating. It was him who couldn’t see anything other than immediate solutions.
