Barefoot

by Ruth Patterson

  Toni couldn’t believe she had heard her right. ‘Is that a yes?’

  Jen grinned. ‘A big fat yes. I’ll have her. I don’t know how I’ll do it. But I’ll find a way.’

  Toni went back to her seat, and sat down between her parents again, feeling as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. She picked up the blank piece of card and looked across at Cal. His head was bent over, writing. He looked up, met her eye and smiled.

  There was no point in fighting it anymore.

  ‘Love’. Toni wrote the single word in the centre of her card and sat back and looked at it. It felt right.

  She couldn’t help sneaking a look sideways to see what her father had written.

  Two simple words. ‘Be Happy.’

  She smiled gratefully, filled with love for him, before glancing in the other direction to see what her mother had come up with. But Arabella’s chair was now empty. Her card remained on the table, still blank.

  Why am I surprised?

  Her father took her hand and squeezed it. ‘Bit too touchy-feely for her. Don’t take it personally.’

  ‘It’s hard not to,’ Toni muttered. Somehow it still hurt.

  ‘Nola and I are going to get together tomorrow. Talk about where we go from here.’

  Toni pulled herself together. ‘I’m not going to let her spoil my day.’

  Her father smiled. ‘Good for you.’

  ‘If you’d all like to follow me,’ B called. Everyone pushed back their chairs and she handed them a balloon, one-by-one, with a piece of ribbon to tie on the card. They all trooped outside and stood in a group, with Toni in the middle, shivering and self-conscious. When she looked around for Cal, she discovered he was right there next to her already.

  He took his jacket off and wrapped it round her shoulders and she buried her face in the collar. She desperately wanted to know what he had written.

  ‘Everyone ready?’ B called.

  ‘Wait for me!’ Lauren fumbled, tying on her message. ‘OK!’ she shouted.

  ‘Five, four, three, two, one…’ B counted down and all the balloons floated up and drifted away, high above their heads into the grey November sky.

  It was unexpectedly emotional and Toni found tears running down her face. She watched everyone else, their heads tilted back as they looked up smiling as the balloons climbed higher.

  Her family and friends. People who cared, and people who drove her crazy.

  Arabella. Standing in the doorway, arms folded, viewing them all with contempt.

  And Cal. Toni reached out her hand to feel for his, and he gripped it tightly. He felt like her anchor.

  ‘OK?’ he asked.

  She leant against him and let him wrap his arms round her at last. ‘OK.’

  Toni had to know. ‘What did you write?’

  Cal smiled, bent his head down, and whispered.

  ‘Live your own life.’

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  Thank you to Mimi Thebo, for the workshop that kick-started this. To Jude and Alex for masterminding Writing Events Bath. Huge thanks to my daughter Hetty, my sister Hannah, and fellow writer Mandy Wilson-Garner, who all put time into reading earlier drafts. And of course to our New Forest pony Tommy, who has taught me so much.

  Important Note

  The author has no professional experience in the equine world, and can accept no liability whatsoever. This is a work of fiction, and in no way should be interpreted as offering advice. No one under eighteen should remove shoes from their horse or pony without parental consent. Listed below are professional equine organisations you can consult about your horse or pony.

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  World Horse Welfare

  www.worldhorsewelfare.org

  National Equine Welfare Council (UK)

  http://www.newc.co.uk

  The Farriers’ Registration Council (UK)

  http://www.farrier-reg.gov.uk/home

  American Farriers’ Association

  http://americanfarriers.org

  American Association of Professional Farriers (covers both USA and Canada)

  http://professionalfarriers.com

  Western Canadian Farriers’ Association (Canada)

  http://www.wcfa.ca

  UK National Hoof Care Practitioners

  http://www.uknhcp.org.uk

  Equine Podiatry Association UK

  http://www.epauk.org

  Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry (Florida)

  http://appliedequinepodiatry.org

  Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices (California)

  http://www.aanhcp.net

  Canadian Barefoot Horse Association

  http://www.cdnbha.ca

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