By the time Jessica was back in her vehicle, it was one o’clock and she was exhausted, frazzled and feeling claustrophobic. Before the accident, she could spend hours on the footpath happily chatting to all she knew; now she couldn’t wait to get back to the tranquillity of the farm. Not to mention being very keen to get on with sorting out the horse.
She’d better pick up some horse pellets and a big bag of carrots at the feed store on her way out of town. The idea that she was also keen to prove it wasn’t her Faith was afraid of crossed her mind briefly, but she scolded herself. It was not a popularity contest with Steve – he’d asked for her help and she would give it. Ultimately the horse was his.
She wondered if Tiffany would be on shift today, and if she was still annoyed. Jessica felt shameful, hoping her friend wouldn’t be around. She was on a mission, and becoming more and more keen to get it under way. But she was out of luck: Tiffany rushed over to Jessica’s car as she was getting out.
‘I’m so sorry about yesterday,’ she cried, enveloping Jessica in a tight hug.
‘It’s okay. And I’m sorry too. I really don’t think dressage is any less serious a sport.’ Well, she kind of did – it was far less dangerous, for a start – but to each their own.
‘I know, it’s just different. So we’re good?’
‘I am if you are,’ Jessica said, grinning broadly. Gosh, they’d got through that row easily. She wondered if it was resolved far too easily. Was there something going on with Tiffany? But Jessica knew if Tiff wanted to tell her she would have and she didn’t have time for analysing her friend’s mood today.
‘You could have rung, you know. And, hey, you’re actually out, driving, on your own,’ Tiffany said, suddenly realising the magnitude of the situation. ‘And here I was thinking we’d have to kidnap you to get you out sometime. So, how is it to be out in the daylight again?’
Jessica rolled her eyes at her friend. ‘Very funny. I’m not a mole who’s just come out of its hole for the first time after winter.’
‘It seems like it.’
‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’ Jessica did feel a bit as if she was out in the sun for the first time in ages, which was strange, given she’d been out walking in it for days now.
‘So, what brings you into town anyway?’
‘Exciting stuff. Groceries.’
‘Oh, right,’ Tiffany said, looking puzzled.
‘I’m cooking a special dinner.’
‘Ooh, what are we celebrating?’
‘Nothing, really, just me coming out of my cocoon, I guess,’ Jessica said with a shrug. She didn’t want to admit she had Steve offside as well. ‘But I do need a bag of carrots and some horse pellets.’
‘Hmm, that’s some dinner you’re cooking your man.’
‘Oh! Ha ha. No, they’re for the horse. Steve’s asked me to do some work with her – seems she doesn’t like men – and I need some bribery treats.’
‘Aha!’
‘What’s that meant to mean?’
‘It all makes sense now.’
‘What does, Sherlock?’ Jessica frowned, genuinely puzzled.
‘Your bright and sunny disposition.’
‘Really?’
‘Yep. It’s horses that does that to you – you’ve got horse face.’
‘Gee, thanks very much. Very flattering,’ Jessica said, but she was grinning. Now she thought about it, the challenge of working with the horse had put a spring in her step – she couldn’t deny it.
‘And, please, surely this horse has a name.’
‘Faith. And don’t you dare say it’s a sign!’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ Tiffany said, smirking. ‘Come on then, we’d better get you your magic ingredients.’ She led the way into the shop.
‘Don’t get too excited,’ Jessica muttered to her friend’s back. ‘She’s Steve’s horse – nothing to do with me.’
‘Yeah, whatever.’
Jessica opened her mouth to protest, but as she did, the owner of Millers’ Fodder cried, ‘Jessica Harrington, how the hell are you? Long time, no see. How’s that ankle of yours?’
‘Doing fine thanks, Barry,’ Jessica said.
‘A bag of horse carrots and one of pellets, thanks, James,’ Tiffany said to the young lad lurking to the left of the counter as she went around behind to ring up the purchase. Jessica marvelled at how settled she seemed in her role, and she didn’t miss the slightly smitten, flushed look of adoration that crossed James’s face before he disappeared out the back into the warehouse. Jessica grinned to herself. Trust Tiffany to have the place running like clockwork and the staff falling for her.
‘Good news, good news,’ Barry said, still at his office door. Jessica turned to see him rubbing his hands together. ‘We’ve missed your orders of late. Good to hear you’re back in the game.’
‘Oh,’ Jessica said, ‘I’m not, really. This is just …’ She lifted and dropped her hands in a helpless gesture.
‘Don’t worry, you’ll have the bug again real soon,’ he said, tapping the side of his nose.
‘Hmm,’ was all she could come up with in reply. She thought of protesting, but the quote, ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks’ ran through her head. And, anyway, if she’d learnt anything these last few months, she’d learnt that nothing was for certain. You didn’t know what was around the corner or over the next jump. She realised she was actually really looking forward to working with Faith, to getting her eating out of her hand. And not to prove a point to anyone! Well, maybe, just a little.
She handed over her key card, put in her pin and then slid the receipt into her wallet as James appeared beside her with one of the steel trolleys.
‘Well, I’d better get cracking. I’ve got groceries in the car,’ she said. ‘See ya.’
‘Thanks for shopping at Millers’ Fodder,’ Tiffany said in a very business-like tone, which nearly caused Jessica to laugh.
‘Hopefully we’ll see you again soon,’ Barry called from behind his desk, and gave a cheery wave.
‘Take care,’ Tiffany called. ‘See you soon.’
*
Jessica unloaded the groceries and mentally calculated what time she had to be back in the house in order to have dinner ready for Steve when he got home. She was itching to get started with Faith, but was mindful that she now had less than three hours, which went against the all-the-time-in-the-world rule. But she’d promised Steve, so she had to go ahead. And, anyway, she was only going to get the horse to come up and eat from her hand. No horse could resist the lure of a carrot being held out or pellets being rattled in a bucket for that long. And Faith wasn’t that bad if Tiffany had patted her. It probably was a fear of men.
‘Yep, it’ll be fine. Piece of cake.’
Jessica stacked the carrots from the big bag into the fridge in the shed, turned it on, and then put the bag of horse pellets in the decommissioned chest freezer. She opened the bag and scooped a few handfuls into a bucket, just enough for a nice enticing rattle and worthwhile treat, and filled her pockets with juicy carrots.
She stood at the chest-height timber railing, bucket in one hand, carrot in the other.
‘Come on, Faith,’ she called. ‘Do you want a carrot? Or perhaps some pellets? Come and get them.’ She rattled the bucket.
Faith stood back and eyed her warily. She tossed her head and licked her lips, but stayed put.
By the time the horse took her first tentative, shuffling, steps in Jessica’s direction, the muscles in her arms had turned to jelly from holding the bucket up, even though it wasn’t heavy. She’d grown unused to this kind of activity and was seizing up. She hadn’t wanted to change arms and risk startling the creature when there were signs of progress. She also wanted to scratch an itch on her nose but, again, didn’t feel she could move a muscle. She snuck a glance at her watch, just visible on her outstretched arm. Ten minutes had already passed.
Never before had she had a horse hold out this long. Pellets were failsafe. At l
east, she’d thought they were. The creature looked half starved; surely any edible substance was too hard to resist? The horse had pluck, Jessica had to give her that. But she wasn’t going to give up. If she had to stand here until midnight, she would. She would get this damned horse eating out of her hand if it was the last thing she did. She gritted her teeth in determination. Two can play at this game.
She put the carrot back in her pocket, took a fistful of pellets, held her hand above the bucket and opened her fingers. The pellets dribbled into the vessel, a cacophony of thuds and rattles. Faith lifted her head with interest, but stayed where she was.
‘Come on. They’re yours if you want them. Come on, I know you do,’ Jessica urged.
The horse took another step towards her. Twenty-five minutes had passed. This was excruciating; something so simple, so easy, yet one of the most difficult things Jessica had ever done. This bloody horse was testing her! She was not used to untrained horses that didn’t know basic commands. She wondered if this one did and was deliberately challenging her. No, horses didn’t think like that; humans were the ones who were capable of cruelty in a psychological way. The animal kingdom wasn’t. This one was scared. End of story.
Regardless, she was running out of patience. She thought about giving up, walking away. Then she thought about how the horse had taken two small steps towards her of its own accord – that should be rewarded. But she wasn’t going to just give her the bucket – that would be as good as giving in. She pulled the carrot from her pocket again and held it out.
She wondered how the creature had been put on a float in the first place. Perhaps it was just her Faith didn’t like, didn’t trust. It’s not all about you, she told herself. Tiffany and Steve had patted Faith over the fence. No, Tiffany had, but Steve had led her from the float to the yard without incident – she’d seen it with her own eyes. Don’t take it personally, she’d told Steve. Don’t you take it personally, either.
‘Oh, God, this is excruciating. Just take the bloody carrot,’ she groaned through gritted teeth, ‘and put us both out of our misery. I’ve got stuff to do.’
She leant her head on her arms. Her shoulders were tight and hurting. And now she was thinking of pain, her healing leg was beginning to smart too. She tried to ignore the nagging feeling that this was some cruel joke – that it was personal. She was being tested in the most basic way possible and she was failing. She felt like throwing the bucket as far as she could.
She looked at her watch. ‘I’ll give you ten more minutes.’
Jessica heard a shuffle and raised her head slowly and carefully to covertly survey the situation. Faith was a long neck stretch away from her. She stood boldly in front with her head raised, as if asking, ‘Now what?’ Jessica held out a carrot. The horse stretched further, leant in from her chest and wrapped her lips around the object to gently take it from her, and stepped back.
‘Is that good?’ Jessica asked as the horse munched on the sweet, juicy vegetable. She knew they were good because she’d had a nibble on the end of one while stacking them. The movement of the horse’s lips while chewing made her look like she was smiling. Jessica stared at her eyes. Her heart lurched. There was a real sadness there; none of the bright cheekiness and arrogance Prince and Beau had had.
She knew it was probably a little over the top, but she had the feeling this horse really wanted to eat from her hand and reward her patience and perseverance, but was battling many layers of fear thanks to a lot of mistreatment. If she knew her history, perhaps that would help. She sighed. She’d tried looking the horse up. If there was anything to know, it would have appeared when she’d searched online. Her father would say she was being soft, that she should quit while she was behind. But she was beginning to see that she didn’t agree with all her father’s methods and philosophies.
A part of her knew that the risk and work would most likely far outweigh any reward. But it did feel good to have focus again and a challenge, though she could do with one that was easier on her patience. She would have loved to have just got in the yard and pushed more directly, but with such an unknown quantity, and considering her recent injury, it wasn’t wise to expose herself to any danger while no one was home.
‘Come on, now have some pellets and I’ll leave you in peace,’ she said, rattling the bucket. The horse pricked her ears and took one small but bold step forwards. Suddenly Faith was standing right in front of her. She held the bucket close to her – out of Faith’s reach – and slowly put her hand out towards the horse’s face. Faith took a leap aside, away from her hand. Damn it! She would have definitely tossed the bucket and walked away if it wouldn’t have set her back further.
God damn it, she was Steve’s bloody horse! Jessica didn’t need to be doing this. But the itch of the need to win kept her standing there rattling the bucket gently and cooing soothingly at the horse.
It took another fifteen minutes, and she could barely believe it actually happened, but the horse was finally standing in front of her, eating pellets from her hands. It was a small step that had taken an hour to achieve. And she still hadn’t actually touched the horse. But it was something.
As she stood there surveying the situation, she had the uneasy feeling that it was not she who was in control. Nor was it she who had won this small battle. She longed to rub Faith’s face and lavish her with praise, but clearly that was for another day. Instead, she placed the bucket with the few remaining pellets on the ground just inside the fence as a reward, and walked away.
Thank Christ no one was planning to ride the damned creature. She shook her head slowly as she made her way back to the house. And how long would it take to get her to a stage where the farrier could visit? Faith would need her feet done soon.
She kicked off her boots and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Oh well, one step at a time.
Bloody Steve. She wasn’t sure why she was annoyed with him, and she wasn’t sure she now had the energy or inclination to woo him tonight. She wasn’t really looking forward to confessing she hadn’t got far with the horse. I’m meant to be the horse person, for Christ’s sake!
With a jolt, she realised she was feeling competitive with Steve. Over a bloody horse, of all things! It did not bode well. Perhaps she should admit Faith was beyond her and that it would be best to pass her on. Fattened up, they’d get a decent amount at the abattoir. But the itch of determination niggled at Jessica painfully.
Admitting defeat wasn’t really in her nature. Her father would turn in his grave if he knew she’d given up on a horse because it wouldn’t come up to her. Even worse, that she couldn’t get it to come to her. No, he’d have it cornered in the yard and, watching out for flying feet, would demand it do as it was told. Perhaps that was how they’d got Faith on the float in the first place the other day.
Yes, she probably could ‘break’ her, but she still had the odd feeling that taking a longer, slower route would get a better result. She almost snorted. You couldn’t get much slower than today. And anyway, what result?
She was intrigued by this horse and was beginning to feel there was a lot more to Faith than met the eye. So the need to at least figure her out a little had been ignited. And she had to be able to be handled – what if she got injured and needed treatment? And it was clear Steve wouldn’t let Jessica off the hook easily – the horse had got under his skin too. What was it about this creature that had them both turning so soft? Ridiculous, she thought, sipping her tea.
*
‘Something smells good,’ Steve said, as he took his boots off at the door.
‘Hey, how was your day?’ Jessica called from the pan of sauce she was stirring at the stove.
‘Exhausting. Ooh, is that what I think it is?’
‘I don’t know; what do you think it is?’ Jessica said, grinning cheekily.
‘Ooh, it is,’ he said, peering into the slow cooker and seeing the lamb shanks. ‘Goodie.’ He wrapped his arms around Jessica’s waist and kissed her on the n
eck. They both agreed the weather was never too warm for braised lamb shanks.
‘Wine?’ he asked, as he let her go.
‘Yes, please.’
Jessica watched, smiling, as Steve made his way from the cupboard where the wine glasses were kept to the drawer where the corkscrew lived. Feeling that they were at least a little back in sync was nice. So far, so good for her evening.
‘So, how was Faith?’ Steve asked wearily, after a long slug of wine and a deep sigh.
‘Okay.’
‘Did you spend some time with her?’
‘I did.’
‘And …?’
‘Well, the good news is it’s not just you she’s afraid of.’
‘Right, so that would mean the bad news is she’s a write-off all round then,’ he said, clearly dejected.
‘No, I didn’t say that,’ Jessica said, shaking her head slowly.
A day ago that was exactly what she’d been hoping for – to be able to have a good reason for getting rid of the horse. But she’d obviously caught the bug she’d dreaded. Rather than feeling annoyed with herself, she felt better than she had since the accident; she liked the feeling of purpose, of determination coursing through her. It was good for her, she’d realised as she’d stared in the mirror earlier and noted the colour in her cheeks and the glint in her eye. Tiffany had been spot on with her observation.
‘So things can’t have gone that badly then?’ Steve said.
‘Well, it took an hour for her to take a carrot and a few pellets from my hand – and I was on the other side of the fence. So it wasn’t exactly a piece of cake.’
‘Oh.’
A thought occurred to her. ‘Is she actually broken in? Do you know?’
‘Yes. Well, I was told she is.’
‘I wonder if she’s ever been ridden.’
‘It doesn’t really matter, does it? If she’s just going to be a pet.’
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