The Grayson Trilogy

by Georgia Rose

  “You seemed quite intent on your purpose at the time and I wondered afterwards why you’d given up on me quite so easily when he turned up.”

  “I can assure you it was not at all easy…” and he paused for a moment, contemplating me and what he thought he should say to me next. “But it was because he’s my boss.”

  I frowned as I thought about this response. Somehow it didn’t ring true and my thoughts were obviously reflected in my face as he then said, “You’re not buying that, are you?” And as I shook my head he sighed, as if resigned to the decision he’d made. “Trent’s not only my boss but also my Commanding Officer.”

  “You’re in the armed forces?” I questioned, my eyes open wide with surprise.

  “All the boys are. I’m RAF, as are Trent and Cavendish. Hayes and Wade are Army and Turner Navy…So now you know…and before you start, I’m not telling you anything else.” With that he finished his coffee and got up to go, leaving me with much to ponder and many unanswered questions.

  The following Saturday morning I set off on Regan for his daily exercise and for once it was just him and me. I was not going to have to lead Zodiac or Benjy out for a while as they’d both had their flu jabs and were going to spend most of the next week out in the paddock. It was a lovely spring morning; the sun was out and although I’d managed to miss a shower I thought it was highly likely I’d get caught in another one at some point on the ride. I rode along the lane for a while then turned onto one of my favourite routes through the woods. Everything about the woodland was beautiful at this time of year with all the trees and plants pushing out new growth and the woods becoming greener by the day. Clumps of pale yellow primroses grew wildly along with the more lemony celandines; the leaves of bluebells were coming up to carpet the ground in what looked likely to become a spectacular display of blue over the next few weeks.

  It was easier to work on Regan’s fitness on these occasions when we were on our own and keeping him moving forward in a trot with plenty of impulsion was making him work harder than usual. It felt good covering the ground so quickly, him moving strongly beneath me, and as we sailed comfortably along my thoughts drifted on to other things.

  Since the revelation made by Carlton a few days before I’d had much to think about. There was more to the estate than I’d first thought, although I wasn’t sure how it all fitted together. My thoughts were jumbled, and trying to straighten them as I rode, I wondered why everyone was in the armed forces and in fact questioned if everyone indeed was. Surely some of the older people here wouldn’t be? And what was Trent’s role – and Cavendish’s – was this also connected to whatever work was done off the estate? It seemed people here abided by the NDA even while on the estate as no one had given me any indication of this.

  My busy mind moved on to thoughts of Trent as I was also concerned about his feelings towards me. I didn’t have a great deal of experience of men, none actually, other than Alex, and although I thought Trent had an interest in me he hadn’t pushed it, hadn’t asked me out like the others, which would have been easy to rebuff, so maybe, I thought, it was only an interest, as he’d said, required by the remit of his job. I moved on to how I was feeling about him – unsure. I was definitely attracted to him, and was starting to think it was more than just a physical attraction, but after Alex I’d decided I’d sooner not expose those feelings, not wanting to risk the chance of experiencing that hurt again and I was still convinced that this was the right course of action. I certainly wasn’t going to make the first move and there was no indication from Trent he was going to even though I’d given—

  With no warning a woman leapt out from behind a tree. Making a loud wailing sound she rushed towards us, her arms up like the sails of a windmill waving above her head, and Regan, startled, shied violently away from her. Deep in my thoughts, I was completely taken by surprise and flew sideways with him; then, having no time to hang on when he corrected himself I carried on going at full speed, losing contact with him as my back, and then my head, smashed into the trunk of a large tree, stopping me mid-flight. It knocked the wind out of me, my head ricocheting back off the tree before I crashed to the ground with a sickening thud. Waves of nausea and dizziness washed over me as I lay trying to catch my breath, vaguely aware of Regan disappearing up the path, but nothing else as the blackness descended.

  I could feel myself trying to wake up, my head thumping, my eyes closed as I tried to work out what had happened. Obviously I was in hospital – there was no mistaking that smell. I remembered falling. Nothing else. Trying to stir, my body resisted all attempts at movement.

  Slowly, slowly, slowly I could feel sensation coming back to me. My head still pounded and as my eyes eventually opened they alighted on Trent, who was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. His eyes were fixed on me and when he saw I was awake he got up, coming across the room.

  “Welcome back,” he said, sounding relieved. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Sore,” I replied croakily, my voice sounding hoarse. And that was the truth of it: I had a dull aching pain radiating throughout my body, emanating from my back.

  “Regan?” I whispered.

  “He’s fine, back in his stable. Carlton’s in charge, before you ask.”

  I nodded, although that movement caused pain to shoot down my neck. “Argh…Good. What’s the damage?”

  “You’ve been lucky, although it might not feel like it at the moment. You have a head injury and concussion; your riding hat was smashed. You have extensive bruising across your back and the rest of you is going to be pretty sore for a few days where you hit the ground, but there are no broken bones and no internal injuries so, as I said, you’ve been lucky,” he finished brightly.

  I cleared my throat, taking a sip of water from a beaker he passed to me. “That’s good,” I said, speaking more clearly now. Suddenly I had a mental flash of the woman’s flailing arms and I gasped at the memory.

  “What is it?” he asked, concerned.

  “Is she here?”

  “Who?”

  “The woman who leapt out, was she injured by Regan?”

  Looking at him as I asked the question, Trent frowned, responding, “There was no one else there when we found you, Emma.”

  “Oh…but I was sure there was a woman. She leapt out, which was why Regan shied…” and I tailed off, confused. I frowned, finding even doing that hurt, but I was trying to concentrate on the memory, trying to piece it together. It had all happened so quickly. I remembered her leaping out…an overall impression of paleness, but dark hair, dark eyes…no other distinctive details of her appearance, the arms up in the air, the noise she made – that was it. Although, even as I thought about it I questioned whether I was remembering correctly as nothing about it seemed clear or reliable.

  “What did she look like?”

  “I can’t remember, it all seems so vague now. If she wasn’t there when you got there, she obviously wasn’t hurt, which is the main thing I guess.”

  “If she even existed…Are you sure your mind isn’t playing tricks on you? Maybe it was a dream you’re remembering?” He had a point there – I was experiencing the same sort of feeling you get when you wake up and try to remember the dream you were just part of, one that had been so vivid moments before but which now floated away from you, breaking up and thinning before your eyes, the weakening strands of thought becoming as difficult to hang onto as smoke.

  “Mmm…perhaps. Maybe it will come back to me,” I finished thoughtfully before turning my attention fully back to Trent. “Can I go home?”

  “The doctor is due to come round and see you again soon and then we’ll see.” I realised I was dressed in a hospital gown and when Trent saw me looking down at this he said, “Your clothes have been taken back home. Greene came in and brought some clean things for you to wear –when you’re allowed to go that is.”

  “That was kind of her. Thanks for staying too, Trent, I’m sure you have other things you should be doi
ng though, so if you need to go and get on with those I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s not a problem. Cavendish has told me to stay and I’m here to take you home, if they let you out.”

  “Oh, okay that’s good of you, and thoughtful of Cavendish to let you stay. It’ll save me getting a taxi.”

  “I’m not sure you would be up to going home in a taxi anyway. You’re going to have to take things easy for a while you know?” He was watching me for my reaction to this and I could see he was a little concerned.

  “We’ll see. I’m sure I’ll be fine once I get moving,” I said, brushing off the seriousness of the injuries I’d sustained. “How did you find me anyway? I know I didn’t get the chance to use the app on the phone.”

  “Regan alerted us initially. He was seen galloping through the farm by Porter who raised the alarm. Regan managed to evade capture until he got back to the yard, where Carlton eventually caught up with him. We triangulated the signal on your phone and came to get you.” Well of course you did, I thought – who can’t triangulate! Or more importantly, who has the ability to…?

  At that moment the door opened and a doctor walked in accompanied by a nurse. He was pleased to see me conscious and started on a round of questions and tests, shining a light in my eyes, testing my reflexes and so on, seeming pleased with the results.

  “Can I go home?” I asked.

  “I think so, but you’ve suffered a concussion so there must be someone with you for the next forty-eight hours or so, in case of any deterioration in your condition,” he explained.

  “Oh, there isn’t anyone who can do that, I live on my own,” I replied, disappointed that I’d have to stay.

  “I’ll be staying with her for the next couple of days so that’s not a problem,” Trent said. What? Where did that come from? I could feel warning bells going off, accompanied by the alarming feeling that this could be a bit tricky. I looked up at him sharply in surprise, causing more pain down my neck, but he was quite determinedly not looking at me.

  The doctor seemed happy with this solution, taking Trent aside for a few moments to discuss what he needed to do to care for me and what to look out for if my condition worsened. The doctor and nurse left soon after saying there’d be some paperwork to be completed at the desk together with a prescription for stronger painkillers for me.

  “Thanks for offering to do that, Trent.”

  “Only following orders, it’s not a problem.” Oh, so not his idea then, I thought, making me feel a little more relaxed, and I wondered if Cavendish had made him volunteer.

  “Okay, where are my clothes?” I asked as I struggled to sit up on the bed, making painful noises as I did so, every part of me hurting, and I realised getting dressed was not going to be as easy as I’d first thought.

  Trent held up my tracksuit trousers, and stifling a smile, he raised his eyebrows at me. “Do you want some help?”

  I scowled back at him, feeling thankful that at least I’d been left with my pants on. “I’m not sure you helping me dress is entirely appropriate. Isn’t it possible for one of the girls to come and help instead?”

  “I’m sorry but everyone is busy with the Ball coming up and as I’m the least useful person on the estate at the moment, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” I therefore had to relent and grudgingly agree that I might need some help.

  “Just bring the clothes over and I’ll manage,” I muttered grumpily. It was excruciatingly painful to reach my feet, feeling the agony of every bruised muscle across my back and through my pelvis as I stretched down to put my trousers on, pulling them up to my knees. With his help I struggled off the bed and then slowly, managing to bend a little, pulled them up the rest of the way, my head aching and swimming sickeningly as I bent down. Trent then put on my socks and plimsolls before tying the laces.

  “Now to the top half,” and reaching for the sweatshirt he turned to me with a glint in his eye. Oh, he was enjoying every moment of this – me actually having to ask for his help. Fortunately, Greene hadn’t packed a bra as she had clearly thought that would have been beyond me and how right she was.

  “I can manage,” I said to Trent grumpily as he started putting the sweatshirt on me but I found once I had it over my head I couldn’t move my arms up enough to get them in the arm holes. So I was stuck with the sweatshirt all gathered up around my neck and I still had the hospital gown on.

  “Right, turn around,” Trent ordered, taking charge, and when I had, he undid the fastenings down the back of the gown. As he went to slip it off my shoulders I suddenly became shy, “Don’t look at me.”

  “I can assure you I have my eyes tightly closed,” he replied, his voice quiet, and once the gown was off he helped put each of my arms into the correct armhole and pulled the rest of the sweatshirt down so all was present and correct.

  “There you go, all covered up. Let’s go,” he said, and collecting the rest of our belongings, which didn’t amount to much, we headed off – slowly in my case, signing the paperwork and collecting my pills on the way out. His truck was parked a little way across the car park and when we got to it he helped me up into the passenger seat.

  “Did I get to go in an ambulance?” I asked on the way home.

  “Yes, we didn’t move you once we found you, not knowing how bad your injuries might be, which was just as well, as when the paramedics got there they checked you out and put you on a spinal board until you’d been scanned at the hospital.”

  “I can’t believe all that happened and I missed it.”

  A short while later we drove back through the farm entrance and I waved to Porter and Summers as we passed, then we were at the yard. It was by then late afternoon and I was hoping to catch Carlton during evening stables to check all was in order. Trent came round the truck after parking outside the back door and helped me out. Susie hurtled over from the yard and after throwing a growling bark at Trent leapt at me with undeniable joy. I crouched down to give her a cuddle then struggled to get back up but when I did I looked over at the yard. Carlton was standing watching me and raising my hand to him I started to walk over slowly.

  “What’re you doing?” Trent asked impatiently. “You’re meant to be going in to rest.”

  “I need to see Regan first,” I said over my shoulder to him. He caught up with me and gave me his arm to lean on, making the journey a little easier. “Hi, Carlton, thanks for stepping in, is Regan okay?”

  “He’s fine, a bit worked up when he got back here but I’ve cleaned him down and he’s now calm and settled,” he explained. “More importantly how’re you?”

  “I’m quite uncomfortable actually, but glad to be home.” I’d reached Regan’s stable and stroking his nose, I opened the door wide enough to get inside; then breathing him in, I ignored the pain as I wrapped my arms around his neck and shoulders, giving him a hug before letting him go. Then, stroking my hand down his nose again I made soothing noises to him. He brought his head up and, resting his chin on my shoulder, I brought my face round, kissing and nuzzling the softest part of his nose, the silky hollow above his nostril. We were both quite content to stay like this for a while but Trent coughed, interrupting.

  “Sorry to break this up but you need to be getting inside.” I gave Regan one last kiss then left the stable, closing and bolting the door behind me. Checking on each of the others, I asked Carlton if Monty had been out.

  “Yes, I exercised him earlier so he’s fine.”

  “Thanks. What about feeding, do you know what to do?”

  “Well, fortunately some control freak has placed a whole row of laminated instructions covering every part of the running of this yard on the notice board, so I’m sure I’ll manage,” he replied sarcastically, grinning at me.

  “Very funny. You may be laughing at me but as it turns out it’s just as well I did do that. Let me know if you need anything else,” I responded, smiling at him as I headed back across to the cottage, leaning on Trent again.

  We let ourselves in
and Trent said immediately, “Right, straight to bed.”

  “Not so fast, I don’t want to go yet. I feel like I’ve been in bed all day. Can’t I stay up for a bit, watch a film perhaps, have some supper and then have an early night?” I gazed pleadingly at him and after frowning a bit he relented, helping me instead through to the sitting room. Taking my plimsolls off he got me comfortable on the settee, getting additional cushions and a fleecy blanket to wrap around my feet and legs. Susie came in at that point and after huffing a couple of times on finding Trent there, she flopped down on the floor right in front of me.

  “I’ll go and see what’s in the kitchen for dinner,” he said before disappearing. Hearing him open the fridge, he then shouted through to me, “Mrs F’s been busy. There’s a chicken, ham and pasta dish here with a creamy sort of sauce, would that do you?”

  “Sounds delicious,” I replied.

  “Okay, I’ll stick it in the oven to warm through while I sort out a film for you.” I heard the clank of the oven door closing, then he appeared back in the doorway again. “Right, what film do you want to watch?”

  “As you’re my guest, even though you’re the one who’s waiting on me hand and foot, you can choose from my collection.” I pointed to the shelf where they were all lined up and he browsed along the titles.

  “That’s what I like to see, all dark thrillers, violent action and adventure and not a romcom in sight.” He chose the first part of an action trilogy and set it up to play.

  “Actually, before you do that shouldn’t you go and get anything you need for your stay here?” I questioned.

  “Already done. Bray came over earlier with Mrs F, after picking up some things I asked her to get from my place. They’ve made up the spare room for me so we’re all set.” Trent spread himself out along the other settee and we settled down to watch the film. Pausing it after half an hour to get our dinner together, he brought it in to eat in front of the television. The pasta dish was delicious and I felt full and contented, only just making it to the end of the film without dozing off.