“What does he do now?”
“He goes to his best friend’s house.” She pointed Cody out. “His mum doesn’t mind because they keep each other amused.” Her phone beeped with a message. Absent-mindedly, she looked down. Her skin prickled. A photo with Arthur getting into her car and the wordsgood job. She cleared the message and shoved her phone back into her pocket. The bastard was still watching her. She scanned the pony club again. Maybe it meant Jordan would be safe today.
“Something wrong?” Arthur asked.
Crap. Had he seen the message? “It’s nothing.” Two calls in two days was bad. She had to feed him something. “Look, it’s Cody’s turn.” She pointed. Arthur studied her for a moment longer before turning his attention back to the barrel racing. She hadn’t fooled him, but at least he didn’t press the issue.
It wasn’t long before pony club ended. The kids unsaddled their horses, brushing them, and feeding those that lived in the stables. Jordan rode his horse towards the stable, whereas Lara tied hers to the railing and ran towards Gretchen and Arthur.
“Arthur! You came!” Her delight was obvious as she hugged him.
Arthur’s eyes widened as he looked down at the girl, and his hug was a little stiff. He seemed surprised at the greeting.
“Do you want to ride now?” Lara asked.
“I don’t want to keep you.”
Lara waved away his concern. “Nah, it’s good. We have to stay to pack up and wait until all the parents arrive. There’s plenty of time.” She tugged on his hand, before seeming to remember Gretchen was there. “Hi, Gretchen. Do you want to ride too?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” But she was a little concerned about how Arthur was going to mount. His right leg was the prosthetic one, but it might go badly. She walked with them to Lara’s horse, trying to figure out how to broach the subject.
“You get on like this.” Lara demonstrated, putting her left foot in the stirrup and swinging her right leg over the horse. She dismounted, and Arthur examined the stirrup.
“It’s not going to work.”
He needed a step up. The step platform some kids used caught her attention. “How about using that?” She pointed. At Arthur’s scowl, she added, “The temporary prosthesis isn’t a great fit. It will make it easier.”
“How do you know?” Lara asked.
“I’m studying occupational therapy,” she replied. “Therapists help people who have had injuries or can’t do the things they used to do.”
“That’s so cool!” Lara led her horse over to the stand and Arthur trailed after her. Gretchen kept close enough to help if she was required, but not too close to crowd them. Kurt had mentioned something about Lara being kidnapped as well. What had that been about? The girl didn’t seem to have any lasting effects. Could Gretchen ask Lara how she was?
“You did it!” Lara’s excited cry drew Gretchen’s attention back to them. Arthur perched stiffly on top of Starlight. “Now nudge her on the side with your heels.”
Arthur did as requested and Starlight walked back into the arena. Lara seemed to have things under control, giving Arthur instructions, and Gretchen didn’t want to spoil her mood by bringing up something that was probably traumatic. Instead, she went to help Jordan. He’d already removed the saddle and replaced the bridle with a halter. Now he was brushing the horse down and chatting to Cody.
“Hey, guys. That was some pretty fast riding there.”
“I reckon I beat my fastest time,” Jordan said.
Pleasure filled her at his joy and the fact he was talking to her. “Absolutely,” she agreed. “We should have ice cream after dinner to celebrate.”
“Yes!”
Cody glanced at her. “You should tell Mum I deserve ice cream too.”
Gretchen chuckled. “I will.”
“Who’s the guy Lara’s leading around?” Jordan asked. “Can’t he ride?”
“He’s Amy’s brother. I don’t think he’s ever ridden before.”
Natasha, one of the nastier girls at the club, said, “He needed the baby steps to mount.” She laughed and a couple of the girls nearby laughed too.
No. That wasn’t acceptable. “Do you know why he needed the steps?” Gretchen asked.
“Because he’s a baby?”
