“I think it’s cute,” Natalie says.
“As do I,” I say, “And Dara’s lead changes are easy and natural—you should always pick the horse who’s the best fit.Names aren’t that important.”
“That won’t be her show name anyway, right?”Natalie asks.
“I need to look into the rules,” I say.
“Wait, now that Clara’s taking Dara, and you’re putting me on Riona...”Natalie groans.“Riona kicks out when she changes leads, doesn’t she?”
I laugh.
Natalie had a bit of a reputation when she was younger for being good at staying on even when she was on a horse with a bit of spice.“Only if you let her dive in, and only if you don’t run her through enough transitions on the flat to remind her what her job is first.”
Natalie’s not really upset.She’s usually up for a challenge.“Fine, fine.”She’s smiling broadly, so I’m pretty sure she’d ride Teagan the Kerry bog pony if it meant Clara could ride.That’s what being a mother is—wanting the best for your children even more than you want it for yourself.
I already have that with these girls.I have to remind myself of that sometimes.I don’t have to physically birth a child to love one.
“What about the new ones?”Hannah asks.Can either of them jump?And what are their names?”
“The grey’s name—” I laugh.“Is Speckles.”
“So an idiot who didn’t realize that grey horses lighten every year named her,” Natalie says.
“Or maybe a kid,” I say.
“Way to make me feel like a jerk,” Natalie says.
Like Drew, Speckles is nearly white.She just has a grey mane and tail.It’s a really pretty combination, actually.Striking.“And the other horse he gave me—I’m not making this up—is named Rudolph the Red.”
“Whoa,” Natalie says.“As in the famous reindeer?”
I shrug.
“What do you mean?”She points at my pocket.“Ask Richard.”
I can’t help my pained look.
“Don’t tell me you aren’t even talking now?”
I sigh.“We’re texting sometimes, but...”
“Wait, Richard, my mom’s rich boyfriend?”Hannah frowns.“Why are you texting him?”
“Oh, please.”Natalie laughs, and if there’s any unhappiness or awkwardness in it, I can’t hear it.“He’s hardly my boyfriend.We didn’t even date long enough to call him my ex.We had two bad dates, and one wasn’t even a proper date.Your father got upset about it, but Richard wasnevermy boyfriend, and I didn’t even want him to be.Now he’s courting Samantha, but apparently he’s bungling it.”
“Courting?”Clara rolls her eyes hard.“What decade were you born again, Mom?”She giggles.“Oh, right.The late nineteen hundreds.”
“Rude.That’s rude.”Natalie’s smiling, though, but even Clara doesn’t distract her.“Just text and ask him about Rudolph’s name.Maybe that’ll get you two talking again.”
I can’t really tell her that I’m avoiding him because I lied.Then it’ll turn into a whole thing.She’ll tell me I did it on purpose, to torpedo any chance I had, and I’ll wonder whether I did, for the twenty-third time, and then I’ll debate whether I can ever trust a man again, and round and round we’ll go.
“You three should be tacking up, not interrogating your trainer,” I say.
One solid scowl and even Natalie scurries off.Half an hour later, we’re all riding, this time with me on Scout.He’s made even better progress than Liam.I’m actually thinking of taking him to the show myself.It might be fun, and it would be good for his brain.Liam’s only five, but Scout’s seven, and it’s time he had a real job to do.Thoroughbreds need direction and consistency, and now that he has both, he’s really thriving.
“He’s looking great,” Natalie says.
I make her hold his reins while I set a small course.“I’m going to put the three of you in a jumping round, but I may try cross-country with this guy if he holds up for the next few weeks.”
