Sam had managed to book the girls in for a lesson late on the Wednesday afternoon and had fully expected that Jenna would take them alone. He was, therefore, amazed when she asked him if he’d like to come with them.
‘Are you sure?’ He couldn’t imagine why she’d want him there. She knew the way to Weltringham all right. You couldn’t miss it. She drove through the village every time she went home to Hull after visiting Kelsea Sands, and the riding school was well signposted.
‘I think the girls would really enjoy having you there, and after all, it’s your present to them, not mine.’ She hesitated. ‘I mean, if you’d really rather not come, it’s not a problem. I just thought… Well, I’m going to be a bit bored by myself while they’re having their lesson, and it would be nice to have someone to chat to.’
‘Oh.’ Sam smiled, his eyes alight with pleasure. ‘Well, in that case, of course I’d love to come with you. I’ll see if I can get cover in the bar.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t want to cause problems.’
‘Someonewill want overtime,’ he said quickly. ‘Besides, we don’t want you sitting there all fed up because of me. Should I bring sandwiches and a flask again?’
Jenna laughed. ‘No, you’re all right. I think we can do without supplies this time.’
He had a bit of a problem trying to get cover, as it turned out. No one seemed able or willing to take the extra shift. Cathy admitted she’d got a job interview lined up, which made his heart sink even though he was pleased for her, if it meant she wouldn’t be unemployed when this pub finally sold. Ollie had promised to take his sister’s children to a zoo in North Yorkshire for the day.
‘I guess that’s that then,’ he’d said gloomily, as he made himself and his dad a mug of tea on Tuesday afternoon. ‘I’ve tried everyone, but I can’t get cover. Unless…’
He gave his dad a hopeful look.
‘What are you looking at me for?’ Seb said irritably. ‘Don’t go getting any ideas, just because I’ve helped you out once or twice.’
‘Fine,’ Sam said, passing him the tea. ‘Forget I said anything.’
‘I already have.’ Seb sipped his tea then winced. He’d clearly forgotten how hot it would be. ‘Why do you need the afternoon off, any road? Thought you were going to see your friends at teatime? You’ve already got cover for the evening. You want jam on it, you do.’
‘Well, that’s rich!’ Sam said indignantly. ‘It will be the first time I’ve been to Luke’s in months! And if you must know, I need the afternoon off because Jenna asked me if I’d like to go with her to keep her company while the twins have their riding lesson.’
‘Did she now?’ Seb nodded. ‘Well, well.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Not supposed to mean anything. Bit touchy, aren’t you?’ Seb took the precaution of blowing on his tea this time before he took another sip. ‘So, she wants you to go with them then? Well…’ He paused, considering. ‘I reckon that would be right nice for you all. Them little ’uns deserve a nice afternoon after what they’ve been through, and I reckon Jenna could do with the company an’ all.’
‘Yeah, that’s what I thought, too,’ Sam said carefully. ‘But if I can’t get cover…’
His dad sighed. ‘I want my head read. Go on then, I’ll do your afternoon shift for you. Don’t say I never give you anything.’
‘Seriously? Dad, you’re a star!’
Seb grunted. ‘I’m a lot of things, lad,’ he said quietly, ‘but I don’t think “a star” is one of them.’
So Sam had told Jenna he could make it after all and had been gratified to see and hear her obvious delight at the news.
Wednesday was bright and sunny, but it was cooler and there was a strong breeze. Jenna said she thought that was probably better than the sweltering heat they’d had the previous week. Better for the ponies, if nothing else.
The cottage at the riding school was, like most of the buildings in the area, built of red brick, with a pantile roof. There were a number of outbuildings clustered round a stable yard, including many looseboxes where various horses and ponies gazed out over the stable doors.
Lindy Bramhall introduced herself as the proprietor and said she would be giving the twins their lesson. She was probably in her thirties, quite well-built with curly red hair and a friendly smile.
The twins were then introduced to their ponies: a little bay called Boris and a piebald called Jigsaw.
‘They’re old hands at this,’ Lindy reassured Jenna. ‘We put all the complete novices up on them. It’s like sitting in an armchair. Nothing fazes them, so don’t look so worried.’
‘I didn’t know Iwaslooking worried,’ Jenna whispered as Lindy let the twins try on various sizes of hard hats until she was satisfied that they had ones with a perfect fit.
Sam grinned. ‘You were a bit. Well, you looked mildly terrified. It’s only natural, I guess. They are your precious children, after all.’
Another woman appeared, apparently to assist Lindy, and after the twins were hoisted into their saddles, the ponies were led into the paddock on lead reins. The twins looked absolutely beside themselves with joy and waved frantically to Jenna and Sam, who were leaning on the bonnet of Jenna’s car watching them from a reasonable distance. They’d considered going over to stand by the paddock gate but didn’t want to put the girls off.
