Read Online Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage by Cathy Woodman - Free Book Online Page B

the owner, which is unlikely because he hasn’t had any luck so far, he’ll pursue a prosecution. The pony will stay here until he’s ready for rehoming.’
    â€˜We’ll see what happens then. I’m sorry to rush off like this. It’s good to meet you, Flick.’ Matt leaves as I fetch my knife, nippers and rasp.
    â€˜Don’t let me hold you up,’ I say to Tessa, who’s waiting.
    â€˜If you’re sure.’ The baby has settled. He smiles at me and the soother drops out of his mouth. Tessa catches it before it reaches the ground. ‘I’ve got pretty good reflexes now. There’ll be hell to pay if he can’t have it back.’ Smiling, she pops it straight back into his mouth. ‘Thanks for coming out to us today. I expect we’ll be seeing you again at some stage, not that we take in many horses here. If ever you want a couple of rabbits or guinea pigs, or a dog, we’re inundated at the moment.’
    â€˜I’d like a dog one day, but I already have a horse and he takes up most of my spare time.’ I put Paddington’s foot back down and straighten up, rubbing the painful knots from the muscles in my back. ‘I’ll put him away when I’m done.’
    When I’ve finished trimming his feet, I lead him into the stable, where he returns to his hay-net. He’s a sweet pony, I think, and I can’t help wondering what kind of life he’s led, and what brought him to this.
    By the time I get back to Furzeworthy, it’s gone six, but Robbie doesn’t seem to mind me turning up late. Dressed in a navy T-shirt, jeans and short boots, he waves when I arrive at the yard behind the house.
    He’s with Kerry and a bay mare of similar build to Nelson. Her coat gleams like a conker freshly split from the shell, and the tips of her ears, her knees and hocks, mane and tail are black. Kerry hangs on to her via a rope halter and aims a squirt of fly-spray at her. The mare strikes out with her front leg. Kerry jumps back and tries again from a safer distance. The mare rears straight up and slams her front feet back down on the concrete. Kerry swears and hands the end of the rope to Robbie.
    He leads the mare forwards and asks her to move back again to make sure she’s listening to him before he calls Kerry to continue with what she’s doing. The mare flattens her ears and gives her handlers the evil eye. Robbie doesn’t speak. Using pressure on the rope, he asks her to take a step forwards again, and rubs her neck when she obeys.
    Kerry gives her another go with the fly-spray and, this time, she stands quietly with her head lowered.
    Robbie turns and gestures for me to approach.
    â€˜Hi, Flick. Come and join us, if you dare.’ He chuckles. ‘Meet Diva, our new recruit.’
    â€˜She’s rather beautiful,’ I say.
    â€˜She’s quite horrid,’ Kerry says with feeling. ‘Robbie, I don’t know what you and Dillon thought you were doing buying her.’
    â€˜She has spirit, which is just what we need, along with bravery, courage and trainability.’ He grins ruefully. ‘We’ll have to see if we can win her round to our way of thinking. If not, she’ll have been rather an expensive mistake.’
    â€˜I’ll put her away,’ Kerry says as a car draws up on the far side of the yard next to the rear entrance to the main house.
    â€˜Thanks,’ Robbie says.
    â€˜I’ll talk to you about the other thing later.’
    â€˜Other thing?’ He frowns. ‘Oh yes, that. I’ll check the diary.’
    â€˜I’ve checked. You are free that day – I’ve put a reminder on your mobile. You don’t mind, do you?’
    â€˜No, that’s fine. Whatever.’ He pulls his mobile from his pocket and unlocks it with a password which means, I guess, that rider and groom are pretty close. Ryan and I never shared our passwords.
    Robbie returns his