Secrets (6 page)

The air in the stable felt silent, blocked, like being underwater, and she had the sensation of fog swirling in her head …

“What are you doing?” Ellie jumped at the sound of Luke’s voice. He had come to the door.

“Nothing,” she said, patting the horse’s neck.

“Jeff sure knows how to pick them. First Lucifer. Now him,” Luke said admiringly.

Ellie nodded. But as she left the stable she took one last, long look at the horse, with the distinct feeling that something was really badly wrong.

I’ve never felt anything like it
, she told Spirit as she stood with him that night.
I couldn’t get any feelings from him. Nothing.

Spirit sent her a picture of a stone wall.

For a moment she thought he was trying to say something about the field, but then she realized the meaning behind the picture.
Yes, that it! It’s as if he’s putting up a wall, that there’s a barrier around him. I saw a fog too.

Keep trying.
She could feel Spirit’s concern.

I will.
Ellie had learned enough to know that sometimes you just had to be patient and wait. You couldn’t force a horse to talk to you. Sometimes all you could do was send it love and then it would eventually open its mind. It was just that she’d never felt such utter silence from a horse before.

At least I’m helping Lexi
, she thought
.
After everyone had left the yard that night she had gone to the mare’s stable and stood with her again, channeling healing energy, feeling the mare relax under her hands, her pain easing some more. Ellie suddenly remembered her other big news.
Oh, and Spirit—I’m buying Hope! My gran said I could!

She felt his happiness
.

I know I don’t really need another horse, I’ve got you, but she’s sweet and Uncle Len might have sold her otherwise
. For some reason, Ellie felt the urge to make excuses.

It’s good,
Spirit reassured her.
I think you’re meant to be together. I’ve always felt that.

She’s just a foal
, Ellie said quickly.
It doesn’t change anything between you and me.

Spirit nuzzled her.
No, nothing will
.

Ellie felt a wave of happiness and rested her cheek against his. There was so much to look forward to, she realized—training Hope, the Royal International the following week, her birthday, and Luke’s promise that they would celebrate it. What had he meant? Most of all, though, she felt happy because she had Spirit there to share everything with her just as he’d always done. She smiled. Yes. Life was good.

Chapter Six

ELLIE HAD NEVER BEEN
to a show like the Royal International before. As she rode down the hill late on Tuesday afternoon, she could see the vast Hickstead show ground sprawling out in front of her. There were stalls selling every kind of horsey paraphernalia, from breeches to horse food, and the main emerald-green arena looked very smart with its white stands and dazzling show jumps. The other arenas were dotted around the grounds.

Ellie stroked Picasso’s glossy neck. It was amazing to be there. They had arrived the day before in two horseboxes. For the start of the show, Len had just brought the six hunter ponies and the two hunters who would be competing on Wednesday and Thursday. When the ponies had finished their classes on Wednesday, Helen would take them home and return with the remaining horses—the riding horses, hacks and intermediates.

Ellie had found it hard to get her head around all the different types of classes when she’d first started living with her uncle, but now she knew that hunters were strong, handsome horses who could carry a person hunting all day; hacks were elegant and showy, bred to be the perfect horse for ladies and gentlemen to ride in the park; riding horses were not as showy as a hack but more refined than a hunter, and the intermediates were small hunters or riding horses ridden by riders aged twenty-five or under.

Len, Luke and Helen were all at the show with Ellie—Stuart and Sasha had stayed at home. As soon as they’d arrived on the show ground they had set up camp. Len and Luke were sleeping in the main trailer. Len’s clients, the Armstrongs, owned the second trailer. Ellie and Helen were sharing a tent with a main section and two separate sleeping compartments. Ellie felt glad it was Helen at the show, not Sasha. Although she was getting on better with Sasha now, she still preferred Helen who was older and quieter. Helen was shy, kind and always gentle with the horses. She certainly wouldn’t be up all night talking into her phone or partying wildly and Ellie was sure they’d get on just fine sharing a tent.

The horses were stabled in the show ground’s temporary stables, which were on either side of the road leading up the hill to the horsebox park. It was noisy and dusty on the hill with the sounds of generators and music blaring out from people’s caravans and horseboxes. There were queues for the toilets, the showers and the wash stations where horses could be bathed. The smell of burgers and hot dogs wafted around from the fast-food vans.

Ellie was struck by the difference between the dusty hill and the main show ground where everything was spotless and glamorous, the bowler-hatted and suited stewards walking around with clipboards and walkie-talkies, riders in their smart show clothes and visitors enjoying themselves shopping.

Picasso pulled at his bit, excited to be out, as she came through the security gate and rode alongside the large working-in area. It was really busy with people—she could see Luke there, exercising Hereward, one of the hunters. He had his reins in one hand, his dark gray T-shirt showing off his tanned arms and broad shoulders, his hair curling out from under his hat.

Two girls were walking along the path in shorts, boots and vest tops, their long hair carefully tousled.

“Who’s that?” said one of them, indicating Luke.

“Luke Black,” replied the other.

The first girl looked hopeful. “Do you know him?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s say hello then and see if he’s going to the disco tonight.”

Ellie rolled her eyes as she watched the two girls hurry down to the ringside and call out to Luke. Ellie decided to ride somewhere else. Beyond the show rings there was a green hill where you could also ride, then a bridle path leading off across the fields. She headed over there and in the peace and quiet she schooled Picasso. Len had decided that Luke would ride Barney in the 15 hands-high working hunter pony class the next day so that Ellie could concentrate on Picasso, who was in the 14 hands-high class. Ellie didn’t mind because she had Milly to ride too, and Fizz and Bill to prepare for the Armstrong children. After making sure Picasso was obedient and listening to her, she pushed him on up the hill, leaning forward and letting him really stretch out in a gallop.

He seemed to enjoy it, snorting and sidling around afterwards. Ellie grinned. “That was fun, wasn’t it, boy?” She did it once more and then set off over the fields to cool him down. It was very tranquil away from the show and all the people. Ellie brushed the flies away from Picasso’s neck and thought about Spirit. She would miss him and Hope while she was at the show. Turning Picasso around, she wandered back with him in the afternoon sun towards the stables. She untacked him and washed him down, then returned to the trailer. Another show team was behind them—a caravan, tents and brightly colored awnings set out alongside several gleaming horseboxes. A group of children and teenagers, aged from about seven to fourteen, chatted and generally messed around while some of their parents sat on chairs drinking wine and fruit juice. Ellie felt slightly wistful. They all seemed to be having such good fun. She’d been watching them since she’d arrived. Their trainer, Caroline, was as well known and successful as Len, but she had a very different approach, laughing with her team, joining in with their fun, chatting to the parents—while still insisting on one hundred per cent effort in the show ring. Ellie wished Len was like that, but, although he might talk to Luke, he rarely said anything that wasn’t a command or a reprimand to her and Helen.

Ellie looked in her tent and in the living quarters of the trailer, but Helen wasn’t there. Fetching an apple, she sat on the steps of the horsebox listening to the laughter and shrieks coming from the next-door team. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she looked up to see Luke returning after putting Hereward away.

“All on your own?” She nodded.

“We can’t have that. How about we get changed and go next door?”

Ellie hesitated. She was tired after the busy day and didn’t know if she really felt like socializing with a whole load of new people.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” urged Luke.

“All right.” She gave in and went to the tent to get changed. Once she’d put shorts and a T-shirt on, she brushed out the tangles in her blonde hair and went to the living quarters of the horsebox to wash her hands and face. She opened the door to see Luke in his boxer shorts.

“Sorry!” she gasped. She went to shut the door quickly.

“Don’t be silly.” Luke stopped her. “You
can
come in. I’m not butt-naked.”

Face burning, Ellie went to the sink. She didn’t dare look up as she heard the sounds of Luke getting dressed. She didn’t think she’d ever felt more embarrassed in her life! Even with her eyes looking firmly at the floor, she could still picture him standing there with almost no clothes on.

“It’s OK, I’m respectable again,” Luke said at last. “Well, as respectable as I’ll ever be!” She glanced up and caught his grin. The living quarters suddenly seemed very small. She could feel the sink against her back. Her breath felt tight in her throat.

“Come on, let’s go and have us some fun!” Pulling open the door, Luke leaped down the steps.

Taking a deep breath, Ellie followed him.
This is Luke
, she told herself strongly.
You don’t like him in that way
at all,
remember!

They went to the group of horseboxes and tents. Several of the grown-ups lifted their glasses and smiled in greeting.

“Hi Luke,” said Caroline, the trainer.

“Hi, Caro. This is Ellie,” said Luke. “Is it all right if we join in for a bit?”

“Sure.” Caroline smiled at Ellie. “Help yourself to a drink. There’s loads in the cooler.”

“You can come in here, Luke,” said an older girl with glossy blonde hair, looking out of one of the caravans.

“Come on,” Luke said to Ellie. He helped himself to a beer and she took a Coke, then they went into the caravan. Inside, there were three girls and two boys with several boxes of pizza on the table. Ellie recognized them all from the show ring, although they were older than she was so she didn’t usually ride against them. A stick-thin red-haired boy who looked about eighteen was sitting on the table, while the blonde girl who’d invited them in was sorting out music on an iPod and speakers.

“Hi, guys,” Luke said. “This is Ellie. Ellie this is Bea,” he said, nodding to the blonde girl. “She’s a friend of Anna’s. And this is Liam.”

“Good to meet you,” said the red-haired boy. He had an Irish accent and a wide grin. Bea went over and put an arm around his neck and kissed him.

“Cut it out, you two!” groaned the stocky boy with sandy hair sitting on the sofa. He threw a beer mat at them. “I’m Daniel,” he said to Ellie. “This is my sister, Sam.” He nodded to the pretty dark-haired girl beside him who looked a bit younger than the others, about sixteen, and who was reading a magazine. Ellie recognized her from the working hunter pony and show hunter pony classes. Sam smiled at her. “And this is Claire,” Daniel went on. Claire had a mass of brown curls and teasing eyes. She was cuddling a pink toy pig.

“You have to say hello to Egbert too,” she told Ellie. “He’s our mascot.” She waggled him in the air.

“Hi, Egbert,” said Ellie with a grin.

“Sit down,” said Sam, moving up on the bench so Ellie could squeeze on too. Luke helped himself to a slice of pizza, then pulled down a stool that folded into the breakfast bar and sat on that.

“So how are you doing?” Liam asked Luke. “You’re still with Anna then?”

“Yeah.” Luke grinned lazily.

“You’d better not two-time her, Luke,” Bea told him, flicking back her long blonde hair.

Luke gave her an innocent look. “Would I?” Liam chuckled.

“You can two-time her with me any time, Luke!” Claire laughed raucously.

“Oh, Claire, you are
way
out of my league!” Luke grinned and took a magazine from the table. “Where are the horoscopes?” he said, flicking through. “Here we go. What does tomorrow hold?” He stabbed his finger at the paper. “Sagittarius, that’s me: ‘you’re on a winning streak’.” He nodded. “I like that. Championship, here I come. And love rating: five out of five stars.”

“It’s always that for you,” commented Daniel. Luke cocked an eyebrow at Ellie. “Leo for you. ‘Face each challenge as it comes and you will win through.’ And love beckons, Ellie!”

Claire nudged her. “Sounds all right to me!” Ellie blushed.

Claire took the paper. “Woo-hoo,” she said. “Listen to this—“it may seem a mountain, but you can succeed and hot love awaits.” So that’s me and Duke winning the 15-handers and then at the disco, well …” She ran her finger teasingly down Daniel’s back. “
Hot love!
”

“Gerroff!” Daniel pulled a face and wriggled away. “Sorry, I always have this effect on girls,” he sighed to Ellie.

“And pigs!” Claire said, stuffing Egbert down his back.

The joking and messing around went on. Ellie didn’t say much. Her thoughts were full of the next day and she was starting to really miss Spirit. She wished she could go and talk to him as she usually did. She wondered if he was missing her and that thought took all the party feeling out of her, and left her waiting for a point when she could return to her tent without seeming rude. At last everyone decided to go to the disco that was held every night in a big marquee in the middle of the horsebox park.

“If it’s no good we’ll come and party back here,” said Bea. “Tomorrow we really must have a good time when the hunter pony classes are over. Anna’s arriving then, isn’t she, Luke?”