Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Juliet

G randdad got the vet out the day after Billy arrived just like he said he would. The vet says he can't find anything wrong with him that some good grub and TLC won't fix. My mum wanted to send him back as soon as she saw him. I had to beg her to let me keep him. He isn't what I would have wanted buying for me, but he has kind eyes. I think he has had it rough the last couple of years. I think, once he settles in, he will be a superstar for me.

I joined a group on FB and tried to trace him; I didn't find all his history, but I did find the girl riding him in the photos and videos used to sell him. They had been taken a few years ago; she had only been loaning him so had no say when he was sold. She told me all about the things she had done with him in the time she had him. She even jumped him at 120cm.

Once I get him healthy I can start getting him back in shape and as long as he hasn't suffered any injuries in the two years since she rode him then I should be able to do at least 1 metre, I'm not sure I am brave enough to go any higher but we will see, one thing at a time, first I have to get him back in good enough shape to ride.

"So, this is the new boy I have been hearing about?"

I spin around to see a tanned Emma leaning over the stall door looking at me.

"Yeah, not what I was expecting, but he is such a sweetheart."

She opened to the door and came in. "He seems like it. I think you two will be awesome together. You're going to look after my friend, aren't you, sweet boy?"

She reached up and stroked his face. He lowered his head towards her, inviting her to give him more attention.

"Did you have a good holiday?"

"Yes, and no! Sea and sunshine brilliant, no horses? Terrible. I think next year I will have to try to talk my parents into doing one-week holidays. Two weeks with no horses is far too long."

I started laughed. "You just need to persuade them to do horse riding holidays, so you don't miss out."

"Definitely, imagine going to America and riding on the prairies like cowboys, sleeping under the stars."

"Like you would want to do that, stories and toasted marshmallows then into a campervan would be a better idea. No scorpions that way."

"You're right, and it would be better for the horses. Well, other than your new boy arriving what else have a missed?"

"Not much. You make it out like you have been gone for months. There is one new girl on Saturday lessons. Harlequinn lost a shoe, so the farrier is coming on Wednesday. I thought about getting Billy done, but he is coming while I'm at school, so I will leave it until he comes for his regular visit in a couple of weeks."

"Have you seen anything of Romeo?"

"Is that Georgia's nephew?"

"Yeah, he hangs around here while she is seeing to Diamond or out hacking. I feel bad for him. Don't give me that look. I don't have a crush on him, and he is way too old for me. It's just, he is a bit like your boy here. He has had a rough couple of years, and I think he could really do with people just to talk to or hang out sometimes. He's only a few months older than you. Maybe you could chat with him, invite him out with you and your friends?"

"You guys are my friends." I laugh. Between horses and studying, I don't have time to hang out with other people, plus school friends really don't understand why I would want to spend half my free time up to my knees in mud and horse shit. "Plus, I don't think he likes me. I had a bit of a run in with him last week."

"Tell me."

"I tripped over his legs - he was sitting in a stupid place. We had a few words. I don't think he will be in a rush to talk to me again."

"Do you think he's good looking, though?"

"I thought you didn't fancy him?"

"I don't, but if you won't be friends with him, then I will have to find other people to be nice to him. So how do I describe him? Is he cute? Good looking?"

"He is gorgeous, and you know it. He looks like he could have walked off a magazine page. I bet he has a million girls telling him how fit he is every day on TikTok. I seriously doubt he needs your help to make ‘friends'!"

"You are so judgemental. First, he doesn't do social media except to watch other people's video. Second, he moved here because his mum just died. He doesn't know many people here yet. His aunt makes him come with her because she is worried about him." She reached up to stroke Billy again. "He has been forced to move because of what happened just like this boy. He lost the person who loved him most, just like this boy did at one point. But they both deserve the chance to have a fresh start and find someone special who cares for them. Don't they?"

"Okay, yes, I may have judged him wrong. I'll try to talk to him more when I see him about but if he doesn't want to talk to me, then I'm not going to force him to and stalk him. Deal?"

"Deal. Now, back to this handsome boy? When do I get to ride him?"

We both laugh, but my mind is thinking back to my interaction with Romeo, that spark that passed between us when we touched.