The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton - Catherine Alliott [39]
‘Her legs are clean,’ Mr Docherty assured me smoothly.
‘Oh, good.’ I nodded, disinclined to take the investigation further.
‘Tack her up then.’ He nodded to Barney.
In another moment, Barney had got a saddle and bridle on her, and vaulted onto her back. After leaning down to get some muttered instructions from his father, he gave the pony a hefty kick, and a sharp flick of the reins on her neck. At this his mount jolted off at a rather unsettled pace, through the open gateway and into the ragworty paddock. We followed at a slower pace, and then leaned on the fence, watching as he went round and round in circles: first walking, then trotting, then that faster thing… marvellous. I felt I was on the set of Rawhide: just needed a cowboy hat and a piece of grass to chew. He came back and slid neatly off, handing the reins to Anna.
‘All right, darling?’ I looked at her anxiously.
She looked a bit nervous, but got on carefully, like she'd been taught at the riding stables, not in a leap and a bound like the boy, but holding the reins in one hand and levering herself up. I felt so proud as I watched her trot off. How brave! A strange horse! I'd no more get on that than fly to the moon. I watched her do a careful up-down, up-down trot, immaculate in her yellow jodhpurs, shiny boots and velvet hat, but I was only half watching. I'd spotted a water trough just along the fence line, and unable to bear the poo-between-the-toes feeling any longer, nipped off to dunk my foot.
When I got back, she seemed to be going quite fast, I'd say a gallop, and Mr Docherty was shouting, ‘Pull her up now, gurr'l!’ but Anna's eyes were shining, cheeks pink, as she careered unsteadily back to us.
‘Yes?’ I called up to her.
‘Yes!’ she said breathlessly, elated and excited.
‘Marvellous.’ I beamed at the man. ‘A thousand, wasn't it, you said?’ The boy looked astonished, and Mr Docherty anguished, as it presumably crossed his mind that he could have asked twice as much, but he was quick to point out that yes, that was indeed the price, but minus the tack.
‘Ah. And how much is the tack?’
‘Five hundred.’
‘Five hundred!’ I looked at the saddle, rather dirty and grey, and the tatty old bridle. ‘Good grief. I had no idea.’
‘Ah well, you see, it's all in the workmanship,’ he said, sucking air in through his teeth. ‘There's a devil of craft goes into it, and sure, you could buy new, but this is Molly's tack. Fits her like a glove, always has done. She'd be desperate in an ill-fitting saddle.’
‘Yes, yes, of course.’ Like a tight pair of shoes, I imagined. Except with someone on your back too. Horrid.
‘We'll take it,’ I said firmly as the boy made an odd barking sound into his hand. ‘She must have her familiar things.’
‘And I'll throw in the head collar for free,’ Mr Docherty assured me, kicking his son.
‘Oh, how kind!’ I exclaimed, but even as I was writing out the cheque, on an upturned bucket, which had been hastily provided, I wondered, uneasily, if this was rather like marvelling delightedly at the free Aga cookbook, which, as Ant had pointed out, had come free with five grands-worth of cooker.
‘And did you say you would deliver?’ I persisted, as Mr Docherty smartly pocketed the cheque. I really had to gain some ground here.
‘Ah, we will. Wednesday morning I'll pop her in the lorry and bring her round, just as soon as the cheque's cleared.’ No flies on him. ‘I'll tek her straight to your brother's place, will I?’
‘Yes, please. Oh, and if there's no one about – my sister-in-law's frightfully busy – don't worry too much about trying to find her. But perhaps my brother, Tim…’
‘Ah, no need to trouble anyone. I'll keep out o' harm's way and pop Molly straight in a stable, will I?’ He widened his eyes, encouragingly.
‘Um, yes. Why not?’ I certainly didn't want Caro disturbed