Page 20 of The Gift Of Life

“Do not say sorry again. You’re not allowed to say that word... at all.”

I sigh with relief. I had no idea what she was going to ask of me, but that I can do.

“I promise. Now, will you quit stalling and get ready so we can get out of here and stretch our legs and the horses’?”

She jogs away. It’s the happiest I’ve seen Harper in such a long time. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come. I just hate that she’s so far away from me.

“She’s doing well, son,” says Valerie, Harper's mum, as she joins me in the kitchen.

“It's good to see.”

“What are your plans for a glorious day?”

“Riding, I believe. Harper wants to ride Snowdrop.”

“Fresh air will do you both good.”

I nod. “Do you ever forget how to ride? I can’t remember the last time I climbed on a horse, never mind ride one.”

She laughs. “it’s like riding a bike. Have some fun. You both deserve that more than anything in this world.”

Harper picks that moment to join us. She has changed into jeans and a t-shirt. The jeans make me see how much weight she has lost, but a little while at home and her mum will have her back to her normal self. No one can resist homemade food.

“Ready?” she asks me.

“If we’re not back before sundown, send a search party.”

We all laugh, and I follow Harper out of the house through the back door. Already, I’m calmer, and I can’t wait to see where we end up today.

***

We pull up beside a burn at the foot of the Ochil Hills, and Snowdrop and Diesel lap up the water. Harper and I sit on the ground with the horses at either side of us.

I find it exhilarating being outside in the wilderness. We used to ride a lot when we were kids. With our families owning farms, we were never away from fields and animals. Some would say it wasn’t a great life, but it was for us. We had everything we ever wanted and then some. The adventures were amazing.

“What are you thinking about?” asks Harper.

“Growing up around the farm and the great outdoors.”

“It isn’t for everyone.”

“I agree. Can you remember the birthday party you had, when everyone went horse riding first? Do you remember Camila? She wanted to go on Dexter, the most unpredictable horse ever, and he tossed her off.”

Harper giggled. “Dexter had a good judge of character. If he didn’t like you, there was no ride. He had Camilla pegged; she was a bitch.”

“I wonder what happened to her.”

“Probably married some rich guy and lives a life of luxury.” Harper rolls her eyes.

“And here we are, sitting at the same burn, with the same horses we did nearly ten years ago.”

Harper jumps up. Race you back to the farm. Loser orders dinner.”

“Deal.”

Harper is on Snowdrop and off before I even get my foot in the stirrup.

I deliberately want to be last here because watching Harper gallop through the fields, wind in her hair, cheeks rosy... it’s a picture I never want to erase from my memory.

---