Page 53 of Growing Into Love

I follow Gary to the side of the ring where some poles are stacked and help him carry them into the correct shape—four poles lying flat on the ground at one end, four at another, spaced four feet apart but connected at their ends so they form a fan shape.

I duck under the rails so I can watch her from outside the ring. She brings Gal to a trot then leads her over the poles, first at one end, then curving around to trot over the others at the far end.

“Let’s do figure eights now,” she says. Gary and I reset the poles. I’m trying to watch out for all the things she told me—ankles flexed, hands down—so that maybe I can show some usefulness. Maybe she’ll forgive me for being an utter arse.

But if there’s one thing I know about Cass, it’s that she can hold a grudge.

“Well, well, well,” a voice says from behind me. “Look who’s here.”

I turn to see a raven-haired woman with beetle-black eyes and a haughty expression, staring at Cass like a tiger stares down an antelope.

Nigella Bags-Lavisham has arrived.

FIFTEEN

CASS

I’m somad I could spit.

Who does Jaz think he is, attacking me like that? If anyone would ever actuallytalkto me instead of rushing to judgment, they’d realize Idohave a fucking business plan. He’s being exactly like Declan. Rushing to assumptions, treating me like a kid. Poor silly Cass, doesn’t know a thing about running a sanctuary. What does Declan know about running a sanctuary? Or Jaz for that matter? Have they done their research? No. But I have. If they’d only listen to me, they’d realize I’m more prepared than they think.

I fume all through my figure eight exercises and try to come up with some hard jumps for Jaz to set up next. I’ll make him pay for those comments with manual labor.

But when I finish my last set, I look up to see Miss Prissy Bags-Fuckisham herself, laughing in Jaz’s face like he’s said the funniest thing in the world.

“Oi,” I call to Jaz grumpily, determined to ignore Nigella. “I need you to set up some oxers.”

“Hi Cass!” Nigella gives a stupid little wave with her fingers. “It’s so nice to see you again.” She eyes Jaz hungrily. “I was just having a chat with your new trainer.”

Jaz ducks between the rails to start setting up the jumps.

“Where do you want them?” he asks me.

“I’ll help,” I growl, dismounting. The other groom, Gary, hurries over to help too. Nigella settles herself against the fence to watch as we set up the jumps.

“Shouldn’t you be training?” I snap at her.

“Oh, I already got a good session in,” Nigella says airily. “Prince doesn’t need much practice, you know. Hanoverians are natural jumpers.”

“Fucking monarchist,” I mutter. Prince William is a dumber name than Naturally Sweet. And Nigella is always reminding me she’s got a top breed for a jumper.

“Don’t pay her any mind,” Jaz says.

“I’m not,” I snarl. We finish setting up the course in terse silence. Nigella stays through the whole morning watching me. It completely throws me off. That plus Jaz’s condescension earlier is too much. I can’t focus, I’m not paying attention to the outside lines, and once, I even knock a rail off, a fault I almost never make.

By lunchtime I’m all out of sorts.

“Well, that was fun,” Nigella says. “Are you sure you shouldn’t show on Thursday with the junior classes? That might be more your speed.”

“Bugger off, Nigella,” I say. I dismount and tie Gal up to the rail. “Let’s get some lunch,” I say to Jaz, stalking off toward a tent set up that sells bottled water and sandwiches. We eat in silence, sitting on the grass and watching Scott run a practice course on a stunning Westphalian.

“Cass,” Jaz says finally, breaking the silence. “Talk to me. Please.”

“Everyone has a fancy fucking jumping breed except me,” I say, glowering at the Westphalian. “I can’t believe I’ve messed up so badly today. Nigella is right. I should jump with the juniors.”

“Now wait just a minute,” Jaz says. “Nigella is full of shit, as you very well know, and breed means nothing. You said it yourself, it’s what’s in here that counts” He taps his breastbone.

“I was being stupid.”

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