Page 51 of For the Love of Animals

Nobody would even notice I was missing. My parents called from their villa in Spain once a week, my clients weren’t expecting me online until Monday, a day and a half away, and my nearest neighbour lived a quarter of a mile down the road. How long did it take to die from hypothermia? Would some party of schoolchildren find my skeleton in ten years’ time, the tattered—

I flew through the air as Picky took off, twisting his body so I went sideways and landed in a heap by the track.

What the…?

I must be hallucinating. There was no other explanation for it, because now a bush was walking towards me. No, two. Three. Three bushes, with faces and guns.

“Are you all right, miss?”

Well, at least the foliage around here was polite.

“My ankle hurts. I think I landed on it funny.”

The front bush swore softly under his breath. “I’m terribly sorry we scared your horse. We’re on a military exercise, and he must have spotted us as you came past.”

Military? Too late, I recalled the signs warning of manoeuvres in the area.

“You’re soldiers?”

“Close—Royal Marines. Was it the guns that gave it away?”

I smiled in spite of the pain. “Something like that.”

“Are you able to walk? I’m Matt, by the way, and these reprobates are Dave and Stewart.”

“Sarah.”

Matt held out a hand, and I gripped it tightly, digging my nails in from the pain as I got to my feet.

“Sorry. My leg’s a little sore.”

“Shall I call an ambulance?”

I really didn’t want to cause a fuss. “I’m sure I’ll be fine with a bag of frozen peas. Uh, I don’t suppose you saw where my pony went?”

Dave pointed behind me. “He’s over there, eating grass.”

Whoever named him Picnic must have known he was ruled by his stomach. “Would one of you be able to help me back on board? And maybe point me in the right direction? We’re actually a bit lost.”

I gave them my address and Matt’s brow crinkled. “You’re about four miles away and heading south instead of north.”

“Oops.”

He passed his gun to Stewart, then began stripping off the outer layers of his camouflage outfit.

“Sergeant, can you radio in to say I’m taking the lady home? She shouldn’t be out alone at this time, especially with a dodgy ankle.”

I opened my mouth to protest then thought the better of it. Without his help, I’d probably get lost again, and one of their colleagues would trip over my frozen corpse in a few weeks’ time.

“No problem. Need a hand, sir?”

“I’ll manage. You carry on with the exercise.”

I worried that Picky might run away, but he let Matt take his reins and followed like an angel as they walked back over.

“Do you need a leg up?”

“You know horses?”

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