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alone.”
    But even in this Tessa could not bring herself to be an ally.
    â€œTrouble is, there’s not enough for you to do around here in the summer. Not until the jumpers start coming in at the end of July. By September there’ll a dozen, as well as Jimmy’s. Plenty of work, but you’ll be back at school by then.”
    Will I hell, Tessa thought. Nobody would take her. Myra had tried everywhere.
    She used to time her arrival (she walked across the fields) with the end of breakfast. No one had invited her to breakfast. She knew it was because they disliked her. But one morning when she got there, there had been an emergency with some cows getting out on to the road, and breakfast was half an hour late. She went in and sat down uninvited. She helped herself to a mug of tea. No one said anything.
    Peter was sounding off about a new owner who was sending him a horse to train. It was now well into July and soon the horses would be coming back. This new one belonged to – according to Peter – a senile coal merchant.
    â€œHe’s never had a horse before. He wants to win the Grand National, like the old guy that owned Red Rum. So he went to the sales and bought one, just like that. He said no one bid for it and he was sorry for it so he bid and got it. I ask you! What are we getting?”
    The others all laughed.
    â€œAs long as he pays –”
    â€œWe don’t want to be a laughing stock, all the same.”
    â€œIt’ll never get on the course if it’s as bad as it sounds. Someone’ll have to let him down gently.”
    â€œWe’ll be fair with him,” Peter said. “But I tell you, he’s barmy. I talked to him on the phone. Nutty as a fruitcake. Sending the horse tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat on earth’s Sarah going to say? She’ll be back next week. She’s always trying to get you to say no to dumbos,” Gilly said to Peter.
    â€œShe’ll have to take it. We need the money,” Peter said tartly.
    Jimmy said, “We need a reputation more. You get a reputation and the money comes.”
    Tessa had heard of Sarah before – the head lad apparently, who left in the spring when the horses stopped racing and worked elsewhere for three months. Gilly said she was “a tartar”. Tessa was quite looking forward to meeting her.
    When they were going out, Tessa heard Peter say to Gilly, “Give the damned horse to Tessa to look after. Two no-hopers. They’ll suit each other.”
    Tessa pretended not to hear. She didn’t think of herself as a no-hoper, rather as someone who was doing her own thing regardless. But she could see it wouldn’t suit them to see it that way.
    Gilly said, “Getting a horse might improve you. Nobody gives you work because you’re so snotty about taking orders. Face like a thunderstorm. Easier to ignore you. I suppose that’s what you want.”
    True, but Tessa didn’t answer.
    â€œEven if the horse is a no-no, the owner pays for it to be treated like a star. You’ll have to get that into your thick head.”
    In spite of herself, Tessa felt a faint interest in “her” horse. The next day she waited impatiently for the horsebox to arrive. Gilly made her put a straw bed down in one of the empty, disinfected looseboxes, and put hay ready and a water bucket. Three other horses had already come back from grass. They were impressive glossy animals. Gilly and Arthur took charge of them. Apparently they were ready to start work again, to get fit over two or three months and start running in November. This meant lots of slow exercise to get their muscles hard, until they were ready to canter, and then run for their lives. Tessa leaned over the half-doors studying them, admiring their impressive appearance. Even if they weren’t Gold Cup winners, they looked like it.
    â€œPity you can’t ride,” Gilly remarked. “There’s a lot of