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including a kiss in her expressions of gratitude. At five foot nine Sandy was a couple of inches shorter than Linc but thick, wavy fair hair and boyish smile ensured he was never short of female company.
    â€˜You’re a pushover, you are!’ Linc declared as he reached the front of the queue.
    â€˜Linc! Nice to see you, mate!’ Sandy’s attractive, lightly freckled face lit up as he punched Linc lightly on the arm. ‘Where’ve you been hiding yourself lately?’
    â€˜Oh, I’ve been working away. But seriously, how many times do people take up your kind offers and disappear without trace?’
    Sandy lowered his voice. ‘Very rarely, actually. You see, I know where most of them live and I know who their friends are. A word dropped here and there can be very damaging to someone’s credit rating. Yeah, sure, I’ve lost the odd snaffle or stirrup leather but my open-handed reputation is my biggest draw.’
    Linc laughed. ‘You’re a fraud! I should haveknown it. Underneath that warm, friendly public face you’re just a cold, calculating businessman.’
    â€˜Shhh, think of my sales!’ Sandy warned in mock alarm. ‘Well, what can I do for you anyway?’
    Soberly, Linc told him what had happened to Abby. ‘So they’re left with no tack at all until the insurance comes through, and of course, whatever else happens, the horses still have to be exercised,’ he finished.
    â€˜So they’d like me to pop over and drop off a couple of saddles and bridles in the meantime?’
    â€˜That’d be brilliant, if you could.’
    â€˜Sure. It won’t be till Monday, though. I’ll still be here tomorrow, it’s the Open Intermediate.’
    â€˜Monday’s fine,’ Linc assured him.
    â€˜That’s rough about Abby. Poor kid. Will she be okay?’
    Linc pursed his lips. ‘Too soon to say.’
    â€˜And do they have any idea who did it? The police, I mean.’
    â€˜If they do, they’re not telling. I was first on the scene and
I
didn’t see anything. But maybe forensics will turn something up.’
    â€˜Let’s hope so.’
    Several other customers were hovering hopefully and Sandy made an apologetic face at Linc. ‘Look, I’ll have to get on, sorry. I’ll ring about Monday.’
    â€˜Thanks. Oh, and Noddy goes in a five-and-a-half-inch, half-cheeked snaffle, if you’ve got one.’
    â€˜Right you are. See you later, then.’ With a smile, Sandy turned to his next customer.
    It was with a degree of relief that Linc made it out into the fresh air again. He was heading for NinaBarclay’s horsebox when a voice spoke hesitantly behind him.
    â€˜Excuse me . . .’
    He turned to see a middle-aged strawberry blonde in jodhpurs and a Puffa jacket.
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜I’m sorry. I don’t know whether you’re interested but the thing is, I couldn’t help overhearing about your tack being stolen, and the same thing happened to us just a week ago. My name’s Tricia Johnston, by the way.’
    â€˜Linc Tremayne.’
    â€˜Yes, I know. I saw you at Radstock. Abby was grooming for you, wasn’t she? Poor girl, I hope she’ll be all right.’
    â€˜Me too. Er, look, I’m due to ride in a minute . . .’ He’d told Nina he’d be back in twenty minutes and he was cutting it fine.
    â€˜Sorry. Actually, there’s not much more to tell because no one saw anything. They just forced the padlock on the tackroom door and cleared us out. All the new stuff anyway. We reckon it was between half-ten when my daughter gives the horses their last lot of hay and half-twelve when my husband and I got back from a party.’
    â€˜You were out then?’ Linc asked with interest.
    â€˜Yes, a fund-raising do for the local hunt. It was a dreary affair as well. I wish we’d never gone.’
    â€˜Do you think