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love her back.
    “Well?” Luke came over, Pip trotting at his heels. “What did he say?”
    “He said yes!” Ellie grinned and bent down to ruffle Pip’s ears in delight.
    “Awesome!” Luke said, pleased.
    “I want to go and see her.”
    Ellie and Luke went to the field where Hope and Gem were turned out together. They were grazing, nose by nose.
    “She is a beauty,” said Luke appreciatively.
    Ellie nodded, taking in the filly’s pretty head, her intelligent, slightly stubborn eyes, her clean long limbs and strong back.
    “Better move on,” said Luke, hearing a shout from the yard. He nudged her. “I’ll leave you with your horse.” Giving a whistle to Pip who was nosing in the hedgerow, he walked away.
    My horse. Ellie climbed over the gate. Gem and Hope came over. Touching Hope’s neck, Ellie was struck again at how simple the energy around the foal felt. There was no hidden pain, no deep anguish or difficult memories. Ellie felt suddenly awed. It was up to her to make sure Hope stayed happy, that the filly never had any bad memories that Ellie could possibly prevent.
    “I will look after you,” she promised the filly. “For always.”
    Remembering she’d made that promise once before, her excitement faded a few notches. Owning Hope would be great, but Spirit was still with her and would always be her real horse—the one she loved most. She mustn’t forget that.
    She turned and looked up the slope to the field where his grave was. Always and ever , she thought.
     

Chapter Five
    ANNA HALLETT ARRIVED IN her silver sports car. Shaking back her mane of dark brown hair, she waved at Luke as she walked up the yard, her tight cream breeches and short-sleeved T-shirt showing off her perfect figure. Ellie looked down at her own blue jodhpurs, dusty from her falls that morning, and T-shirt covered with slobber where Picasso had rubbed his mouth against her when she had taken off his bridle. Her long ponytail had shavings in it and she could tell she had a spot coming on her chin. She couldn’t ever imagine looking so effortlessly glamorous and beautiful.
    Luke went to meet Anna, Pip trotting beside him. Even in his work clothes he looked gorgeous too. They looked as if they should be in an advert together. Anna smiled up at Luke through her long eyelashes. “Been missing me?”
    “You bet,” he murmured.
    Pip went over to greet Anna, putting her front paws up on Anna’s breeches. “Get down!” Anna snapped, frowning.
    Ellie went to the tackroom and fetched Lucifer’s saddle and bridle. She knew Anna wouldn’t want to tack him up herself but would expect him warmed up, ready and waiting in the school for her lesson with Len.
    When Lucifer saw her coming, he pricked his ears and whinnied. Ellie smiled. Lucifer’s dark eyes fixed on her.
    “Hey, boy,” she said, letting herself into his stable. He nuzzled her. She pictured him when he’d arrived at the yard, attacking other horses, refusing human contact, threatening people who came into his stable with his teeth and hooves until Ellie had helped him. Feeling his lips hopefully exploring the outside of her pockets for treats, Ellie rubbed his neck.
    She took Lucifer up to the schooling ring and rode him around, warming him up and enjoying the way he responded to the lightest of pressure on the reins. Lucifer liked to be trusted and the softer his rider was with their aids, the better he went.
    When Anna came to the gate with Luke, Ellie halted. Most of Len’s clients would smile and say thanks if Ellie had been working their horse in, but Anna didn’t say a word to her.
    “He’s looking well,” Anna said to Luke.
    “Ellie’s in charge of grooming him and we ride him between us when you’re not here,” Luke replied.
    Anna’s eyes barely flickered in Ellie’s direction. “Have you heard about my new horse?” she asked Luke as she went into the school.
    “Yeah.”
    Anna nodded. “I want a youngster I can really work with. You know, one