Page 36 of One Last Thing
‘That bastard didn’t know me at all!’ Mum cries, slamming the car door shut.
Ignoring her, I follow Nico towards the stables where a small group of people are gathered, fellow tourists like us in their jeans and T-shirts, overnight bags at their feet. I break into a wide grin as I watch a blonde-haired woman lead out a chestnut horse. There’s something fascinatingly contradictory to me about horses. They’re these big, majestic animals, but desire affection and attachment as much as we do, which makes them vulnerable.
‘This is the next task,’ I conclude once Nico has let the owner know we’ve arrived and come back to stand with me in the yard. ‘Horse riding.’
‘Horse riding through the Pyrenees and camping for the night,’ he says, as I eagerly stare at the horses being led out one by one.
‘Camping?Camping.’ Mum throws her head back and lets out a loud, ‘HA!’
‘We did it once,’ I say quietly. ‘You remember, Nico?’
‘It was a lot of fun,’ he confirms.
‘I have never in my life gone horse riding andcampinghere,’ Mum says, shuddering at the thought.
‘You must have stayed back at the chateau with Françoise,’ I say, thinking back on our one-time adventure. ‘It was me, Nico, Mathieu and Dad. I think . . . I think it was my idea. You remember when I was really into pony club?’
‘For about two years, yes,’ Mum says, heaving a sigh. ‘We signed you up for it when you went through the classic phase of wanting a pony, I think inspired by those little toy ones you had with the pink hair. I thought if you had to experience the hard work of being around a horse, you might go off the idea without me having to be the bad guy again.’
‘But it didn’t work,’ I say, grinning. ‘I didn’t mind clearing out the stables and doing the grooming if it meant I could be around the horses. I love their smell.’
‘Me too,’ Nico says.
‘All I smell is shit,’ Mum mutters, wrinkling her nose as she points to a pile nearby.
‘It was Mathieu who looked into treks around the area when he found out I was into horses,’ I recall, ignoring her, ‘and he very sweetly gave me all this information. I begged Dad if we could book this one because it meant two days of riding.’
‘Twodays?’ Mum groans.
‘You ride to the campsite, stay the night, ride back the next day.’
‘Absolutely not,’ she states firmly. ‘Look Nico, I can understand if Henry wanted Megan to get back up on a horse. Once upon a time she was all for it, and it’s adorable that he thought she should get back in the saddle—’
‘It’s been years,’ I smile in a daze.
‘—but there must have been some mistake about me coming along,’ Mum continues brazenly. ‘I don’tdohorseriding. I respect them, they are very pretty to look at from a distance and cheer around a course, but I do not and will not haul myself up on top of one. And I’m sure this will come as no surprise, but I’m not exactly a camper, either.’
‘Henry’s instructions were clear,’ Nico tells her apologetically. ‘The trek and camping overnight is for both of you to do together. I’m sorry, Dawn, but there’s no mistake.’
While Mum’s jaw drops in horror, I find myself wandering over to the nearest horse, putting my hand out beneath her nose so her soft whiskery lips can nibble at my palm, using my other to stroke down her nose and then pat gently at her muscly neck.
‘Hello, you,’ I say to her quietly, as though we’ve met before. ‘You’re a stunner, aren’t you. Look at that shiny coat.’
‘She likes you,’ Nico comments, coming over.
I dismiss his claim with a quick shake of my head. ‘I imagine these horses are just good with strangers. Do you do a lot of horse riding?’
‘You can ride along the beach and I’ve done that once or twice, but not really,’ he admits, stroking the horse’s neck. ‘It’s a nice excuse to do it again.’
‘You’re coming along with us?’ I ask, pleased at not having to go it alone with Mum.
‘Henry thought I might be needed,’ he says in a low voice, before glancing over his shoulder back at Mum, who is standing in her white linen trousers and orange top with her hands on her hips and a stern expression.
We watch one of the stable hands approach her to suggest she come meet her horse. She whips off her sunglasses and points them at the horse he’s gestured to.
‘If you try to put me onthat, it will be the last thing you do,’ she says flatly.
The stable hand looks confused.
