Page 12 of Time To Learn

Quickly, I grab a black flannel shirt, a pair of black riding trousers, and my slippers, putting them on before I pull my hair up in a messy bun. I dab some mascara on my eyelashes and then head down to the kitchen.

Hearing Ailith chattering to her Gan-Gan about Black Beauty, I smile as I walk through thedoor.

“Morning, ladies.” I walk towards Ailith and bend to kiss her on the top of her head. “What are you doing up so early?”

I sit down next to her on the bench, resting my chin on myhand.

Shrugging, Ailith pours some milk over her oatmeal.

“I want to be there when Malik’s new owners showup.”

I raise my eyes at her. That still doesn’t explain why she’s not snoozing away in herbed.

“But that won’t be for another couple of hours.” I smile in thanks at Mum when she places a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, baked beans, and square sausages next tome.

We only eat like royalty when we send off a horse to its new home—it’s our way of celebrating. I pick up the coffeepot and sniff, my mouth salivating at the delicious aroma.

“I hope they’ll treat him right,” Ailith sighs, pulling the book closer. I’m surprised to see that she’s almost halfway through it already.

“Don’t worry, lass, theywill.”

Mum pats her hair as she sits down next to her. “If not, we’ll just have to go get him back, won’t we?” She winks at Ailith.

I suppress a snigger when I take in the thoughtful look in Ailith’s eyes as she considers Mum’s words.

“True.”

Mum’s lips twitch as she looks atme.

“Eat up,” she orders. “We’ve got a lot to do today.”

I pick up my knife and fork and dig in. We eat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, and I look at the calendar hanging on the old fridge next to the Aga stove. When I notice that Mum has written the name Lise, and circled it in bright red, on tomorrow’s date, I frown at the unfamiliarname.

“Who’s this Lise?” I ask her, pointing my fork at the calendar. Mum looks over her shoulder to look at it. “Is she a new client?”

Mum turns back to me, nodding. “Yes. She’s looking for a quiet, older mare to dote on—her words, not mine—and is coming around tomorrow for an informal consultation.”

I smile at her. “If anyone can help her, it’syou.”

She chuckles and picks up a piece of toast. “I hope so. I liked the way she sounded when she phoned me last week, but we’llsee.”

Nodding, I run through the horses we have in our stables at the moment. “Maybe Daffodil will be a good fit? She’s such a sweetheart.”

Mum purses her lips, adding some jam on her toast. “Maybe. I mean, I’ve thought of her myself, but I’ll know more once I’ve spoken with Lise and shown her around.”

“Soundsgood.”

Silence falls between us again, only breaking once or twice when Ailith tells us about what’s happening in herbook.

I like mornings like these. The quiet and contentment we all take comfort in before our busy day really begins. I may grumble and moan when Mum wakes me up, but the truth is that I wouldn’t change my life here for anything.

“You seem in a good mood today,” Mum says after a while.

I squint ather.

“What do youmean?”

She gives me a small smile. “That smile on your lips? I haven’t seen that in a while, so I reckon that it’s a sure sign that you’re feelinggood.”