Barefoot Read Online Free Page B

fluid.
     
    He twisted and turned, and whatever he did, the horse did too, as if it couldn’t bear to be separated from him. The boy never actually seemed to look at him, the whole time keeping his gaze to one side. Finally, when they both came to rest in the middle of the pen, he turned to face the cob and began to stroke him, running his hands over his shoulders and hindquarters.
     
    Toni left the shelter of the lorry, forgetting entirely she was a trespasser. The boy looked up and saw her. ‘I’m sorry.’ The fact she had intruded struck her. ‘I probably shouldn’t have been watching.’
     
    He gave a small shrug. She couldn’t tell whether that meant he was pissed off. Deciding it probably did, she turned to go.
     
    ‘You want to meet him?’ His voice stopped her.
     
    Meeting his eye, she saw a challenge there. As sweat trickled down his face, Toni felt her stomach flip. Most of the boys she knew were skinny, but this guy was pure muscle. She stepped closer to the arena, and the gelding approached cautiously, but stopped short of the fence and her outstretched hand.
     
    She could feel the boy watching her every move and tried to stay chilled. ‘That was awesome. How did you make him do that?’
     
    ‘Ever heard of join-up?’ He pushed his hair out of his eyes. It badly needed a cut.
     
    Toni shook her head.
     
    ‘If you speak their language, then they want to follow you.’ He looked away again, as if he had said too much.
     
    ‘It was beautiful to watch.’ Toni tried to encourage him to say more.
     
    ‘You know horses?’
     
    ‘I compete.’ She thought she saw a look of contempt flash across his face.
     
    ‘That how you got that?’ He pointed at the sling. ‘Competing?’
     
    She shook her head. ‘More like practising. One of those random accidents you don’t see coming.’
     
    ‘Yeah, well most accidents are like that.’ They were both silent. ‘He’s not sure about you,’ he added, nodding to the cob.
     
    ‘What’s his name?’
     
    ‘Rebel.’
     
    ‘How old is he?’
     
    ‘Only three. I’m just about to start backing him.’
     
    Toni looked up at the cob. ‘He must be over sixteen hands already.’
     
    ‘Seventeen. He’s part Clydesdale.’
     
    That explained it.
     
    ‘Cool.’
     
    ‘Toni!’ B’s strident voice carried across the yard and Toni winced.
     
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m guessing that’s you?’
     
    She rolled her eyes. ‘My aunt. We’re meant to be having lunch. It was good to meet you.’
     
    He turned instantly and began to put a head collar onto the cob, leaving her feeling disappointed. She headed back across the dirty yard towards B, almost reaching the five-bar gate when he called after her, ‘I’m Cal, by the way.’
     
    ‘Toni,’ she shouted back.
     
    They stood and grinned at each other across the yard for a few moments. Then he led Rebel out of the pen and back into his field.
     
    ‘Who was that gorgeous young man?’ B asked at once.
     
    Toni shrugged. ‘You know as much as I do. His name is Cal.’
     
    ‘OK,’ B laughed. ‘I get the message.’ She linked her hand through Toni’s good arm. ‘Let’s go and eat. And I’ll show you what I bought. That farm shop is fabulous.’
     
    When they drove back into the De Carteret yard later, Toni was struck by how different it was to Poplar Farm. Neatly trimmed grass verges lined the drive and all the fields were divided with well-maintained post and rail fencing. There were two large barns, one with Arabella’s own event horses and the two ponies, the other housing ten liveries, all kept by wealthy women who liked to ride, but very definitely did not like the work involved.
     
    Arabella ran the whole thing like a military operation. The international sized outdoor arena was floodlit and an expensive horsewalker kept the horses fit in the worst of the winter weather. A fifty-acre cross-country course completed the facilities, along with three lorries able to