Page 65 of Waiting for Ru
As they chatted, Ru began to relax. The more he talked, the easier it was to talk. He didn’t know much about anything other than horses, but Rodrigo seemed happy to talk about them.
“Do you want to ride?” Rodrigo asked.
Ru laughed. “Yes.”
“It’s not a crazy question. Some people who are equine nurses don’t want to.”
“Really? I love riding. But Mike doesn’t seem to want to let me. I got as far as sitting on Midnight and thinking it was going to happen, when he made me get off and took Seb with him instead.”
“I don’t know why he has it in for you, but don’t let him give you any shit. He’s tried it on with all of us at one time or another, but backed off. He’s probably worried you’ll be a better rider than him.” Rodrigo laughed. “He’s desperate to get on a polo team.”
“Is he any good?”
Rodrigo glanced around before he answered. “He’s okay, but I don’t think he has that special something that’s needed.”
“Do you?”
Rodrigo laughed. “Oh God, now you’ll think I’m big-headed. I’m good. I love playing. Are you going to learn?”
“If Mike lets me.”
“He won’t be able to stop you. We take the horses out every day but Monday. That’s a day off for horses and grooms. We ride one horse and take two others on either side. Twenty-five minutes of walking, about twenty spent loping around on the one we’re riding while the others trot along, then another twenty minutes walking. Repeat that in the afternoon riding a different horse and repeat day to day. If there’s a game on, then they all get ridden. Plus, we stick and ball in the field which is good for them and us. When you’re allowed to ride, I’ll show you how to play. Or Poppy will.”
“Thank you.”
When Rodrigo went to the main barn to deal with the other horses, Ru went back to the accommodation block. He picked up his phone and saw there was a message from Ink.Don’t drown :)Ru would try not to, but in one way, he was in way over his head.
But he’d made a friend, and maybe Rodrigo would be his friend too.
Ru was in the kitchen, cooking pasta, when he heard the others come into the room.
“Who’s been tidying up?” Poppy asked.
“And hoovering.”
“Goldilocks.” Mike laughed. “Are any of the chairs broken?”
Ru poked his head out of the kitchen.
“We only do the cleaning once a week,” Ben said. “You’ve done it early and it wasn’t your turn.”
“I wasn’t supposed to do anything strenuous, so I thought I’d clean instead.”
“It looks great,” Poppy said. “Thank you. We clubbed together and bought you these.”
Ru came into the room. There was an Amazon parcel on the table. He opened it and found a Daler Rowney sketchpad and a set of Arteza pencils inside. “Thank you.”
“Sorry yours got spoiled,” Mike said. “We didn’t realise they were on the lounger.”
“If we’d known you couldn’t swim…” Ben winced.
“You banged his head when you pushed him in. Ru could have died. You’re idiots.” Poppy glared at them.
Ru hadn’t known for sure who was responsible. He’d guessed Mike and Ben were involved but there was no point making an issue about it.
“Are you back to work now?” Ben asked.
“I’m going to spend the week with the vet and then come back here after the game next Saturday.”
