Page 7 of Waiting for Ru
“No.”
“Though you do have a bidding card,” David said with a laugh.
“I might spot a unicorn.”
“And have you?”
Jasim shrugged.Yes.
“What do you look for in a polo pony?” Samantha asked.
“Good legs, good attitude, good size. I want a horse that’s always there for me and does what I ask of it. It needs to be fast, with a good mouth. And have excellent breeding.”
“Like a wife,” David said and Farida thumped him.
Jasim made himself chuckle. His attention slid back to Byrne who was now on the right side of the barrier watching a grey canter round.
“We’re up,” David said.
Jasim turned back to the main arena. Dulcie was up for purchase. David waited as the auctioneer started the bidding. Samantha was clutching her father’s knee as others bid and her father said nothing.
“Dad!”
David raised his card, caught the auctioneer’s attention and two thousand euros later, he had the horse. His daughter flung her arms around her father’s neck. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Let’s go and pay. Are you coming?” he asked Jasim.
“I’ll catch up with you.”
Cookie was being led into the auction arena.Don’t buy the bloody horse.Why was he even tempted? Jasim’s gaze slid back to the young owner, who was standing a little way away, scanning the crowd, looking anxious, maybe wondering who’d buy her, worried that prospective purchasers might think she was flighty. Cookie hadn’t been at fault and that she’d instantly stopped running when her owner held up his hand proved she was obedient and showed that Byrne had control and courage.
I don’t need this horse.But then it wasn’t the horse that was the unicorn.
Bidding was sluggish and low. Jasim held up his bidding card.Fuck.What was he trying to do? Make the owner notice him? For what purpose? He waited for someone else to bid and no one did.Shit.Jasim chuckled. He’d bought a horse he didn’t want, to help out a guy he didn’t know. He pushed to his feet and walked towards Byrne to find the guy walking towards him.
Byrne spoke before Jasim could.
“Cookie is such a good horse. But she’d be an even better horse if you bought Joni as well. The two are devoted to each other. Please buy her. I swear you won’t regret it. I can give you… a thousand pounds towards the cost. But please, Joni’s coming in now. If they’re not together, they’ll be devastated. They’ve been with each other all of their lives.”
Jasim looked at the grey mare being led around the arena. Why was he even thinking of doing this?
“You don’t own the horses? You’re not Felan Byrne?”
“No. My name’s Ru.”
Jasim didn’t have time to sort his mistake out. He raised his card and a short while later found himself the owner of another horse he didn’t need. What the hell had he been thinking?
The young man standing next to him looked close to tears. “Thank you so much. That was awful good of you.”
“Do I have to buy the other five too?” Jasim asked.Would that make you smile at me?
“Only if you want to.” He looked straight at Jasim, his large green eyes wide, and Jasim’s stomach flipped.
“Not really.”
“Then don’t. I appreciate you buying Cookie and Joni. Wait, I’ll give you the money.”
Jasim frowned as the young man fumbled in his backpack. “You can have the horses. You don’t need to pay me.”
