Page 42 of Polo Fever
‘No, you’re right. I should be more encouraging. I’m learning here, too – I’ve not done much teaching before.’
‘It’s not…’ I dig my teeth into my bottom lip. ‘Mateo, this grooms’ match idea was a big, drunken mistake. We need to cancel it. I’m setting myself up to be the fool again and there’s only so much I can take.’ I read the confusionin his expression and feel the need to explain further: ‘The whole Chris Courtney thing.’ I wearily rub the back of my neck. ‘I’m already the wannabe homewrecker who lost her job because I was naïve enough to believe a famous athlete who told me he was getting a divorce. Things have been better here. I don’t want to lose my job by being naïve again and thinking I can do this when all I’m on course to do is humiliate myself, the team, and Lady M in front of her greatest rival.’
‘Chris Courtney told you he was getting a divorce?’ he checks, the pony nibbling at his shoulder impatiently now, wanting to play again. Mateo swats him away, his eyes fixed on me, his attention solely mine.
‘Yeah. He said they were separated and divorcing. But my point is—’
‘So he tricked you into kissing him and then let you take the fall?’
I sigh, running a hand down my face. ‘He tricked me into more than that.’
‘You… you were dating?’ he asks tentatively.
I nod shamefully. ‘Like I said, he told me he was separated.’
‘You are not the fool, Ash. He is. He is acoward,’ he spits with such venom, it’s like he suffered the experience personally himself. ‘A true villain. A weasel in tennis whites.’
The insult is so ridiculous, a bubble of laughter rises up my throat and escapes.
Mateo looks surprised but pleased that I’m laughing at least. ‘That’s an insult to weasels,’ he adds.
‘You have no idea.’
Lyra snorts impatiently behind us and Mateo’s pony has another nibble at his arm.
‘So.’ Mateo tilts his head at me. ‘Want to try again? You can pretend Chris Courtney’s head is the ball. Then you might hit it.’
‘Is that a formal tip?’ I question, amused.
‘Polo doesn’t work without passion. You have to put your heart into it. Don’t hide away from everything you’re feeling – use it. When you’re up on the pony, you are powerful and imposing. No one can stop you.’
‘That does sound like a good feeling.’ I heave a sigh. ‘All right. I’ll try again.’
Moving to Lyra’s side, I pull myself up and, when I’m ready, Mateo picks up my mallet from the grass and holds it up for me to take.
‘Half the battle is confidence and trusting yourself and your pony,’ he says, checking my heel position. ‘I know you’ve got lots to think about, but all those things will become second nature with practice. You and your horse are partners. For the rest of this lesson, just focus on enjoying playing with her – she’ll relax and respond when you do.’
Walking her on, I start circling the field, bringing her into a canter before turning her to come down in a straight line towards the ball. Before my head can get overwhelmed with instructions –eye on the ball, check grip on the mallet, stand in the stirrups, up from the saddle, swing the stick smoothly, watch the ball– I try to focus on enjoying the ride, this feeling of going so fast, my breath catches and my heart soars. I set my sights on the ball, a determined smile spreading across my lips as we thunder down the field towards it.
‘Come on,’ I whisper to both my pony and myself, the two of us soaring together.
I rise up from the saddle.Fuck being the worst groom in the yard.I lean forward.I’m going to be the groom who took on DQ and won.I begin my swing.Let’s do this.
The loudthwackof my mallet striking the ball with perfect timing echoes across the field. I gasp and then cheer with excitement, going into a celebratory lap while Mateo punches the air and cheers from his pony. When I make my way over to him, he’s laughing.
‘Did you see that?’ I ask breathlessly, bouncing as my pony trots towards him.
‘It was brilliant. A perfect shot. You should have kept going!’
‘I was too excited!’
‘I could tell.’
‘I can’t believe I did it,’ I gush. ‘That was incredible!’
‘Now you know the feeling, you will keep chasing it. Like the rest of us.’
I nod, my whole body tingling with adrenaline. ‘Thank you, Mateo.’
