Page 44 of Darling Girls

‘That’s the stable guy,’ Jessica said. ‘He looks after the horses.’

‘Maybe he can teach us to ride?’ Alicia said. ‘I’ll go ask.’

She took off quickly, going through the kitchen, out the back door and down the porch steps. Jessica and Norah scrambled to follow, but by the time they caught her she was halfway across the lower paddock, striding confidently towards the stables.

‘Hello?’ Alicia called to the horse man as they approached.

He was bent over examining a horse’s hoof when she called. He didn’t rush to look over, but when he did it was only for a second – a quick glance before he looked back down again. ‘What do you want?’ he said gruffly.

‘I’m Alicia. I live over there at Wild Meadows.’ She pointed over her shoulder. ‘It’s a beautiful day and . . .’

Horse guy looked up. He was younger than Jessica had thought. Maybe twenty years old, with orange hair and freckles all over his face and arms. He wore a red flannel shirt and riding boots.

At the sight of his impatient frown, Alicia’s confidence seemed to fade. ‘I was wondering if we could ride a horse,’ she finished quickly.

He shook his head, picking up a brush from the grass and putting it in his pocket. ‘They ain’t my horses – I just take care of them.’

Jessica exhaled in relief. She’d been agreeable and it hadn’t worked out. None of it was her fault.

‘Please?’ Alicia said, stepping forward. ‘Come on. We’re foster kids. Surely it couldn’t hurt to give a few foster kids a bit of joy.’ She smiled winningly.

He stopped. ‘You’re foster kids?’ He appeared to consider this for a moment, then glanced up the hill towards the house. ‘And your foster mother . . .?’

‘Won’t be back for hours.’ Alicia grinned.

Jessica wondered why them being foster kids had changed his mind. Whatever the reason, after a final glance towards the house he relented. ‘Fine. You all want a go?’

Alicia didn’t even turn around to check with Norah and Jessica.

‘Yes, please,’ she said. ‘All of us.’

The horse guy’s name was Dirk. After his coolness, he became a bit more friendly. He was a pretty good teacher, too, helping them mount the horses and paying close attention as they trotted around the paddock.

Jessica had to admit it was a lot of fun. She felt majestic sitting astride her horse, Almond, making gentle noises and saying things like, ‘Whoa . . . Good girl.’

‘You’re a natural,’ Dirk told her as she trotted past. She beamed with pride.

Norah, on the other hand, was not a natural. Despite Dirk’s encouragement she managed only about fifteen minutes astride Bangles before declaring that she preferred dogs to horses. Alicia did only slightly better, sitting on Bertha, who was barely taller than a pony, for only half an hour before calling it a day. But Jessica rode Almond for nearly an hour. She couldn’t believe the way time had flown. She was so reluctant to stop that, in the end, Dirk had to take the reins and help her off.

‘Thanks,’ she said, as she dismounted. ‘That was awesome.’

‘I don’t see you guys around much.’

‘We’re inside people,’ Jessica said. ‘Speaking of which, it’s probably better that we don’t mention this to our foster mother. She might be mad at us for bothering you.’

‘Your secret’s safe with me.’ He grinned. ‘My boss wouldn’t like it either.’

‘The perfect crime,’ Alicia said.

As they made their way up the hill, Jessica felt practically jubilant. It was a good idea, listening to Alicia, she realised. Alicia knew how to have fun, and that was one thing they all needed. Jessica was about to tell Alicia this as they crested the top of the hill and Wild Meadows came into view. Miss Fairchild was standing on the porch watching them.

‘Where have you been?’ she demanded, as they climbed the steps. She was unusually flustered – her hair a little windswept, her blouse untucked at the back. Her eyes glistened with rage.

None of them replied.

‘Well?’ Her tone was icy.

‘We went horseriding,’ Alicia said, her voice barely audible.