“Yes… That’s me.” I smiled and thanked her as she took my bag.
“Mum was a bit busy to come and meet you, we’ve had the vet in doing boosters and it always takes forever. I’m Annie…” She paused. “Oh goodness, are you alright?”
Oh no, I was making a scene right in the middle of the evening commuters, I had burst into tears. Gulping and hiccuping as I tried to explain where I had been and how I had just lost my own Anne.
Annie dropped my bag and hugged me tightly. “Oh goodness, I’m so sorry. Oh God mum mentioned something about why you were changing jobs.” I breathed in the scent of her hair, recognising the equine shampoo we used to use on our horses, that and the waft of horsey smell was so comforting, I never wanted the hug to end. However, I needed to be a big girl, let go and get into the battered car which was waiting on the forecourt.
She drove quickly and we were soon out on the open road passing through the downs. I was mesmerised by the countryside, I had been so long in the city that I had forgotten that green rolling hills existed. Annie giggled as I explained and told me to wait until I was galloping across them.
Suddenly the road twisted and we were surrounded by huge stones. “Goodness are we in Stonehenge?”
Annie laughed. “Avebury, you’ll have to come and walk around it. We’re nearly home.”
***
Avebury Stables were just a few minutes down the road, a long driveway leading to a courtyard of old fashioned, brick-built stables. “Look I’ll show you to your flat.” Annie pulled up the car.
“Flat…?” The flat was up a set of stone stairs above the main stable block. She fumbled with keys until she found the right ones to unlock the door. There was a large living room with a kitchen to the side. “Wow! How many do I share with?”
“Share?” Annie laughed. “This is all yours.” She handed me the keys. “It’s been empty for a while but now that you are here you can make it your own. Oh goodness, are you crying again?”
How embarrassing, I reached up and wiped my eyes. “Sorry Annie, I’ve spent three years living in a shared windowless room under a railway arch.” She gasped. “Yeah, it was a bit rough. This is like the Ritz!”
“Well, get settled in, why don’t you come over to the house for dinner at about seven.” With that, she waved and stepped out of the door. I looked around, there was a tidy little kitchen, a fireplace with a wood-burning stove with a bucket of chopped logs, a sofa and squashy armchair, beyond was a light and airy bedroom which had been made up with pure white sheets. I threw down my bag and flung myself on the bed.
***
I showered and changed into a clean blouse and jeans before stepping out and onto the stairs. I couldn’t resist seeing the horses, so poked my head over each stable and greeted each of them before glancing at my watch and making my way to the back door of the main house.
“Hello… We spoke on the phone!” It was clear that this was Annie’s mother, she was older with the ruddy features of someone who spent their life in the countryside. Slim and brunette with a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, she put down the spoon she was stirring a pot on the hob with and turned to face me. “I’m May.”
“Hi, May…” I smiled, shaking her hand. “This place is amazing. I’ve not been in the countryside, in a long time. Not since.” I stopped, biting my lip, I had already cried far too much, bringing back memories of my childhood would start my waterworks again. “Anyway, that smells amazing.” I quickly changed the subject, however, I was sure that May had seen my upset, she was just too polite to question me.
“Oh, it’s just a chicken casserole and some homemade bread.” I must have looked as if I was drooling as she laughed telling me to set the table, she pointed to a drawer which I found contained cutlery. I set places for three people before asking if there was anyone else. She shook her head, telling me it was just us now.
“Hi mum, Amanda!” Annie stepped in, she had changed and was wearing leggings and a baggy t-shirt. “I’m starving!”
We sat chatting and enjoying the delicious food. Naturally, the conversation soon turned to horses and I learnt all of the inhabitants of the yard and their characters, I looked forward to meeting them in the morning. My role was described as the stable manager, groom and instructor as required, I would start tomorrow by feeding with Annie at seven in the morning. Glancing at my watch May got the message.
“Oh goodness, you’ve had a long day, and here we are chatting away. You get off to bed and we’ll see you in the morning.” I said my good nights and walked through the moonlight to my flat, revelling in having my own place to be. It was just minutes before I was fast asleep.
16
Go West
My alarm woke me from a deep slumber, I stretched and looked around. I’d wondered if this had been a dream I would soon wake from, imaging Anne would be shaking me awake and I would be in the city again. However, the fresh air and sound of birds told me I was far from London and that it was time to start a new life. I dressed quickly and walked down to the yard. I was early so I took a
