“Mum! I’ve had a call…” Annie came racing onto the yard, her high heels clattering on the concrete. “Shit Amanda!”
May took hold of Tiny’s head-collar, I had managed to fill a haynet and he was pulling mouthfuls of hay. “Amanda go with Annie. Annie go and get her warm.”
I allowed myself to be led away. Annie sat me down on one of the kitchen chairs, I vaguely heard Christmas music playing, I just wanted to sleep now and fought Annie weakly as she tried to remove my soaked clothes. “Stay with me…” Annie pinched my ear.
“Ow…” I mumbled. I felt myself being wrapped in sweet-smelling horse blankets. Annie dragged the chair so that it was in front of the Aga. She pushed a mug into my hands, I looked around aimlessly so Annie lifted the mug to my lips and helped me sip warm sweet tea. I felt the warmth flow through me before my world went dark.
***
“She’s warmed up a lot more now…” My eyes fluttered open. I was lying on the sofa in the front room of May’s house, the fire was roaring and I was being watched by several people. I looked into the eyes of a paramedic who smiled. “Hello… Welcome back. Funny time to take a swim!”
I just wanted to sleep so closed my eyes, softly finding darkness.
***
“Merry Christmas!” Annie hugged me. “How are you feeling?”
“Eh?” I looked around, groggy. I’d woken overheated from a pile of duvets and horse blankets and walked into the kitchen where May, Sean and Annie were sitting. Looking down I was wearing pyjamas, but not my own and I was desperately confused.
“Oh, Amanda…” May rushed towards me and hugged me. “Our hero!”
In the light of the day, it was clear to the others what had happened. The fence beside the brook was smashed and there were deep gouges in the bank. Sean showed me what remained of my dead phone. The scratches on my arms and face had been dressed. The night before I had babbled that I had pulled Tiny free using Duchess but no one believed it until they saw the cut rope lying in the field and the deep hoof prints where she had dug in pulling Tiny free from the river.
“Tiny!” I walked in a daze towards the back door, Sean grabbed me, sitting me down.
“The horses are all fine, thanks to you. Goodness knows what would have happened if you hadn’t done what you did.” He kissed me on my cheek.
I sat looking around, still feeling somewhat drunk despite having not had a drink in days. Annie stood up. “Come on you. I think you need some more sleep, you can use my bed, we’ll do the horses for you”.
I allowed her to walk me upstairs and tuck me into her bed. She kissed me on the cheek and left me to slip into a near-instant sleep.
***
I had found clothes laid out on the bed for me, I smiled, Annie had been to my flat and picked me clean underwear, a fresh blouse and jeans. I dressed and walked downstairs.
“Amanda!” Annie grabbed me kissing me. “How are you?”
“I feel a bit more alive now… Sorry for ruining Christmas day for you all…”
“Oh, you silly girl! You saved Tiny, who is doing very well, Steve thinks he’ll only be lame for a few days. If he had been stuck overnight in that water…” She gulped. “Well, let’s say it would have been a very different story.” She took my hand. “Come on…”
“Oh, Amanda you beautiful thing!” May hugged me. “Come in, sit down. We were about to start dinner. Annie was going to wake you if you hadn’t come down.”
I looked at the table loaded with food, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and more. In the centre of the table was a huge roast turkey. My stomach rumbled, I realised I had last eaten yesterday morning and was starving.
“No… Thank you, but this is for your family. I really can’t intrude, not on Christmas day.”
“Shut up!” Annie slapped my hand. She looked genuinely angry.
“Oh… sorry…”
“Give the stupid girl her present…” She grinned.
May smiled and picked up an envelope. “This is for you…”
Intrigued I opened the envelope. Inside there was a thick sheet of paper from a solicitor. I started to read before my knees started to go from beneath me. Annie helped me to an empty chair laughing.
“I told you she’d be surprised!”
“Surprised?” I held out the sheet of paper. “What is this?”
“Well…” May smiled. “I think you are almost like family to us. I know we have only known you for a few months, but when you know, you know. And as for last night, well you proved we were right…” She paused. “I had this drawn up a few weeks ago, it sort of makes it all official. Basically, if you choose to sign the paperwork you, legally become my daughter. Merry Christmas!”
18
The Sisterhood
“Hi, Sis!” Annie smiled. “Oh, I’m going to have to get used to that…”
“To be honest, I’m a bit shell shocked myself. In a good way, I assure you.” I paused. “Aren’t I really too old to be adopted?”
“It’s not actual adoption, its a legal agreement stating that you are part of the family. Mum sorted it, well I suggested it. To give you a proper family to call your own and well…” She sniffed, wiping her eyes. “You have always been like a sister to me.”
“Stop it, it’s me that gets all emotional and starts crying…” I stopped. “Shit! Presents, I made things for you all…” I ran to the kitchen dipping my feet into my boots forgetting that they were still filled with water. “Aggghh…” I heard Annie giggling behind me. “Stop it you or I’ll chuck you on the muck heap!” I took her boots and left, crossing the yard to
