I missed him.
I was so deeply lonely, the remote location of the farmhouse did nothing to help. The lights in the distance, across the bay, reflecting the distance from me and anyone around me. I was rudderless without my soulmate.
I needed him back with me, and unsure I could continue alone.
* * *
It was more than a week later when I travelled to Durham, Amanda driving up to be with me. She told me she couldn’t come in but was there as vital moral support. She had explained the process of visiting, however it made it no better and I sobbed as I saw Adam shuffling towards me. He looked so pale, so unwell. I leapt up hugging him, I could feel his ribs through his jumper. We sat down, I reached out and took his hand.
“Kate… I’m so sorry for everything…”
“Oh, Adam… I love you so much, how are you coping?”
We spoke, my heart sunk as I heard how depressed he was, with only half an hour per day outside and the four walls surrounding him he was wasting away. He told me, as Amanda had, how he didn’t want to make me wait for him.
“You may have to…” I spoke softly. “Adam, I’m pregnant…” The look of shock on his face, the disbelief, a moment of joy which was almost as quickly crushed by the realisation his child would only know him from brief visits. He was about to speak when we were told that visiting time had ended. He leaned over the table, kissing me warmly, telling me he loved me. I watched as he was led away again.
On the outside, Amanda was waiting by the car. She hugged me, asking how he was. I told her honestly, he was broken and wouldn’t survive in prison.
“So, there’s only one thing we have to do.” Amanda started the engine.
“What’s that? Bake a cake with a file in it?” Kate sighed. “I can’t even bake.”
“No… We have to find a way to prove Adam’s innocence.”
* * *
“Sally… Can you be here tomorrow?”
“Hilary, I’m here every day, you know that.”
“They’re taking Bob.”
I gasped. I supposed I’d realised this would happen. Some of the youngsters which Hilary had been developing had been shipped away to other yards last week. That was no issue, Hilary wasn’t working just at the moment and it was best to maintain the development of these young horses, but Bob… He was Hilary’s lead stallion, owned by a very rich but generally lovely couple who came to visit him a few times a year, always weighed down with gifts for me and Hilary, they had always seen him at shows and been staunch supporters of Hilary, even during this difficult time.
The last I’d heard they had called supporting her and promising to keep their horses with her. However, it was clear it had all changed. No doubt being leaned on by Grace Wright-Turner who had massive sway within the equestrian industry and who had been massively outspoken in the press about Hilary and what had happened to her daughter. Grace was trying to destroy Hilary’s reputation. A reputation already tarnished by ‘random’ rumours on social media and equestrian forums which spoke of abuse of horses and staff. It was almost as if there was a targeted campaign to ruin her.
I promised I would be there and would be sure to ensure he was ready to travel. Hilary muttered she wouldn’t be around. I couldn’t blame her, I would find it hard enough seeing our wonderful horse go, however, she didn’t own him and I was nothing more than a lowly groom.
“Thank you, Sally.”
I watched as Hilary went back into the farmhouse, it was clear she wasn’t eating and she hadn’t ridden or even come onto the yard in weeks. I didn’t know how to help her. What was becoming most obvious was that Hilary’s perfect image was dissolving. No longer was she the aloof picture of control and perfection. It was almost as if she was a real human with real emotions.
* * *
“How the hell do we prove he’s innocent?” Kate stared at me as we drove. “The police made it clear that they have evidence that he did it?”
“Shit Kate, I don’t know. But, I think, on the way back we need to pay a visit to Hilary, it seems like a good place to start.”
And so, the long drive from Durham was broken up with a stop in Yorkshire. I was always impressed by Hilary’s yard and its location. We parked up and stepped from the car. There was a movement on the yard and I waved as Sally recognised us and approached.
“Sally…”
“Kate.” Her tone was quiet, however, I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, certainly not a great welcome.
“How are you both?”
Sally sighed. “What do you think? Hilary’s lost her sponsorship; her best horse is being taken away tomorrow and I don’t think she has eaten properly in at least three weeks. It’s shit and it’s all Adam’s fault. So, I don’t want to seem rude, but could you just fuck off!”
“Sally, please… You must know that he couldn’t have done this…”
“Kate, he was seen on CCTV getting a pitchfork and she had his chain in her hand. What more do you want? Look I don’t want to talk about this with
