I’d not intended to drink as much as I did, however, my glass was so often topped up by Sally I wasn’t sure how much I’d consumed. I staggered to my feet as I saw it was frighteningly late.
“Oh, don’t go…” Sally leapt towards me, her arms around my neck. “Just have one more…”
“Sally, come on. I’ve got an early start-” My words were cut short as Sally grabbed my head pushing her lips towards me and kissing me hard. “Sally!” I pushed her back, only for her to shove me against the sofa, groping me.
“Come on… I’ve seen you looking at me…” She slurred; her body close to mine as she knelt above me.
“Sally… You’re a really lovely girl, but I’m a married man. A very happily married man. Thank you for a lovely meal.” I pushed her away and made a bolt for the door, not even leaving myself time to pick up my boots. I dashed across the yard, slopping through the mud to reach my front door.
I sat alone for a moment. I was a very happily married man… And Sally was a very beautiful woman. I was flattered to have her attention. We worked closely together, I couldn’t help but notice her taut body, her soft hair… I stopped myself. No… I pulled off my muddy breeches, stepping into the tiny bathroom I stared in the mirror. ‘Remember who you are Adam…’
4
Day’s Off
My room was still spinning as I woke and showered. I sighed at the sight of my muddy socks and breeches laying by the caravan door, however, I was confused to see my boots sitting beside them next to the sofa. I shook my head, stepping out onto the yard for another day’s hard work.
Sally ignored my greeting as I stepped into the feed shed, pushing past me as she took buckets out onto the yard. I caught up with her.
“Hello… Are you okay?” She snorted and turned away; I touched her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me…”
“Sally… I’m really sorry. I think you’re amazing, and, well if I didn’t have Kate…”
“But you do…” Despite the venom in her voice, her eyes were filled with tears.
“I do… Please, Sally, dry your eyes.” I handed her a tissue from my jacket pocket.
“I’m sorry, I was drunk. I feel really embarrassed…” She snorted, regaining her composure. “You led me on!”
“Sally. Don’t be silly! I had too much to drink, we both did. If you think I led you on I’m really sorry. Sally, to be honest, I don’t remember a thing… Now, can we still work together, I want us to at least be friends again?”
Sally rushed towards me, her hug almost knocking me off my feet. She finally stepped back, smiling faintly.
“Friends, yes. But I’m still the boss, bitch!”
“Yes miss, I’m still your stable bitch…” We laughed and got on with feeding.
“Thank you, Adam…” Sally looked coyly at me smiling.
* * *
Sally winked at me as she took the horse I was riding. I’d been in the arena for almost four hours and could hardly walk. Hilary came over to me.
“Come and have a coffee, we’ve hardly had a chance to catch up since you have been here.”
“Only because you spend every day trying to break me!”
She laughed, leading the way towards the farmhouse. “So, you’ve done a couple of weeks, how do you feel it’s going? Sally’s not working you too hard, is she?”
“Sally’s great…”
“There’s a ‘but’ there isn’t there? Look, she’s a hard-working groom, and very driven, but…”
“But?”
“I’m speaking out of turn here. She can come across as a bit forceful, you need to stand your ground. Don’t let her bully you. Oh, I can see I’m amusing you.”
“Not at all… She is a real star and yes, she is driven to say the least.”
“Some people just can’t get on with her, but she has a heart of gold.”
“Sally is rather forceful, you can certainly say that, in more ways than one…”
Hilary gasped watching me closely. “What are you saying, Adam? Oh goodness, she didn’t…”
“Hilary, we both had a few too many glasses of wine and she forgot for a moment that I am a married man.”
“I hope Adam, for Kate’s sake you didn’t forget. I don’t want to be responsible for divorce here.”
“No… I made my excuses and left. I think Sally was a bit disappointed, she was a bit off with me this morning, shall we say.”
“I thought it had been a bit stilted between you two.”
“It’ll be fine. I rather flattered, she’s a pretty lass, if I wasn’t married to Kate…”
“But Adam, you are!”
Hilary’s harsh tone surprised me somewhat. “Hilary, I can assure you. With all I’ve been through, I only have eyes for Kate.”
Hilary relaxed. “I’m sorry… Kate said exactly the same to me. I just couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you two.”
“I appreciate that. I’m going back home tomorrow, it will be great to see her, we’ve never been apart for this long before.”
“Oh, young love… Look, I can help Sally with the yard tonight, why don’t you get off now. It’ll give you a bit more time at home.”
I didn’t need telling twice and quickly packed my holdall into the back of the stables Land Rover and was soon driving across the moors towards Cumbria and home.
* * *
I glanced up from the arena as I saw the car approaching, I didn’t recognise it as one of our liveries or one of my students and was puzzled until I saw Adam step out. I told my riders to continue and climbed over the arena fence, rushing towards him
