Deadfall by Lyndon Stacey Page B

difference, one way or the other. It’s hardly Badminton, is it?’
    â€˜Nevertheless, you should go,’ Ruth said firmly. ‘We all want you to. Go and win, for Abby!’
    Talham Hunter Trials was a relatively new event but was already attracting riders from well outside its Wiltshire location. They were drawn by its growing reputation as being a well-built course that offered a good variety of challenging fences. It was only cross-country, rather than a one-day event, and included no dressage or showjumping in the day’s competition, although a clear-round jumping ring was provided for those who wished to use it.
    Linc drove Noddy to the venue in the Hathaways’ two-horse lorry and was met on the field by his sister-in-law Nikki, who had volunteered to be his groom for the day. Because of the potential hazards of the sport, it’s sensible for riders competing in cross-country events to provide themselves with back-up drivers, or failing that, to notify the secretary on arrival that they are attending alone.
    â€˜Well, this is just like the old days, isn’t it?’ Nikki exclaimed as Linc jumped down from the cab and stretched the kinks of the journey out of his back and legs.
    During their brief relationship she had accompanied Linc and Noddy to several events, proving herself to be a competent groom. Now she wasdressed in jeans and a thick fleece, with a cotton headscarf tying her blonde curls into a ponytail. Her china-doll face was, as always, perfectly made-up and with nail varnish, earrings and a bead choker, she managed to look both workmanlike and glamorous at the same time. Linc was struck by the comparison between her and Josie’s ‘off-duty’ casualness.
    â€˜Yeah, thanks for stepping in at the last moment like this.’
    â€˜No problem at all!’ she assured him with a smile. ‘I love doing it. And now of course Cris has decided that a few horsy action shots are just what he needs for this exhibition he’s planning.’
    â€˜So where is he?’ Linc asked, looking round for his brother. A talented photographer, Crispin made quite a good living doing portrait work and supplying material for picture libraries but his dream was to have a full-scale exhibition in one of the well-known galleries.
    â€˜Oh, he’s gone off to scout for good vantage points. We probably won’t see him again for ages.’
    Another lorry was easing into position beside them and the field was abuzz with horses and people. Leaving Noddy in Nikki’s capable hands, Linc departed in search of Nina and Hobo, finding them at the other end of the lorry park, conveniently near the secretary’s tent. After completing the formalities, they left the horse with his groom and set off to walk the cross-country course together, pacing out the combinations and discussing the best way to ride each fence.
    Returning some forty minutes later, Linc found Noddy tacked up and ready and being walkedround with a blanket over his quarters. All he had to do was put on his body protector, number and crash cap, before mounting and riding away to warm up.
    â€˜You’re a star,’ he told Nikki as he took the reins from her. ‘Did you put the Vaseline on his mouth?’ When he got excited Noddy tended to generate a fair amount of frothy saliva and on occasion the tender pink skin around his mouth became chapped and sore.
    â€˜Yep. Done his lip gloss,’ she joked. ‘And his mascara.’
    â€˜Poor fella! Don’t tease him. Oh, and by the way, if you want Crispin, he was last seen over by Lovers Leap, looking for the most dramatic angle on the drop fence. A formidable female in tweed was trying to keep him at a safe distance but every time she turned her back he moved in a couple of feet.’
    â€˜Sounds like him,’ she agreed, laughing. ‘I think I’ll leave him to it and go hunt for bargains around the trade stands.’
    Noddy felt