“I find it difficult to
believe you let him have that horse
to ride,” Rian said, scowling at the stableman.
“I’m sorry sir, but he never
said a word about not knowing how to ride.”
“He’s right, father. It’s
not his fault. I was… I wanted to show Seth I could do it and Nightwind seemed
so docile until I actually got on him.”
“Next time, ask,” Rian
growled. “Now if I were you, I’d go change. You’re very lucky that you didn’t get
torn up as badly as your clothes did. As
for you,” he rounded on Seth, ready to lay into him as well for letting Kemp do
something so stupid. One look at the misery on Seth’s face and he changed his
mind. “At least you were there to stop the horse, before it took off with Kemp
to God knows where.”
“It was all my fault. I
teased Kemp into coming for a ride with me, even though he’d told me he was
afraid of them.”
“I think,” Pamela said,
stepping forward, “that there is enough blame to go around for all three of
you. Next time, if there is one, Kemp may use my horse. He’s gelded and quite
tractable even with a novice.”
“Yes ma’am,” the stableman
said, bowing his head.
“I feel like an idiot,” Kemp
muttered.
“As well you should,” Rian
told him. “And why are you still standing here? Go, change. Now.”
“Dearest, don’t yell,”
Pamela said. “They’ve both learned their lessons. Boys, if you would, please go
and do as Rian ‘asked’.” She winked at them. “We’ll meet again for breakfast.
It’s you favorite Kemp, stuffed French toast, with kippers and bangers. At least,”
she added, “it used to be your favorite.”
“I think I can deal with it.”
When Seth looked puzzled Kemp explained that kippers were salted, smoked
herring and bangers was just the British term for sausage.
“Even if I could eat, I
think I’d pass on the kippers,” Seth said, wrinkling his nose as he tugged
Kemp’s hand to get him moving. “We’ll see you later, Sir, and he’ll be spic and
span clean by then, I promise.”
“He’d better be,” Rian
growled, but he smiled as he watched them leave, kissing his wife’s forehead as
she nestled into his arms again.
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