The Pitchfork Girl

Chapter Four

Tessa took me to Moss Bank on her next day off. It was pouring down with rain when we woke up, so I thought I wouldn't have to go, but Tessa was used to being outside in all weathers and couldn't see the problem. I sat in her car, watching the windscreen wipers whip from side to side while an over-excitable DJ made hoax phone calls to unsuspecting listeners on the radio. Panic clawed at my insides. I wanted to scream, but instead I withdrew into my anorak until just my eyes were above the collar.

Tessa was quiet as we turned up the cedar-lined driveway. The tyres of her car crunched on the gravel as we rounded the bend and Steve's black and white timbered farmhouse came into view. Even on a dark rainy morning it looked impressive.

I kept my eyes on it as Tessa parked under the dripping trees. She pulled on her stripy bobble hat and looked at me expectantly. I climbed out, pulling the drawstring of my hood tight around my face.

Tessa looked at me and tutted. 'You shouldn't pull it that tight. You look like ET.'

I could have said something about her hat, but decided to let it go. Shoving my hands deep into my pockets, I followed her along the path to the yard. Tessa stopped and put her head around the door of the office, but I was relieved to see it was empty. Horses hung their heads over the half doors of their stables, which ran all the way around the edge of the neatly swept yard. More stables ran in a strip along the middle. Tessa took some polo mints from her pocket and went over to Benson, a big grey gelding who whickered to her in greeting. 'Hello boy.' She patted his neck. 'Here's Jackie. Have you missed her?' He bobbed his head as though nodding. 'Come on, he wants a kiss.'

I leaned forwards and kissed his soft pink nose, inhaling his horsey smell. As I did so, something lit up inside me. I stepped back as he threw up his head, and he curled his lips back in a sort of horsey smile, making me laugh.

We patted some more horses, and then went through the gate, across the paddock, over the stile and into the woodland beyond. I was surprised to see shoots of green and pink blossom budding on the trees. In my world it was still winter; it jolted me to see signs of spring. Was it March already? I breathed in the scent of wet earth and vegetation and began to feel a little better. Rain dripped from the branches and splattered onto my anorak, dribbling in rivulets down towards my hands.

'How are things at work?' I asked as I tried to keep up with Tessa. My breath was coming faster now and I had a dull ached in my ribs.

'Same as usual.' Tessa glanced back over her shoulder. 'Do you want to slow down?'

'Please.' I ducked under a branch. 'The yard was quiet. Where is everyone?'

Tessa shrugged. 'Phil was probably teaching in the indoor school. Steve's out today. Danny and Trev will be skiving somewhere.'

'Is Nick still around?'

'Unfortunately.' She snapped a twig off a bush and savagely broke it in two.

I ducked my head and concentrated on moving forwards. The ground was covered in dead leaves and twigs that crunched beneath my feet. I liked the sound they made. It was oddly satisfying.

'Did he ever say anything about being questioned?'

'Not to me. But then I don't really speak to him.'

I took a deep breath and stared mournfully at the ground. 'I bet he hates me now.'

She turned and peered at me from beneath her hat. 'Why would he hate you? All you did was give him a lift. It's not your fault the police had to question him.'