Leap of Faith by Fiona McCallum Read Free Book Online Page B

verandah and the squelch of Steve on leather as he got himself settled. Finally he was breathing evenly, lulling her into the blissful no-man’s land of neither being quite asleep nor quite awake.
    After a few minutes she became aware of bells ringing and the humming of voices, but couldn’t make herself concentrate. She fell into a deeper sleep.

Chapter Five
    The sound of a bang registered in the depths of Jessica’s mind. She didn’t think she’d completely gone to sleep but now, as she started to fully wake, she realised there were no other sounds except for the heavy breathing of the dogs on the floor. She reluctantly opened her eyes, unwilling to let go of the nice relaxed feeling of slumber, though she knew it was sort of artificial thanks to the painkillers she’d taken. She actually now felt quite groggy.
    She was slightly startled by movement nearby. And then Steve was leaning over her.
    â€˜Hello sleepyhead,’ he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
    â€˜Where were you?’ Jessica asked.
    â€˜Just went and checked on the horses,’ he said, perching himself on the arm of the couch.
    â€˜How are they?’
    â€˜All good. I brought Beau in, put night rugs on both of them, did their mixes, and put some Betadine on Prince’s legs.’
    God, Steve was exceeding all her expectations. Jessica had been prepared to ease back on rugging to make life easier for him. Would it be pushing things to ask him to swap rugs morning and night?
    â€˜Oh you’re wonderful. Thanks so much. But it’s a lot of work.’
    â€˜You do it.’
    â€˜Yes, because they are my horses – they’re not yours.’
    â€˜Well, you’re dedicated to them and I’m dedicated to you, so you just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it.’
    Jessica’s throat tightened. ‘It really means a lot. Thanks, Steve.’ If she didn’t think she’d dissolve into tears, she would have hugged him. She was being ridiculous. ‘How do they look?’
    â€˜The scrapes? Good – drying out and starting to scab over nicely. They really are quite superficial. And he didn’t seem to mind me messing about with them. Oh, and Tiffany called again, among others. I’ve invited her for dinner, if that’s okay.’
    â€˜Fine with me – you’re the one who’ll have to do everything,’ she said, with a wry smile and arched eyebrows. Jessica didn’t question why Tiffany had rung Steve as well as her; her friend probably just wanted to double-check with him to see if there was anything she could do, just like Jessica would have done with Todd if the situations were reversed. She swallowed down the sadness. She missed him and their happy little foursome.
    â€˜Who else called?’
    â€˜Someone from the organising committee, and Bob Oakley.’
    Jessica shuddered. Bob Oakley had had a crush on her for years and had planted a long, passionate kiss on her lips while offering his congratulations at a comp a little while ago.
    â€˜Oh, and Vanessa and Andrew Birch stopped by. You didn’t hear them?’
    â€˜No. What did they want?’
    â€˜Wanted to know if Prince was for sale. God, the nerve! Vultures! You’ll only be out a few months.’
    â€˜What did you say?’
    â€˜Thanked them for visiting, said he wasn’t for sale and that you were resting. Hope that was okay.’
    Jessica stayed silent. Was this a sign she should be thinking about selling? No, that would break her heart.
    â€˜Well, I’d better get cracking if I’m to have something to feed you two lovely ladies. You can come over and settle yourself at the table and keep me company. We’re having shepherd’s pie, and you’re in charge of peeling the potatoes and then mashing them.’
    Jessica raised her hand to her head in mock salute before retrieving her crutches and pushing herself up from the couch and