No Going Back by Lyndon Stacey Read Free Book Online

doing evening stables and asked if there were any jobs.’
    â€˜And you don’t even know her surname? That’s a bit casual, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Yeah, I know. She may have said – I’m not sure. I was just so bloody glad to see her. We lost two last week – went home for the weekend and didn’t come back – so we were a bit short-staffed. I can’t tell you more than that because I haven’t done any paperwork yet. To be honest, I don’t bother until I’m sure they’re going to stay more than a week or two. Otherwise I spend all my time filling out forms and then they bugger off! She’s a very competent little rider, though. The horses go well for her.’
    â€˜And Kat is short for?’
    â€˜How would I know? Kathryn, Kathleen, Katrina . . . ? She didn’t say. Your guess is as good as mine. Why the interest?’
    â€˜It’s a long story.’ Daniel was still watching the last of the horses’ rumps disappearing up the lane, his mind racing. ‘Does she live in?’ Several of the stable hands that weren’t local lived in a couple of purpose-built log cabins adjacent to the yard.
    â€˜Yes, she does. Look, I’ve got to go now, if I’m going to get to the gallops before they do, but why don’t you come over tomorrow night – say sevenish. I’ll rustle up a stir-fry and we can crack open a bottle of wine and you can tell me this long story of yours. Unless, of course, it’s another of your secrets?’
    â€˜No. That sounds good. And maybe I could have a word with Kat too.’
    Tamzin shrugged. ‘I don’t see why not. Now I must go.’ She leaned towards him and they kissed lightly. ‘Until tomorrow.’
    Daniel returned thoughtfully to his unloading as the Land Rover left the yard. It seemed incredible, but was it just possible that Tamzin’s new stable lass was Elena’s sister?
    Reynolds had claimed she’d turned up safe and well, but had she? Daniel only had his word for it, and that had so far proven to be worth very little. He thought back over his telephone conversation with the man, remembering the pause when Reynolds had waited for him to state his business. ‘I was going to ring you . . .’ he’d said, but instead of immediately sharing the good news about Katya’s return, he’d waited for Daniel to ask.
    Was that because he thought Daniel might himself have some news of the girl and therefore catch him out in his lie?
    Daniel turned up at Quarry Farm with a bottle of wine in hand, just after half past seven the next evening.
    Taking the path behind the stables and down the stone steps that led to the cottage, he was met at the door by Tamzin, who leaned forward for a kiss before standing back to let him into the low-ceilinged interior.
    â€˜Sorry I’m late. I took Taz for a walk and went further than I intended.’
    â€˜So where is he now?’
    â€˜In the car. He’s a bit wet,’ Daniel said, handing her the bottle and bending down to greet her menagerie of dogs. ‘Besides, I didn’t want to scare Kat. He can be a bit daunting at first.’
    â€˜Ah. About Kat . . .’ Tamzin shut the front door and followed him into the kitchen, her Labrador, spaniel and Yorkshire terrier bustling through the doorway with her. ‘There’s a bit of a problem.’
    â€˜Oh?’
    â€˜Well, I asked her to come down here at about a quarter to seven – get some of her details sorted out and stuff – but she didn’t turn up. So I went over to the cabins and they said she’d gone.’
    â€˜Gone? Where?’
    â€˜ Gone gone. Taken all her things and cleared out – not that she had much. I must say, I was surprised. She seemed to be settling in quite well, but there you go.’
    â€˜Did you, by any chance, tell her that I was coming?’
    Tamzin frowned. ‘Yes.