Taking Flight by Sheena Wilkinson Read Free Book Online Page A

– but I guess by the look of concentration on Vicky’s face when she’sdoing the smallest circles that it’s harder than it looks. Then Cam puts up some jumps. They look huge to me but Flight clears them all with a flick of his tail. After some of them he kicks up his heels as if he’s enjoying himself.
    â€˜OK, I’ll put these up to a metre,’ Cam shouts. ‘Now watch the stride coming into the gate.’
    I’ve only seen horses jumping on TV. Vicky looks nicer when she’s on Flight. Half the time I forget it’s her and just enjoy watching the horse jumping. Then I remember what a bitch she is and that’s when I get so jealous I could run up and pull her off the horse and gallop off on him myself.
    Except I haven’t got a clue how to.

Chapter 8
    VICKY
    After tea on Friday I settled down to give my tack a good clean. Mum and Declan were at the hospital so the house was quiet, making being there on a Friday evening instead of at Dad’s seem even weirder.
    As I rubbed soap into my bridle I had snakes in my stomach thinking about putting it on Flight next day at the show. There was something so scary about jumping as part of a team, with everyone relying on you. I saw myself falling off, forgetting the course, having three refusals at the first jump – every disaster you can imagine.
    I heard Mum and Declan come in, then him going upstairs – good; I could have some time with Mum.
    She looked into the kitchen. ‘Any chance of getting in to make a cup of tea?’
    I looked round. Bits of leather were draped over every chair back and the air was sweet with oil and saddle soap. ‘Just need to put my bridle together again and polish my boots.’
    â€˜Give me the boots and I’ll do them for you.’
    Mum pretty much kept out of the horsey side of my life but I quite enjoyed chatting to her while we polished and rubbed.
    â€˜Nervous?’ she asked.
    I nodded. ‘But Flight was brilliant on Wednesday, wasn’t he? Did you see the way he cleared the gate?’ When I remembered the feeling of Flight and me jumping on Wednesday, like we understood each other for the first time, like we were a team, I had a blast of confidence.
    â€˜Well, it always looks terrifying to me.’
    â€˜Mum, can you take me to the yard really early? Like eight o’clock? Wainwright says we have to plait.’
    â€˜Your hair?’ Mum wrinkled her face in surprise.
    I giggled. ‘Flight’s mane .’ I tried not to let the nerves creep into my voice. I’d never plaited Flight before and I didn’t know if he would stand OK. Normally Fiona did all that sort of stuff for me. ‘Will you hate coming to the show tomorrow?’ I asked.
    â€˜Course not! I’m really proud of you. I just get so nervous watching you go over those huge fences. And you know I never know what to say to that horsey crowd. But at least I’ll have company.’
    â€˜What d’you mean?’
    She rubbed hard at my black leather boot. ‘Declan, of course.’
    The snakes wriggled back into my stomach, only this time they had fangs. ‘Mum! I’m not jumping with him watching.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly’ Mum looked at me in surprise. ‘I can’t just leave him here on his own all day.’
    I spat on Flight’s bit and started rubbing a cloth over it hard to shine it. ‘You mean you wouldn’t trust him?’
    â€˜ No , I mean it’d be a very rude way to treat a guest.’
    I tried a different tack. ‘Well, he’ll hate it. You know how much hanging around there is.’
    Mum shook her head. ‘He seemed to enjoy watching you on Wednesday. Anyway, he’s coming and that’s that. Maybe he can help you with Flight. You know I’m useless.’
    * * *
    â€˜ Stand , you big pig!’ I felt pretty useless myself. I tried to jerk on Flight’s headcollar rope, but my fingers