As Driven by Deceit is one week old tomorrow I thought I would share its first chapter with you.
Stiff muscles complain as I get out of the car, and I arch my back to ease them, rolling my shoulders. The last leg of our journey home was gruelling, and a whimper from the back tells me it was for Scout too. I let her out of her crate, and she bounds over to the grass to relieve herself. We’d had comfort breaks on the way down from Scotland, and perhaps I should have broken the journey with another overnight stay, but once decided on my return, I didn’t want any further delay.
It’s late, the yard’s dark, but I feel the pull of the horses and have to see them before I enter the house. I don’t turn on the yard lights, they’re too disruptive. Instead, I rely on my phone to cast light into each box. Rooster wanders over to stick his head out of the half-door, and I’m comforted when he blows softly into my palm. I stroke his head, inhaling the familiar scents of horse and hay, which have been absent from my life for long enough.
My holiday had been a much-needed break. The times I’d had to attend court already had been a lot to deal with, and there would be more to come. The divorce proceedings I’d also started had added to my stress.
We’d kept to ourselves at the various places we’d stayed. Scout and I had walked, climbed and scrambled across the Scottish countryside for many miles. Without the distraction of human company for three weeks, I could think about my life and future, which was looking nothing like I’d thought it was going to be only last December.
I complete my circuit of the stables, surprised although pleased to see the last box has a new occupant. This is a welcome sight as it has been empty for too long. I peer over the door at the handsome cob inside and smile. If I’d known whose horse it was, I wouldn’t have.
The sound of horses nickering welcomes me to the yard the next morning along with Harry whistling. It’s good to hear it again on this beautiful spring morning in early May. My head’s groggy as, exhausted by the drive, I overslept, and I lift my face to the sun to absorb some rays. I didn’t even hear Harry get up, and he and Pip are already hard at work. As soon as Harry spots me, he runs out of the stable he’s in and wraps his arms around me, as enthusiastic as a young Labrador. Pip laughs as she pushes a wheelbarrow past us. ‘He’s missed you.’ And I had him.
‘Not that we couldn’t cope,’ he says, once he’s put me down. ‘But it’s good to see you.’ He drags his fingers through his mess of russet-coloured hair and gives me a smile which lights up his face and crinkles the corners of his dark blue eyes.
‘It’s good to see both of you, too. Can you take a break in five minutes? I’ll bring breakfast, but I’d like a debrief.’
Pip’s eyes flick to Harry before he answers for them both. ‘Sure, we’ll just finish off. Tack room?’
I nod then go back to the house to make coffee before returning with a tray for the mugs and, as a small thank you, warm pastries I’d thrown into the oven from my freezer on waking.
Harry O’Connor and Pip Statham, my friends and most trusted workers, had insisted I take the time off, assuring me they could manage everything in my absence. I have complete faith in them but was still reluctant to leave. I’d only agreed to do so when Harry said he’d move into my house to be as close as possible to the horses and they’d both promised to call if anything even approaching an emergency happened in the yard.
The warmth from the sun is far too enticing for us to meet in the windowless tack room, so we drag some crates outside and sit absorbing the heat like lizards after a long winter.
Harry and Pip appear in good spirits, and after a quick rundown, I’m pleased there have been no issues in the yard in my absence and that they’ve coped excellently. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the return of my extra pair of hands to help with getting the work done, though. After my coffee.
‘The only thing you haven’t mentioned then is the extra horse,’ I eventually say, suspicious as to why this was not a leading topic of conversation. They both know how long I’ve been trying to fill the stable.
‘Er, yes.’ Harry’s eyes immediately slide away from mine as he finishes his third pastry then drains his mug. Pip looks anywhere other than directly at me, fidgets then stands, apparently anxious to get back to mucking out. The mystery deepens.
‘What’s his name?’
‘Houdini.’
‘Sounds ominous.’
‘Yes, we learned to keep the kick bolt on quickly.’
‘Right. Duly noted. How’s he settled in?’
‘He’s grand. Apart from the one escape where he trotted round the yard for a bit saying hello to everyone.’ I wince as Harry grimaces. We have a quarantine stable set away from the main block in which to keep a new horse, to stop it touching any others for its first three weeks with us. Just in case. This scenario is therefore hardly ideal, but there was little that could be done once it had happened. Thankfully, it doesn’t appear Houdini has brought any diseases into the yard. That would have constituted an emergency and brought me straight home. Harry continues, ‘But he was easy to catch and generally he’s a chilled character. Eating well. Not fretting or anxious. And he’s happy to be with the others now he’s in the main yard.’ Harry glances at Pip as though for backup and she nods along, although she’s chewing her lip, so while Houdini may not be anxious, she is.
‘That’s good news.’ I look from one of them to the other. There’s something going on. I can feel it coming at me, but both appear reluctant to talk. ‘Whose horse is it?’
‘No one you’d know. Cee something or other. I forget the surname. She’s moved into Maisie’s place.’
‘Oh.’ I feel a wave of relief as this can only be good news. Not only have we filled a livery space, but Maisie Brooks has a tenant for her cottage, which is directly opposite my house. ‘Handy for the yard then.’
‘Er, yeah. Although we haven’t seen her here since he arrived. He’s full livery.’ I hear an edge of doubt creep into Harry’s voice.
‘A hands-off owner, eh?’ One wonders why some people have horses at all, so infrequently do they visit them. Still, having an extra full livery in the yard will be good for the bank balance, so I can’t complain.
‘I, er, probably need to tell you something.’ My heart sinks. Here it comes.
‘What’s the matter? Houdini is fully vaccinated, isn’t he?’
‘Oh yes. That’s all in order. His owner had a photo of the relevant page of his passport when I asked her for the details so I could check them, and I’ve put a copy in his file.’
‘Strangles test?’ We would usually expect a new livery to arrive with a clear one.
‘Ahh, no. But as I could isolate him, I got it done the next day. The result was clear.’
‘That’s a relief.’ But Harry doesn’t look relieved. I raise an eyebrow to encourage him to fill me in.
He clears his throat before doing so. ‘It’s just when she brought him in, she only had a hundred pounds on her in cash to put down. Some problem with her bank….’ He peters off. Livery fees are charged weekly, in advance, and paid by standing order. On arrival, two weeks of fees are taken, one to act as a deposit. There is little to stop an owner disappearing with their horse, I’ve been caught out before, and this covers unpaid fees. Extras like vets visits, hay, feed or shoeing, are charged on top and settled separately, but promptly. ‘She took the details and standing order forms with her to sort out.’
‘Of course she did.’ I don’t bother asking the question I already know the answer to.
‘I’ve tried to mention it to her since. In the pub, you know. But it’s been a bit awkward.’ Probably almost as awkward as Harry looks right now. ‘She said she was going to set it up and drop the completed forms back, and I’m sure she will, she’s, er, very believable.’
‘Uh huh.’ I think for a moment. ‘When did Houdini arrive?’
‘Er, pretty much, the, er, day after you left? Isn’t that right, Pip?’ She murmurs her agreement and I make a quick calculation.
‘So we should have received four weeks of full livery fees by now, including the deposit, but in fact we have a hundred quid.’
‘Yes,’ Harry grimaces, then adds brightly, ‘Although she could have forgotten to return the form, but set up the standing order, and the payments might already be in your account.’
I nod. ‘She could have, I’ll check later.’ She hasn’t. I’ve kept an eye on the account while away, and there’s been nothing go into it I haven’t recognised. I don’t want to be too hard on Harry though, not after he’s provided such excellent cover in my absence. The fact the fees haven’t been paid is probably only a misunderstanding, anyway. One that can be sorted out easily enough once I have the chance to meet my new neighbour. ‘Okay, we’d best get on with the day then.’ Pip leaps at the opportunity to escape, but Harry lingers.
‘Sorry,’ he says.
‘It’s not a problem. I would have done the same in your shoes.’ That’s unlikely, but I know him well enough to realise he only did what he thought was right. ‘Let’s go and look at Houdini, shall we?’
This request does nothing to lessen Harry’s anxiety, and I see why as soon as he leads the escape artist out of the stable. Overall, he’s a quality cob, but he’s been here three weeks now and is still in poor condition. I can see his ribs, his coat is dull and coarse beneath my hand. It makes me wonder what he was like when he arrived.
‘He’s picking up, but I think his teeth need doing.’ I agree and feel a flicker of anger towards his owner for allowing him to get into this state. We discuss the hard food Harry has been feeding him, which agrees with what I would have given. Houdini is also moulting, which isn’t helping his appearance, but I hope by the time his summer coat is in he’s looking better than this. He’s unshod too, his feet overgrown and cracking in places.
‘When was he last wormed?’
‘Er, Cee was a little unsure on that point.’
‘The information should have been provided on the form when he arrived.’ I’m not telling him anything he doesn’t already know, so I stop myself from continuing.
‘Yeah.’ There’s not much more he can say, is there?
I think for a minute, then decide. ‘Right. Let’s assume he hasn’t been wormed and get it done. Then can you arrange to get his teeth checked and add him to the list for the farrier this week?’ Harry nods. ‘Has he been ridden yet?’
‘No. We wanted him to put some weight on first. I used an old rug to turn him out, so he’s stretched his legs in the paddock. He moves well.’
‘Hang on. You used one of our old rugs? He doesn’t have his own?’
‘No.’ Harry’s got that awkward look on his face again.
‘Does he have his own tack?’ I’m starting to wonder what else we’re going to have to provide for Houdini.
‘Oh, yes. It’s in the tack room.’
‘Well, that’s something. Grooming kit?’ I’m already shaking my head as I can tell what the answer is from Harry’s face. ‘Okay. Add it to the list for the next trip to the saddlery. Can we get by until then?’
‘Yes, I’ve cobbled together enough from our old stuff.’ That will have to do for now. I’m due a trip to the saddlery anyway.
‘Excellent. Right, I think Houdini has taken up enough of our morning. Let’s get on. But before we do, I’d like to take you both out for dinner tonight as a thank you if you’re free?’ I raise my voice to include Pip in the invitation but see her frown as soon as I stop speaking.
‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘Mum’s out tonight, so I’m in with Sammy.’
‘That’s a shame. Another time then?’ She nods with a smile and turns back to tacking up Chessington in readiness for her first ride out of the day. Sammy is Pip’s younger brother by about fourteen years, I think he’s six now, and she’s devoted to him. Sadly, their dad left before Sammy was one year old which has been hard on those he abandoned.
‘Grand. Count me in,’ says Harry with a grin. ‘You know I’m always up for a trip to the pub.’
‘Who said we’re going to the pub? Maybe I’m going to surprise you with a trip to, er, somewhere else?’ He raises one eyebrow at me, and I’m not sure I like being so predictable.
If this sounds like something you would like to read then Driven by Deceit is available as an eBook, paperback and hardback. You can find out more by clicking HERE or on the book cover below.
Crack the façade… Expose the truth…
A toxic arrival. The villagers enthralled. What will it take to show the reality of what lives among them?
Laura Brown has already had a tough year. What she doesn’t need is someone making it worse. But when her friend’s cottage is rented out, that’s exactly what happens as her life, and the village she loves, are invaded by someone from her past.
Laura has learned how to react to her abuser. With silence. With indifference. No one else sees the danger in their midst. That is until her friends are affected and the time comes for Laura to remember who she really is.
With the help of a mysterious visitor and Laura’s friend, Harry O’Connor, a plan forms, but when a lack of discretion threatens to derail it, Laura finds help comes from the most unlikely place.
Driven by Deceit is a gripping domestic suspense novel. If you like character-driven action, suspenseful storytelling and unexpected twists, then you’ll love this psychological thriller.
Thank you for reading. x
