July 1974
Hilary ran down the corridor of the hospital, she turned the corner into an open ward and saw Linda lying in a bed beside the window. "Linda! Oh goodness." She embraced her. "How are you?"
"Sore..." Linda sighed. "Look it could have been worse."
"What the hell happened?"
"Do you want the truth or what the police are saying?" Hilary raised her eyebrows. "I have been charged with trespass for being on the work site of the new by-pass and the fact that I had 'fallen' down a foundation pit was my own fault and I was lucky that the weather had been too bad to pour concrete in the morning." She shook her head. "And that just shows the power Harry Thompson has around here. I don't know exactly what happened, I was at home when suddenly I found myself in that pit and he was there telling me..." She burst into tears.
"I am sorry." Hilary passed her a handkerchief. "How did you get out?"
"I screamed until I was hoarse, one of the workers found me and helped me get out. When I tried to tell them what happened they charged me."
"But you are okay now?"
"I am not under several hundred tons of concrete, for now." She shuddered. "I have to leave, I can't go back to the yard."
"No..." Hilary paused. "Harry Thompson has been around, saying how he is going to redevelop the land. I was scared, I didn't know where you were, he said you had left."
"Well now I am going. As soon as I am out of here I am selling up. The cottage, the horses, whatever I can get. I have to." She paused. "I am sorry Hilary and for everyone, but there is nothing I can do. I don't think I could go back there again anyway."
"I will help you in anyway I can, just promise me one thing."
"Anything, what is it?"
"Keep in touch with your old friends wherever you go." She smiled faintly.
"Always..."
***
“Lot number three, three six, is comprised of five saddles and bridles. Can we start the bidding at ten pounds?”
Hilary turned and stepped away from the small group of bidders, the stables were quiet now that the horses had gone to market, this was the final step, the sale of the remaining tack and equipment, everything offered with no reserve. This was not going to make a fortune for Linda but no doubt enough for her to live on for a while if she was frugal.
She walked down the row of empty stables, pausing at Magpie’s box. She sighed, shaking her head. The stable was empty now, the straw removed and the concrete swept clean, if only she could sweep away the memories so easily.
“Lot three, three, seven, ladies and gentlemen...”
Hilary could hear the distant sounds from the auctioneer from the tack room, she had never had to arrange an auction but she had offered to take care of everything for Linda, she realised that she would never step foot back on the yard, this was a closed chapter in her life.
Linda had sold her cottage, it had sold remarkably quickly to a rich London family who wanted somewhere to spend weekends in the country, she had bought a tiny, dilapidated farm house hidden in the middle of Dartmoor.
Hilary had paid off the last few staff just yesterday, there had been tears, this had been a happy yard once despite what Susan had done. They would all be going to different places, the nature of the horse industry meant that they would be scattered far and wide, all promising to keep in touch but quietly knowing that this would be the last time they would hear from each other.
Hilary looked up, a young lady was walking towards her.
“Miss Jones? Hilary.”
“Yes, hello?” The woman held out her hand, Hilary shook it.
“I am from Baileys Auctioneers. I need Linda Gibbs’ address for our records so that we can send the cheque on to her.”
“You can pass the cheque to me, I will send it on to Linda.”
“But I do need...” The woman stopped mid-sentence. “Alright, but Mr Thompson will find her. I hope you realise that.”
“I am sure he will. But this is over. She has not gone into hiding she has gone away. Tell your boss to leave her alone.”
“Mr Thompson is quite insistent.”
“I am sure he is. Just tell him he has broken her. This was her life, that has gone. Susan killed her horse, destroyed her business and destroyed Linda.” Hilary stared at the woman. “Linda did nothing but try to help Susan. Please tell him to leave her alone now.”
The woman smiled coldly. “I will pass on your message.”
***
“Here you are.” Hilary handed over the cheque. “Not much for all your work I am afraid but...” Linda smiled.
“It is enough, with what I got for my house and the horses.” She reached down and took out another cheque. “This is for you.” She pushed the piece of paper across the table.
“What?” Hilary picked up the cheque. “No... No, this is too much. You don’t have to do this.”
“Hilary I have left you with no job and you were there for me every step of the way.” She smiled. “Call it a gift. Please don’t insult me by refusing it.”
“Okay...” Hilary smiled, folding the cheque and putting it in her pocket. “Thank you.”
“So what will you do now?”
“I think I have had enough of working with horses. I start in an office typing pool next week.”
“You, a typist?” Linda giggled.
“Oh shut up!” Hilary smiled. “I learnt it at school. Mum wanted me to be able to do a proper job!”
“I give it six months. You all cooped up in an office.” She paused. “Take the money, do something with your life. For me.”
“You’re right...” Hilary sighed. “I will miss the outdoor life. Perhaps I need to think about it.” She smiled. “I will have plenty of time to do that, back living at home with mum and dad. I just can’t wait for the ‘I told you so’. So what about you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I could face working with horses again right now but it is just about all I know. I have a bit of money, I will take some time and see what happens. It’s a big world out there.”
“It is.”