The Twelve Oaks’ stable is quiet. Most of the horses are out in their paddocks and the morning chores have been long finished. As I walk through, I spot a couple of the grooms heading for their cars. Midday errands probably.
Someone’s banging around in one of the stalls, and quicken my pace. I hope it’s Ellie. She should be here. I round the corner and spot a faded brown cap crammed onto a head of rabbit-white hair.
“Sam?” I ask.
“Yeah?”
I pause. Sam is the only man I know who can make ‘Yeah’ sound like ‘f**k you.’ I never know if he’s pissed at me, pissed at the world, or if pissed is his default setting. He came to Twelve Oaks with Ellie. He’s been her family’s head groom since forever and does an amazing job keeping the horses in top condition.
I’m also fairly certain he doesn’t li
