She shook herself. She was sixty. Far too old to take up riding again. Ridiculous. And anyway if she wanted to try riding, she could simply go to the local stables. Given the number of guests from Forest Nest that were sent their way, they’d probably give her a friendly rate. But again, that was too close to home. And she didn’t want to mix business with pleasure, even though her role in the business was much smaller than it once had been.

No, whatever she ended up doing as a distraction, she was going to do it away from her home turf.

She stared at the ad again and on impulse she pulled out her phone and dialed the number.

“Is that Waterside Trekking? I’d like to book a ride please— yes, a two-hour trek sounds perfect.” Did it? Would she survive two hours when she hadn’t been on a horse in years? She wouldn’t be able to walk afterward. “I’m not exactly a beginner, but it has been a while since I’ve ridden . . . How long? Oh, about forty-five years.” She cringed as she said it, but the woman on the other end of the phone didn’t seem alarmed or at all put-out by the fact that Connie wasn’t in the first flush of youth.

Nor did she recognize her name when Connie gave it. She didn’t ask how Milly was coping or whether it looked as if Zoe was going to be scarred for life.

Maybe this had been a good idea after all.

The woman was still talking, asking when Connie wanted to come.

“When?” Connie hadn’t thought that far, but now that she’d made the call she decided that the sooner she did it, the better. Otherwise she might change her mind. “As soon as possible. When do you have availability?”

When she heard the woman telling her that they’d had a cancellation that afternoon if she was interested, she almost refused. She’d expected to have time to think about it. To change her mind and cancel if she wanted to.

But before she could stop herself she was promising to be there and getting directions.

She ended the call and stared at her reflection in the shop window.

She was going horse riding.

And for now she wasn’t going to mention it to anyone. This would be something just for her.

Chapter 9Nicole

Zoe arrived home like a whirlwind. She dropped her schoolbag in the living room and flung her arms around Nicole without a moment of hesitation.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

At least someone was pleased to see her, Nicole thought as she hugged her back.

The hug felt so good she was glad she’d given in to Milly’s entreaties to stay.