Letting out a yelp of fright, I leap away from the bridle I was examining so fast that I promptly hit my head on an empty saddle rack.

‘Ow!’ I cry, rubbing the spot. Kit lurched forwards at the same moment I screamed, but he stops short of actually touching me.

‘Sorry,’ he says, looking amused. ‘Didn’t mean to scare ya.’

‘It’s my fault,’ I reply, still rubbing. ‘I shouldn’t have been lurking in here like an ogre.’

‘Nah.’ He grins. ‘I’d say you were more urchin than ogre. You know, small and spiky.’

‘Gee, thanks,’ I drawl, but I’m smiling.

‘If you’re looking for Bonnie,’ he says, ‘she’s still not here.’

‘I wasn’t,’ I hasten, before adding, ‘I was looking for you – and Tui, of course. I thought I might have left my purse here, which I hadn’t, as it turns out. Plus, I didn’t get to see much of the place the other day, so I thought I’d come and take a look – if that’s all right with you?’

‘Free country,’ he replies, still amused. ‘But you’re not going to see much of the Dart River Valley from inside here.’

I’m just about to throw back a witty retort when Allie appears behind him.

‘Oh, there you are,’ she says to me. ‘Tui was asking for you.’

‘She was?’ I feel all at once puffed out with happiness. ‘I’d best go and find her then.’

‘Sweet,’ she replies, then, turning to Kit, ‘Can you help me tack up for the midday trek, please? Tammy didn’t show up again and I’ve got all the other girls mucking out.’

It’s on the tip of my tongue to offer to help them, but I decide it’s probably best that I don’t. Teaching Tui a few basics from the far end of a long lunge rein is one thing, but actually touching the horses is another. I’m not sure what my reaction would be.

Kit steps around me and uses one hand to scoop up two saddles as if they’re feather pillows, before using the other to feed four bridles up on to one of his big shoulders.