Laurel wasn’t going to put direct pressure on her sister but she didn’t see why she shouldn’t introduce a subject that might distract them both. ‘Have you ever done any horse riding, Daisy? Daybreak has a lovely, smooth gait. I’m looking forward to being up on her again.’

Rea shot her a look that appeared half ‘thanks for finding something to motivate me further’ and half ‘I know you’re using Daybreak as bait’, but she released the lamppost from her rigid embrace and took a few more steps.

Daisy’s expression relaxed. ‘Daybreak’s very sweet but I’m not getting up on her. It looks a long way down. I like to keep the gate between horses and me in case they kick me with their wooden feet.’

Even Rea laughed. ‘Hoofs aren’t wood. They’re made of the same stuff as toenails, aren’t they?’

They were passing MAR Motors by now and the cars on the forecourt reflected the glare of the sun. Daisy giggled. ‘Then why would I go near an animal with mega-toenails? That’s gross.’ At the corner, they turned into Gabe’s track.

Laurel glanced across at the door to Grady Auto Art but it was firmly closed. She continued the jokey conversation, wondering aloud whether Daybreak would like her ‘toenails’ painted and, if so, what colour, letting the gentle silliness carry them around the curve of the track and up to the paddock. There she produced the parsnips.

Snobby, seeing they had food in their hands, actually broke into a shambling trot to the paddock gate, tossing his head in greeting and barging in front of Daybreak, despite being half her size. ‘You’re a hooligan,’ Daisy scolded the little old pony. Snobby suffered pats as they broke each parsnip into pieces and scrupulously divided them between him and the pale grey beauty of Daybreak. The moment he’d blown over their hands to check the last scrap had gone, he turned tail and shambled off to the far side of the paddock.

By then, Gabe and Bertie had come out. ‘Have you come to ride Daybreak?’ Gabe called hopefully.

Laurel found herself laying a friendly hand on Rea’s shoulder. ‘Yes, please, and could Rea, too? She was always better than me because she went to lessons for longer.’

‘The more the merrier. Daybreak desperately needs exercise.’ Gabe went to fetch Daybreak’s tack, leaving them to chat with Bertie. Daybreak remained with her head over the gate as though eager to be part of the conversation. Then her ears pricked and she swung her head to watch Gabe approach with her tack, almost knocking Uncle Bertie off his feet.

‘Aw, look at her,’ breathed Rea. ‘She’s excited.’