New Boss at Birchfields (12 page)

‘
That
’
s what he
’
s here for,
’
Briony told her smilingly.
‘
Mr.
Lennox bought him so that you could learn to ride without feeling frightened.
’

‘
Oh, how I love him!
’
Sandra exclaimed. And Briony was stunned to
see
that her face, lit by enthusiasm, had lost its sullen hangdog look.

‘
Yes, it is a pretty little thing,
’
Senga
’
s cool voice could be heard saying.
‘
But really, dear, don
’
t you think you
’
re just a little bit too grown-up for that sort of thing? When I rode donkeys it was at the seaside, and I was only a tot.
I
mean, you don
’
t want people to laugh at you, do you?
’
Briony listened in incredulous silence. Sandra
’
s face had fallen and her brows were knitting ominously.
‘
No,
I
suppose people would laugh at me. All the same, it is a dear little donkey.
’

Why had Senga been so contemptuous and cutting in her remarks? Briony wondered. And for a moment the thought crossed her mind that it had been done deliberately. Senga didn
’
t want Sandra to be successful. And if Sandra refused to ride the little animal it would quickly be sold. It was not Blane
’
s practice to keep useless pets, of that she felt sure.

‘
Come along, children!
’
Senga commanded, her voice high and authoritative.
‘
It
’
s time Miss Walton gave you your lessons.
’
She clapped her hands to ensure attention and then led the way back to the yard.

The children followed her, with the exception of Sandra, who stood rooted to the spot looking disconsolate.

‘
Miss MacNeil is right, I suppose, but I would dearly like to have him for my very own.
’

‘
You could, you know,
’
Briony told her bracingly.
‘
I told you how grown-ups ride donkeys abroad. When I was in Greece for my holidays I often saw grown-up women riding along on donkeys. They
’
re very strong, you know, and besides a human being they can carry baskets as well. You mustn
’
t feel that you
’
re doing anything extraordinary.
’

Sandra looked at her doubtfully.
‘
Do you really think so?
’

‘
Of course I do!
’

‘
Well, if you say so, I
’
ll have a go!
’

‘
That
’
s a good idea. And even if you do slide off the ground
’
s very near,
’
Briony told her with a smile.

‘
That
’
s true,
’
Sandra agreed happily, and flung her arms around Briony
’
s neck and kissed her swiftly on the cheek.

CHAPTER SIX

During
the weeks that followed the arrival of the donkey Briony noticed a distinct change in Sandra
’
s attitude towards her riding lessons.

First of all there was the excitement of choosing a name for the latest acquisition to the Birchfields stables. Briony found herself constantly being waylaid by Sandra, who had thought up the most bizarre suggestions. But, much to Briony
’
s relief, she finally decided that
‘
Teddy
’
would be the most suitable name.

Now when the station-wagon arrived from Laureston School Sandra was the first to bounce out. She no longer showed scornful rejection of her young companions, but hurried to saddle Teddy, who would be watching eagerly, his furry ears twitching, as soon as he heard the car drive into the stable yard. Now, instead of taking her perch on the paddock rails and frowningly watching the other pupils on their ponies as they circled Briony, Sandra actually joined in, listening attentively as Briony called out her instructions.

Briony tried to stimulate Sandra
’
s interest by giving her special attention at the end of each lesson. One morning, when the other pupils had returned to the stable yard and only Sandra on Teddy was left in the paddock, she felt a little glow of satisfaction as she saw how greatly improved Sandra was. This was followed by a surge of triumph as she spotted Blane approaching on his magnificent black Hanoverian horse. He sat his mount magnificently, she noticed—like a warrior from ancient times.

‘
Well, are you satisfied?
’
There was a little ironic quirk at the
corner
of his jutting lower lip, as he reined in beside her.

‘
Satisfied?
’
she queried with assumed puzzlement.
‘
Don
’
t pretend you don
’
t know what I mean!
’

‘
Oh, you mean about Teddy?
’

He raised his eyebrows enquiringly.
‘
Teddy? Is that what Sandra calls the moke?
’

‘
Yes, she gave him a name right away, and I think that
’
s a good sign. She seems happy enough. But there
’
s one thing I don
’
t understand.
’

‘
And what may that be?
’

‘
You sounded so adamant about not having a donkey at Birchfields, and I don
’
t think you
’
re the kind of man who changes his mind, so naturally I
’
m surprised that
you
’
ve given way, when
—’

‘
Don
’
t flatter yourself!
’
he broke in.
‘
I didn
’
t succumb to your wheedlings, if that
’
s what you think. It just so happened that a farmer friend of mine wants to buy a donkey for his children. At the moment they
’
re rather too young to ride it, so when I heard there was one for sale I told him I might be able to use it here at the Riding School for a while and let him have it later. You see, it occurred to me I might as well put your theories to the test. At the moment you seem to be succeeding. All the same, I shouldn
’
t be too optimistic if I were you! It may be the novelty of the thing that appeals to the child at the moment. No doubt when she becomes bored she
’
ll throw the poor old moke over.
’

Briony shook her head.
‘
I don
’
t think so,
’
she said confidently.
‘
I
’
m perfectly certain she
’
s on the right lines.
’

Blane looked at her mockingly for a long moment.
‘
Has anyone ever told you you
’
re extremely self-opinionated?
’

‘
Self-opinionated?
’
she repeated, genuinely surprised.
‘
No, and I don
’
t think I am. In fact, I
’
m the direct opposite!
’

‘
Then you think wrong! It would serve you right if Teddy and Sandra between them took you down a peg or two!
’

Before she could make up her mind whether he was serious or not, she noticed Senga strolling towards them.

How was it, Briony wondered, that at times Senga could look beautiful and on other occasions could appear almost plain? This morning she was looking her very best. The crispness of the air had tinted her high cheekbones with the faintest hint of pink, and, as usual, her clothes were excellently tailored.

‘
Really, Blane,
’
she began, her eyes on Sandra, who was walking the donkey about the paddock,
‘
it was completely ridiculous to get a donkey for the child! Giving in to her will only make her more self-willed, and goodness knows, she
’
s a big enough show-off as it is. If you could only realise how troublesome she is at school! Dear old Miss Anderson is quite in despair. I think the only reason she doesn
’
t chuck her out is because Sandra
’
s daddy is so rich,
’
she added derisively.
‘
By the way, speaking of my revered headmistress, she mentioned that she
’
d like us to do some pony-trekking.
“
The country about Abergour is
so
beautiful, don
’
t you think, Miss MacNeil?
”
I
’
d say she thinks it would be a good advertisement for the school.
’

‘
Pony-trekking? The children are hardly advanced enough for that,
’
he replied.

‘
Exactly what I was thinking,
’
Senga agreed.
‘
But it occurred to me that a treasure hunt might fill the bill. I used to enjoy them so much when I was a kid. Did you, Briony?
’

Briony shook her head.
‘
I never went on a treasure hunt. I remember I took part in a gymkhana when I was quite small. I was very proud when I won the egg
-
and-spoon race.
’

‘
Yes, a gymkhana can be fun,
’
Senga agreed,
‘
but I must say I always enjoyed treasure hunts more. I remember how madly excited we used to feel when we
’
d deciphered a clue.
’

‘
Do you know, that
’
s rather a good idea,
’
Blane told her.
‘
And more interesting for kids of their age than trekking. We must think it over.
’

He wheeled his horse and Senga walked away beside him, her face uplifted towards his, as they discussed this new project.

Left to herself, Briony felt a vague sense of disappointment. How quickly he had lost interest in her and her achievement in teaching the children!

For the next few days he made no reference to Senga
’
s suggestion and Briony wondered if he had given up the idea. But it was hard to tell with this complex employer of hers. And that sardonic face of his gave little away.

She had discovered that, as far as the work was concerned, it did not do to be lulled into a state of false security. It was at moments when she felt most complacent about her achievements that those strange steely blue eyes would flash most intimidatingly. Often, too, it was about some small omission; something a less watchful person than Blane would probably have overlooked. But then he wasn
’
t in the habit of turning the blind eye, even to the smallest mistake, especially when it was a matter of the welfare of the animals.

During the previous week when she was approaching a loose-box carrying a bucket of bran mash for a pony which had caught a chill, he had suddenly appeared from nowhere and had plunged his hand into the bucket and felt the temperature of the mash.
‘
Too hot!
’
he announced brusquely.

‘
I—I thought it would be all right—by the time I
’
d carried it across the yard, I mean,
’
Briony had muttered.

‘
Well, you thought wrong!
’
he had told her curtly.
‘
And may I remind you that
I
make the decisions at
Birchfields. Simply carry out my orders without any arguments.
’
And without another word he had turned away, leaving her fuming.

This was why, when one evening, just as she was about to leave for Amulree Cottage, she was told she was wanted in the study by the boss—as the boys usually called their employer—she felt vaguely uneasy.

During the day he had shown no sign that she was in his black books—but then, who could tell?

As
Mrs.
McPhee showed her into the study she hoped fervently that she didn
’
t look as nervous as she felt. This time, she told herself, she would show some backbone and not stand giving weak, inept excuses for whatever transgressions Blane accused her of.

She tilted back her head and straightened herself resolutely as she stepped into the room.
‘
You sent for me,
’
she began, very much on her dignity.

But the effect was marred by the fact that he was standing with his back to her by one of the windows studying a large map which was spread out on a low oak table.

For a moment he continued rocking on his heels as though lost in thought, but when he turned he appeared completely affable. He waved her to a chair.
‘
First of all I want to say how pleased I am about the way you
’
ve brought on the children. They
’
re taking to it like ducks to water. And as for Sandra, I admit you
’
ve been proved right in this case.
’

In spite of her resolutions, Briony felt herself glow a
l
ittle. There was one thing about Blane, she admitted grudgingly—he might be sparing in his praise but, as
J
ohnny had pointed out, he was always fair. All the
s
ame, would she ever learn to comprehend him? she
w
ondered.

‘
But that
’
s not what I want to speak to you about,
’
he
went on.

She sat bolt upright, listening warily.

‘
Senga has been telling me that Miss Anderson is quite taken with the idea of the treasure hunt and I want to iron out the details with you. If we put our heads together we can settle most of the problems here and now. It
’
s altogether a better suggestion than trekking. Kids are avaricious little creatures, and the prospect of a prize at the end of the hunt will appeal to them. Well, what do you say?
’

‘
I
’
d like to help, of course,
’
she said slowly.
‘
But, after all, this wasn
’
t my idea!
’

‘
You feel I should have asked Senga to help? I would too, but she
’
s too busy at the moment. Anyway, I think you
’
d make a good job of this, although I
’
d better warn you that there
’
s going to be a lot of downright hard work involved. The children hunt in pairs. Clues are made up, which lead them forward from place to place, until they discover the treasure. Speed in deciphering the clues is, of course, important, and the prizes go to a great extent to the most quickwitted. And also to the best riders, of course! As the children are so young, the clues had better be hidden in easily recognisable places. At first I thought of having them hunt along Deeside, but perhaps it would be better to have it on ground they
’
re familiar with. All the same, during the hunt they
’
ll have to be watched, because some of them are downright silly, and can get up to dangerous things when they get ex
c
ited and carried away. I
’
m leaving the clues in your hands. They ought to be rhyming, which is a darned nuisance for the adults involved, but fun for the kids. Still, I imagine it will be your cup of tea. Devising the clues should suit you down to the ground, for you can be quick enough with your tongue when you want to,
’
he added dryly.
‘
Well, do you feel you could cope? Of course you could,
’
he put in before she could reply.
‘
There
’
s nothing you don
’
t seem to know about kids. And that
’
s one reason why I
’
ve asked you.
’

Briony swallowed. She hadn
’
t quite digested what was expected of her.
‘
I think I can,
’
she muttered.

‘
Of course you can!
’
he told her.
‘
I
’
ll take a look around tomorrow and decide on the best spots to plant the clues. The prizes might be a cut above the average, perhaps. Sweets are the usual thing, but I thought of giving a couple of little trinkets—little silver bangles, perhaps, or some such thing that little girls would like. And another thing, we must have
Mrs.
McPhee lay on a slap-up tea to round off the affair. I want to make sure this is a success. I
’
m running this place for profit and nothing must go wrong. An accident to one of the kids, for example, would be very bad publicity for me.
’

How typical of him to discuss the matter so bluntly, Briony was thinking.

‘
You
’
ll have to put on your thinking cap and get to work on those clues. Nothing too obscure! At the same time nothing too obvious, or it will be no fun for the children.
’

Briony smiled wryly.
‘
You want it every way, don
’
t you?
’

He nodded and, hands in pockets, strode up and down the room.
‘
Yes, I expect I do. But then I aim for the best—the best riding school in this part of the country, and the best crew I can lay hands on to run it! I want to turn out the best riders. And, when the time
comes
—’
he hesitated, and turning, stared frowningly
through the window,
‘
well, the best wife that a man can have.
’

For a moment there was silence, but it was an electric silence. Awareness encompassed them like a wizard
’
s spell. Briony drew a deep breath.
‘
The Dutch ba
rn
in the ten-acre would be a good place to plant the first clue, wouldn
’
t it?
’
she heard herself ask, her voice unnaturally high.

Blane nodded.
‘
Yes, and for a second clue
—’
He
beckoned her towards him and she joined him at the window.
‘
Do you see down there?
’
He pointed.
‘
That
enormous granite boulder? That would be another obvious place—easily recognisable.
’

She was close to him now, scarcely aware of what he was saying, her emotions in turmoil. Something had happened during this interview which had cast her into complete confusion. How could it be possible that, although she intensely disliked this man, she now wished to prolong the moment as long as possible, putting off the time when, in his brusque way, she would be dismissed?

It was just then that
Mrs.
McPhee announced Senga. For a moment the games mistress stared at them in blank astonishment, then her glance came to rest on the map by the window.
‘
You two look as if you
’
re planning a battle.
’

‘
Let
’
s hope it doesn
’
t turn into one,
’
Blane said dryly.
‘
We
’
re having a confab about the treasure hunt. At first I thought of planting clues along Deeside—hence the map. But some of the kids are a bit wild and woolly, so we
’
d better keep them nearer home. It will be easier to locate them if anything goes wrong. Briony is getting to work on the clues right away.
’

‘
Really?
’
Senga said tightly, her cheekbones bright with anger.
‘
I hadn
’
t realised Briony knew anything about organising a hunt! According to her, the egg-and
-
spoon race was about her form when she was a kid.
’

‘
Perhaps,
’
Blane said coolly.
‘
But she
’
s a bit older now and seems to have a wonderful understanding of children, and also seems to be an expert at smoothing out tantrums. It
’
s pretty important in this game, I think you
’
ll realise.
’

‘
All the same,
’
Senga put in quickly,
‘
I
’
ve experience of these hunts, and I must say I think my advice would have been more useful to you than Briony
’
s.
’

‘
Look, Senga,
’
he told her,
‘
with children, you must admit, you
’
re not exactly sympatica. I mean, you don
’
t even
want
to be the motherly type, do you?
’

‘
I should hope not!
’
Senga retorted.
‘
You know perfectly well that
’
s not what I mean! If Briony wants to soothe the children that
’
s her business. But
I
could have done the planning!
’

‘
But I don
’
t
want
you to do the planning. I want you
to spend every spare moment practising for the competition. We can
’
t have you disgracing the Lennox Riding School.
’

‘
That
’
s only an excuse,
’
flashed Senga.
‘
I have plenty of free time, and I know how things should be done. It
’
s early days yet! After all, we only thought of this recently, and
—’

Briony was aware that impatience was building up in her employer.

‘
I want this idea carried out quickly,
’
he told Senga, his brow darkening,
‘
and Briony
’
s capable of taking on the whole caboodle herself!
’

‘
I see! So you
’
re going to rush this thing through with Briony
’
s help?
’