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This reminder of his situation did not help。 Ronnie grunted； and looked around again。 A groom waved to him； and he went over to get on the dark； heavy animal that was his for the day。 〃Thumper；〃 he was told； 〃is good； solid； reliable； and not too fast。 Bring him home safe。〃 Ronnie noticed nothing was said about his safety。
They rode out into the cold murk。 Thumper seemed to think his place was the back of the field； Ronnie kicked vigorously and got him up to the middle。
〃Eager； aren't you？〃 asked someone sarcastically。 Ronnie ignored him。 They all milled around in a wet meadow while the hounds cast about for a scent。 No one spoke to Ronnie； and he knew they were all eyeing him。 His neck felt hot。 When the hounds began to speak； he urged Thumper in that direction； but the others were faster。 He trotted along near the back of the group； getting well spattered with mud the other horses kicked up。 Thumper slowed； and Ronnie couldn't blame him。 It must be worse for the horse； he thought； getting mud in his face and not just on his legs。
After awhile； the horses ahead of him sped off at a canter。 Ronnie followed。
Now the mud flew higher； he could see it spattering the ground ahead of him。 A hedge appeared from the murk； and Thumper lifted to it。 On the far side； a ditch gaped； Thumper stretched； and Ronnie clung； slipping a bit at the rough landing。 But he regained his seat and urged Thumper on through a flat field after the others。 He wished someone had seen … it was a larger jump than he'd ever taken in a lesson。
After some minutes of this he was breathless and sore。 It was much harder than the lessons； even the ones on the outside course。 He couldn't tell what kind of obstacle was ing。 There never seemed time to plan an approach； to get himself ready for the jump。 Thumper had a rough； lumbering stride； and while he jumped safely； never hitting anything； he took off with a lurch and landed hard each time。 He was doing better than some （he had seen riders sprawled on the wet ground； loose horses； people remounting） but he couldn't get Thumper to catch up with the field。
Far ahead； the horn rang out again。 Thumper knew that signal； and churned ahead faster。 Now they passed stragglers； riders whose strained faces showed that they found this as tiring as Ronnie did。 He wondered why they bothered。。。。 Were there that many bossy aunts in the universe？ He saw a rail fence ing up； and braced himself。。。。 They were over safely； but another loomed up。 With a curse； Ronnie grabbed mane； and survived that one too。
Thumper plunged on； into the rear of the slowing field。。。 The dogs had caught the fox； though Ronnie couldn't see it。 He pulled on the reins； and Thumper slowed to a walk； then stood； sides heaving。 No one seemed to notice them now； the red…coated hunt staff in the center were doing something； and then everyone laughed and cheered。
The crowd spread out； as the riders walked their horses slowly around。 〃Made it； did you？〃 asked someone Ronnie had seen in the red hunt group at dinner。
〃Must have been pretty far back。 Too bad you weren't up。 You might've had a chance at the brush； being as it's your first day。〃
〃Well； I made it；〃 Ronnie said。 He meant to say it blithely； but it came out sounding disgruntled。 The man rode off with a shrug。 Thumper heaved a great sigh； and shook his head a little。 Ronnie noticed others getting flasks out of their saddlebags。 He started to reach for his； and remembered that he'd forgotten to bring it。 It seemed suddenly darker； and the first cold drops of the day's rain splashed his hot neck。
By nightfall； he had ridden too many hours； fallen off twice （both times some helpful stranger caught Thumper and brought him back） and was wet to the skin with both sweat and rain。 His throat felt raw； his nose was running； and his knees and ankles felt as if he'd played the finals of some dismal professional sport invoking large angry men pounding each other to mush。 He managed to stay on Thumper until he guided him through the gates of the yard； and then slithered off； staggering as he landed。
〃Do you need assistance？〃 asked the groom； with a quick glance at him。 She was already pampering Thumper； he noticed。
〃I had a fall；〃 he said； through gritted teeth。 〃But nothing's broken。〃
〃Good day； then；〃 she said； leading the horse away。 〃If nothing broke。〃
He stumped up to the house； hoping to make it to a hot bath without meeting anyone； but of course there was George； dapper and witty； with Raffaele on his arm。
〃What did you fall into； the pigpen？〃 asked George。 Ronnie was glad to note that Raffaele did not smirk。 She was dry and clean and lovely； but she did not smirk。
〃Just a muddy ditch；〃 Ronnie said。 He hoped it sounded casual； the way he'd heard others speak lightly of problems in the field。
〃I haven't fallen off in a week；〃 George said。 〃Even though it really rained hard during my second lesson today。〃
〃It's different out there。〃 Ronnie shot a glance at Raffaele。 She wasn't even smiling； she looked as if she knew that his shoulder and hip hurt； and was sorry。
〃I'll bet Bubbles and Raffa didn't fall；〃 George went on。 〃Did you？〃
Raffa turned an enchanting shade of pink； Ronnie had never thought how lovely a blush could look against dark hair。 〃Almost；〃 she said。 〃My horse stumbled on landing over a big drop； and I was right up on her neck。。。。〃
〃But you didn't fall；〃 George brayed。 〃Now if that had been Ronnie； he'd have gone splat； right？〃
〃Excuse me；〃 said Ronnie； trying for coolness and achieving only the very tone of wounded dignity he least wanted。 〃I'd like to take a bath before dinner。〃
〃I should hope so；〃 George said。 〃You certainly need one。〃
Ronnie fumed his way to his room。 Bad enough to have to spend a wet cold day riding a clumsy horse over mud and rock。 Bad enough to fall off and be bruised from head to heel。 But to meet the impossibly dapper George on the way back … to be twitted about his muddy state … that was too much。 People that thought this was fun must be pletely insane。。。 except maybe Raffa； because after all women were different。
He simply could not spend the entire winter at this ridiculous sport。 He had to get away； somehow； and do something where he didn't feel a plete fool。
Chapter Eleven
〃I'm not sure this is a good idea；〃 Ronnie said 〃Do you really want to spend another day bouncing around on that horse？〃 asked George。 Of course he didn't； that was the point。 It had been bad enough before George got into the hunt； and worse afterwards。 But sneaking off like this？
George went on； 〃You look ridiculous …〃
〃I do not。〃 Ronnie glared at his friend George had not fallen off in his first time in the field； and it had gone to his head。 He seemed to think a successful maiden appearance made up for later runaways； buckings off； and an inability to keep up with the field on a slow day。 〃I ride better than you …〃
〃And not nearly so well as your aged aunt or that demon captain of hers。
Honestly； I had no idea the Regs went in for horse riding； I thought they spent all their time polishing weapons and doing drills。〃
Ronnie snorted。 〃They do love drills； don't they？ At least down here Captain Serrano can't