There was a small but pleasant group gathered in the living room of my suite Al had been here a while helping get set up. Justin and Warren the other two American team riders were sat drinking beers. So we were just waiting on Bette and Alice’s mystery woman.

At the next knock on the door Al leapt across the room and almost yanked it of its hinges in an attempt to get it open as quickly as possible.  Then once she was there she suddenly stopped and went all shy and just looked at her feet before managing to squeak out a greeting.

“Hey, you came?”

I saw the brunette soften as she took in her suddenly quiet girlfriend and realised I was looking at the one person in the world who could actually control the force of nature that stood opposite her at the door.

“Hey yourself you big goofball. You gonna invite me into this little shindig or are we staying here all night.”

With that the brunette grabbed Alice and pulled her into a passionate kiss while steering her into the room. When she broke away she looked over Alice’s shoulder and met my gaze and winked before breaking out into a grin almost to mischievous for her innocent face and dragging Al across the room to come and greet me.

“Tina Kennard how the hell have you been? And how have those fine horses of yours been doing without my expert care the last six months.”

“Dana Fairbanks, I thought you had quit the international circuit for a quiet life back home. Couldn’t handle the pace or so I remember.”

“Well I sorted out the emergencies at the practice that I went back for and travelled the domestic tour. While I was there the strangest thing happened, I met this woman who somehow got under my skin and changed my wicked ways, in fact I think I love her. And then she got shipped over here with her boss so I decided it was time for the return of Dana Fairbanks international equine vet extraordinaire so here I am back where I belong keeping an eye on my woman and keeping all your lot’s horses on the straight and narrow too.”