CanterSims

The sun was starting to break the morning fog at the Remham Estate, the trees had started turning as the fall breeze whipped down the aisle of portable horse stalls that had been brought in for the occasion, horses started filling the stalls as Aren made his way through the growing sea of people, several stopping him and asking questions about his services.

He’d been contacted to be the on-site vet at the hunt, which Aren happily accepted the only down side however was these darn breeches, he never understood how people could be comfortable in them all day let alone the 15 minutes that he’d had his own on.

As the morning sun started to lift higher in the sky the aisle was buzzing, horses and riders were scattered everywhere, the dogs were barking eagerly and Aren was busy attending to several concerned owners who were worried about possible injuries even before the hunt had begun.

Bekah had decided to do something different with the horses this weekend, a Drag Hunt, something that had been done by her family members in the past but something Bekah had no interest in until Frankie, her younger brother, suggested it.

Brianne, Bekah’s “niece” was also attending with her pony Glitter, Bekah could tell she was eager as Brianne had already tacked up Glitter and had him standing out in the aisle waiting to be mounted.

“Not until It’s clear Brianne, the aisle is rather busy right now.” Bekah said as she brushed Nudge.

Frankie had his mare Jewel in a stall across from Bekah and popped his head up from behind the stall door. “Sis, I need to go find the vet, Jewel is feeling a bit warm on her front left leg.”

“Oh no, sure thing Frankie we’ll wait for you here.” Bekah said as the field master and several hunt staff went trotting past them, the dogs followed closely, barking and whining as they did.

As the aisle started to clear, Bekah helped Brianne onto her pony, telling her to stay close and not let Glitter get into any trouble, something that pesky pony was rather good at.

As Bekah finished tacking Nudge up she saw that the vet was already at Jewels stall checking her over, his back turned towards Bekah she couldn’t see which local vet it was, but she busied herself with cleaning the brushes up and making sure everything was put away.

“GLITTER! NO!” Brianne said, scolding her pony as Bekah looked up to see the vet rummaging in his medical bag, Glitter’s head stretching down to get a look at what he was doing.

“Pull him up Brianne. Leave the poor vet alone.” Bekah laughed, shaking her head and turning back to her own bag, Brianne was a good enough rider to deal with Glitter but that pony had caught a whiff of his favourite treat. Sugar Cubes.

As Aren knelt down and rummaged through his bag he heard the voices behind him and soon felt the breath on his neck, whiskers tickling his bare skin as he turned and looked up, seeing a young girl with her pony standing rather close to him.

Chuckling and pretending not to notice Aren pushed items aside in his bag, the batch of sugar cubes he had stashed in there spilling out, before he could move the muzzle of the pony came leaning in more scooping up a couple of cubes, the young girl groaning and calling for help.

“You’re one pesky pony!” Aren said, standing up and pretending to scold Glitter.

Brianne giggled as she relaxed her reins and let Aren feed Glitter another sugar cube. “This is Glitter!”

“She’s a very pretty pony and rather mischievous as well.” Aren said laughing, stopping suddenly as he saw the rather grumpy look on the young girl's face.

“Glitter is a boy!” She said huffing slightly.

Bekah looked up, her breath catching in her throat, it was Aren, glancing at Glitter, Bekah saw he’d grabbed a tube of ointment out of the vet’s bag and was having a blast making to rock back and forth by nodding his head.

She smiled lightly, she’d never seen Aren in a full equestrian get-up, the most he’d had on was a riding jacket, she could tell he was rather uncomfortable.

She’d heard rumours and whispers about Aren being back in Brightwater but she had ignored them, thinking it was just the local gossip grapevine trying to stir up drama but there he was, standing before her talking to the daughter he didn’t know he had.

“Aren, I’m sorry about him.” Bekah said, grabbing the reins and trying to get the tube out of Glitter’s mouth.

Bekah could tell that Aren had the same reaction that she’d had at seeing him, he stood there dumbfounded for a while until Brianne piped up.

“You know the nice vet Auntie Bekah?” Brianne asked, looking between them not sensing the awkward tension that had plastered the air.

“I do.” Bekah said, finally managing to get the tube and handing it back to Aren, their hands brushing as Aren took the tube and set it back into his bag, doing the zip up to prevent any further theft attempts by the pony.

Aren’s mind was racing, he knew Bekah had a brother, but he was younger, she didn’t have any older siblings so why was this child calling her Auntie? Why was she at a Drag Hunt? She used to hate these types of events, but they were live hunts back then too.

“Glitter stole some of his sugar cubes!” Brrianne said to Bekah as Aren studied the young girl, she looked like Bekah, but her hair was far lighter than Bekah’s.

“You never did learn that one did you Aren.” Bekah teased as Aren laughed and scratched the back of his head. “Sugar cubes and Ponies is just asking for trouble.”

“Uncle Frankie! Glitter stole the vet’s sugar cubes and a tube of ointment!” Brianne giggled, she’d turned around and saw her uncle coming back towards them.

Aren was even more confused now, “Uncle Frankie?” “Aunite Bekah?” What was going on with this child?

“Naughty boy Glitter!” Frankie said playfully as Brianne giggled. “Is Jewel ok?” He asked, looking at Aren.

“Jewel seems alright Frankie, I can’t feel any heat on her legs, but just take it easy today.” Aren said as Frankie moved back into Jewel’s stall.

“FINAL CALL! THE HUNT IS LEAVING!” Echoed through the air and the last few riders trotted past the aisle.

Bekah and Aren stood looking at each other, rather awkwardly neither knowing what to say with others around.

“Bekah, we need to get going.” Frankie said.

“Right, yeah.” Bekah said, pulling Glitter along behind her and grabbing Nudge out of his stall.

“Do you need a hand getting-” Aren said, cutting himself off as he saw Bekah mount Nudge from the ground, laughing lightly and looking up at her.

“I’m fine Aren, thanks though.” She said as her and Brianne started walking towards the rest of the group.

“Bye Dr. Aren!” Brianne yelled, turning in her saddle and waving at Aren as she walked close beside Bekah and Nudge.

“We’ll go slow so you can catch up to us Frankie!” Bekah called.

As they turned the corner Brianne sped up to a light canter, Bekah turning and looking back at Aren, there was so much he needed to know, so much he missed out on but she couldn’t bring herself to drop that bombshell on him just yet, giving him a small smile she turned and trotted off after Brianne.

“Don’t fuck it up this time.” Frankie said as he mounted Jewel.

“W-What?” Aren said, looking at the young boy, he knew who Aren was this whole time?

“My sister, don’t screw it up and you’re welcome.” Frankie said, adjusting his reins and tightening his girth.

“You-you set me up!” Aren said, watching as Frankie trotted off after the others, Frankie giving him a cheeky smirk as he rounded the corner.

Did Aren just get given a second third chance by someone who should, in all fairness, hate his guts?

Yes, Yes he did.

The glittering water was becoming visible as Bekah walked towards one of the many marinas in the city, thankful that she decided to wear flats out to a small dinner with some riders she’d met during the week of Monaco.

Loud cheering and shouting was also becoming more apparent in her ears as she walked through an old arch attached to a building, as she emerged from the arch her eyes were greeted by large white tents and a buzz of people, a sign read, “CTJL Gala and Charity Auction”

“Oh right, I forgot that it was on tonight.” She thought. 

She had only competed in the 1.10m class so was unable to attend, but that didn’t bother her, she did this for her confidence and for her horse, Nudge.

As she walked closer to the large set of stairs the water sparkled, it was breathtaking.

Even though she grew up in New Zealand, which is basically surrounded by water, she enjoyed seeing different coastlines in different countries.

Standing at the top of the stairs she looked out over the water, a few sailboats dotted around making the most of the warm day that they had experienced.

 group of people talking and laughing loudly broke her focus, before she could turn to look a shrill laugh and voice could be heard talking to another person.

“Aren, seriously! You can’t just say that about people!”

Bekah froze at the name she heard, one she never thought she’d hear here of all places. Trying not to look too frantic she swiftly made her way down the large flight of stairs. She thought she’d spotted his face in the crowd during her jumping round, but she put it down to nerves, never once thinking it could actually be him.

Aren’s POV:

Stumbling out of the old building where the Charity auction was being held, Aren laughed, he’d just said that one lady in there was bidding like a crazy woman.

“She was so desperate for that dinner voucher though, she almost fell on her ass running up there to claim it! She acted like a mad woman!”

The warm early evening breeze hit him as he walked out, groaning as he was playfully smacked by one of his group mates.

“Aren, seriously! You can’t just say that about people!”

Aren’s eyes scanned the people mingling outside of the auction, many people were waiting outside for the higher value items and the investor only phase that was to come, as he scanned the crowd his eyes fixed on a figure standing near the stairs looking over the water, he could tell she’d tensed up and watched as she quickly made her way down the stairs.

“Aren.” 

He was pulled back to his group, smiling as he turned away from the figure.

“Yeah..Huh?” He said.

“We’re going to go sit and have a drink and wait for the investor auction to start.” His friend said, pointing to the tables under the white tents.

“Yeah..I’ll be back once it starts, I’m going to take a walk.” He murmured as he briskly walked towards the stairs, spotting the Teal Blue dress standing near the end of the pier.

Bekah’s POV:

Bekah could feel her heart racing, she tried to calm herself, resting her hand on her chest and trying to force herself to breathe.

“Why is he here? After everything he said to me all those years ago?”

2019

“Nudge is way too old to compete again, you know that!” Echoed around the tiny apartment, as Aren confronted Bekah.

“You do not know him, I do, he’s my horse Aren! He loves show jumping! He’s in great health, even you’ve told me that.” Bekah replied, she was getting upset, she’d mentioned the idea of taking Nudge on one last SJ circuit before she retired him to a Hunter.

“Yeah I have, but no one is going to want to invest in an old horse and a rider who is too nervous for her own good!” Aren retorted.

“I mean not even just that! Who would invest in horses to begin with?!”

Bekah’s shoulders dropped, did she just hear him correctly? Laughing dryly she gathered her jacket and keys.

“Bekah,wait don’t.”

Aren reached out to grab her wrist but she shrugged him off, turning around he could see the tears on her face.

“Why are we even trying to make things work between us if we don’t believe in each other?!” 

“Bekah, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“You must have meant it, because you said it without hesitating!”

Aren sighed, looking at Bekah as she stood waiting for him to explain himself, but nothing came out of his mouth.

“Alright then.” She said, walking out the door and slamming it behind her.

Hearing the footsteps behind her Bekah kept her hand on her chest and turned her head, her heart racing even more now as she saw Aren standing behind her, she stood there staring at him as she felt anger rise in her stomach.

“What are you doing here?”

He seemed taken aback by this question but started to answer after some time.

“I’m the vet for one of the teams and I…”“I don’t mean Monaco, I mean why are you at the Gala night?” Bekah said, cutting him off.

“They..uh let me come as a plus one.” He shrugged, moving closer to Bekah. “I watched your round with Nudge, He went really well.”

“Not bad for an old horse, right?” She said, a mixture of hurt and bitterness was obvious in her tone.

She heard him sigh and kick his feet on the ground.

“You’re still mad about that?” He said with a slight hint of annoyance, he moved next to Bekah and leant against the concrete railing of the marina.

Fury was boiling over in Bekah’s mind, how dare he ask if she was still upset, of course she was upset, she finally brought Nudge out onto the SJ circuit and got her confidence back.

“I’m not even going to answer that stupid question.” Bekah snapped, glaring at him.

“How many times do I need to say I’m sorry?” Aren asked, reaching out to touch her hand only to have it slapped away.

By now the sun had fully set, the lights of the buildings and tents had been turned on, the first few stars were starting to twinkle in the sky.

“Many more.” Bekah said, sighing and looking at Aren.

He hadn’t changed much since that night, his suit was well fitted and his hair was only slightly longer, though he seemed tired.

“If you’d let me, I could arrange to send you “Sorry I’m an asshole cards” every week.” He said as Bekah snorted softly and turned to look at him more clearly.

Did she miss him?

Yes and No.

Did she want to hug him at that moment? Also Yes, but also no.

“You should have offered a long…” Bekah stopped, getting cut off.

A loud voice broke the silence between them, making them both jump and turn to look up towards the lights of the buildings.

“Aren it’s starting soon, hurry up!” Called a male voice from above the marina. “Stop harassing that girl and get up here!”

Aren’s cheeks turned a bright red, as several people turned to look at him, his hands coming up in front of his chest in defence, laughing softly.

“I’m not harassing you…am I?”

“Only slightly.” Bekah laughed. “What’s starting soon anyway?”

“O-Oh, just another auction for charity.” He murmured, Bekah noticed his shoulders tense up, but decided to pay no attention to it, they hadn’t seen each other in years so things could still be tense between them.

Another voice broke in between them, it was the shrill voice that Bekah had heard before.

“Aren hurry up, they’re calling for the investors!”

Did she hear that correctly..? 

Investors?

No, no way would Aren invest in horses, he said so himself years ago, he never saw the point.

“U-Uh…It’s not what you think..” He stuttered out.

“And what exactly do you mean by that?” Bekah questioned how he could know what she thought it meant, she hadn’t even had time to react.

“Look, it just happened, I barely know the girl and this horse of hers but she…” He stopped mid sentence, he could see that he’d screwed up and let slip his real reasons for being here tonight.

“Wait, you invested in a horse and rider?” 

“You invested in someone you barely even know, even after you said horses aren’t worth it?”

“Bekah, just wait..!” He said, grasping her hand lightly and stopping her from leaving.

“You told me that Nudge could never compete at a high level again because I was too afraid, yet here you are, backing a rider and freaking horse that you barely know.”

“Not only that, you lied to me about why you’re here!” The tears were coming, Bekah could feel it, she tugged out of Aren’s grip and swiftly walked off towards the stairs, she needed to get away from this situation.

As she got to the top of the stairs she felt eyes watching her as she crossed the courtyard towards the old archway that she came through earlier that night, loud footsteps followed behind her as she felt her hand being grabbed again.

“Please just listen.” Aren pleaded.

“Why?! So you can lie to me more?”“Bekah, I really am sorry, I didn’t realise how much it hurt you when I said those things..”

Bekah turned and glared at Aren. “It didn’t just hurt me Aren, you broke my heart when you said those things and now you’re doing it all over again.”

Aren tried to reach out to her, his desperation evident in his eyes and voice. "Bekah, please, just give me a chance to explain. It's not what you think."

But his plea only fueled her anger further. "Explain? You think explanations can fix everything? You think you can just waltz back into my life and make everything right? Well, you can't!"

And with that Bekah was gone, slipping from his grasp.

---------

Late into the night, rumours started circulating among the gala attendees about a girl crying in the stalls with her horse. Bekah had retreated to Nudge's stall, seeking solace and comfort in the presence of her beloved horse. The weight of her encounter with Aren had left her emotionally drained, and Nudge, as always, was there to provide her with the support she needed.

As Aren walked through the dimly lit stable area, he finally spotted a figure huddled in the corner of one of the stalls. It was indeed Bekah, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed quietly, her beloved horse Nudge nuzzling her gently.

"What are you doing here?" Bekah's voice quivered with a mix of surprise and anger.

"I heard rumours about someone crying in the stalls, and I was worried it might be you," Aren explained, cautiously approaching them. "Are you okay?"

Bekah's expression softened slightly, but her guard remained up. "I don't need your concern, Aren. I've managed just fine without it."

Aren sighed, feeling helpless and frustrated. "I wish I could go back and change it all, but I can't. All I can do is try to make amends now."

Before Bekah could respond, another voice interrupted their conversation. It was a girl's voice, sweet and inviting, calling out to Aren from the stable entrance.

"Aren, there you are! We've been looking for you," the girl said, stepping into the light. She was elegantly dressed and wore a bright smile.

Aren's attention shifted to the newcomer, and for a moment, he seemed torn between the two women before him. "I'll be right there," he replied to the girl, his gaze lingering on Bekah.

Bekah's heart sank as she watched him turn away, his apology and concern suddenly feeling insincere. "Go ahead, Aren. Enjoy your night with your new friend," she said bitterly.

With that, Aren left the stables with the other girl, leaving Bekah and Nudge alone in the now dimly lit stall.

The morning sun bathed the Monaco Horse Show arena in a soft, golden glow as the final day of the event began. Bekah sat in the crowded stands, her eyes fixed on the 1.60m class that was underway, her thoughts still weighed down by the events of the previous night.

Rumours about her encounter with Aren had spread like wildfire among the equestrian community. Whispers and hushed conversations echoed through the stands, and curious glances were cast in her direction. She couldn't escape the knowledge that her personal drama had become the talk of the show.

Bekah couldn't help but wonder if her return to the show jumping circuit had been a mistake. The scars from her past with Aren ran deep, and the wounds had been reopened, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. She had hoped to regain her confidence and prove herself, but now she questioned whether she belonged here at all.

As she focused on the riders, she noticed a familiar face in the VIP section of the stands. It was Aren, and he wasn't alone. He sat beside the girl he had left with last night, their heads close together as they shared whispered conversations and laughter. It was clear that he was there to support her in the 1.60m class.

Bekah's heart sank at the sight. It was a painful reminder of how things had changed between her and Aren. The girl beside him appeared confident and comfortable in the glamorous world of show jumping, a world that Bekah had once aspired to be a part of.

Aren looked up and caught Bekah's gaze. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and in that instant, a flood of memories and emotions rushed back. It was a complex mix of longing, regret, and bitterness.

The night at the Monaco Horse Show was coming to an end, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as the time for the prize-giving ceremony arrived. Riders and their horses gathered in the stables, preparing for the prestigious event.

As the ceremony concluded and the crowd began to disperse, Bekah couldn't wait any longer to check on Nudge. She made her way to the stables, her heart filled with anticipation. Nudge had been her constant companion, her partner in this challenging journey.

Upon reaching Nudge's stall, she found him calm and content, munching on hay. But something caught her eye – a note pinned to the stall door. It read, "Bekah, please wait for me tomorrow morning before you leave. - A."

Curiosity mingled with scepticism as she read the message. She had learned to be cautious about Aren's intentions. But a small spark of hope ignited within her, and she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he truly wanted to make amends.

The next morning, Bekah arrived at Nudge's stall, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. She watched the sun rise over the Monaco skyline, casting a warm glow on the stables. But as the minutes turned into an hour, and no one showed up, her hope began to wane.

With a heavy heart, Bekah approached Nudge and gently stroked his neck. "I guess he's not coming, buddy," she whispered to her faithful horse, who nuzzled her in response.

Realising that she couldn't wait any longer, Bekah decided to load Nudge into the horse transporter herself. She carefully prepared him for the journey back to their stable in New Zealand, all the while wondering why Aren had left her hanging like this.

Before leaving, she approached the stable office and asked the stable hands if she could leave a note for Aren. 

The stable hands, who had heard rumours of the previous night's drama, nervously agreed.

"Aren, I waited, but you didn't come. I can't keep waiting for something that may never happen."

Bekah thanked the staff for looking after Nudge and watched as the transporter left, heading towards the airport for their journey home.

Meanwhile, Aren had gotten caught up in the post-show festivities, congratulating winners and celebrating with friends. He had completely forgotten about the note he left for Bekah and the promise he had made.

It wasn't until a fellow rider approached him, a concerned look on their face, that Aren remembered. "Hey, Aren, did you hear that Bekah left this morning?"

As Aren made his way into the stables he overheard snippets of conversations from other riders and stablehands who were also preparing to leave.

"Did you hear about Aren and that girl from the gala?" one person said, casting a curious glance in his direction.

“She wasn’t even at the Gala, she was just walking around the Marina”

"Yeah," another replied, "I heard he left her crying in her horse stall. It was a pretty big scene.".

"Yeah, I heard he was supposed to meet that girl he fought with after the gala," another responded.

"And he never showed up. Can you believe it? She was spotted leaving the stables in tears," a third person chimed in.

Aren's stomach churned as he realised that news of their altercation and the events that followed had spread throughout the equestrian community. He knew he had made a mess of things, but hearing others talk about it only deepened his sense of regret.

He approached Nudge's stall, where the note Bekah had left was attached. As he read her words, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He had let his pride and insecurities get in the way of making things right with someone he had cared about deeply.

As Aren grappled with the regret and consequences of his actions at the Monaco Horse Show, a twist of fate intervened in his life. He received an unexpected call, and when he answered, he was greeted by a voice on the other end.

"Hello, is this Aren? My name is Sarah, and I'm calling from a veterinary clinic in New Zealand. We received your application for a vet position a while back, and we'd like to discuss the possibility of you joining our team."

Aren couldn't believe his ears. New Zealand—the very place where Bekah had grown up and where he had once been so closely connected to her. It felt like destiny had thrown him an unexpected curveball.

Two Months Later: