Next day, the pair worked together, cleaning and polishing all the harness and also the brightly painted tumbrel. They added straw bales inside so when they journeyed to the show, to many it brought memories of the scene from Constable's famous painting, 'The Haywain'. A few inconsiderate motorists called obscenities at them for holding up the traffic but Claire refrained from giving them the 'fuck-you' sign with her fingers, knowing she would most likely get a reprimand from her companion.

The show was a great success and Claire enjoyed herself and sat proudly on the front seat trying to look regal although she was in peasant costume. She loved the ride especially when on quiet stretches of the road, Robert allowed her to drive the pair. Bob and Mildred came to see them at the show and invited Robert back to a meal when the arrived home.

The two miles home seemed a long way after the tiring day and Robert could tell Claire was getting a little bit edgy. Her bum was sore and the seat hard but she didn't actually complain. By the time they had unharnessed the horses and stowed the gear, Claire was exhausted even though, Robert had done most of the work. "Perhaps I ought to change before I take you home. I'll look out of place dressed like this at your parent's house."

"Not if I'm still dressed like this too!" Claire laughed almost for the first time since Robert had known her. "I'm starving, so we'll just have to pretend it is a fancy dress party, which it is for me but not for you!" However, although the words were denigrating, there was no malice in her voice this time and Robert just grinned at her and took her in his arms and held her tight for a minute or two. "Thanks Claire," he whispered.

"Why no, Miss Claire?" she thought but seemed to realise now that clients were Miss, so she must have risen in status to friend. "Do I want to be his friend though? Perhaps it's less painful than being his enemy."

Two weeks later Robert told her about the County Show. "It's a two day affair and we have to transport the horses in a horse box and the tumbrel on a low loader and tow the old wooden caravan to live in on site. It's a good show but very tiring and we don't get to come back until the day after so its three nights away living in a van. We might find a hotel for you but this late they'll probably be booked up. You could of course get your parents to collect you each night but then you'll miss some of the evening's fun that's put on for the exhibitors."

"You mean I would have to sleep in the van with you?" Claire queried.

"You'd have your own bed but there is only one room. I wouldn't rape you or anything. You should know that by now. There's washroom and toilet facilities on site and there's a small cooker in the van so we can make tea and stuff."

Claire seemed to think about it. "Okay, but I'm only doing it to be with Meg, not for you!" She laughed as she repeated the comment made before the last show and Robert knew she didn't really mean it. "And if I do well, do I get Rosfelt back?"

"It will help some," replied Robert and the ambiguity made Claire wonder if sleeping with him might speed up the process. She was pretty certain he wouldn't initiate anything. He hadn't when they'd bathed together, nor at any other time when he could so easily have made a pass at her. Before she went to sleep that night, she wondered just what it would feel like to have a prick as big as his inside her. She fingered herself and dreamed of him forcibly holding her down while he thrust hard and brought to a gigantic climax. As she lay sweating from her manipulations she wondered if would he do it in reality? She doubted it and wasn't too sure if she wanted to find out.

Several of the older girls were jealous that Claire had been invited to the show instead of them. Indeed they'd already made catty remarks about her being with Robert more and more and helping him with 'them cart hosses' and what they may have got up to when out of sight in the woods. When Robert was around she tried to fend the remarks with a laugh, like he suggested but when he was out of the way, several times she slipped and reverted to deriding them. She quickly found that only escalated the situation and she had to worm a way out of it.

They set off at lunchtime on Friday. Robert drove the horse-box with Claire alongside him and a contractor followed with the low loader and towing the caravan. It was only about forty miles to the showground but it took an hour and it took another couple of hours before they were set up and had the horses stabled inside the security fence. The evening passed pleasantly in the dining room and then in the beer tent, where Claire was introduced to many of the other exhibitors. One she only knew as Des, owned a beautiful showman's engine, the 'Golden Belle'. The large ornate steam engine still had a little fire in its boiler and enough steam to just turn the crank over. Claire had seen the steam engines many times before at the various shows she'd attended but had never been on the footplate while the engine was working. To Claire, the sensations and the gentle beat of the pistons, and the pulsating of the vehicle were not too unlike that of the heavy horses. Both were huge and powerful but very gentle.

That night in the van, Claire didn't turn away when Robert undressed, nor did she take any precautions to prevent him seeing her but she doubted if it was the best policy to jump into his bed the first night. In any case the day had been very strenuous, physically and mentally and she was worn out. Despite the hard bed, she was soon fast asleep.

Everyone seemed to rise early and noises from outside woke them and with much good-natured banter between the others on the site, they made their way to the washhouses and then to breakfast. The gates were open to the public at ten but it was midday before they were scheduled to enter the ring. They tended to Meg and May but left them in the stables until nearer the time they would be required. In the interim they wandered around the site and found Des looking glum and talking to the show organiser. The 'Golden Belle' had burst a steam pipe gasket and a replacement wouldn't arrive until next day. "What can we replace you with?" the organiser asked, you're due in the ring in half an hour for your demonstration.

"Why not get this pair to show how they get them hosses of theirs ready for the cart?" Des suggested. After throwing a few other suggestions around, Robert agreed and the MC was informed.

At 10:30 a group of men pushed the tumbrel into the centre of the ring. "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer spoke and it was relayed over the Tannoy system, "As you can see there has been a slight change in the programme. It is not the Golden Belle that is in the ring. She unfortunately has decided to do a sickie today and at very short notice, in fact they only knew ten minutes ago, we are going to be treated to a demonstration, one not normally seen at these events; the harnessing of a pair of Suffolk Punches to a haywain. Usually we see them all ready up and moving, today we hope to learn a little of the work that is done behind the scenes. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Mr. Robert Carter and Miss Claire Predergast with Meg and May." There was applause as the pair led the horses into the ring. "I must explain that Claire is still very much a trainee and Robert will be guiding her. They are both equipped with radio microphones and we have two TV cameramen filming what they do and this will be shown on the large screen so you will be able to see all the intricacies of the process. Ladies and gentlemen please give a round of applause for Robert and Claire." An official came and switched on the microphones and after a few squeals they could hear their conversation broadcast through the loudspeakers.

Robert talked them through the process and Claire asked questions when she felt Robert needed to clarify a point to the onlookers even if she knew what he meant. One incident early on in the process caused her to meld with Robert more than she expected. She knew she'd have trouble putting Meg's collar on. It was heavy and needed to be lifted high to slip it over the horse's head. Robert always did it for her but that morning she tried it herself. Meg helpfully lowered her head but just as Claire went to place the collar over it, the horse raised her head again catching Claire unawares and bowling her over. The audience of course laughed. Earlier an incident like that with Rosfelt would have angered her. "Naughty, naughty Meg," she tutted to the mare, "Now we'll have to get big boy Robert to do it." She felt very pleased with herself when Robert whispered in her ear, "Well done. You handled that well."

Finally the horses were connected to the tumbrel and the pair did a 'lap of honour' around the ring to the applause and acclamation of everyone. Robert handed Claire the reins and she proudly guided the carriage around the ring and stopped in front of the organiser's stand. "Ladies and gentlemen. A big vote of thanks for Robert and Claire," the MC, announced as the pair jumped to the ground and theatrically bowed. "And I'm sure Claire deserves a big kiss from her partner for the effort she put in and the way she's learned to handle her steeds." More applause as Robert took the hint and hugged and kissed Claire fully on the lips.

It was one of those instant moments that are remembered forever. A jolt went through her and she felt Robert respond by kissing her a second time. She didn't care that some of the girls from the stables would be watching, she didn't care that for once her parents were there, she didn't care that she had an audience of several thousand people. She kissed him back. Hard. It was the moment that Claire decided which bed she was sleeping in that night.

The rest of the day passed in a haze as they took groups of children and adults around the site. Many people unknown to them, praised their demonstration and at dinner that evening, Des added his congratulations and thanks. "Great performance. Didn't realise there was so much involved with those hosses of yourn." He shook hands with Robert and pecked Claire's cheek. A month ago it would have disgusted her to be kissed, even a token kiss like that, by a common working man. "The Belle is fit and well again so we'll be doing our stuff tomorrow but you're welcome to come on her for a ride," Des offered.

By then Claire was getting tired and desperately wanted to see what Robert would do in the van so she dragged him off earlier than normal. This time, she deliberately showed herself to him as she sensually disrobed. In a way she was disappointed that Robert didn't make a move to her but she more or less expected that. She waited until he picked up his pyjamas. "You won't need those," she told him as she pushed him to the bed and pulled the cover over them.

Later as they lay cuddled close after the best sex she'd ever had she asked, "Do I get Rosfelt back now?"

"You've made a good start," Robert grinned as he spread her legs again.