Free Meet Me Under The Ombu Tree by Santa Montefiore

like you,’ she replied bashfully, feeling her
    heartbeat accelerate. ‘You’re most definitely my favourite cousin.’
    ‘Cousin.’ He sighed deeply and a little sadly. ‘You’re my favourite cousin, too.’

Chapter 4
    ‘Girls are just as good as boys at games,’ announced Sofia, absentmindedly flicking through the pages of one of Chiquita’s magazines.
    ‘Rubbish!’ replied Agustin, breaking away from his discussion with Fernando and Rafael to rise to her bait like a hungry trout.
    ‘Ignore her,’ Fernando said testily. ‘ Collate , Sofia, why don’t you go and find Maria to play with and leave us alone.’ Sofia was four and a half years younger than him and he had little patience with children.
    ‘I’m bored,’ she huffed, wriggling her brown toes that were stretched out in front of her across the sofa. It was raining. Fat summer drops that rattled against the windowpanes. It had rained all day, hard and constant and unrelenting. Santi had gone into town with his cousins Sebastian, Angel and Niquito. Maria was over at Anna’s house with Chiquita, Panchito and their Aunt Malena with her young son Horacio. Sofia didn’t share Maria’s love of playing with small children, so she had left her to it. She stretched lazily. There was nothing to do and no one to play with. She looked around the room and sighed. The boys were deep in conversation.
    ‘I’m just as good at polo as Agustin, and Papa knows it,’ she persisted, waiting for her brother’s response. ‘After all, he let me play in the Copa Santa Catalina .’
    ‘Shut up, Sofia,’ said Fernando.
    ‘Sofia, you’re being very boring,’ said Rafael.
    ‘I’m only stating the truth. There you all are, discussing sport like your sex is the only one that does it well. Girls would be just as good as boys if they were given the opportunity. I’m living proof.’
    ‘I’m not going to rise, Sofia,’ said Agustin, rising, ‘but what I will say is that I’ve got more strength than you could ever muster. So don’t even compare us.’
    ‘I’m not talking strength. I’m talking wit and skill. Of course I know men are stronger than women - that’s not the point. Typical you, Agustin, to miss the point.’ She laughed scornfully, pleased that she had provoked a reaction.
    ‘Sofia, if you don’t shut up, now, I’m going to personally throw you out into the rain, and then let’s see who cries like a girl,’ snarled Fernando, exasperated.
    At that moment Santi burst in like a wet dog, followed closely by Sebastian, Angel and Niquito. They were all complaining bitterly about the weather, wiping the rain off their faces.
    ‘We could hardly drive back up the track.' he said breathlessly. The mud is just unbelievable.'
    ‘It’s a miracle we didn’t get stuck,’ said Sebastian, shaking his dripping dark hair over the tiled floor.
    ‘What’s your grandfather doing out in this weather?’ Santi asked, turning to Sofia.
    ‘I don’t know, what is he doing?’
    ‘Walking around as if the sun’s out.'
    ‘Sounds just like Grandpa.' chuckled Sofia. ‘Hey, Santi, are girls just as good as boys at sport?’
    ‘She’s been a pain all morning, Santi. Do us a favour and take her away,’ said Rafael.
    ‘I’m not taking sides if that’s what you’re angling for, Chofi.’
    ‘I’m not talking about strength or anything like that. Skill, cunning . ..’
    ‘You’ve got more cunning than most boys.’ He agreed, moving her legs so he could join her on the sofa.
    ‘I just said I’m as capable as Agustin,’ she explained. She watched Agustin’s shoulders hunch irritably. He muttered something under his breath to
    Fernando and Rafael.
    ‘Well, prove it,’ Santi shrugged. ‘You could go on about it for hours. You’re obviously being annoying.’
    ‘Okay. Agustin, do you want to be beaten at back gammon?’ she challenged.
    ‘Play with Santi, I’m not in the mood.’ He scowled.
    ‘I don’t want to play with Santi.’
    ‘Because you