The Stables
1022 Words
Me and Leo walk out of the office. I am actually excited about what just happened in there.
" Why did you do that?" I said, slowing down, so I am beside Leo.
" Well, when I dropped you off last night I was thinking. I felt like you should have a decision. I don't want you to resent me or have any bad feelings about me. I think if you truly want to be beside me, then we will do better together. If not, we will be more than capable of working together separately. But after listening to you and getting to know you, I honestly think no matter what it should be your decision."
" Thank you Leo. I appreciate it more than you know."
" So what are we going to do, Birthday Girl?"
" Since you took me to the beach, I want to take you somewhere. Follow me." I said walking towards the back of the house
" You're not going to take me somewhere and kill me are you?" He says jokingly
"Maybe... your not going to know if you don't follow." I say playfully back
" OK just know if I die, I will haunt you."
" Really my own personal ghost. Now see killing you is more tempting. How many people do you know with a personal ghost?"
" I didn't help my case at all, did I?" He said shaking his head at himself.
We walk to the stables a little behind the house.
" I want to introduce you to my horse. I told you a little about how I like to ride, so I figured you would like to see him." I said walking through the barn.
" How many horses do you have?"
" Oh we have 5. My father only got them because of me. It's my responsibility to make sure the food is ordered all supplies here. All the workers are paid. I guess for me to have what I truly wanted and for him to teach me responsibility at the same time. Actually, come to think of it, he was very smart with the idea."
We walk down the aisle and the horses start to look out of the stalls at us. Leo, out of the horses go to our black mare that I bought at a slaughter auction. I saw her picture online and found out she was being sent to the slaughter house and something about her picture and her. I had to save her, so we went and got her. Leo starts to rub her head
" Thats Hope. I actually rescued her from a slaughter house."
" She is beautiful."
I walked over to the stall next to Hope and a white and speckled grey horse poked his head out of the stall. I started to rub him and say
" How is my big boy doing today? You ready to get out of here and go run?" I look over and see Leo staring at me. He says
" You know this fits you. Seeing you with horses. I dont understand it quite yet, but this fits you."
I smile at him. I grabbed the halter hanging on the stall door and put it on Bits my horse. Leo grabs Hopes and puts it on her.
" Did I do it right?" He asks. I walked over and checked.
" Yeah, actually not too tight not to loose. Very impressive." I smile. I hook her lead to her halter and hand Leo the lead and open the door. Hope walks out. I do the same to Bits and open the stall door.
" You never said his name." Leo said walking beside me with the horses in tow
" Bits."
" Bits? Why did you name him that?"
" Honestly, I don't know I saw him and that name just came to my mind."
" Oh. So you come here every day?"
" Yes. I take the horses to pasture. If they aren't already, then I get a count of all the supplies and what is needed."
" You really enjoy this, huh?"
" Yeah i really do. Sometimes I come out from morning to night. I love watching them run and be so free."
Leo has just been looking at me the whole time like he is seeing me for the first time or something. As we reach the pasture we see the other horses being brought out also. I open the cattle gate and walk inside once all of the horses are in. We all take the leads off them and I say to Leo
" This is the best part." We walk out and as soon as the cattle gate closes, the horses start running, play kicking, neighing at one another. I just stand there with my arms resting on the fence watching them. Leo watches them as well but then looks at me
" This is your peace, isn't it?" he says
" Yes. I can watch them for hours." I smile. I hear my name from behind us
"Ms. Maria, I have the supplies list for you." Rico says
" Thank you Rico." I say as I took the list. Leos' phone rings in his pocket. He answers it. As he is talking i can feel him looking at me every so often.
" That's my parents they are ready." He says
" Ok." we start to walk back towards the house, walking side by side
" Thank you." Leo says
" For what?"
" For sharing that with me. I can tell that's a part of you anyone rarely sees."
" Your welcome. Just too bad I couldn't find a spot for your body." I said laughing and playfully bumping into his shoulder. We walk into the house and my father and the Romanos are standing in the foyer.
" We will see you this evening, Ms. Maria." Rocco says
" We will see you then," I said.
" See you later." Leo says
" See you later." I say trying to hold my smile back.
- Writer
