Rob's black Ranger was in the driveway when I returned to the house in the late afternoon, and Potato's ears went back as I dismounted. I gave his head a reassuring rub, but when I saw the battered Buick next to the Ranger, I almost wished I could pin my ears back. And I went even more tense when I saw the horse float hitched to the Buick. Bess's new broodmare wasn't due to arrive till the next day, and I felt my heart sink when I saw Buck Williams on the porch alongside my sister and my (hopefully) soon-to-be-ex fiance. Buck was a horse seller and trader, and one of the key buyers Bess tried foisting on me from time to time. "We've been over this," I said, keeping a steadying hand on Potato's back. "I'm not selling him."
Bess raised an eyebrow. "Deed is done, and the contract is signed," she said, smirking. "Sorry, Bethany."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhPoU4czPn
I grimaced. Much like "Bessie Jane", "Bethany" was the name Bess used whenever she wanted to bring me into line. "You can go and suck a big fat..."
"That's enough," Rob said authoritatively. "You heard your sister, Bethany. Hand the horse over."
Potato whinnied in distress as Buck approached, leading rein in hand. "Sorry, Beth," he said regretfully. "Your sister is quite keen on selling the animal. Stand aside, now."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNjlxrQOiE
I planted my feet solidly. "No," I said firmly. "Bess, I swear to God, if you don't stop this right now, I'll get on Potato and ride out of here!"
Suddenly, Potato reared and bucked, and I spun, horrified to see two of Buck's cronies, Hank and Jim Bob, approaching with more ropes, ready to lasso Potato. Potato wasn't having any of it; the three men were soon dodging flying hooves as my spud exploded into an outraged mass of horseflesh, kicking and rearing to keep his attempted captors at bay. Bess yelled obscenities, and when Rob tried to restrain me, I elbowed him in the ribs, hard enough to make him grunt and retreat, and I permitted myself a grim smile, hoping I'd broken at least a few of his ribs.
But Potato was my main concern, and when I saw Jim Bob swap his rope for a rifle, I realised it was over. Taking a deep breath, I dared Potato's flashing hooves and grabbed at his head, forcing him back down to earth. "Easy, spud, easy," I shouted, and gradually, he settled, trembling. His beautiful coach was dark with sweat, and his eyes - one dark brown, the other china blue - swung to me, wide, pupils dilated. His ears were back, and he was breathing hard, and I closed my eyes in anguish as I pressed my forehead to his. "I'm sorry, spud," I whispered. "You're going to have to go with them. There's nothing I can do."
"Step aside," Buck said behind me, and I swung to confront him. He no longer wore his easy grin; his face was hard, and Jim Bob still had the rifle in his hand, now trained on me. "You don't want to make this harder on yourself or the horse," Buck added. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0XhLFf4al
"Let me do it," I said. "Potato won't go with you, but if I lead him into the float, he'll go with me."
"No," Bess said sharply, but Buck held up his hand. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifvBS8ChnM
"Alright," he told me, "but Jimmy's gonna keep the rifle on you. Any tricks, and he won't be firing no warning shot."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDc7maStrS
I met his stern gaze with an angry glare. "I won't try anything, I swear on my life," I said, fighting tears. "Tell Jim Bob to put the damn rifle down; I'm going to lead Potato into the float, and snaffle him myself. Y'all can watch me do it, but if Jim Bob don't put that rifle down, no one's going nowhere."
Buck gestured, and Jim Bob lowered his rifle with a grimance. I then turned back to Potato, who whuffed in distress. He knew what was happening, and hated it, but thankfully, there was no betrayal in his eyes. I stroked his nose gently one last time, hating that I had to do this to him, and my heart almost broke in two as he willingly followed me into the float. He stood still as I snaffled him, making sure the harness was secure, but not too tight. Buck followed me, presumably to check my handiwork, but I swung and glared at him, and he raised his hands again, backing away until it was just me and Potato. Bess yelled at him to get me out of the float, but Buck yelled something back, and that made her quiet down, at least for the moment. Thankful I had a few more moments with the being I loved more than anything in the world (apart from Jesse), I pressed my forehead to his. "Be good, spud," I whispered. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVy0TKaIEg
Potato whickered softly and nuzzled me, before lifting his head proudly, ready to face whatever was to come with all the dignity he could muster. I managed a smile as I stepped back, and though my eyes were filling rapidly with tears, I kept my eyes on the float as Buck and his piled into the Buick. It took some careful negotiating, but eventually, Buck had the battered truck's nose pointed westward, and I followed his progress, marked by a cloud of red dust, until finally, the Buick and its hateful float were swallowed up by the deepening twilight. It was hard to keep the tears at bay as I turned back to the house, but when Bess came storming down the steps, I soon had fresh concerns as her full armed slap caught me in the face, making me stumble. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyIKwxqIJe
"Stop crying and get your ass in the house," she said angrily. "That useless bit of horseflesh should've been gone long ago - at least now that's one eyesore gotten rid of. I'm getting rid of the other eyesore tomorrow."
"Jesse leaves, and I go with him," I said, matching her angry gaze with equal fury.
"Over my dead body," Bess said, taking my arm and hauling me up the steps. "Besides, Rob and I have agreed; you're going back to Atlanta with him tomorrow."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXK21Xvoaa
"Over my dead body," I said furiously.
"That can be arranged," Bess said shortly. "Now get upstairs and get changed. You're going to at least pretend to be happy for the good fortune you definitely don't deserve. Rob's got far better prospects, and he's set to become one of the richest men in Atlanta, if not Georgia. Jesse is just a hick, and I won't have our blood tainted with hick blood!"
"We're hicks too, just a little more refined," I snarked. "Take away the trappings, and we're country bumpkins underneath it all."
Rob stepped up and slapped me in the face. "Be quiet," he said, grimacing. I'd defintitely cracked a few ribs, and I smothered another grim smile. "If not for your antics, I'd take you back to Atlanta tonight, but your sister has very graciously allowed you one more night under her roof. As it stands, when we return to Atlanta tomorrow, you'll be ringed with security 24/7, and every communication you make and recieve will be monitored very closely. Defy me in any way, and I promise you, you will suffer greatly. Now, do as you're told and go upstairs. And put your ring on. I won't have my future wife shunning her destiny in such a disgraceful way. We're to be married in the spring; show the good sense you were given at birth and wear that token I was so kind to give you. If you're not wearing it when you join us for dinner..." He trailed off, and I shivered in revulsion at the way his black eyes raked me up and down.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL077La9uR
I was finally beaten, but as I made my way upstairs, I took comfort knowing that Rob had missed out on the one thing he could hold over me; Jesse had claimed my virginty first, under the fir trees where we'd had our first kiss, and as the cool water of the shower hit my skin, I smirked. Rob had already lost, and while he might claim me as his wife, there were parts of me he'd never be able to touch.
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I80qwlJXi
