Scorching Heat Down South

Chapter 5

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six months later.

Claire hummed contentedly as she walked from one stall to the other. She was wearing black slacks and a dark blue shirt, her work uniform. Senior year had come and gone and she still hadn't left Fairview. She'd finally graduated from high school. Even though she had done fairly well, her grades hadn't been enough to get her a scholarship. Although she still dreamed of leaving town someday she was happy. Truly happy for the first time in her life. Everything had turned around for the better.

Since she had finished school and had more time on her hands she had been able to get another job at a horse ridding facility. When she'd first started her duty had been to clean the stalls in the barn. It hadn't been a very glamorous job but she hadn't minded. A little while later she'd been promoted to grooming the magnificent animals. The trainer in charge liked her, often praising her soft touch with the horses that naturally gravitated toward her. He'd taught her to how clean and care for them. It was a fairly easy job and she loved it. The pay was better than all of her jobs combined which was a major plus. And the fact that she had the opportunity to sometimes ride the horses was the sweet proverbial cherry on top.

It paid so well that she'd been able to move out of her mama's house and get a place of her own. When she'd first realized that she was earning enough to do so she'd been ecstatic. She had immediately searched for an affordable place to live in the better parts of town and had been lucky to find a tiny one story cottage, with a single decently sized bedroom, a living room, bathroom and kitchen.

The owner of the house was a naturally terse but kind widow Mrs Boone who was in her mid sixties. She had been relieved that Mrs Boone hadn't cared who her mother was or what she did. Her husband had passed away some years ago and all her adult children had long moved out of home. The old lady lived in the main house which was a good distance from the cottage but still close enough that Claire didn't feel completely isolated. She even had her own small gate which allowed her a bit of privacy.

Her mama had become completely furious when Claire told her that she was moving out. She had accused her of being ungrateful and selfish. She'd instantly chased her out, telling her that she was probably going to come back crawling on her hands and knees begging for forgiveness when she eventually failed. She hadn't even allowed her to pack any of her belongings. But it hadn't mattered much anyway because she didn't have a ton of stuff.

Mama had been enraged by the fact that she would no longer be getting any money from her. It was devastating how her mother had, in extremely vulgar terms, told her to get lost without even asking her where she was going to live. It was obvious that she hadn't cared enough to find out and that had really gutted her. She knew that her mother didn't love her, never had and even though she had always been that way her callousness still managed to deeply hurt her. But unfortunately, even that didn't stop her from craving that love and acceptance.

Mrs Boone who insisted that she call her by her first name which was Sally had welcomed her with open arms, her kindness like a healing balm on an old angry wound. She had even given her, her daughter's old clothes which had fit perfectly. They had become quite close, they had supper together on a regular basis and kept each other company since they were both alone. Although she hadn't had any contact with her mother whom she thought about often she had never been so happy and content.

When she reached the last stall she was still humming her favorite tune. Her last horse for the day was a young and enthusiastic four year old thoroughbred gelding named Dash. He nudged her affectionately when she reached him, "Hello, how's my good boy?" She spoke softly, stroking his neck. "Let's get you all fixed up."