Delinquent, Welcome To Camp Officer

"Carmen, are you sure you aren't going to tell us the names?" the officer asked me.

"No way, hard ass." I snapped. No way I'm giving up the names of my amigos.

"If you don't, then you won't be able to be bailed out like last time." he said. As much as I've been in here I can't help but keep forgetting his name.

I crossed my arms tightly, closing my lips together so tightly that they were starting to go numb.

He sighs. "Fine, have it your way. Your record says you work well with horses. So you are now our new horse trainer at one of out training sites. You will be leaving in the morning. I will have a few things packed in a bag that was on your motorcycle for you. It's not like you need much anyways."

Then I am taken back to my cell until morning.

~~~~~~~~~

I walked into the barn carrying my suitcase. Robert, the officer interogating me (finally remembered his name), followed me in.

"Home sweet home for you." he said.

"Whatever." I said, my Spanish accent weighing in heavily on my words. That's how every thing I spoke came out. Heavily accented.

He showed me to the attic room, which would be my bedroom. I noticed instantly that the windows were barred and alarmed. The door had a lock on the outside, meaning not an easy escape. And it was also alarmed. Obviously trying to prevent me from escaping.

"You will get out of here sooner if you tell us the names. Until then you will be working with the horses." he said. "Later the officers will come and ride the horses. Mike, the stable manager, will be coming down in a few to come and show you around. Until then, stay in the barn."

I nod and follow him to the bottom part. No point in staying up there in that little attic cell. I watched as he left, then turned around and looked at the horses around me. Instantly I saw a black one, Arabian by the look of his nose. He looked to be around three or four years of age. I went up to him with a small smile on my face. I held out my hand for him to sniff. Instantly he started to nuzzle me. I let myself into the stall and started to pet him. One of his hind legs moved into a resting position as his muscles relaxed.

I froze when I heard someone clapping. "Good job." said a man in his early fifties. "No one has been able to get close to Blackjack since they brought him in here. We were about to get rid of him because he wouldn't let anyone touch him much less ride him." He sticks out his hand, carefully holding it away from Blackjack. "I am Mike Fields, stable manager. Are you one of the new recruits?"

I laugh and look down at my combat boots, skinny jeans that have a million holes in them, and a t-shirt that has definately seen it's better days. "I am certainly no recruit. I'm Carmen Garcia, your new helper."

His eyebrows burrow together. "You are the delinquent? I thought it was a boy they were sending me."

I shook my head. "No boy, señor. Just me."

He sighs. "Good luck against all of those guys then, your going to need it."

I shrug. "It can't be that bad. I grew up with some brothers. I can handle myself."

He nods. "I'm sure you can."

After showing me around, he tells me to muck out stalls, which I work hard and get done within two hours. Which isn't bad for fifty eight stalls to muck out. It's around six so he takes me to the dining hall. We get our food then sit down at a table far away from all the recruits. Mike is called over to one of the trainers to talk to him. He goes over after saying he's sorry for leaving. I tell him that I am heading back to the barn to feed the horses the mixture that he had shown me.

I throw away my trey then head back to the barn.

A group of three recruits come up to me.

"Now what's this?" one of them asks with a smirk, looking me up and down. "You seem a little lost, little lady, my cabin isn't this way."

"Piss off if you know what's good for you." I snap at him.

"Oh, a fiesty one." another of them say.

I roll my eyes. "White trash."

"What did you call us, bitch?" the first one asks furiously.

"James, leave her alone." a voice behind me snaps. It's accent somehow familiar.

"Whatever, Hernando." James says, then he walks away with his little group.

I turn around to face Hernando. "I didn't need your help."

"Funny, little sister, you seemed to have needed it now." he said, arms crossed over his chest. "And is that any way to greet your brother."

"Your right," I snap at him. "I should be spitting at your feet." I sigh heavily. "You left me there, hermano. I am not going to forget that."

"I left to keep you two safe." he said.

I looked him over in his recruit uniform. "Safe my ass. You joined them. The enemy. Or is Julio having you work as a double agent for him?"

"Julio thinks I'm dead." he said.

"That's what I thought." I said. "We all thought you were dead, Hernando Garcia. To us, you were. Now after seeing what you have become, I wish you were."

I turn to walk away.

"You know, Car, you aren't living the life either. Your a delinquent! I had hoped that me leaving would keep you away from that shit. Guess I was wrong." he said.

I turned and looked at him. "You were most certainly wrong. That shit was handed down to me after you left. I had no choice but to join."

"There is always a choice, Car." he said.

"Oh really? Like your choice to join the hard asses? You used to be the top member of Familia de sangre. And now...........................now your just one of them. Another hard ass."

I quickly made my exit before anyone saw my tears. I quickly fed the horses then let myself into Blackjack's stall. I brought in some brushes so that I coud groom him as I cried. It relaxed me. Or at least it used to. I wrapped my arms around Blackjack's neck.

"Your life is easy, caballo. You don't have to deal with everything I have to deal with." I said with a sigh as I wiped away my tears.