Help Me God

Dinner and Horses

We all make a bowl and sit down. I have never eaten something so delicious as this. I look down at my empty bowl. More my stomach cries. More. 3 bowls are not enough it screams.
"Do you want anymore Scarlet?"
Mrs.Dodger ask.
Pondering for a second i listen to my brain and say, "No ma'am. Ive had enough. Thank you."
"Are yall still wanting to ride the horses?" Mr.Dodger ask.
I look over at Austin and nod.
"Yes sir. Would you like her to ride Ranger?"
Austin turns to his father as he speaks and looms him in the eyes.
"Yea. Ranger or Lucy. Which ever she wants. Just not Buck or Apache."
With that Mr.Dodger gets up and places his plate in the sink. He kisses his wife on her head and walks out of the kitchen.
Austin follows the same however he just thanks his mom for dinner.
I put my plate in the sink and turn to Mrs.Dodger.
"Thank you for dinner. It was good."
"Im glad you enjoyed it. Now go have some fun."
With that I walk off. When I get outside Austin is standing next to a shed. He walks in and comes out with two saddles. He places a blanket on one of the horses a black one with a white diamond on his forehead. He then places a saddle over the blanket and wraps it around. Once he does that he puts a rope with metal in the horses mouth.
"I went ahead and got Ranger cause hes closer and a bit calmer. This doesn't hurt him dont worry. To get on just stick your foot in there," he points to a loop hanging off the saddle, "and use these to steer him."
He holds up the rope hanging out of the horses mouth.
I walk up and stick my foot in the loop. I try to throw my foot over the horse like i have seen in the movies but its harder than it looks. Not quite getting my foot all the way over i stand back on the ground. Austin looks at me and smiles.
"Dont worry not everyone can get it their first try. Here step on my hand and jump over."
He gets on his knee and places his hand above it. Stepping on with my Converse shoes he lifts me over the horse.
"There now wait here ill be back. Talk to Ranger horses love when you talk to them."
Before I can say anything he takes off to another horse. The painted one called Apache.
I loon down at Ranger. Why would I talk to a horse its not like he would understand me?
Patting its head akwardly I say, "there there horse. Im friendly. Wait my name is Scarlet but im a friendly person. Do you know what I mean? Of course you-" Dont. I almost said do. Im talking to a horse. Not only am I talking to in im holding a conversation with a horse.
"Why did you stop talking?"
Austins voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Because he cant understand me."
"Obviously he can cause he like you. Otherwise he would've bucked you off."
Stunned I loom at the horse.
"Naw im kiddin he wouldn't buck you off. Hes the calmest of em all. Well lets go."
He makes a sound and the horse starts moving after he flicks the reigns."
I follow his lead and flick the reigns. Only Ranger didn't move. I could hear Austin laughing.
"That was just for more effect. You can flick the reigns it helps but so does a light kick on its side. Just hard enough where he feels it not too hard. And flick the reigns dont try a Ha yet. Cause I just say that for show."
I lightly tap Ranger on the side. He doesn't budge so I do it again slightly harder. He starts walking. I fall back some but my grip on the reigns refuse to let me go too far. Again Austin laughs.
"Flick the reigns when you want him to go faster."
We start walking we go to a trail they have in the woods.
I look out at the trees. Their beauty entrances me. The sun begans to set and Austin turns to me.
"We should probably head back."
"Yea lets go."
We lead the horses on. Or really they lead us.
He turns and faces me.
"Tomorrow is your first day of school. Um im in all your classes i think. Except one I have a different class. But besides that your stuck with me. Um tomorrow is Wednesday and we do have church..."
I nod along staring at a deer in the distance. Deer just run around free? How weird.
Soon we leave the woods. My legs hurt. Im not sure I could stand if I wanted to. My head is pounding. Grr where can I find someone who you know sells the good stuff as Mrs.Johnsan put it.
And que someone break my silent conversation.
But nobody does. Wow. Silence from Austin I didn't know he could be. But what do i know. Ive only known him since about noon this morning.
Well this actually is my first country foster home. Im used to cities. And so far this one only beats the others by a slim amount due to its countryness in which is my favorite. But I k own i wont stay. I long for the drugs. The feeling they give me. The memories they take. The ME they take.
Austin jumps off his horse. Very smoothly may I add. Yes I may. Thank you. No thank you.
Grr im going crazy. Talking to myself in my head.
I follow his lead. Or am about to when he holds up a hand.
"Woah cowgirl. Hold it. We dont need you falling off of Ranger here. Me or him. Or you for that matter. Let me help ya partner."
His laughing is contagious and soon I follow him in laughing.
His hands help steady me as I step on his knee to get off of Ranger.
He takes off each object used for riding and explain their purpose and how to take them off. Blanket for comfort to the horse. Saddle to stable riding. Reigns for guiding, not steering as he said.
We walk towards the shed and he throws the gear in.
Looking around I notice he has something I recognize. Not that I didn't recognize horses.
"Is that a four wheeler?"
I pi t toward a red four wheeler.
"Yea maybe after school one day and I could take you for a ride. I couldn't let you drive it though. Its too expensive and doesn't have a mind of its own like Ranger."
He smiles and leads the way toward the house. Opening the door he lets me in first.
"How was yalls riding?"
Mrs.Dodger ask.
"It was fun Mom. Im heading to bed. G'Night," he faces me, "G'Night Scarlet."
"Night Austin. Night Mrs.Dodger."
I wave to both and walk to my room.
I sink into the bed and immediately drift away into unconsciousness.
Blood fills my vision.