Just Ales

Chapter 3 (Just Ales)

I walked into the stable, and winced as the smell of hay and horses hit my nose. I hadn’t expected the scent to bring so many unwanted memories attached with it.

I did my best to ignore it, and then did a double take as I caught a glimpse of the wall. One of the walls in the stable was entirely devoted to….me. Pictures and newspaper clippings covered every square inch, and my heart lurched at the sight.

I smiled in every picture, always with a dappled gray horse by my side. I held trophies, leaped fences, and looked invincible. My hair was the color of the sun, and in one picture I had my arms thrown around my horse, the yellow contrasting with the gray dapples. I remembered that shoot. The photographer had compared the image with the sun coming through the gray clouds.

I felt a familiar lump clog my throat and turned away from the wall to almost run over Jack. He caught me, and I quickly righted myself.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

“Nothing, I just am allergic to hay,” I said, and mentally tallied up the lies I’d made today. Three so far, but I had no doubt the number was going to rise.

Jack nodded, although he looked a little doubtful, but he didn’t question me further.

He motioned towards the wall. “She was left here just before I came…..Alessandra Heartwood,” he said wistfully. “I wish I’d had the chance to meet her. She’s amazing, but sometimes it’s hard to imagine her walking around this stable. Alessandra seems….otherworldly, somehow. It was like as long as she was riding Hermes, she could do anything. At least, that’s what Jerry always says.”

My throat tightened at the names in his sentences. 

“Jer always said that she took her pain from what was going on at home, and channeled it into practice. He said that’s what makes her great. And Hermes…” Jack chuckled. “I’d love to own a horse like that someday. He said he was named Hermes because that horse could jump like he had winged hooves.”

I found myself nodding.

“Yes. He could.” I whispered.

Jack seemed to remember that I was there, and his eyes focused on me.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “I just wish I could see her ride. But no matter, that’s not going to happen.” He smiled wryly. “But you can imagine how much business the stable has now because of her!”

At least something good had come out of it, I thought, and plastered a smile on my face.

“Maybe you’ll meet her one day.” I reassured him. He had no idea he was talking to Alessandra Heartwood. “Is Jerry still here?”

“Yeah,” Jack said, still lost in his thoughts.

“Will he give me a job?” I hinted.

Jack started. “Oh, right…follow me, please.”

I followed him into a small office off of the tack room, and took a seat behind his cluttered desk. A poster of me on Hermes was plastered on one of the walls. I tried not to look at it.

Jack sat down behind his desk, and folded his arms on it.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two,” I lied smoothly. Lie Meter was up to four now.

He looked disbelieving but seemed to push it away.

“What job do you hope to fulfill here?”

“I was hoping to work as a riding instructor,” I replied.

“Well, lucky for you one of our best has just gotten married, and moved. We’ve been looking for a riding instructor for a while, but had no luck. Do you have anybody who can recommend you?” Jack asked. “That would be the final thing. If you can give me a name, I can let you get started today. On a trial basis, of course.”

Crap.

I couldn’t name anybody because nobody knew who Mollie Andrews was. I was stuck.

I smiled charmingly and said, “Not at the moment, but I assure you I will do my job well.”

This time it looked like Jack wasn’t buying it.

“Is that a no? You can’t have someone recommend you?”

“I can….just not at the moment. You see-“

“If you can’t name a name, you aren’t getting the job.”

“What?!” I shrieked. Jack looked startled, and I remembered to calm my voice down.

“You don’t understand,” I continued. “I need this job.”

“No, you need a recommendation,” Jack said. His voice carried a bit of an edge, and I knew I was close to being thrown out.

I sighed. I could only think of one thing.

“Jer. Jer will vouch for me.”

Jack looked disbelieving. “Are you sure?”

“Just bring me to him,” I interrupted him. “ I can promise you that he will let me work here.”

Jack sighed, and led me into another office. I smiled hesitantly at the familiar face behind the desk.

Jerry’s eyes widened as he took in my face, and he stood up quickly.

“Jack, I’ll meet you in the ring later for the meeting.” He said, and Jack, looking confused, left us alone.

Once the door was firmly shut, Jer turned to me.

“Ales?” he said, and folded me into a hug.

I never doubted he would see through my disguise. When you see someone every day of your life for fifteen years, changing your hair color isn’t going to change your bond.

I leaned into the embrace, and felt my tears stain his flannel shirt.

Jer sat down, and I sat next to him, wiping my eyes.

His were red-rimmed as well.

“Ales,” he said. “We need to talk.”

I nodded. I’d known this was coming.