The Black and Sugar

CH20: Hope Leaves

We returned to the farm a couple days following the Invitational. The Black was entirely relieved to return to see his personal pasture, and launched away as soon as I turned him out, right as we got home. Sugar welcomed his familiar surroundings, including his stall, and friend Napoleon.

I went back to working and seasoning colts, alongside Hope. Although, she majorly went back to riding her barrel horses. She'd bought a Quarter Horse prospect while we were in Florida, and in a very short time was already making progress with it.

"I'll build you an arena out here one day," I promised her one night as we sat in the stallion barn alleyway. She just laughed, and nodded.

And life went on, the sun coming back, regrowing the green pastures and trees around the farm. It was all perfect, until one day, it wasn't.

I woke up as usual, and went out to feed. Hope usually would beat me up to doing chores, but as I walked in the barn, it was apparent that she had not this morning.

I shrugged and finished the chores, going to her loft after finishing. Upon opening the door, my heart fell.

The loft was entirely vacant. Everything packed away, leaving nothing but an empty room in front of me. A piece of paper sat in the middle of the sheetless bed.

"Alec, first, I'm so sorry. I had to leave." It began. "I decided it was time to head back to Colorado, continue my work there. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm not ready to fall in love again, I'm not going to put myself through that again.

So, I'm sorry. Take care of Henry, he's a good man. Keep moving forward with Royale, he's going to be a good one.

I decided it best to leave Sugar with you. He needs to live up to his full potential as a running horse, and I just can't give that to him where I'm going. I'll come back for him when he's done though.

I love you, Alec, I'm never going to ever stop loving you, but I need to embrace life again, for me.

Stay true. -Hope."

I set the letter down, tears collecting in my eyes. I stayed there for a moment, stunned that she would just up and leave, no warning.

I hadn't previously noticed, but taped behind the letter was a familiar photograph. It was her and I in the snow, holding the Black and Sugar, laughing, smiling.

I stood and returned to the horses downstairs, holding the picture gingerly in my hand, I looked at the two great stallions in front of me, the Black and Sugar, and knew this wasn't the end.