Love Story

Chapter 8

He led the horses back to the barn, putting them in their stalls.  In the middle of giving the horses’ fresh hay and water a shadow darkened the door of the barn.  David looked up from the water taps to see Valleri's dad leaning against the far wall.

"Afternoon David"

David turned off the taps and dried his hands on a towel walking towards that end of the barn

"Sir" It was strange to see her dad in anything other than a three piece suit. Today he wore jeans and a t shirt with boots similar to David's.

"Things are well?" He asked walking deeper into the barn.

"Well sir, quite honestly, they've been better"

"Have they?"

David bit his tongue to keep himself in check; they both knew what David meant, but her dad held all the cards.

"Yes"

"How so son?"

"I think you and I both know"

"Why don't you tell me?"

David sighed, he knew he was setting himself up for trouble, but these things needed to be said.

"We all know what you do to her, the "help". We all see the bruises she tries so hard to cover up. We can hear you scream at her inside the house from the garden. None of us say anything because we want to keep our jobs."

"So then why are you telling me this now?" He asked folding his arms across his chest

"Because I figured if you're going to fire me I might as well tell you how it is"

"I told you to stay away from her, and you didn't. I should fire you here and now"

David's heart tightened in his chest. He knew he couldn't afford to lose this job, but if that's what it took then so be it.

"But finding decent help is difficult, and you're a hard worker David. I'm not going to fire you, but mark my words, if I catch you anywhere near Valleri again. I won't think twice about replacing you. Understood?"

David nodded clenching his jaw. "Fine, I'll stay away, but I swear to god if you hurt her again it'll be the last thing you ever do"

David stood his ground, half expecting her dad to take a swing at him too; and then he did something no one had ever dared to do. He turned his back on him and walked away towards the other end of the barn.  "If you'll excuse me, I have work to do"

Valleri went inside through the back patio doors, the house was quiet, empty. Where was Daddy? She looked around the house on both levels, and out in the front garden, he wasn't anywhere.

She was in the kitchen fixing herself a sandwich when he walked in through the back door. One look at him and she knew he'd been out at the barn. She glanced up from her sandwich watching him walk to the fridge. She hoped against all hope that he hadn't seen her with David; if he had she was in for the beating of her life.

"How was your ride Princess?"

She watched him carefully, "Fine, where were you?"

"Did you see anyone?" He asked, avoiding her question.  By anyone he obviously meant David.

Valleri shook her head. "Just the stable boy Daddy, he was tending to the horses"

"Did you speak with him?"

She shook her head. "No"

 "Don't lie to me Valleri"

"I'm not," she looked down at her sandwich on the cutting board, cutting it in half. "Do you want half?"