You Belong To Me

Chapter Cook

'I've never seen him this way before,
not even as a boy!'
the cook

Ali was afraid to admit that she couldn't believe Trey might trust her to leave the walls of the estate again. She had been most certain that she would never stand in the open light of day or moonlight for as long as he wanted anything to do with her. Adelaide gave the nature of their outing away despite herself when she put out smart riding pants and a very thick navy blue riding jacket. Underneath it she wore a blindingly stark white shirt buttoned up to her neck with shiny gold buttons that matched her coat. Ali's black riding boots shined dangerously. Her hair was in a low ponytail and the helmet and gloves Adelaide held out to her were both beige.

Ali nervously cupped her helmet under her arm as she'd seen in the photos in the library and anxiously made for the stairs. Her heart was about to explode she was so excited. At the door Trey stood next to Theo wearing his own riding apparel very finely. She blushed in his direction but did not offer more words on how thankful she was that he was treating her to such a wonderful adventure.

"You look very nice."

Trey did not even blush. Instead he took her hand and told her that he had never seen a woman look finer in riding pants. Ali laughed away a blush because she knew women did not often wear pants in his presence, riding or not.

They took the front stairs slowly so that Ali might appreciate the beautiful mare in front of the door.

"I am supposed to teach you to tend to your animal but I figure this preliminary walk will discern whether not you might actually want to learn more about them."

Ali was appalled. She looked up at him in the sunlight in indignation. "You think I'm scared!"

Trey didn't even laugh. Instead he shrugged one shoulder. "This is Penelope. She is a two year old very mild baby."

"She's beautiful."

Try told her to introduce herself which Ali thought was silly. Nonetheless she approached the huge chestnut animal and fondly touched her neck. Penelope behaved as a lady would, not simpering under the soft touches but lifting her head a little high as though such responses to her beauty were more than normal... they were expected. Her nose met Ali's hand and Ali grinned over her shoulder to Trey. "How wonderful."

"I think she likes you. Now a few rules. Never put her hands near her mouth. You smell delectable and she might mistake you for a sugar cube."

Ali laughed.

"When walking behind her or any horse always put your hand on her rump so she'll know you're back there."

She nodded.

"And finally... don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

"Good." Trey came to stand behind her and explained how she was to put her right foot in the stirrup and come to a complete standing position before she threw her left leg over. Ali did as instructed and utter a soft whow when she realized how high up she was. Trey had the reins in his hand and was leading sweet behaved Penelope around the side of the house towards the huge gardens where the livestock was. Ali grinned brilliantly at the gentle sway of the beast underneath her, absolutely smitten to be on a horse.

Trey spoke only casually to her, smiling up over his shoulder every so often in the sun. He was a wonderfully handsome man. Ali could not imagine a more perfect teacher. He was always teaching her something new. It was quite refreshing when she really thought about it. Trey made her more cultured. Like the time he taught her the silverware on a table when he was under the pretense that he wanted her to start serving his meals every day. Of course Ali hadn't repeated the command to anyone as a young girl. Despite how much power he thought he welded at the time the young lord was not the authority on such a situation. There was hierarchy to things like that and Ali had not worked hard enough long enough to bring a single person in that house a meal personally. Of course she also recognized his laziness in not dictating something like that with his own mouth. Trey had just expected Ali to see to it that he saw her more...