Chasing Cinderella (Book one of the Cinderella Series) (Completed)

Chapter 5 (Edited)

~*~*~

"Was that Grandpa that you met?" Devon asked interrupting the older female.

"Devon," his mother hissed. She shot her mother an apologetic look, as if to say that she was sorry for her son's sudden outburst.

The grandmother chuckled a little and nodded her head. "Yes, that was your grandfather," she said. She touched the picture of the male, a smile and a sense of longing in those blue eyes.

Cancer had not been too kind to those two love birds, taking away her husband after her youngest was born. She hadn't married since then, knowing that her husband would be waiting for her when she got up to heaven.

"I miss him too, Mom," Julie said squeezing her mother's hand. Her voice cracked a little as she thought of her deceased father. "I wish he could have been there to see Laura."

"He was, Jules," the grandmother, Ella, said. "He was."

"Can you continue with the story, please?" Ellen asked, bouncing with energy. "I want to know what had happened."

The grandmother smiled as she looked at her granddaughter. "As you wish," she said quoting from The Princess Bride, nodding her head.

***

"Ella, get back here right now!" Delilah screeched a little, making Patches snort a little. "Do not make me get Korren."

I grunted a little and slowed Patches down into a trot, turning her around. "Yes, Delilah?" I asked, hatred filled in my voice. I watched her, wanting nothing more than to get Patches to rear up and get her. However, I knew that she would send Patches away and beat the living daylights out of me.

Delilah narrowed her brown eyes, her lips pressed in a firm line. I could tell that she was annoyed and mad at my  "Don't give me that tone, young lady," she said in a tone, that told me she would be going to get Korren, if I don't straighten up.

I gritted my teeth and nodded my head, hating her more and more with each passing moment. "Of course," I said as I pulled Patches into a walk before walking over to them.

"I suppose that you work here," a man said. He looked like an older version of the male. He had the same gray eyes as the young boy, but he looked very impatient as if he had something better to do than stand here.

"And live here, Sir," I replied halting Patches before them. And I lived here longer than she did, I thought to myself bitterly. I hid back a glare as I glanced over at Delilah, wanting to find a way to get her off the land. Oh, how I wished I could find some way. That would make me the happiest girl in the planet.

"What is your name?" he asked dismissively waving his hand.

"Isabella Contre," I replied, glancing back at the two men. "Ella for short." I glanced at the younger male before looking at the father. "What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Steve Andrews," he replied. He gestured to his son. "This is my son, Dean." He looked at Patches before looking the barn. "Do you ride the horses here?" He turned to look at me again.

"Yes, Sir, I ride the horses here. Train them for others to ride, also. Red Ramsey, the stable-hand, teaches me how to ride and helps me train them."

"What can you tell me about Blue's Clues?" he asked. "Mrs. LeStrange sold him to me."

My heart pounded a little and it seemed I couldn't breathe. My whole body started to shake a little as I looked accusingly at Delilah. She didn't. Did she? She knew how much I cared about Blue and how that he was the last gift my father gave me before he died.

"You didn't," I said, my voice still filled with hatred and a bit of accusing. "You didn't just sell my horse to this man."

***

Delilah scoffed. "You don't own any of the horses here," she said coldly. "You are just a mindful little servant that knows her place." There was warning in her tone, but being the hothead that I was at the moment, I ignored it.

"I do to own some horses here," I said through gritted teeth. "My father was the main person here, not you."

"Well, not Blue since, I already sold him and he is going. You have no say in this whatsoever." Her look told me that I was going to get that lashing.

Tears seemed to prick my vision but I quickly blinked them away. I knew I needed to answer their question. I took a deep breath, hating how she made me feel like I was a piece of crap on the side of the road. "Blue's skittish at the gate, well mostly with everything and everywhere that is new," I said, my voice quivering a little. "He's a little head shy, after an incident, but he is all right if you have some sugar cubes with you. He can run. That's what Red and I've been training him to do, but..." I stopped and glanced at Delilah, still feeling hatred for her. "He hasn't been in any real races."

"He's any good?" Dean asked, pity filling his voice. I could tell that he was sad that I had to give up my friend to them.

No! I wanted to say. He is not good. He throws people off and doesn't listen to anyone.

I nodded my head. "He does better with female riders. And fair warning... he sometimes acts like he belongs to only one person."

"I can take care of that real easily," Sean muttered.

"You don't need to use a crop on him. Small studs are fine. One nudge from them and he can and will go on faster than if you use a crop."

"Thank you for the information," Dean said. He looked at the barn when he heard a whinny followed by a crash. Some cussing was followed, but I was too far away to hear. "I guess that was them," he added.

Delilah looked at me as if to say this was my last chance. "If you load him up, then maybe I'll go easy on you."

I gritted my teeth but hung my head in defeat. You can't change that woman's mind, even if there was a really good sale or something like that. "Of course," I said as I hopped off of Patches. I rolled up my stirrups, knowing that I was done with her.

There was this deep sadness and I knew that I might not be able to see my friend any longer. And that hurt a lot.

Now, I had to trust in the kindness of strangers, to make sure that he was still living.

Blue, I'm really sorry that I'm putting you through this, I thought to myself as I walked to meet my unending sadness.

A hand touched my elbow, making me stiffen a little. "I'm sorry," someone whispered in my ear, their breath making the hair in my ears tingle a little. "I really am."

I ignored whoever it was and kept walking. Each step felt like I was just carrying weights and the closer I got to them, the heavier they felt. However, it didn't feel like the gut clench as I had to break my promise to my horse that I would keep him safe and happy.

All thanks to my sweet stepmother. Please, note the sarcasm.