Cowgirl Boots: a Cinderella Story

Chapter 4

I walked down the hall between the lockers.  The noises of the end of a school day rushed through my ears.  Georgie quietly joined me as we took our homework assignments from our lockers.  I glanced around to see if I could find Selina.  We couldn't leave until we found her, and we couldn't get started on chores until we got home.  The later start I got on chores, the later I would be for my night shift.  And then of course, there was homework.  I still bottled up all the anger I felt toward Alicia and tried to hide it from my project partners, teachers and even myself. I hadn't prayed since Father had died.  

I spotted Selina flirting with a blonde guy who appeared around our age, as she walked toward us.  The guy she was flirting with was none other than Jacob Nicolas.  He was every other girl's crush at one point or another during their time at this high school.  I never had, but Grace had last year.  I shook my head in disgust at Selina and Jacob's interaction and turned back to my locker, slamming it shut.  Georgie rolled her eyes at Selina while she was still entranced with Jacob.  

"See you girls tomorrow."  Jacob told all of us.  

I nodded and began walking toward the front door.  

"See you."  Georgie replied, nodding and following me.  

I exited the building with Georgie before I could catch Selina's reply.  It was probably something really cheesy.  Selina came running out behind us.  

"Where do you two losers think your going without me?  Just wait until Mother hears about this, you idiots."  Selina warned angrily.  

"Don't worry yourself, Selina.  Your the only one of us who can drive."  I answered, trying not to sound offended at the same time as attempting to hold all my homework.  

"Shut up."  Selina growled, pulling out her keys for the truck.  

Selina turned hard rock up on the stereo and let the loud music boom through the cab as we drove home, resulting in zero conversation.  I started looking at my language arts assignment, finding I was supposed to write a poem.  I've never been even close to good at poetry.  I let out a breath of frustration and stared out the window, looking for some sort of inspiration.  Nothing.  I thought I might as well just go onto the next four assignments I had due by tomorrow.  There was a science project and an essay due by the end of the week, on top of all of that.  How was I supposed to manage all of this?  

We pulled into the driveway at the stable and we all jumped out and dashed for the stables, leaving our papers and books in the truck.  I had to use the bathroom, but I made myself wait.  Georgie and I began working as fast as we could at feeding the now one-hundred horses, plus Thunder.  We had exercised them early this morning in order to get to school on time.  

Selina suddenly shoved a bridle at me, knocking me into a gate behind me and stalked past as Georgie and I were about half finished the horse's feeding.  If looks could kill, I would not be alive to tell you the rest of the story.  Alicia's voice rang through the stable. 

"Selina!  Get back here, you stupid girl!"  She shouted, "Selina!  If you don't stop right-"  

"Quit it with the threats, Mother!"  Selina yelled back, turning on her heal to face Alicia, "the stupid horse tripped, it's his fault, not mine!"  

"Selina!"  Alicia growled, warningly.  

I remained frozen against the gate while Georgie quietly tried to retreat out of the stable.  Selina stalked out the door and back to the truck.  Alicia glanced at me.  

"Hurry up."  She snapped, before following Selina.  

I took a deep breath and glanced at Georgie.  She threw me a bucket of oats, I caught it and dumped it bin number seventy-two.  We worked quicker then we ever had that evening, worried that Alicia might do something more than yell at us when we came inside for supper.  When we reached number ninety, Georgie told me to go make supper.  I had planned on fish tonight, but I doubted I had time to thaw it.  I ran inside and glanced at the clock; it was five-thirty already.  I whipped together a nice salad as fast as I could and set it on the table by six-thirty.  I tried to ease my breathing before I called outside the white-painted door but failed.  My fear cracked my voice the first time.  I swallowed hard and narrowed my eyes, determined that no one would get the best of me.  

"Supper's on the table!"  I called.  

Georgie came running out of the stable.  I waited for her to come inside before closing the door.  

"Do you know where they are?"  I asked in a whisper.  

Georgie shook her head, cutting past me into the kitchen and sat down in her regular chair.  She composed herself completely, folding her hands on the table.  I followed her example.  I stared at my folded hands as we waited, thinking.  How did my life become this mess?  I met Georgie's eyes, attempting to find comport in her calmness.  What am I doing?  She is in just as much fear as you are, or more.  I don't want to talk to God.  He let Father die.  You need to talk to him anyway.  

Selina burst into the room and plopped down on her chair haughtily.  Alicia followed and sat elegantly in her chair, across from Selina, glaring at her.  

"Iris."  Alicia commanded, indicating that I was supposed to serve them.  

I pushed myself from my seat and reached for the bowl of salad.  I pinched them each enough to be full until morning, but barely, because if I gave them any more, Alicia would yell at us for eating like pigs.  I surprised myself with how calm my composure was.   

The meal was silent.  I sat stiffly in my chair and took small bights as Georgie did the same.  Selina ate normally, ignoring all of us. 

"There's a show in two weeks.  I want four horses ready."  Alicia demanded Selina.  

Selina raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes.  

"And it would just break your heart to not have any horses to show, wouldn't it, Mother?"  She asked, too sweetly.  

"Oh it would, and you know what I do when my heart has been broken, honey."  Alicia replied, her voice laced with more candy than Selina's.  

I met Georgie's gaze.  Her eyes glistened.  I pushed down my protective spirit as I felt the urge to make Alicia and Selina stop hurting one another with their words, and in turn they were hurting those who cared about them.  Georgie still loves them, I realized.  I felt a pang of guilt for not noticing these things before.  

As soon as I had finished my dinner, I stood up and began clearing the table.  Georgie excused herself to the washroom and Selina abruptly left the house without an explanation.  Alicia followed after Selina, deadly calm.  I found myself worrying about Selina and hurriedly finished the dishes and quickly went to look for her.  As I stepped outside, I reminded myself that if Alicia caught me, I would be in just as much trouble as Selina was.  But, it was time I did something.  I hung my head in shame.  Lord, I'm sorry.  The heat of the setting sun warmed my face as I lifted my head.  I took a deep breath and took a step forward, wiping away a few tears.  Lord, help me to never push You away again.  Take care of Father.  Amen.      

HEY EVERYONE!  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER, PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING AND COMMENTING!  HOW IS YOUR WEEK GOING?  

Cover photo done by @Midnight_Phantom18 go check out her cover shop if your looking for a cover!  :)