I ran to the stables. Foregoing saddles or reins, I pulled Betsy from her stall, brought her outside and, with the help of a short stool, got atop her.
“Yah!”I shouted as I gave her ribs a solid kick.
She shot into a quick gallop, her hooves thundering on the soft ground. My heartbeat followed the rhythm of her steps, pounding ever faster, harder.
With tears blurring my vision more and more, I abandoned all control and let Betsy lead the way.
“Take me where you want,” I said. “Take me away from here. Anywhere.”
Anywhere that I don’t have to watch Matthew and Susie cozying up. Anywhere that I won’t feel the burn of Ricky’s betrayal.
And with Britney of all people!
Britney!
Really? He couldn’t find anyone else?
Betsy slowed her pace as we reached the outer limits of Barry Park.
“Good thing you know your way around, old nag,” I said as I ran my hand down the side of her neck.
She whinnied and seemed prepared to receive another nudge in the ribs. But I was happy to just sit atop her and let her wander, nibbling grass here and there. In the stillness of the morning, I reviewed the events of the past days; my blossoming relationship with Ricky as well as the evident love growing between Matthew and Susie.
“Looks like I have some growing up to do,” I told Betsy.
She snorted in response.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought you’d say.”
Another snort.
“Well, then, tell me. What should I do? Should I confront Matthew? Tell him how I feel?”
Betsy smacked her lips and shook her head, her mane swishing back and forth.
“No? You don’t think that’s a good idea? What am I supposed to do then? Let him marry someone else?”
She punched the ground with her hoof.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “Well, what would you know?”
We walked on in silence, her gentle steps just a whisper as her hooves brushed through the long grass. Pensive and hurting, I played with her mane, braiding and unbraiding it.
Emotionally exhausted, I finally abandoned myself to the entirety of the situation and lay my head on Betsy’s neck. Her wanderings brought us to the pond, the same pond we’d visited with Ricky and Buster.
“Thank you,” I said with a touch of sarcasm. “Thank you for bringing me back to where it started.”
She whinnied and shook her head, forcing me to sit upright. As I did so, I let myself slip off her back and down to the soggy grass. I walked to the edge of the pond and ran my hand through the cold water, then cupped my hands to gather enough water to splash my face.
From a distance, a pounding sound broke into my thoughts. I ignored it at first, too concerned with my pain to consider anything else. But as the sound got closer, I looked out into the field to find the source.
A horse galloping towards me.
I frowned at the sight.
Then I noticed the rider.
Ricky.
