Chapter 3 Carl's Mistake

Kassandra and Pandora sat on the bales of hay in the stable and watched the three Stablehands grooming some hunters nearby.

“I wonder what it’s like to ride a horse?” Kassandra said to her sister, her eyes misty.

Pandora shrugged and continued chewing on a blade of hay, concentrated on her small task. At 7 years old, she kept her attention on what was in front of her and that happenned to be lots and lots of hay.

 

The nearest stablehand was a boy the same age as Elansa. He was busy passing a rubber curry comb over the gelding’s flanks with ease. Kassandra watched him as he passed the comb down the horse’s neck, whispearing in it’s ear at the same time. After a thorough check of the gelding’s hoofs, the boy looped one finger in the hunter’s bridle and led it calmly back to it’s stall. Kassandra continued watching, fascinated by his charm with the large, powerful creatures.

 

The boy was just closing the stall door, when a rider and mare came into the stables, stopping abrubtly a few feet from where Kassandra and Pandora sat. It was none other then Elansa Churchill. She swung off of Willow and quickly undid her helmet, tossing it aside without care.

“Hey girls!” she called to her guests, who smiled and waved in reply.

She began undoing her mare’s saddle, when the boy arrived beside her.

 

“Please mam, let me take care of your horse. That is my job” he told her, getting to work on unsaddling Willow.

“How many times have I told you Carl, stop calling me mam, it makes me feel old. Stick to Elansa, please” she replied, putting her hands to her hips and frowning.

Carl nodded, setting the saddle onto a nearby perch and switching the riding bridle with a dark halter.

“Even though my father insists on being a sir, I’d rather stay who I truly am” Elansa added, before joining her guests on the bales of hay.

 

 

Carl watched her turned back for a second, before shaking his head slightly and leading the mare to pasture.

 

“So, how was your morning jog?” Kassandra asked, as Elansa sat cross-legged onto the hay.

“Great, the weather was perfect for a nap in the grass” Elansa admitted with a smile.

“I wish I could ride like you, I love horses, but daddy says I’m too small to ride” Pandora cut in, looking for a new blade of hay.

“You might one day, I’m positive you’d make a wonderful rider” Elansa told her. Pandora eyes went bright and she began dreaming of what her ideal horse would look like.

 

“Do you ride Kassandra?” Elansa wondered, un-doing the ribbon from her hair.

“No, dad says it’s too expensive. Sometimes we go see them at the yearly animal carnival, but I’ve only ridden a pony once and that was years ago” she responded truthfully, shrugging sadly.

 

Elansa suddently jumped off the bale she had been sitting on and grabbed Kassandra’s hand, leading her off too.

“What is it?” Kassandra asked, startled.

“If you can’t ride at home, why not ride now. Not only is it free, but I’ll be with you and we’ve got the best trained horses in all the county!” Elansa exclaimed, excited.

“That would be amazing!” Kassandra agreed, nodding several times. “But what about dad, he might not think so”.

“No worries, I’ll speak to him. If I reasure him that everything will be supervised and safe, he won’t be able to say no” Elansa explained.

 

She told them to wait and ran off to her house, startling a few Beagle puppies that had wandered to far from their mother, along the way.

 

*

 

Victor sat in his office, massaging his temples with both index fingers simultaniously. The slight argument with Redrix had left his mind bundled to the brim with past memories he’d thought sure to have forgotten years ago.

 

Elansa had been born two years after his wedding, a surprise pregnancy. Marina had loved that child, more then she had ever loved her own husband. But his wife hadn’t lived long to see her daugther grow and flourish. When Elansa turned four, Marina had an accident that had occupied the media news for weeks. On an official foxhunt, the master of foxhounds herself had fallen from her horse and been trampled by her fellow rider’s horses shortly after.

 

Her tragic end had been interviewed and posted on every major newspaper and magazine in the country. Victor had tried everything to keep it quiet, but without any success. For once, he had been seen as a weak man, now with a motherless four year old that he could not take care of. So used to the camera on himself, it left him devastated when the paperazzi brought his dead wife and oblivious daugther into the mix, causing worldwide stories and shocking, once buried, information to light.

 

Once Marina’s funeral had passed and the media started to disperse, Victor hired a private nanny and tutor to take care of Elansa. What with his father’s motor company and the Teslo stables, Victor had no time, or experience, to contribute to his only daugther. He left her in the care of people he knew were capable of raising a child and continued focusing his life on his wealth and maintaning his credential, what his father had taught him that was most valuable in the lives of the rich and powerful. 

 

Victor sighed and fixed his eyes onto the letter in front of him, the heading, bright red, caught his eyes first.

 

Belvedere Academy of London

538 Old Major road, East London, England

 

Dear Mr. Churchill,

          we are pleased to announce that your daugther, Miss Elansa Churchill, has been accepted to Belvedere Academy for the Fall. Please note that all school supplies, rules and regulations and the history, campus and proffeseurs of the Academy are stated and listed in the following document. We will be looking forward to meeting and teaching our newest member in September. Please feel free to contact the school phone number for further questions or information.

 

      John Lakeside, Principle

                                    Belvedere Acedemy

 

                

Victor closed the letter and replaced it in it’s evelope, placing it inside his file cabinet by the window. The sun was at it’s peak in the sky, meaning it was a little before noon. He peered out at his well trimmed lawns and spotted a figure running from the stable towards the house. The wild, flying hair and clean uniform could only stand for Elansa. He watched her disapear onto the porch and then their was no more movement, apart from a few doves pecking about by the garden.

 

*

 

Elansa found Redrix sitting on the canary loveseat in the library, enjoying a rather large book. Corina, Clive and Mikell were heard laughing and playing in the adjoining bedroom.

 

She approached him slowly, still not sure how to convince him to let his daugthers ride under her watchful eye. She knew from previous encounters that he had always been nervous around the hunters her father bred.

Elansa cleared her throat, waiting for him to spot her.

Redrix glanced up and saw her standing a good yard away on the afghan carpet, biting on her thumb nail.

“Well, hello there Elansa, I thought you were out riding” he said pleasantly, closing the book and mentioning her forward.

“I was and now Willow is enjoying some shade and fresh water” Elansa replied simply.

“I see. Did you see Kassandra and Pandora out in the stables? They said they were waiting to spend some time with you when you came back”.

Elansa nodded.

“I actually wanted to ask you something, that’s why I’m here” she told him truthfully, smiling nervously.

“And does this have anything to do with my daugthers?” Redrix wondered with a fatherly grin.

“Sort of. Um, I was wondering if you could let Kassandra and Pandora ride today, under my supervision, of coarse” she asked, crossing her fingers behind her back at the same time. “It would mean so much to them if they could just spend some quality time on horseback. I mean, this is a stable and it’s completely free for their use and I’m sure they would really enjoy themselves. I’m positive they would remember this day for a long time”.

 

Redrix sat back and raised his eyebrows, watching her rather sternly.

“I know you mean good Elansa, but I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea. Both girls are inexperienced and your horses are the exact opposite. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to either of them” he said.

“I know, I agree completely. But, they could ride our family horse, Jade. She’s a harmless little pony, perfect for girls their age and size. She’s never bitten or bucked or had any vices whatsoever, please!”.

Redrix took a deep breath and finally smiled.

“All right, but it’s your responsibility Elansa, make sure they listen to everything you say, okay?”.

“Yes, thank you so much!” Elansa exclaimed, laughing and running off.

 

Corina appeared at the doorway looking puzzled.

“What was all that about?” she asked her husband.

“Let’s just say it involved much convincing” he replied, getting back to his book.

His wife chuckled and went back to join her sons.

 

*

 

“That’s right Kassandra, just keep the reins slightly loose in your hands, but don’t let her direct you either!” Elansa called out to the small rider and pony. Pandora was watching with delighted eyes from the gate of the pasture, her blonde locks blowing in the breeze.

 

The chestnut pony did the length of the feild before trotting back, Kassandra bouncing on top with a large smile visible to everyone watching.

“This is so much fun” she announced as her steed came to a halt beside her pleased instructor. “I never knew how much riding meant to you, until now”.

“I’m glad you enjoy it, but how about giving Pandora a try” Elansa said, taking hold of the pony’s bridle with one hand and waving to the excited girl standing by the fence. Immediatly Pandora set off at a mad run towards them.

 

Elansa helped Kassandra dismount and then helped her sister up with a quick boost.

“Feeling alright?” she asked her, checking the girth, making sure it wasn’t pinching the pony’s soft, underbelly.

“Yup, I’m ready to roll!” Pandora cheered, raising both arms in the air.

“Okay then, hold on and nudge her side with your heels. Once she starts walking you can direct her with the reins. A simple tug on the left or right with let her know where you want to go” Elansa explained breiftly.

Pandora nodded eagerly and did as she was told. Jade began a slow walk down the grassy pasture, letting her hooves drag through the dandelions.

 

Kassandra watched her go, holding an extra riding helmet under her arm, just like Elansa did after her rides. At that moment, she felt just like a rider that had known horses for years.

 

Both girls rode a couple more times each, before retiring to the house. Their loud chattering could be heard from a while off as they shared the past events with glee.

 

Elansa led Jade to the stable and was about to untack her, when a pair of strong hands stopped her from behind. She spun around and found herself face to face with Carl.

“Oh, it’s you. Don’t do that, it’s freaky” Elansa told him with a smirk, getting back to undoing the saddle.

“Stand aside, m’lady, this is a job for me” Carl responded and with a sigh, Elansa moved to let him work.

He quickly placed the saddle onto it’s appropriate rack and added the bridle shortly after. Passing a comb through the pony’s mane and tail, he made sure to detangle every knot and bur. Carl patted Jade’s neck fondly and led her to her stall for some fresh hay.

 

“So, were alone, huh” he said slowly, when he returned to Elansa’s side.

“No, were never alone, there’s always people hovering within sight or sound, wichever suits you best” she corrected him.

“Not now their isn’t and you know it”.

He grabbed one of her hands and pulled her close to his chest, toying with a strand of her loose hair.

“Carl, if someone catches us, their bound to tell father and you know the way he’ll get” Elansa argued, trying to push him away.

“No one will know, just stop worrying” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her rosy cheek. Elansa sighed again and let him kiss her again, this time on her mouth, where she liked it best.

“We can’t live in secrecy forever, you know” Carl told her a few minutes later, as they sat on the bales of hay, her head on his shoulder.

She nodded, lacing her fingers through his, sitting up.

“I know Carl, but for now it’s best kept quiet. Once were a bit older, father won’t have anything to say. He married mom young, so why shoudn’t I get to date young too”.

“Agreed, but you know your father, he has excuses for everything” Carl reminded her.

“Well, he can’t choose who I love, it’s my own choice and I’ve already made it. He can’t change it, no matter what he does” Elansa pointed out stubbornly.

Carl laughed and bent to kiss her again.

 

A shadow by the door of the stable dispearsed, but both teens took no notice.