Yes I know 'Becoming' is a Kelley Armstrong novella but I just couldn't think of another name to call this story.
And also, for the state of the law etc... I don't own any of Mrs. Armstrong's characters - if only they we're real!
Becoming
Chapter 1
I lay in the grass, shaded by the old oak tree, sunlight dancing behind my fingers, my arm outstretched in the afternoon warmth. I could just lay here forever. I closed my eyes, resting my hands behind my head and breathed a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the grass around me, listening to the harmless buzz of a fly overhead… Bliss. This was all of a sudden broken by a loud snort from my friend; Monty. Nudging my leg with impatience, I crack open one eye to see him looking quizzically down at me, his brown eyes staring intently, not even blinking. He nudges me again, more persuasive this time.
"Alright, alright." I sigh, sitting up as he takes a step back. "I spoil you Monty – you know that?" The side of my mouth lifts up in a smirk, as I imagine what someone must think of me talking to a horse. I dug around in my back pack to bring out a Tupperware box of salad. "Here you go boy." I tease bringing out a stick of carrot and throwing it a few feet away onto the grass.
Monty whickers his appreciation and nimbly steps over my legs to retrieve his prize. "Good lad." I praise him, sitting up and began to eat the rest of the food, not without sharing a few more scraps with my beloved Monty.
As I notice the time is getting on, I gather my possessions about me, and pull myself up onto Monty's back. A skill I was taught from my parents since I was little, to ride bareback. Not the most comfortable of rides to be sure, but I see no need for a saddle when you wouldn't be doing anything more strenuous than a pleasant ride through some fields.
Within twenty minutes I trusted Monty enough to know where he was going, as I slackened the grip on his reins and let my mind wander as we descended down the path towards home, home being the farm.
Upon entering the yard an older aged man appeared from behind a horsebox, tools in hand from replacing a flat tyre. "Hey kid, have a nice trek?" He asked.
"I did, cheers Al." I replied, jumping down onto the concrete.
My mothers voice reverberating through my mind 'bend your knees!' so as I wouldn't put all the force on my ankles.
At twenty two years old I was hardly a 'kid' but I just gritted my teeth and ignored it. He was an old friend of my fathers since they immigrated to the US from England.
"Jessie was wondering if you were still up for dinner over ours tonight. She's making a mushroom risotto or something." He shrugged non committedly, his dark skin wrinkling at the outer edges of his eyes.
"You know I never turn down food, especially if I'm not the one to have cooked it." I joked, leading Monty back to his Stable. "I'll see you around eight." I called back, patting Monty on his shoulder.
With that Al nodded in confirmation and set off, to continue his tasks.
My mother and father had both come from urban British backgrounds and came to America for their honeymoon on a cattle drive – you know the type's people advertise, like how Billy Crystal and his pals did it in that film City Slickers or whatever it was called. Anyway, they fell in love with the easy going attitude and working with animals. Whilst not quite going down the road of moving Cattle, after years of saving, they moved to America – Pennsylvania to be precise - bought out a failing Stud Farm and built it up to become a thriving business. That's the short story of it. Al and his late wife Sue taught my Mum and Dad everything they knew as business partners. Al and Sue had one daughter, Jessie - who was a few years older than me, but we soon became close friends. To this day she still cracks jokes at me for retaining parts of my English accent, even though I've lived here since I was five years old.
At seventeen my parents died in a car crash. It wasn't anything someone could have helped; it was just one of those things. They had picked me up from school, and on our way home a deer jumped in the road, my Dad swerved the car to avoid it – driving into some oncoming traffic. Mums side of the car was hit by a truck, sending the car rolling down the embankment to eventually being stopped by being impaled on a tree.
I was left with a concussion, a couple of broken ribs and minor scratches, Mum was killed instantly when the truck hit, and Dad was taken to the local hospital, but passed away a week later due to internal injuries.
My life had fallen apart, and Jessie and her family helped pull me back from the brink, they made sure I continued my studies to get me into university, and helped sort out the legal rights of my parents wills, so I was able to stay in the family home and keep the Stud Farm I now own. For that I could never thank them enough. They saved my life.
Now, five years later the pain of my parents' death still haunts me – but now, with Al set to retire within the next couple of years he has taught me all I need to know about the running of the farm with full support from the staff.
After the dinner with Al and Jessie, I climbed back into my little truck and drove the ten minute drive back to the farm, where I was greeted by my dog Sally whom I've had since she was a pup over ten years ago.
"Hey Sal! Have you been a good girl for mummy?" I asked her as she jumped up at my legs enthusiastically wagging her tail, as she snuffled the bag I held in my hand. "Want some dinner? Auntie Jessie left you some steak… yes she did." I informed her walking into the kitchen, and tipping out some trimmings of beef into her bowl to which she greedily ate slopping gravy onto the floor, whilst I fixed myself a glass of wine and retreated into the living room, pausing on my way to look in on my parent's bedroom.
I know I should move on and clear it out, maybe move into the room myself - but I just can't bring myself round to doing it just yet. I'll stay in my little back bedroom a while longer yet.
I was brought out of my reverie by Sally washing my hand. "Hey beautiful. Finished your supper already?" I sighed ruffling the top of her hair. She gave a low whine nudging my hand. "Yeah I know. I miss them too." I told her quietly and closed the door.