Prologue
"Father! Why do I have to marry that scoundrel?" Maria demanded as she slammed her hand down onto the kitchen table, her emerald green eyes flashed her anger.
"Because, I said so" Harold DuPoi sternly spoke as he watched his daughter's cheeks turn bright red with anger and frustration.
"That is not a good enough reason for me to marry James!" Maria screamed as she placed her other hand down on the table and stared her father in the eye.
"It's satisfactory enough for me"
"Except why? Why won't you give me an answer?" she was almost crying as she bit down on her lower lip to keep herself from screaming out any more of her rage.
"You want to know?" Harold started to say, "We have lost almost all of our land and what little money we do bring in is barely enough to make the bills meet."
"Very well. I'll get a job" Maria volunteered as she stood upright as well as tossed her waist length titian red hair back.
"You will get that notion out of your head. For one thing, you're very young and Mr. Gunther and I have already made arrangements. You will marry James on your eighteenth birthday whether you like it or not" he said as he flipped the newspaper open to the sports section, thereby ending the conversation.
"Mom" Maria cried as Catherine walked into the kitchen. Maria ran toward her mother.
"Sshh. It's going to be alright" Catherine softly said as she wrapped her arms around Maria and at that moment glared at Harold, who was ignoring the whole scene.
"How could he do this to me?" Maria cried as she felt her mother gently stroke the back of her hair.
"Maria, go for a ride and I'll see if I can talk your ornery father out of this stupidity" Catherine affirmed as she eased Maria out of her embrace.
"Thanks Mom. I can always count on you. Unlike some people" Maria emphasized her final declaration before she walked out the front door.
"Harold! Have you lost your marbles?" Catherine started to say "You know good and well that Maria can not stand the ground that James walks on."
"No, I haven't lost my marbles. I have made a decision to make sure that Maria is well provided for" he calmly spoke, not understanding why his whole family was contrary to the idea of a comfortable marriage ceremony.
As Harold stared at his lovely wife and began to think about the few times they argued. It was normally over something that had to do with Maria.
When they did argue, he loved watching the way her delicate ivory skin flushed, the way her small but firm breasts rose and fell with each breath, and especially when her full lips formed a pout. He also enjoyed it when she'd place her small hands on her narrow waist, emphasizing her slightly rounded hips and firm flat stomach.
"I guess that you never once thought that Maria might want to be in love with someone when she marries. Or, you just didn't think that love was necessary for a happy marriage" Catherine placed one of her hands on her hips and the other hand on the kitchen table, leaning over so she came almost nose to nose with her husband.
"Look Cathy. When we married almost twenty years ago, love was all that was needed but, now, finances are tight and we don't have room for that kind of luxury" he knew that would not his wife's anger towards him.
"Well, I am going to assume that you, my darling husband, will be enjoying the couch since the bed is obviously a luxury item also that you cannot afford!" Cathy exclaimed in a clipped tone of voice that indicated her silent fury.
"Do what!?" Harold stammered out as he looked at his wife's stern expression. He could see the silent rage that was brewing in her violet colored eyes. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he watched the way she drummed her fingers on top of the table.
"I didn't stutter, dear. Until you stop this foolish behavior, you will be staying on the couch" Cathy declared coldly as she stood upright, turned around, and then tossed her shoulder length blonde tresses behind her.
"That's not fair. I am your husband and I…"
"You lost your husbandly rights when you started this whole business of marrying Maria off to a wealthy man whom she despises more than anything. So don't you dare tell me what I will and won't do and don't talk to me about being fair" Cathy turned back to face Harold with her head held high and a finger pointed in his direction.
"You know, I always did like it when you got yourself bent out of shape. Maybe you could bend a little this way" he was trying to be suave as he stood up and walked over to Cathy.
Cathy knew that most of the men in town were intimidated by her husband not only because of his six-foot-three stance but, also his two hundred and twenty pounds of farm worked muscle.
When they met almost twenty-five years ago, she wasn't the least bit afraid of him when he walked into the small diner in town. When he started to complain about his food not being done the way he wanted it done, she stood up to him and stared into his dark blue eyes. She let him know that she was not going to be bullied by his idea of a perfect world.
Even at eighteen years old, she had a lot of gumption. More so than anyone else in their small town, considering that she only stood about five-foot-four and barely weighed one hundred pounds. Most men wouldn't dare to ask her out for fear of her temper and her loaded shotgun.
She was surprised that he came back into the diner the next day and asked for her specifically to wait on him. Cathy also remembered telling him to mind his manners and they would get along just fine.
Six months later, he finally got up enough courage to ask her out to the movies. Of course, she told him she would have to think about since it took him so long to ask. He eventually began to beg her for just one date. It took her about three weeks before she finally said "yes" but, it took him begging her before she accepted his proposal. Cathy found it rather embarrassing to have a guy down on one knee with his hands clasped together, begging her to go out with him. The most embarrassing part of the whole thing was the fact that he did it in front of everyone at the diner. She finally accepted after that incident. One date turned into two and two turn into four and so forth.
After the first date, they both realized that they had more in common they what they thought they did. They had more laughs together than a stack of comic books. They went fishing and hunting. This was a very unladylike thing to do in their small town. But, neither one of them cared, they were just happy being together.
After another year of courting, she and Harold married. It took Harold another round of begging in the middle of the diner before she accepted his marriage proposal. It was the talk of the town, of how the biggest bully had been beaten by a girl half his size and with a bigger temper than him.
And now, after many happy years of marriage, they had finally hit a rough spot in the road. It was something that neither one of them had anticipated. Bankruptcy. They both knew it was coming and yet, they didn't know of a way to stop it. The last couple of years had been in a drought and the farmers were dirt poor. Including their land.
"That smooth talking southern gentleman act won't work this time" she said as she turned her back to him and tried to walk away only to have his hands clamp down on her shoulders.
"Big silly farmer angered little wife. Maybe he can make it up to her on a pile of hay" he tried to make her laugh as he slid his hands down her slender arms and wrapped them around her waist, pulling her close to him.
"That's not going to work. It might have worked when I was sixteen but not when I am nearing forty" she firmly stated as she turned around in his embrace to face him.
"Gee darling, I thought you were sixteen" he knew his smooth southern drawl would normally win her over.
"Aren't you being cute but, it's not working" Cathy shyly smiled up at him.
"What do you want me to do? I already accepted the money that Mr. Gunther gave to me in order to pay the bills up to date and for the next several years. Which means we are no longer in debt" he spoke softly as he rested his chin on top of Cathy's head.
"Why couldn't you let Maria and I know about this before hand? We could have worked something out with the finance companies. Hell, you know Maria would have gotten a part time job after school without asking any questions" Cathy calmly stated.
"Maria has so many after school activities, all of which she's paid for out of her own pocket from all the shows that she's done with her horse, Star. Plus, she's a very responsible young lady who would do anything to keep us from loosing everything we have. She's a straight A student, she does karate, and does some of the horse shows with Star" Cathy stated.
"The answer is no. She will marry James on her eighteenth birthday and that is all I have to say about it" Harold said as he removed his arms from around Catherine's waist and walked out the front door.
"So you think" Cathy whispered to herself after Harold walked out the front door. As soon as we get a chance Maria, I am going to have to tell you the truth about whom and what you are. She thought as she walked down the hall to her bedroom at the back side of the house.
I can no longer hide the truth from you. Cathy thought as she pulled a wooden step stool out of her walk-in closet and got on top of it. Slowly, she pushed a loose board, which was on the ceiling, out of the way and then pulled a cardboard box out of it.
Cathy was very thankful that Harold had not discovered it. She didn't think he would be able to handle the truth. The truth about Maria being from another planet. The truth that Maria's true name was Princess Marianna Alexandria DuPoi of Saturn, daughter of King Kronos and Queen Arielle of the Crystal Palace.
The only way she knew anything about it was because of what was in the box that she placed on top of her bed. It was the only way she knew anything about alien civilizations and other non-human activities.
Oh, what am I to do? There's so much to explain and only two years to explain it all in. I have kept this secret with me for almost sixteen years. She thought as she opened the cardboard box to reveal a silver cryotube that was about thirty inches in length, about twenty inches in width, and about eighteen inches high. The inside of the tube was lined in padded white sateen and it still contained the short note from the queen, explaining as much as she could in a brief period of time. The note read:
"Dear Caring Individual,
Please take care of my daughter, Marianna. When she reaches the age of maturity, please explain to her all that I am explaining to you. Make sure that you give her this necklace that I am enclosing with this letter. It has great power and it will help her to locate her other siblings. She has eight other sisters that need to be found before a specific time, which I do not know. Please tell her that her father's name is King Kronos and I, her mother, am called Queen Arielle. My home planet of Saturn is under attack by the Dacronian army. Their leader Commander Darrius will no doubt see to my husband's as well as my own destruction. Also advise her that she has a destiny to fulfill of which I can not explain. My time for living grows short. Tell Marianna that I love her and that I will always be there to guide, although I may no longer be flesh and blood. I must go now and protect the Crystal Palace as well as defend my people.
Eternally Grateful,
Queen Arielle of Saturn"
Cathy remembered the evening she had found Maria. It was in the middle of October and she was taking the laundry off of the clothes line when she saw a bright green light streaking through the sky. She at first thought it was a shooting star until it started to change course and maneuver itself towards the barn. Cathy recalled hearing it land behind the horse barn and her curious nature guided her to find out what it was. She cautiously walked behind the barn and found a rather oblong silver tube.
Cathy thought about getting Harold but, she knew he was out working on the fences and wouldn't be back for a couple of days. Well, I hope this thing doesn't bite. That would be just my luck, to have an alien pop out of this thing and kidnap me while my husband's at work. Cathy thought as she nervously touched the outside of the tube. To her amazement, the tube quietly opened up. To her, it opened up exactly like a flower does in springtime.
Peering inside, she was astonished to see a little red headed baby, cooing and smiling. Please tell me you're not going to eat me up. Who would abandon a baby? Without the slightest hesitation, Cathy reached into the tube and gently lifted the baby out of it. She, at first, thought the baby would start screaming but the little girl didn't.
Then Cathy noticed a small white envelope that had a wax seal on it. Leaning, she picked it up and carefully examined it. "I hope this letter explains who you are. You look like a normal human baby but, that doesn't necessarily mean you are" Cathy commented as she cradled the little girl in her arms.
Cathy had always wanted children but, the doctor told her that all the cysts that she had had on her ovaries when she was younger caused a massive amount of damage, making it impossible for her to ever be able to conceive. So, Harold and she decided to remain childless. She had brought the conversation about adoption but, they both discarded it because, they both wanted a baby instead of a ten or twelve year old child that was to set in getting their way.
Cathy hoped that Harold wouldn't mind adopting this little girl. She thought that the baby could be no older than six months old with a mop of red curls and big emerald green eyes.
"Come on, little one. Let's get you inside and fed. I'm sure you're very hungry" Cathy cooed as she carried the little girl inside the house and called one of her neighbors, who had a set of twins about a year ago. Cathy knew that she had kept all of her twin's old baby clothes, just in case.
After getting inside her home, Cathy immediately rang her neighbor.
"House of hellions, how may I direct your call" Susie happily declared when she answered the phone.
"Hey Susie! It's me, Cathy. Listen, I was wondering if you still had some of Jenny's old baby clothes." Cathy asked.
"Of course I do. Why? Did you finally knock Harold upside his cranium with a cast iron skillet?" Susie joked.
"He doesn't know, yet. I found this little baby girl behind the horse barn about ten minutes ago. She seems to be in very good health for an abandoned baby" Cathy stated as she sat down in the rocking chair, which was in the living room, and began to gently rock herself and the little girl.
"How could he not know? Oh, never mind. He's working out on the range" Susie understood.
"Exactly. Do you think you can help me out?" Cathy asked.
"Sure. I'll tell my husband to watch these two rug rats for a little while. I'll be over in about ten minutes. Do you need some baby food?" Susie asked as she rummaged through her children's closet and pulled out a huge box filled with her daughter's clothes.
"Please and thank you" Cathy chuckled as she continued to rock and cradled the little girl that was lying soundly asleep in her arms.
"Ok. I'll be over there shortly. See you soon" Susie chirped as she hung up the phone.
"See ya" Cathy whispered as she hung up the phone. She began to study the white envelope again. The only identifying mark on it was the blue wax seal on the back side. The seal's imprint was that of a circle equally divided into nine parts. Cathy opened up the envelope very carefully, so as not to harm the delicate wax seal, an odd shaped necklace dropped out of it onto the little girl's body. What's this? Maybe the letter will explain its meaning. She thought as she picked up the necklace and began to read the letter.
"So that's why you were placed inside that tube. Your mother and father were trying to protect you along with your other siblings from the war that broke out on your home planet. You poor thing. Don't worry, I'll protect you, Maria" Cathy soothingly stated as she ran her hand over the baby's delicate face.
"Hey Cathy! Where are you?" Susie exclaimed as she began to walk down the hall towards the living room.
"In the living room" Cathy stated as she watched her friend carry a large plastic tub into the living room.
Susie was about Cathy's age and height. She had dark brown hair, large round eyes that were so dark they were almost obsidian, olive colored skin, and a very tiny body. Susie had, at one point, told Cathy that she was originally from Italy, which explained her exotic beauty. Susie often joked about the fact that her husband was not into women with breasts. Instead, he enjoyed women who had long legs. Unlike Cathy's husband who enjoyed women who were quick on their feet and with their mouths.
"Is that the little baby? She's beautiful" Susie spoke softly as not to disturb the sleeping baby that lay cozily in Cathy's arms.
"Yes she is" Cathy smiled as she watched Susie open the large plastic tote up.
"I have enough clothes in here to outfit an army of babies" Susie chuckled as she lay the lid aside and began to show Cathy all of the infant clothes. Some were dresses of various colors, some were one piece outfits, some were pants and t-shirt combos, and there were even several pairs of shoes and socks.
"I can see that" Cathy laughed and then noticed that Susie had a large bag on the sofa.
"This bag has a lot of diapers, bottles, formula, baby food, and baby feeding spoons. This should get you through until Harold gets back off the range" Susie said.
"Thank you so very much. I don't know what I would have done without you" Cathy lamented.
"Hey, that's what best friends are for. That and going out every once in a while to the bar to make cat-calls at all the gorgeous men we see" Susie was always one for making a joke about everything, even during a funeral.
"Thanks" Cathy stated calmly as she looked back down at Maria and saw that she was awake.
"Now let's get that little girl fed, bathed, and changed" Susie commented.
Maria kept Cathy very busy for the next three days, when Harold came home and found his wife sitting in the rocking chair, singing a song to a little red headed cherub. He didn't like the idea of taking in an abandoned child but, once he saw the contented look on Cathy's beaming face he couldn't tell her no. They immediately went to the adoption agency and filled out the necessary paperwork to make Maria legally their daughter.
From that day, Harold had been a dotting father and a wonderful, caring husband. He bent over backwards for both of them. He nearly cried whenever he heard Maria call him "daddy".
That was almost sixteen years ago and he was still trying to be the best father for Maria but, he wasn't paying attention to Maria's wants and desires. Maria wasn't a spoiled child. She had worked hard for everything she had and everything she did. Cathy couldn't completely fault Harold for trying to make sure that Maria was well provided for but, at the same time he should have discussed it with the rest of family before making such an outrageous decision.
"Come on boy, let's go for a ride" Maria soothingly stated as she walked into the three stall barn.
"I'd say it was about time" Star spoke up, startling Maria.
"You can talk?" Maria questioned as she turned to look at her horse.
"I have always been able to talk. It's just that you're the only one who can talk back to me," he calmly stated.
"But, why wait so long to tell me?" she asked as she walked over to his stall and opened the stall door.
"I didn't think you were ready to hear the truth. I wanted to wait until you were alone. I did not want others of your kind to think you were crazy because, you are the only one who can understand me. Which they would have thought if they had seen you talking to me," Star mentioned as he walked over to Maria.
"Oh! Thank you, Star. It's nice to know that I at least have you to talk to whenever Reva's not in town," Maria cooed softly as she placed her hand on his muzzle and gently stroked his nose.
"No problem. Now, what was this I heard about a ride?" Star asked as he leaned into her tiny hand.
"I said something about going to a ride out into the fields. That is, if you don't mind" Maria said.
"No saddle please. It is cumbersome and it chafes my sides. I'll wear it for you only during shows," Star mentioned.
"Ok. What about a bridle?" Maria asked as she walked towards the back of the barn.
"You can hold onto my mane and besides, how would I be able to converse with you if I had something in my mouth. I could but, it would be very rude of me to talk with something in my mouth" Star joked.
"Alright, bareback riding it is," she understood as she opened up the rear stall doors that opened out into the pasture.
"Let's go!" Star said, very excitedly, as he walked towards Maria. He felt Maria pull herself onto his bare back and wrap her tiny hands into his thick black mane.
"I agree" Maria stated with a large smile on her face as she situated herself onto Star's back, making sure she was comfortable.
"And just where the Hell do you think you're going?" James asked as he walked down the center isle towards Maria and Star.
"Loser at six o'clock" Star whispered as he turned his head to stare at James.
"Riding why?" she questioned as she watched the determined look in his eyes.
"I thought I might join you," James sarcastically declared as he looked behind him at his dapple-grey Andalusian mare.
"She looks good but, her personality is like his. A slug" Star noted as he tossed his head as if telling Maria "no way".
"Nice horse, who did you steal her from?" Maria asked as she patted Star's neck.
"I bought her through honest hard work," James smugly acknowledged.
"You! Hard work and honest do not go in the same category! That is a good one! You aught to write that one down in your journal of the funniest things that you have ever said!" Maria almost rolled off Star because, she was laughing so hard.
"I did. Jasmine is a show horse just like your Star is. I am surprised you do not approve of my choice in exquisite bloodlines. She is top of the line" he was very smug with his accomplishment of purchasing that mare. James thought it would help to bring him closer to Maria.
"Star is not just some show horse, he specifically does unaffiliated eventing," Maria smugly stated as she tossed her hair back.
"So, what's the difference?" James asked.
"She may be top of the line but, that doesn't mean she has what it takes. She's beautiful, yes, but, what can she do?" Maria questioned.
"I don't know. They didn't tell me that when I bought her" James own naïve behavior was finally showing.
"Well, maybe you should get your money back either that or you can test her out. You do know how to ride, don't you?" Maria snidely asked.
"Yes, I do know how to ride" James apprehensively alleged. He knew whatever Maria was plotting it was going to make him regret it later but he was not one to back down from a challenge.
"Good. Now please try to keep up or I will be forced to have to leave you and Jasmine behind and all alone in the wilderness," Maria stated.
"What do you mean be that?" James asked as he watched the way Maria's almond-shaped green eyes sparkled when she looked at him.
"I'm just saying that I don't think that horse you bought has what it takes. If you knew anything about eventing, you would understand" Maria simply stated, thankful that her horse sense far surpassed anything James could even picture.
"Ok. What is eventing?" James asked, knowing that Maria was probably right on everything that she was going to tell him.
"Eventing is basically a very demanding competitive sport that combines three disciplines of riding. They are show jumping, dressage, and cross-country jumping. Star is highly qualified to do this sort of sport but we do not have any affiliation with the major competitors. It's just not our style," Maria stated.
"Oh" James sounded very disheartened when he heard Maria's statement and realized that they were of two different worlds but he would never tell her that.
"Look, I already heard from my father about what your father and mine have done. I do not like it and I especially do not like you. So, if you think that I'm going to come willingly, you can just wipe that sappy smile off of your face and get over it" Maria stated as she turned to leave.
"Wait!" James started to say, "Will you have dinner with me tonight?"
"Let me think…No! Especially not after that last time I was over at your place" Maria bluntly reminded him.
"I didn't hear you complain when I kissed you" James rudely commented. He still had dreams about the night of his eighteenth birthday when he pulled Maria into his arms and kissed her full pouty pink lips.
"Actually, I did, with my knee!" she harshly reminded him. She never forgot his face whenever she brought her knee up between his legs and let his groin have it with everything she had in one shot.
"Oops" Star chuckled softly and then cocked his tail over to one side. "Excuse me whilst I leave James a present."
Maria's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Nah, Star would not dare. Yes, he would. He is a horse after my own heart. Good boy.
"I guess Star just gave you his opinion," Maria laughed as she watched James' nose crinkle up in disdain over Star leaving a huge pile of manure.
"I'll…catch you…some other time" James coughed as he gracefully walked out the front door of the barn.
"Smooth, I like that in a horse" Maria said as she ran a hand up and down Star's neck.
"I know," he said as he began to walk out the back door of the barn.
"You know something, Star, I think we're going to be great friends," Maria whispered as grabbed a firm hold of Star's mane and wrapped her legs more snugly around his girth.
"Me too!" he said cheerfully as he started to trot through the field