Texas Part Two

Alice was annoyed. There was a new instructor at the dojo, hired primarily for jiu jitsu classes, and he wouldn't leave her alone. His name was Kyle and it seemed like he was right in her face every time she turned around. She told him she had a serious boyfriend, but since she was unable to produce him that argument had held no weight. The dojo had always been one of her happy places, but now she dreaded having to go.

"If Hatter was here, he'd give Kyle the sledgehammer and it would be over," Alice grumbled to her mother.

"So what's to stop you from doing it?" Carol asked. "Challenge him to a sparring match. When you've completely humiliated him, he'll back off."

"Mom, you're brilliant!" Alice gave her an enthusiastic hug.

"Don't hurt him too badly!" Carol called as Alice dashed out the door, duffle bag in hand.

*o*o*o*

Four hours later Alice was back, looking disheveled and sporting a black eye. She was also sporting a huge grin. Carol looked her over, wincing.

"That must have been some match."

"I totally kicked his ass. It was awesome!" Alice collapsed on the couch. She hadn't even changed out of her gi. "He got really pissed, but he went down like a ton of bricks anyway."

"Maybe that was a bad idea," Carol fretted. She darted into the kitchen and returned with a bag of frozen peas for Alice's eye. "Is he going to be more of a problem now?"

"Don't worry, Mom. We came to an understanding. Had a nice long talk afterwards." Alice held the peas to her eye and sighed happily. "I can still take care of myself."

"Was that ever a question?"

"No. Yes." Alice leaned her head back. "I guess maybe I was feeling like I might lose myself, become someone else, if things got too serious with Hatter."

"Well, that's true in a way. If you're with the right guy, you change for the better. You become a better version of who you are."

"How'd you get so smart?" Alice grinned at her mother.

"Years of experience." Carol patted Alice's leg. "There's a postcard in your room."

Alice immediately pushed herself up off the couch and headed for her room, frozen peas pressed firmly to her eye. The postcard was propped up on the laptop, a scene of cowboys roping a bull. Alice flipped it over. Bar H Dude Ranch, Clarendon – TX.

I miss you, Alice. Guess what? I'm a cowboy! I've spent a week at what they call a dude ranch. Horses again. It was a working ranch, so I've been shoveling dung and helping with the cattle. Even fixing fences. All this labor, and people actually pay to be here. My favorite horse was a big boy named Malteaser. What a ride he gave me! Are there any horses in New York? There's just something about riding that I love. Have you been thinking about me? I dream of you every night. Love, Hatter.

Alice tried to picture Hatter, in jeans and a cowboy hat, riding the range out in Texas. She remembered how comfortable he'd been on Guinevere, and wondered how he'd learned to ride. The Hatter she'd met that day in the Tea Shop certainly hadn't struck her as a horseman.

If only she could tell him how much she was thinking about him, missing him. Why hadn't he called? After all this time, why hadn't he checked in? Was he still that afraid of what she would say?

"Please call me, Hatter. Please."