Chapter 4: Knowing the Truth

Gloria woke the next morning with the feeling of tiredness and loneliness. She didn't get much sleep. Most of it was spent crying over her mothers broken hand mirror. She could remember when she would sit on her mothers lap and she would brush her hair while Gloria admirer her reflection in the mirror…

"Mommy, I can't sleep." Little Gloria said as she walked into her mommy and daddy's bed room. "Where's daddy?"

"Daddy's, still at work he had to work over a little." Anna smiled at her little girl. "Do you want me to brush your hair for you?" This was something little Gloria always liked.

Gloria nodded her head yes. Anna picked her up and sat her in her lap. "This brush and the mirror belonged to your grandmother and to her grandmother." Anna spoke as she began brushing her daughter's lovely brown hair. "When I was about your age my mother used to do the same thing. She used to brush my hair and talk about when she was a little girl or how pretty I looked."

"Really," little Gloria asked as she stared back at her reflection. It was that of a three year old. For a long time people would come up to her during church or just while she and her parents were out and tell her how pretty she looked. That she looked just like a little princess.

After a little while her daddy would come home from a long day of work. "Daddy, your home," Gloria would yell with happiness as she ran to meat her daddy at the bedroom door.

"What are you still doing up?" Irving asked his daughter as he picked her up.

"I couldn't sleep so mommy brushed my hair for me." Little Gloria giggled as a laugh came from her lips.

"Alright," Irving agreed as he put his little girl back down. Within a few short moments Gloria's eyes began to get heavy and she began to yawn.

"I think its time someone goes to bed." Anna said sweetly as she picked up Gloria.

"Alright, Mommy," Gloria agreed letting her eyes drop a few times. Irving and Anna put Gloria to bed, kissed her goodnight and told her that they loved her very much.

So that was the story of the silver mirror and brush. That was the only memory Gloria had of that one special item that was once her mothers and her grandmothers. While getting ready for the day Gloria didn't hear the screams that normally woke her from her sleep or told her to hurry up. Being rather carouses Gloria made her way down the squeaky stairs and into the warm house.

To her surprise there was nobody in the kitchen, in the living room or anyway where in the house for that matter. However Gloria did find a note lying on the fireplace mantel. The note said that her stepfamily had gone to church and wouldn't be back for a little while.

That was rather odd her stepfamily never went to church. They must have done something that made them want to go. What was even odder was that there wasn't a single list of chorus for her to do.

It was a nice sunny Sunday that Gloria decided to go ridding Ginger. "Hey girl," Gloria told her horse as a smile came a crossed her face. It had been a while since she had last rode Ginger. The look in Ginger's eyes told Gloria that she still remembered her. "Let's see if I remember how to do this." Gloria said allowed as she laughed. She got on the horse and told it to go. Within a few short minutes she was riding like she had been since she was four. Ridding around the ring brought back so many memories. Her father and she would go ridding on Sunday in the San Fernando Valley. Before long Gloria was doing tricks on her horse just as she had done years ago. Jumping was always one of her favorite things to do.

Before long Mr. McNealy came by to tell Gloria that they had returned. "I will stall them while you put Ginger away."

"Thank you, Mr. McNealy." Gloria thanked as she galloped into the stable putting her horse in her stall. After brushing it and feeding her horse she made her way out of the stable. While she made her way out she bumped into Jacqueline and Virginia.

"Watch where you're going," Virginia yelled as she stepped in horse crap. "GROSS!" She yelled as she made a sick face.

"It's just horse poop you'll yet over it." Jacqueline wined as she got to her horse. "Gloria, come get my horse out."

"Get your own horse out." Gloria spat at Jacqueline as she stood with her hands on her hips.

"I will tell mother on you." Jacqueline threatened glaring at Gloria.

"You know your horse doesn't like me." Gloria protested as she pointed at Jacqueline's horse.

"You know your horse doesn't like me." Jacqueline mocked. "But-there's who know what's in that stall."

"Give me a break Jacqueline you've got your horse out plenty of times. What makes this different then any other time?" Gloria questioned.

Jacqueline didn't answer she just stayed quit, giving Gloria the puppy dog look. "No, don't give me that look." Gloria pointed out. "You get your own horse out. Look Virginia has her horse out and is already ridding."

Jacqueline just glared at Gloria. "I'm going inside to see what your mother has for me to do." Gloria said as she turned and left the stable.

"UH, Gloria you get back here right now!" Jacqueline yelled after her stepsister. She began running after her and yelling at her. "GET MY HORSE OUT!"

"I already told you no!" Gloria yelled back as she began to get mad. How many times does she have to tell this girl, NO?

Taking her by the arm Jacqueline pulled Gloria back to the stable. "Get my horse out now or I WILL tell mother."

Rolling her eyes Gloria opened the stable door and tried to get out Midnight. However he wouldn't have it. The horse stayed clear of Gloria. "I told you he doesn't like me." Gloria said again as she tried to bring him out.

"I know," Jacqueline smirked as she got her horse out. She just couldn't help herself.

"Jacqueline, you know what you are?" Gloria asked her stepsister as she saddled it up and got on.

"A lovely teenage girl who is the most popular girl in her school," Jacqueline answered throwing back her long chestnut hair.

"Uh, no not even close. You're a self-centered spoiled brat. Who is too much of a priss to do anything for herself." Gloria corrected Jacqueline.

"Your just mad because I'm prettier then you and have more friends then you." Jacqueline threw back in Gloria's face. She galloped off around the ring she went.

Gloria went back inside to find Mary in the living room reading a book. "Where have you been?" she asked closing the book and slamming it on the table.

"Virginia stepped in horse poop she wined about that. Jacqueline wouldn't get her own horse out so she made me get it out for her." Gloria told the story and waited for Mary to say something.

"Well of course she did. You do that stuff for us. You didn't think we would really do those things are self's?" Mary questioned glaring at Gloria with those light green eyes.

"Jacqueline has got her horse out many times before." Gloria fought back as she was trying her hardest to win this battle. She had already lost the mirror and brush. She wasn't about to loss this battle. "She's the horse girl in the family…besides me."

"Stop comparing yourself to my daughter." Mary yelled as she got up. "My daughter's are far more sophisticated then you."

"Yeah right they couldn't do things for themselves if they had to. They wouldn't make it one day doing what I have to do." Gloria thought. Turning away Gloria made her way over to the staircase. She wasn't about to put up with this anymore, it was getting to be a little much.

"Uh, where do you think you are going?" Mary asked as she walked over to her stepdaughter.

"Getting away from you and your snobbish daughters," Gloria wanted to yell as she began to get very aggravated. But, instead she said. "To my room,"

"No your not, didn't you see the list I left for you?" Mary questioned.

What list Gloria didn't remember seeing such a list. Gloria shook her head.

"Oh, that's right because, I just made it." Mary laughed as she handed the list to her.

Shocked and limp Gloria reached for the list and signed sadly, and she thought today was going to be a good day. How she was wrong. Making her way down the stairs she began looking at the list. Wash the cloths, lunch, wash dishes, beat the living room, dinning room rugs, and buff all of the girl's shoes. Thinking that was all on the list there was one more thing. Pick things from the garden. Without a word Gloria got to work. It was going to be a long afternoon and possibly a long night.

The hours wore on with work going by rather quickly. Lunch had been made, washed the dishes and the laundry was done. Tugging the rugs outside Gloria began to beat the rugs free of dust. Whacking the rugs dust began to fly every where. Gloria was so hard at work that she didn't hear the foot steps that came from behind her.

"Gloria?" the voice asked in shock.

Gloria froze when that voice came. Turning around rather quickly Gloria saw Rudolph standing there. She met his handsome eyes. He was rather handsome. Not knowing what to say Gloria just stood there stunned.

"What are you doing?" Rudolph asked still not understanding why she was doing that. Surly she had people to do that for her? "Why don't you let your servants do that for you?"

At that point Gloria knew she was cornered in all of this. Did she have to tell him that she had made that person two years ago when her father was killed? That she barley had anytime to herself and that she was normally up all hours getting all of it done? Of course not she was going to do the next best thing…tell a small lie. "Yes, yes we do but I'm just helping them. You see there sick today." She said as panic griped her heart. She could feel her blood run cold.

"That's rather nice of you." Rudolph said with a smile. The smile showed his bright white teeth. "Boy he sure had a nice smile." Gloria thought as she began to fell her knees go weak. Shaking that from her mind she began to make small talk with him.

"What brings you by this way? I thought you would be on your boat finishing today?" Gloria asked as she put the brush down. Why did he have to come by now? She was a mess. Dust lay all on her cloths while it rested in her hair and on her lovely skin.

"I was coming by to see if you would like to accompany me on a horse ride?" Rudolph asked as he looked down at his feet. Why he was so nevus to ask that he almost for got to breathe in the process.

"Well, I'm not dressed for that right at the moment and I would have to ask my-guardian if I could." Gloria tried covering up the truth. "Let me go ask. I'm not keeping any promises however." Gloria ran inside to find her stepfamily in the living room talking and such.

Mary and the girls looked over at her. "Well, what do you want?" Mary snapped as she put down a magazine.

"I was wondering if-if I could go horse back riding, with one of my friends?" Gloria asked as her breathe got stuck in her throat.

"You have friends?" Virginia asked as a laugh escaped her lips. Why that was just to funny to believe.

Looking at her stepmother with a sad face Gloria was hoping she would let her go. "Are all your chores done?" Mary asked looking at her stepdaughter.

"All of them but buffing the shoes." Gloria told her step mother looking her in the eyes.

"We agreed that all your chores would be done by six each evening." Mary reminded Gloria.

Gloria's head fell with sadness. Why couldn't she get off just this once? "Please, I will do them when I get back?" this would be the last time she would try. She knew not to push.

"Well, alright I guess you can. But, when you get back I expect you to clean those shoes." Mary demanded as she pointed a finger at Gloria.

A smile came a crossed her face. Thanking her step mother Gloria went up stairs to change. Within a few short moments she came back outside. Finding Rudolph leaning up against a white pillar, she smiled.

"You can change fast." Rudolph laughed as he looked at her. She wore a faded red outfit. It appeared to be years and years old.

"All I had to do was change into my riding outfit." Gloria told Rudolph as they made their way around to the stable.

Gloria got Ginger out as she began talking to it. "Ginger, this is Rudolph." Gloria told her horse as it began to make a nose.

"It's nice to meat you Ginger." Rudolph laughed as he looked at the horse.

"What?" Gloria asked looking cross at Rudolph. She didn't find it a least bite funny. After her father died Ginger, was the only one she could really talk to.

"It's nothing. It just seems you have a way with horses." Rudolph told Gloria as his laughter died down. She did rather well with her horse.

"Thank you, I've loved horses my whole life. I've loved animals of all kinds." Gloria said with a smile. Then it faded when she didn't see his horse. "Where's your horse?"

"I have to go get it at the stable just down the road from here. Ah!" Rudolph told Gloria as he tried petting another horse. He jumped back as the black horse bit his fingers. "This horse doesn't seem to like me very well."

Gloria couldn't help laughing. "That's Jacqueline's horse. He really doesn't like anyone except for her."

"Oh, I see." Rudolph said in aw as he made his way over to Ginger.

Getting on her horse they made their way down to Rudolph horse. A little over five minuets later they came to a small red barn.

"Do you keep your horse here all the time?" Gloria asked as they entered the small red barn.

"No, I normally keep it in the barn where I live. I just brought it down here to make it shorter ride." Rudolph told Gloria as he got on the horse.

"So where are we going?" Gloria asked as she gripped her horse's reins. She really didn't know any place to really ride except the rink back at her house.

"You will see." Rudolph answered as he began to ride off.

Following after him Gloria wanted to know where they were going but, Rudolph wouldn't tell her. Not asking again she galled along side him as he led the way. Finally after what seemed forever they finally arrived. Stopping on a wide high hill the view was amazing. What Gloria saw was just breath taking. It was the San Fernando Valley. She hadn't been there since she was a child. A small wind whipped through the air blowing Gloria's long chestnut hair in the wind.

"Oh, it's just beautiful." Gloria said in aw as she could remember coming here as a little girl with her parents. "I haven't been here since I was little."

"I thought you might like it." Rudolph answered with happiness in his dark eyes. "Tell me, what was it like for you growing up?"

Gloria hesitated to answer; for the most part it was a happy childhood. That was until her father was killed on that stormy rainy night. "It-it was a very happy childhood for the most part. I was the light of both my parents' lives. I used to go to the set with them when I asked to come. Every Saturday we had breakfast together and then my parents would take me shopping and got me whatever I wanted. Then my mother died when I was four. My father tried his best to raise me himself. He was a great father don't get me wrong. He took me horseback ridding, shopping, walks in the park, I had the best education possible and of course I was his little princess." Gloria stated as salty tears surfaced in her eyes. "Then he got married again. She was very nice and she had twin daughters just a year older then me. We learned to get along and such. Then that day cam when my father was killed on his way back from the studio, I was fourteen when that happened." She finished her story in tears. She had never told her story to anyone, then again she never had someone to tell it to. However she would never tell him that she was the servant of the household.

Silence was between them for a few short seconds before Rudolph spoke. "I'm sorry to hear that. It must be very heard to live without your parents." He handed Gloria his handkerchief.

"I've learned to live with it over the past two years." Gloria sighed as she dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief. "What was it like growing up as a child for you?" changing the subject rather quickly.

"My childhood was somewhat like yours. I got everything my heart wanted. The best toys, cloths the best of everything and I had it. Both my parents are in show business. I have an older brother Greg. He's away in the Army. Between you and me people say I'm the better looking one." Rudolph pointed at himself as he winked at Gloria.

"Someone's being a little full of himself," Gloria spoke looking at him with her right eyebrow raised. For the most part he was a normal guy. When he talked about his childhood and life he was like a crown prince or something. Getting everything and anything? Yes Gloria got her way for the most part when she was younger. However, things were very different now and would always be different.

"I wasn't trying to make it sound that way, I assure you." Rudolph reassured her looking at her with his handsome smile.

Gloria took that as an apology and they talked as the sunset. Today hadn't been such a bad day after all. She got to go ridding with Rudolph and talk and not feel like she was hiding anything. But, she was and that one thing she would never tell him. All her chores…Chores! Oh no she had to get back and buff the girl's shoes.

"I better be getting back." Gloria said not wanting this to end. She had fun but now it was time to get back to the house and get the shoes done.

"If you're sure," Rudolph told her as he turned his horse. Gloria nodded her head and they headed back.

Stepping into the dim lighted house Gloria went up to the girls rooms. "What happened? Get lost?" Virginia asked looking towards her bedroom door to see Gloria standing there.

"No," Gloria told her almost to the point where she just wanted to be cross with her.

"Whatever, you know where my shoes are at." Virginia snapped looking at her reflection.

Gloria just rolled her eyes and went and got the shoes. Next was Jacqueline's room. Knocking every so gently Gloria stood out in the hall until she heard her stepsisters voice.

"Come in." Jacqueline's voice came.

Stepping into the room Gloria found her stepsister looking at the newest issue of PhotoPlay. Jacqueline pointed towards her closet as her eyes stayed on her magazine. Gloria didn't even bother to tell her stepsister hello. Why bother? She would just say something cross and that would be the end of it.

Walking out of the room Gloria went down to the living room and began cleaning the shoes. Day dreaming as she sometimes did Gloria began to day dream about the ride With Rudolph. He was very sweet and gentlemen like. Still day dreaming she heard screams from upstairs. Jacqueline came running down stairs. Gloria looked up with a very happy Jacqueline in the room.

"What?" Gloria asked as her forehead wrinkled.

"Where's Virginia?" Jacqueline demanded holding the magazine in one hand.

"In her room," Gloria answered rolled her eyes. She swore her stepsisters got stupider and stupider as the days wore on.

"Virginia come here!" Jacqueline yelled up the stairs as pocked her head in the stairway.

Virginia came down moments later. "What?" she asked as she had a face mask on.

Gloria couldn't help but let a giggle out. After all Virginia looked like a monster. What was on her face any way? Tapioca putting?

The sisters didn't respond to her giggling. Gloria looked down at the magazine in Jacqueline's hand as they rested on her hips. Could that be? It couldn't be? He didn't say anything about-

Taking the magazine Gloria looked at it. "Hey, what do you think you are doing?" Jacqueline demanded as she glared at Gloria.

Gloria's eyes widened. Right in the middle of the magazine was a picture of Rudolph. There was a small article on him.

"What is your problem?" Virginia asked

Gloria couldn't answer she was too much in shock. Ripping the magazine out of her hands Jacqueline brought Gloria back to reality. "It's the article about the black and white ball this coming Saturday. Rudolph Alexander is having it to select a bride. His parent's are making him choose a bride." Jacqueline spoke as she looked down at the article.

Gloria was still in shock. After all this time she had no idea that Rudolph was the son of the two most famous people in Hollywood? Oh, how stupid she felt. Pouring her heart out to him and she had no idea who he was. All she knew was his last name a little about his childhood and that was it. How could she be so blind?

Bursting from the room Gloria stormed out of the front door and onto the front porch. Leaning up against a post she began to cry. Today was now ruined and it was all because of what had just taken place.

Hearing footsteps Gloria stopped her sobbing. "Gloria, what's wrong?" the voice asked.

Looking up Gloria, could see Rudolph through her tear filled eyes. Letting the tears run down her face she spoke. "Why didn't you tell me who you were?" she asked as her hands still gripped the side of the post.

"Gloria, I'm sorry I-was going to tell you but-" Rudolph tried to say but didn't get the chance to finish.

"Just go, I never want to see you again." Gloria cried as she rushed past him and down the hill and into the barn.

Rudolph looked on as he watched her run from him. Was what he said was true? Did she really never want to see him again?

Going up to her horse Gloria began stroking the horse with her hand. The look of hurt filled the horse's eyes as well. "There, there girl everything's going to be just fine." Gloria told her horse however, she couldn't make herself believe it. Now there was nothing to live for. She thought she could trust him but she thought wrong.

A/N: Longer chapter:) What do you think? Review!