Chapter 7 Bang, bang, bang! "Come on Alec, get it together!" Henry grunts. "Let's go. It's post time." Henry is fuming. Alec heads off to get changed quickly and checked in. He steps off the scale and towards Henry.
That's when he hears the bellowing down at the Rosewood stable. "What is this?" Alec turns to see Mr. Rosenbalm waving a newspaper in front of Alex. She is scared of his anger. Alec wants to run to her. But he knows she can stand her own.
"I don't know, Papa. What is it?" She takes the paper and turns pale.
"Who are you with?" Her father bellows again. She only lifts her eyes to catch a glimpse of his attention. He shoot her a look of support. She can see he is clenching his gear.
"Papa… ah…. Let me…-" she is cut off by the post time trumpets.
Henry directs Alec's attention back, "You have some explaining to do yourself."
Alex is trying to explain why she was at the Hitching Post. Alec quickly mounts and leans over to Henry while securing his foot in the stirup. Quietly says, "I got married last night." Henry is left stunned. Alec is no coward. But he knew right now with Rosenbalm's anger at full fury and Henry almost there, he better win this race to distract them both. Alex's shooting look to him, told him to go. He nudges Black Diamond to a leap towards the gate. Rosenbalm tries to follow Alec grasping Alex by the arm.
Rosenbalm and Henry yell at the same time to the rider in the black silks, "ALEC RAMSEY!" But he is already at the starting gate.
Rosenbalm turns to his daughter, "Fine, you want to be married. You are now longer a Rosenbalm. Let your husband take care of you!" And he shoves her away turning his back on her.
Alex is left standing alone. Her father and Henry have gone to watch the race. What is she going to do? This isn't what she had planned when she said "I do." What had she planned? She had wanted to be by Alec's side. Forever. She thought at least she would be telling her father quietly in his study with Alec by her side. Not in a blaze of fiery words right before a race.
There's a knicker. Yes a lot of horses are nickering, but this one is soft. Just for her. She looks over to the Hopeful stalls. Black. She comes over to him. He hangs his head over the door and calls to her. She comes over and strokes his muzzle. She reaches over and wraps her arms around his neck, to bury her nose in his mane. He lets her stand there and gather her strength with him. No wonder Alec loves him so much.
Alec is in the starting gate. Rosewood's horse arrives late beside him. The jockey tells Alec, "I was told to fix you." Alec cringes inside but shows nothing outside. "But anyone crazy enough to elope with Rosenbalm's daughter and ride for Hopeful is too daring to mess with. Fair race, okay?" Alec nods and the bell rings.
Alec is spurred on by determination. He has to prove his place. He steers clear of the pack. Black Diamond needs little encouragement. They manage to pull along the leader and even win by a nose. No track record, but still a decent win.
At the winner's circle, photographers are around. Black Diamond is prancing. Then Alec feels a blow to the horseshoe scar on his leg. He sees Rosenbalm leave.
Henry is silent as he escorts Alex and Black Diamond back to the stables. Alec knows it is really bad when Henry won't even talk to him. Alec yanks his gloves off, and stuffs them in his helmet. When they reach the stable area he quickly removes the gear without a word to Henry. He resets for the next race. He glances down at the Rosewood stables. James gives Alec a smile. Alec gives him a sideways one back. But that is it. Where is Alex?
He goes for the next race. Third this time with Blackstone. That's it for the day. Time to head back to Hopeful. Still not a word from Henry about the elopement.
Alec is packing up the tack box. Henry is returning from checking out with race officials. Alex comes from the parking lot. She comes to Henry. Henry freezes. She timidly looks up at Henry, "Mr. Daily, would there be room in the van for me to go with my husband?"
Henry stays still. How much water works are there going to be? "How much luggage do you have?"
She holds up her very small purse, "Papa, has disowned me." She tries not to break down, but the tears are starting to slip out. Henry puts his arm around her shoulder and leads her over to Black's stall where Alec is packing a tack trunk.
"Alec, we have one more to load." Alec looks up at Alex. He rises and she steps into his arms. He clasps her head to his shoulder. Henry orders, "I want to be out in ten minutes to beat traffic." Alec nods. He gives her a kiss to her brow. She gives him a nod that she is okay. They will talk later. There is work to do now.
Henry is pleased to see her quickly pack the gear. Rosenbalm is torn between anger and pain as he watches his daughter climb into the Hopeful van followed by her husband. As the Hopeful van pulls out of the stable area, not only do they take the winner's earnings but also his heir… his heart. He is a consoled by the fact that Alec will never hurt her. He does know she will be safe at Hopeful.
The Hopeful van is silent. It's many miles down the road before Henry speaks, "Alec, what are you going to tell your parents?"
Alec clenches his jaw, "I'll bet a phone call arrives before we do."
"That's a lousy answer," Henry retorts. A few more miles of silence and Henry asks again, "Did you get married so I couldn't argue with you about a female hand again?" Alec grips the steering wheel tightly. Alex looks between Henry and Alec. She is curious about the tension.
Alec responds carefully, "Tell me about Clara, Henry." Nothing from Henry.
When they stop for fuel ,Henry makes a phone call. Then he takes over driving. Alec notices they aren't taking the regular way home, but he was in no mood for fighting. He has been going over and over in his mind what he is going to tell his parents.
A few minutes later they pull up in front of a new house. They get out of the truck and Henry knocks on the door. Mike Castillo answers the door with a grin, "Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey! Welcome, welcome." Alec smiles at Henry who clasps the back of his shoulder. Mike leads them into his kitchen. Mike introduces them to his wife Marie. It's a good visit with friends and Italian Wedding Soup.
Alex learns of the long term relationship and respect Alec and Henry have with Mike. Mike lets Alex know she is among friends.
When it was time to leave there were hugs all around. Alex even has one for Henry. The rest of the ride home was a lot more pleasant. Alex tells Henry about the business courses she has been taking. She hopes she can transfer them to Albany. Henry gives her an approving nod.
By the time they arrive home, Alex is driving with Alec giving her directions up the drive. "Welcome to Hopeful." Alex stops the van beside the stables. Alec sighs when he sees his parents on the porch. He is still nervous. He still reaches for his parents approval.
Henry nods to the couple, "Go meet the folks. You will like Bill and Belle. They are good people." A couple of stable hands come out to help Henry.
Alec takes Alex's hand and leads her to the house. He stops at the bottom of the stairs, "Mom, Dad, I would like for you to meet my wife, Alex. Alex, my parents Bill and Belle."
Bill turns to is son, "Alex?"
Alex smiles at the irony, "It's Alexzina, but everyone calls me Alex." Bell can't help herself and dashes down the stairs to embrace Alex and put a kiss on her son's cheek,
"Alexander, this is a much better surprise than the Black!" Everyone laughs.
Alec nods to the stable. Belle, keeping an arm around her daughter in law, smiles, "Let me show you around the house, my dear."
"That would be nice," Alex honestly says. He looks to his father. His father just gives Alec a look, what have you done now, Alexander? Alec goes back to help Henry with the rest of the van while Belle takes Alex inside.
Alex walks into the house. It's nothing like her father's house. This one is warm. It's like she always wanted. A small kitchen with Belle's favorite pots hanging on the wall. The living room has worn loved couches with a homemade afghan laying across the back. There's Bill's favorite chair. She can guess the other one is Alec's. Her husband now. She can see the sports pages on the table. The room is clean. But it's a different kind of clean that her home. This is a clean of love. Not a clean of appropriateness or presentation. She sees the photos on the wall. Alec as a baby. Alec on his Black. Bill and Belle's wedding. Something she doesn't have. Alec's grandparents.
Bill takes her to the den. She can see the plans on the calendar. The order to the desk. A used desk. Not a desk of a business mogul.
Then Belle takes her to Alec's room. Next to his clock is a picture of himself and Black at their first win. On the wall is pictures of himself in the Sahara with the Sheik and Black. There are his favorite worn jeans tossed on a chair. A pile of folded clothes on his dresser, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't get these put away when I heard you pull up." Belle quickly puts Alec's clothes away. She doesn't do his laundry because she has to, she does it for love of her son. Alex's heart is swelling with love. She has to sit down. She sits on the foot of his bed. His bed. She runs a hand along the quilt on the bed. Alex is very quiet. Bell sits next to her. "Are you alright, dear?"
Alex nods. "Did you make this?"
"It's not my best work, but Alec likes it." Belle blushes.
Alec look up to Belle and chokes on her words, "Could you teach me?" The tears start to slide down her face.
Belle takes her hand in hers, "Of course, my dear."
"Can you teach me to make Alec's favorite meals?" Now the tears are really coming down.
"Your mother didn't teach you these things?" Belle looks sorry for her. Alex can only laugh and shake her head. "I'll teach you anything I know." Alex nods. Bell reaches over and hugs her tightly. Now she smiles. Then Belle stands up holding out Alex's hands, "I think the first thing we need to do is make room for you here. Where is your suitcase?" Alex just shakes her head sadly. Belle smiles and distracts her, "Well you aren't exactly Alec or my size, but we should be able to find you something for tonight until I can take you shopping tomorrow. How does that sound?"
Alex smiles and nods. She helps her make room in Alec's room for her. As they leave and head down stairs to make breakfast, Alex asks her, "Can I call you, Mom?"
Belle stops and holds her hand, "I would like that very much."
Alec and Bill come into the kitchen at the smell of bacon, eggs and toast. Alec smiles seeing his upper class wife standing beside his plump round mother in an apron excited at buttering toast. She looks up to him with a radiant smile.
Bill pipes up, "Mmmm, smells good. Now that there is two ladies in the kitchen dinner should be twice as good."
Alex laughs, "I wouldn't count on that, Dad. This is my first lesson in cooking, toast. I hope I didn't burn too many." Alec's heart warms at hearing her call his father Dad. Bill, feels just as warm that she feels that at home. They all sit at the table. Alex turns to Alec, "Where is Henry?"
Alec whispers in her ear, "He wanted this to be a family meal."
Alex returns, "I thought he was family."
Alec's eyes soften and squeezes her hand, "I feel the same way. He wasn't sure, with your background, how you felt." Her smile said it all.
The meal is a good one for Bill and Belle to get to know Alex. They now know, she is not a Prima Donna. They know she is the one Alec had spent the night consoling. They know she has had Alec's heart for a long time.
Belle sends the newly weds off to their room while she and Bill do the dishes.
Alec enjoys making love to his wife in his room. She really enjoys waking up in his arms knowing she is at home now. He is off to the stables before she is ready for the day. But she loves the view from his room over the pasture.
Later that day, Bell takes Alex to town for some farm clothes shopping. Then takes her to the grocery store. Now there was something she wasn't used to. She has a great time picking out Bill and Alec's favorite foods. Now she understands Belle's love for her men in feeding them. Belle teaches Alex how to make chocolate chip cookies. The men come out of the woodwork at the smell of the cookies. Alex really feels at home now. This is the life she wanted.
Belle wants to ask them about children but Bill warned her not to talk about it. Alec can see it on his mother's face but is grateful she keeps it to herself.
The months go by. Alex gets her classes transferred. Bill starts to show her how the classes apply to the farm books. He teaches her the house bills, as well. Bill is very pleased to see she has a good head on her shoulders.
One day Alec and Alex are at the ring working with a two year old when Bill comes to the ring. "Alec, you have a visitor." The couple comes over. Bill stops Alex, "Alec, you better go alone." His father gives him a warning look. Alec hands the lead to Alex and goes alone.
He goes inside the stable. Mr. Rosenbalm. Slowly Alec approaches and looks just as nervous. Alec decides to start, "Hello Mr. Rosenbalm."
Mr. Rosenbalm timidly looks at him. No hand shakes. "Alec, may I call you that?" Alec nods. "Can we talk?" Alec leads him down a path away from the farm and out of sight of the ring. "Have you ever lost some one very important to you?" Alec can't help but give him and amused smile, and nod. "What did you do?"
Alec points to Black racing across the pasture. "Begged, pleaded, and schemed until I was half way around the world searching for him." Black whinnies to him. Rosenbalm can't help but smile. He had heard the rumors of Alec and Black and the Sheik of the Sahara.
They step towards Black. "I lost my Elizabeth about a year ago. We were married for almost forty years. Then her horse, she hand picked out of her father's stock, died. She loved that horse almost as much as Alexzina. More than me, sometimes." He drops his head. "Where does your faith lie?"
Alec reaches for his Black. Black nuzzles Alec. Alec sighs in contentment, "I'm not a religious man. That would be my uncle and mother. But I know He is with me always. It's the only way I could have survived plane crashes, boats sinking, lost in the deserts, suspensions from racing and Henry." Alec can't help but smile. Rosenbalm clearly shows his respect for Alec.
"I wish I had your strength." Black flicks off.
"I will need Him very much when Black's time comes," Alec acknowledges. "It was hard enough to watch Henry when Clara passed. I can't bare the thought of my parents, Henry or even Alex."
Rosenbalm sighs as well, "I have watched enough riders take their crops home. Or turn to a bottle. Or worse. I didn't want Alex to fall into that crowd. I know it can happen among the solidities as well."
Alec can see Rosenbalm's concern. "I will never lay a hand on her. My parents and Henry have taught that to me very clearly. It is not tolerated with our stable hands either. They are fired quickly."
Rosenbalm nods, "I'm sorry Alec. I just couldn't bare the thought of everything I loved being taken away from me with out a choice."
Alec returns the sigh, "We didn't do this to hurt you. We are very sorry. My parents are not real happy with me either. We planned on telling you soon. We were going to wait until her semester courses were finished."
Rosenbalm faces him seriously, "What do you want from me, Alec?"
Alec ponders the question carefully. "We should have asked for your blessing. I guess it's too late for that. I think all we need is your respect."
"No money?" Rosenbalm looks surprised.
Alec stands up straight almost offended, "No. I don't want your money. Alex and I never even discussed it."
"Is she going to keep up her studies?" Rosenbalm is curious.
"Yes. My father wants to retire and she has a head for the books. He is already teaching her to take over. I can then keep my focus on training. Henry wants to retire, again." Alec makes is sound very business like. Like he is addressing a loan officer.
"How are you going to pay for college?" Rosenbalm returns the business tone.
"We will be fine, Mr. Rosenbalm. Alexzina Ramsey is a valuable asset to Hopeful Farms. As such, we will take care of her." Alec starts to turn away, "If you will excuse me, I have work to do."
Rosen balm lays a tender hand on Alec's forearm, "Wait Alec." Alec turns back and sees a concerned broken father. "I had to be sure my daughter was safe and was going to be alright. I had to be sure she was well taken care of."
Alec turns soft, "She is taking care of us just fine. Would you like to see?"
Rosenbalm follows Alec back to the ring. Alex has her hair pulled in to a thick ponytail. She has on a Hopeful Farm t-shirt with the silk's logo on the front and a pair of dusty jeans and work boots. She clicks to a horse on the end of a lead. The horse follows her directions perfectly. She smiles at the horse's response.
She hears the footsteps on the path. She looks up at her husband, "Alec! He's doing it!" She is excited. Then she sees her father behind him. Her heart almost stops, "Papa?"
"Hello, Alexzina." he says softly. She whoas the horse. Alec takes the horse's lead so she can come to her father. She quickly climbs through the fence rails. His face softens. He's not sure if she will accept him after how he treated her. He opens his arms. She sees he is a broken man and steps into his arms. Rosenbalm embraces his daughter securely. She feels so good back in his arms. They just hold each other tightly. Tears come to both of them. "You look very happy," he finally tells her happily.
"I am happy, Papa." He looks down at her. She has dirt on her face. He smiles and tries to brush it away. They laugh. Alec lets the horse off the lead so he can relax. Coiling the training lead over his arm he come back to them.
He smiles up at Alec, "She belongs here. You both have my blessing."
"Thank you." Alec says quietly.
"I have something for you, Alex." He leads them back over to the Rosewood trailer keeping his arm around her shoulder. Alec helps him open the back. Alex squeals with delight. It's Hope. She gets her out. And hugs her tightly. "Are you sure, Papa?"
Rosenbalm nods, "Yes. Your mother would be very pleased."
Bill comes over to the excitement. Rosenbalm turns to Bill, "Mr. Ramsey, you have a fine son."
"And we are lucky to have your daughter with us." The fathers shake hands.
Rosenbalm finally turns back to the newlyweds. He puts an arm around each shoulder, "You must do me a favor, since a big wedding is out of the question, " the couple nod, "Okay then you have to wait until Alexzina has her degree before you have children. I don't want my college tuition money going to waste." There is a gasp and a nod from them. "And what ever you do, DO NOT name your children with anything that starts with an A" He points to his chest, "Anthony!" There's a big laugh from all of them. "And you must have more than one." Even Bill nods at that one.
Then they all head up to the main house for lunch with Belle and Henry.