Black Stallion Hopeful Chapter 18 Alec cringes, "Florida? Why not-" he tries to retrieve the sand bag and remember his count. She puts a tender hand on his shaking one.
"Alexander, this is your home. This is your life. This is for your family."
Alec doesn't move, "Mom, you are family." She retreats her hand and he starts again. She sits down on the stool.
"You know what I mean. I don't want to find your father in the den like Henry."
He cringes, "But Florida?"
She smiles at seeing him uncomfortable, "Come see us in the winter."
He speeds up the reps. "When are you leaving?"
"In an hour." He drops the bag again and looks up to her shocked. What could he say? They both knew it was time but neither of them wanted to face it. She steps forward. He drops his gaze to the sand bag. For all his independence, he always had his parents to fall back on. She stands right in front of him and puts a hand on his strong shoulder. It was too hard to look at the shoulder with the scars. He doesn't move. She lifts her son's prickly chin to face her. She can't help but smile as she touches the freckles forever on his nose. "My little boy. You stopped being my little boy a long time ago. But you certainly have become a man. A gentleman. I'm very proud of you my Alexander William Ramsey. You are a fine horseman. You are a good business man. You are a wonderful father and husband. You don't need us anymore. I should have cut those apron strings a long time ago. But I couldn't let go of my little boy… my young man. I have seen the grown man for awhile, but still reluctant to let you go. I know you can run your own life. You have since you were ten."
She almost laughs. He can only smile at the fact he had snuck out of the house to train in the middle of the night.
"So help you if Ralph or Beth are half a tenacious as you." He stands up and hugs his mother.
"I only pray I will be as strong as you."
Now it's her turn to look up to him, "Honey, I spent your childhood on my knees praying for your safety and cleaning up the mud. I think that is why my knees are shot." They can't help but laugh. This is how Bill found them in the barn. His grown son, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes with his mother.
"Ready, Belle?" Bill asks curiously.
She reaches out for her husbands hand, "Ready for a second honey moon?" Bill kisses his wife sweetly.
Alec can't resist, "Do I get a brother or sister now?"
Belle shakes her head laughing, "Oh good heavens no! My knees can't take anymore!" Alec chuckles heartily with his mother.
Alec walks them to the car. He holds the door for his mother and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Mom.' She strokes his cheek.
"Pray hard, Alec."
"I promise," he manages to choke out.
Alec walks around to his father's side for a tender embrace, "Any last words of advice, Dad."
Bill looks up at the house where Alex is trying to hold the grand children back who are calling for him. "Trust them. Never stop trusting in their abilities. Confide in your wife. Alex is very strong. She has to be with you as her husband." Alex brings the children down to their grand parents for one last hug and kiss. Alec takes Ralph when he is done. Bill wipes the tears from his daughter-in-law's eyes, "Come see us soon."
Alec cringes, "But Florida?"
Bill laughs, "I promise, it's not the Everglades. Besides, Alec Ramsey afraid?"
Alec looks at his father square on, "It's so far away."
Bill puts a hand on his son's heart, "No it's not. We'll be back in a few weeks for the rest of our stuff." It's time to go, but no one moves.
The horn on the hay delivery truck makes the older Ramsey's finally wave, "You have work to do, Mr. Ramsey," and moves off down the road. His father's hand slips out of his as he pulls away. Bill waves to the delivery driver and is gone in a cloud of dust. Alec silently hands Ralph to Alex, "Thank you for marrying me," he kisses her sweetly.
Then he hears Ali, "Hey Aleeeec! Are we going to unload this truck?" Alec turns away from his family to his business.
Alex take the kids to the house. They find their toys in the living room. Alex moves to the den that looks out to the barn. She starts to sort through the papers. Some need to be sent to his sons. Some are bills she needs to pay and close out. She looks up and out the window.
Alec and Ali are on top of the truck with the hands down below to receive. The sun starts beating down. Alec strips of his shirt. Alex takes a sharp intake. It's been a while since she has seen his bare muscles at work. Someone makes a joke about his arm. He shows them that it is still good enough to clean their clock. They all join in the laugh. Ali nods towards the house. Alec turns to look. His wife is watching him. She gives him that look. He blushes. The distance is never too far for that look to still turn him to mush. He blushes. Someone else teases him about that too. He turns back and tosses the next bale at the wise guy.
The sweat may be trickling down his back from the sun, but the heat from the den is burning him even more. He can hardly wait to get back to his home and back into her arms. When do the kids take their afternoon nap?
No one was surprised when Alec disappeared for over and hour. And when he came back, well… they all wished they had wives that close to work. No one dared tease their employer about his afternoon absence.
Alec and Alex fell into a routine of running the farm on their own. Alex would take the kids out for their afternoon walks before their naps. Sometimes they would see Alec and Ali break a new colt. Sometimes it was trial track runs. Other times it was just a walk to the pond. But always time for the kids to see their father at work.
The days that Alec and Ali were out racing, Alex would still take the kids for a walk. Sometimes just so she wouldn't miss her husband so much. Black was always a comfort on those walks.
One day, as Alex heads to the barn, she finds Hope and Black saddled. "How about if we all go for a ride?" It had been such a long time since she had ridden herself. But now with the children, it was like a dream come true. She takes Beth with her on Hope. Alec settles Ralph with himself, "Black, no racing today." Black snorts and shakes his head.
Ralph calls, "Go Black." Alec is surprised at Black listening to Ralph.
It's a wonderful trail ride for the family. The children are all a glee being on the big horses with their parents. Black prances wanting to go faster. On the way back, Alec cinches his arm tighter around Ralph and obliges Black into a slow canter. Alex is a little concerned, but trusts her husband and his best friend. When they arrive back, Ralph is all riled up and excited.
Alec swings a leg over and slides off Black's back with Ralph still in his arms. Black twitches his ears at Ralph's squealing. Ralph reaches out and grabs Black's mane, "No Ralph. Let go"
"No! Again!" Ralph protests. He doesn't want to stop. Alex comes behind with Hope and Beth. She sees Alec has his hands full with fitful Ralph. He is trying to untangle Ralph's hands from Black's mane. Alec looks to Alex for help.
She just smirks at him, "Hum, just had to give him a taste of speed." She swings her leg over and dismounts. She trails a hand down her beautiful husbands back and teases him, "Or is it you who just had to go fast?" She takes Hope and calm Beth to the barn. Alec just shakes his head at her accusation.
"Ralph, you are pulling Black's mane. Be gentle. Help me put Black away." He manages to get Ralph's hand free. Black turns his head towards Ralph and blinks.
Ralph tells Black, "Again?" Black knickers.
Alec hands Ralph the reins, "Later." Ralph relaxes and helps his father put Black into the stall. Alec finishes with the horses while Alex takes the kids to the house and puts them down for their naps.
Then she sighs as she returns to the den. Henry's boxes of paperwork plus Hopeful's bills. She notices a familiar envelope in today's mail. She looks over at Henry's papers. The same envelope. Curious. She opens the one in Hopeful's mail. There letter is dated only a few days before Henry's death addressed to Henry. Had it really been that long since she dealt with Hopeful bills? Must be a post office glitch.
She opens the first one:
Dear Mr. Dailey,
Certainly now that Alec has been severely injured, you will reconsider the sale of The Black. Even in his injured state, I want to acquire him. You know where to contact me.
There is no signature. No name puts chills down her back. She goes through Henry's mail. They came every four months, for years. This person knew everything. She sinks into the chair with a heavy sigh. Every plane crash. Every injury. Every victory. Every loss. Every move Henry and Alec made. Every new acquisition.
The children wake up. She has to set the letters aside to take care of them.
It keeps bothering her. There is a nagging thought in the back of her head. She knows she had seen these envelopes before… where? Then it hits her! Just like a frying pan on her head. She dashes into the den closet. She digs through the closet and finds the box. She rips the lid off. Sure enough, there is a whole box full of them, all addressed to Alec's father. Alec's footsteps are heard entering the house and she remembers dinner! She has to abandon the investigation to save dinner. Alec is almost knocked down by her dashing to the kitchen. He just watches her amused.
"Are you alright, Alex?" He washes his hands in the kitchen sink. She stares at the casserole. It looks salvageable.
She puts on her best fake smile, "Yeah, fine." Alec puts the rolls on the table. She steers the conversation away from her thoughts, "Is Ali joining us?"
Alec smiles, "He has a date."
Just what she needs to hear. "Who?" she is surprised.
"The vet's daughter, Victoria." He goes to the living room and get the children settled for dinner. The children are even good for dinner. After wards, he gives the kids pony rides on himself through the living room while she does the dishes watching her family. She smirks watching him do one armed pushups with the kids on his back. Then he pretends to collapse under their weight when they both climb on at the same time. it's a fit of giggles from everyone.
She gets the kids into their p.j.'s while he secures the barn for the night. When he comes to the nursery, he finds her sitting on the floor with a book in her hand reading to them about Pegasus. But this time Pegasus is black with a red hair rider and freckles. She tugs Beth's thick red curls. Ralph falls asleep in her arms. Alec scoops up Ralph and tucks him into his bed. Alex tucks sleepy Beth into her bed with her favorite blanket.
Then they turn out the light with a goodnight prayer and head down stairs. He settles on the couch with a couple horse magazines. She heads back to the den. She tries to focus on the bills. But her mind keeps turning back to the box in the closet.
After about an hour of fighting with her concentration, he leans on the doorway, "I'm headed up. What about you?" She turns around. He stretches his arms over his head to hang his finger tips on the top of the door frame. He isn't real tall, but certainly taller than most jockeys. But it's the devastating triangular frame of his body he has. The broad shoulders and chest with the trim waist and the lean but powerful thighs. What bills? Training as not changed his physique. What was sitting on the desk calling her name? She wants to crawl into those arms with those callused hands that are as light and sensitive as a feather. "Darling?" he asks her again. He just had to say it with that voice.
She has to turn away. She sees one more of those envelopes left from Henry's box, on the corner of the desk. She keeps her back to him and fights her husky voice, "You know I can't say no to you" He give her a wicked laugh. "But I really have to get to these bills."
He comes to her and pulls her long black hair away from her neck he gives her a light biting kiss on the back of her neck. She reaches back and grabs him by the back of the neck. He drops another one a little closer to her shoulder. "Alec…" she groanly warns. Then he lightly laughs and his soft footsteps are heard retreating. She wants to follow him, but those horses have to be fed.
Finally at two a.m. she comes to her bedroom. She finds him laying on his stomach stretched across the bed diagonally with his arms reaching far above his head. It just has to accent the strength in his shoulders and arms. He has to be wearing only a towel? Even sound asleep, he can turn her on. She takes the liniment and starts at his lower spine and begins to massage him. A groan escapes him. She straddles his hips to get a better position. She carefully pushes and strokes every muscle in his back, shoulders, his arms. Then she turns to his feet, his calves his thighs. Who is getting the massage? His body or her soul? Slowly he turns over and reaches for her. She returns his arms over his head and turns to the front of his arms, his strong chest, his knees, his hips, his lips. He pulls her shirt, she tugs the towel.
The silent tears come to her. Those letters had reminder her of his history and how lucky he is to be alive and in her arms. With every touch of his body, every scar. How sacred life and love is. She tries to hide her tears. He just kisses them away with no questions asked.
At about 4 A. M., before Alec can get up, Alex is up to take care of crying Beth. But he can see Alex's siloet against the moonlit window. As she pulls the nightshirt on, he can't be sure but her belly looked larger. Maybe farm life has her putting on a few pounds. He smiles, she will always be attractive to him. She goes to Beth, and he falls back to sleep. One more hour of sleep and then it's time for him to load up for another day of training.
He gets his own breakfast, seeing her asleep in the rocking chair with Beth in her arms. Oh how he loves his little family.
Later that day, she takes the kids down to the test track. Ali and Alec are trying two new colts out. He looks like he has resolved to becoming a trainer. He can handle the transition. Even though they haven't had the conversation yet. She will wait for him to bring it up. "Go Dada go!" Ralph calls as the horses thunder by kicking up clods of dirt. Yes, she can remember the times she would help him train those horses.
Finally Ali and Alec bring the horses around for a cool down. She waves him over. "How is it going?" he refers to her being up late last night with himself and Beth.
She gives him a secret smile, "Fine." He smirks back, She pulls one of the mystery envelopes from her back pocket., "Have you ever seen this before?"
He takes it and looks it over. She had removed the letter, no need to start a problem. He is very curious, "I don't think so. Mom handled most of the personal correspondence. I only got a few letters," he winks at her.
"Horse puckies, stud!" she banters back at him. She knows how many fan letters he got. And still gets. Most from young boys and girls addressed to Black. Alec would answers those with Black's hoof print. But after he started dating Alex, he had gotten more romantic or solicitation issues. But his mom never opened the ones from Alex.
He hands her the envelope back, "Why?"
"Oh just curious. I found a bunch in Henry's stuff," she tries to keep her voice light and off handed. Luckily Ali calls to him. Alec nods that he has to go.
Beth calls, "Bye' Dada!"
"See you later, sweet heart," he smiles at his daughter.
Alex heads back to the house and digs through Bill's box of letters. She begins to shake as she find out how long this person has been tying to get Black and Satan. Apparently, Bill and Henry answered at first that neither were for sale. It didn't deter the person. They kept at it. Bill and Henry ignored the letters after that. So why continue?
Chapter 19 Alec brought the mail with him when he came in for lunch. Alex quickly flipped through the letters. The same mystery envelope arrived. But this time addressed to her: Alexzina Ramsey. She hid it from Alec and served lunch.
Quietly she approaches the subject again at the table, "Alec, we need to talk."
"Not now." he quietly returns.
She puts a tender hand on his, "When?"
He quickly finishes his lunch. He takes the plate to the sink and keeps his back to her, "After the next race."
"I'm going to the next race." Her words freeze him. She knew by his tone he planned one last ride for himself. "I'll be sitting in Rosewood's box." He hesitates for just a moment and then silently heads out the door. He knows she doesn't approve.
The next few days are tense between them. Barely a word is spoken. Neither wants to say something that will start the worst fight they will ever have.
The older Ramsey's call one day. Alex talks to Bill about the letters without Alec around. She tells him about he one she received. The letter knew the Ramsey's had moved and that Henry was dead. But that was no secret. It claims Bill and Henry had promised to sell Black at the next race. Alex was frightened they were being stalked. Bill and Henry had been concerned about nut-jobs too. They had agreed not to tell Alec. Alec would have just hunted the guy down and done something rash. The decided to ignore the letters. The knew legally they held Black and Satan's titles. Henry said it was a ploy to throw off their racing career. Henry was just a stubborn. But Bill had notified the sheriff, against Henry's wishes.
When Bill talked her, he asked if they'd had the talk. She told Bill her fear of him riding in a race again. Bill promised to be at the next race with an attorney waiting at the farm upon their arrival home. Alec wouldn't be able to avoid this anymore. Henry's probate had already be settled.
Then Alex took a big sigh. Bill knew there was something else, even heavier on her mind, "Alex, are you alright? There is something else, isn't there?"
She almost burst into tears by his soft concern, "Bill… Alec doesn't know it. How am I going to tell him?"
Bill is afraid what she is going to tell him, "Do you still love him?"
She laughs that Bill thought she wants to leave Alec, "It's not that." Now she is laughing so hard, "I love him so much. In fact, so much… that we did it again."
Bill sighs and then laughs just as hard. And then the laughing subsides. The seriousness sets in, "You're afraid of what the doctor said."
She sniffs, "Bill, I'm afraid for his life when he races. I know he is afraid for my life… carrying his love."
"Oh sweetheart, it's going to be alright. I won't lie and say I'm not concerned, but God has a reason, alright?" He can hear her nod. "Wait until I get there to tell him."
She giggles again, "It's getting hard to hide. I'm sorry, Bill, especially with …"
Bill just laughs remembering the passionate kisses he has seen his son give, "I'm glad to hear you are both very much in love." She laughs with him. "Now, go get that boy." Alex laughs and sets the phone down.
She goes to the porch and uses Alec's whistle. His head pokes out of the barns. She motions "phone call". He rushes to the house, "Your parents," she informs him. Then she takes the kids for a walk so he can have a quiet house.
A couple weeks later, they all head out to the races. Rosewood hosts a cocktail party for the owners. Seeing how Alec and Alex are family, they are in attendance. This time Alex has her eyes out for who could be sending those letters. Alec is concerned about her distraction, but feels that is reflective against him about the conversation he refuses to broach.
The band strikes up. He smiles at her and takes her to the dance floor. He's going to distract her. She is reluctant to go. She's afraid he will figure out she has lost her waist again. But she can't resist those blue eyes for long, she smirks to herself, the irony of it all. With a slip of his arm around her waist, she's got a her hand on his lapels and the other entwined with his fingers. He says nothing about her figure. She wants to say something. She wants to tell him everything. But he smiles and leans in with a tender kiss. He doesn't want to hear, he just wants to be one with her right now. She holds on tighter. Her body is in tune with him. As much at he can fly down that race track in one motion with his horses' gait, now his body is in one motion with hers. Not a stumble for either, she is honed in with him, his body is molded to hers. They can't feel or see anyone. There is no need to speak. They are of one mind and body. The song is "At Last"
At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over.
And my life is like a song
At last, the skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover.
The night I looked at you.
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own.
I found a thrill I could press my cheek to
A thrill I had never known
Oh you smiled, you smiled
Oh then the spell was cast
And Baby, here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last
She is his thrill. He holds her closer and takes her around the dance floor. She holds this moment tightly, knowing life changes quickly.
The strings draw out the very last note. Conner and very pregnant Trisha side up to them. Alex lifts her head from Alec's kiss when Conner speaks, "Well, hello Ramseys."
Trisha smiles grand, "Alex, I'm so glad you could make it!"
Conner reaches into his pocket and draws out the envelope and taps is on the palm of his hand, "I'm sorry, Alex, but this arrived today for you." He has a grim look on his face. The color drains from her face. He hesitates to give it to her. She is afraid to take it.
"What is it, Alex?" Alec is serious. It takes a lot these days to effect her this way.
Conner is shocked at Alec reaction, "You haven't told him?"
Alex is even more shocked to Conner, "Do you know about these?"
Conner nods, "I thought only Rosewood and Violence were getting these. Are you getting these because of Rosewood?"
Reluctantly Alex shakes her head, "Apparently they have been coming for years."
Conner nods, "You better read this one now." Alex stares at the envelope in her hand, "Maybe later." Conner frowns.
Alec plucks the envelope form her hands and tears it open before she can protest:
Mrs. Ramsey,
As I have said in my last note, you better hand over The Black to my associate at the May Belmont race. He is my horse. So is Satan. If you don't, you will be sorry.
Alec's anger quickly straightens his back. "What is this?" Alec's temper is flaring for this note and that Alex would keep this extortion from him.
Then he looks at the fear on Conner and Trisha's face. Conner turns to Alex, "I'm supposed to hand over Rosemont and Rosebud. He claims your father sold them." Alex nods.
Alec keeps his anger toward Alex reined in as he faces her, "What is going on?" Trisha tugs Alec's sleeve, "Why don't we go to the library. Conner, go get Mr. Violence. I'll get Anthony." She leaves.
Alec silently goes with Alex to the library. They don't have to wait long for the others to join them.
Anthony explains the letters Conner had gotten after he received the estate. Violence states he had been getting them for a couple years. Alex is reluctantly tells Alec that she found Henry and Bill's letters. Alec gasps that his business partners had kept it from him for so long.
Violence doesn't give Alec time to dwell on that, "The real question is, what are we going to do about it? My private investigator hasn't come up with any leads and there is no way I am turning over my horses."
Alex reaches over and grabs the phone calling her local sheriff. She explains the situation, the sheriff agrees to make extra patrols in their area. Then she calls Hopeful, they agree to bring Black into the stables and padlock his and Satan's doors.
Anthony makes a suggestion, "Why don't we all sit together tomorrow. I'll notify track official of the situation."
Alec jumps up and tears at his bow tie, "I'm going to the stable. Ali needs his rest."
Alex reaches out for his hand, "I'll go with you."
He leans over and grabs both of her hands with a lump in his throat, "They can take all the horses, including Black and Satan before they harm on hair on my family's head. I need you to protect them." Then he kisses her solidly and flees the room.
The room is silent. What else can be said? He said it for all of them. Anthony puts an arm around his daughter. She smiles up at her father.
"I love that man," Anthony said. They all laugh knowing how he wanted to kill Alec just a few years before.