I think things are going well, as well as than can possibly go anyway. The only downside seems to be this one group of Privates that just hate my guts for no reason! For the past month all they've done is prank me. I know I should see it coming, but somehow they always seem to catch me off guard! I'm such a dreamer, I tend to space out and not be very aware sometimes. And they seem to notice, because the moment I lower my guard, BOOM, they hit me!
For the past three days though there have been no pranks, it's been raining a lot lately so we've been doing a lot of sitting in a room and learning about different formations and attacks. It's like history class, only with guns. I've never been more bored in my entire life! Worst part is though, if I draw on my paper I'll get reprimanded for it. That was how I used to keep myself occupied during class in 2012, now I have to think of other ways to keep myself entertained through these lessons.
Today should be a good day though! The sun is out, and the horses have been brought outside and are standing in rows outside the stable to get some fresh air as they're groomed and saddled. My horse is still in the stall though, because I haven't moved him yet. I bet he's really eager to get out, so I quickly finish getting myself ready and crawl out of my tent, heading towards the barn.
As I approach I notice that something isn't quite right. Then I see them, the whole group of them, standing outside of Sparks' stall. I can hear the stallion pawing the stall door eagerly as they stand there "You wanna go outside huh?" they ask him. I quicken my pace but I'm not fast enough, the leader of their little group opens the stall door wide open and Sparks comes charging out just as I reach the stable door. I can hear them laugh as I turn "Sparks!" I shout, running after him. He doesn't heed me, he just continues galloping.
Looks like I'll be getting my morning exercise before everyone else! I run as fast as I possibly can, in a desperate attempt to catch Sparks before Major Stewart or Captain Nicholls see me. Sparks turns and charges right down the row of horses, and the horses and riders all look up with amused faces as they watch me charge after the while stallion calling for him at the top of my lungs. I see Perkins leap up in front of Sparks with his arms raised, as though to stop him. For a moment it looks like he might succeed, but at the last moment Sparks veers around him and continues on his merry way.
I feel the adrenaline pumping through me as I keep running after him. He begins heading towards the tents and I push myself to run even faster after him, I can't have him knocking down people's tents! Then I'll have to fix them all and I couldn't even pitch my own! Sparks holds his head high as he runs and leaps over the tents easily, it's as though he's laughing as me! As if this is some kind of game! I continue chasing him as he heads towards the path we went down on our first ride, the one that leads to the field where they practice battle charges.
He's out of sight for a while as we wind down the trail through the woods, but once I make it to the field I get a clear view of him and once again I run as fast as I can after him. However the grass is a bit tall and it makes it slightly difficult to keep up the same pace I had when I was chasing him down on pavement. Sparks skirts the outside of the field, staying on the edge by the treeline. He seems to have slowed to a canter, but that doesn't exactly help me any. Out of the corner of my eye I see Charlie and Jamie sitting on their horses, with a group of other men and horses. Jamie turns Topthorn and begins trotting my way.
As they approach Sparks, Topthorn launches into a lazy looking canter, and Jamie easily overtakes the big white stallion, skillfully tossing a white rope around his neck and pulling him to a halt. I slow slightly as I approach them and practically collapse on Sparks' shoulder, wheezing. I've never run so hard in my life. I look up at the Major and he looks irritated "Private, I'll expect to have a word with you today after your training" he says, handing me the rope. I salute him and nod "Yes sir!" I reply. He turns Topthorn on his haunches and canters back over to the group and I take a minute to catch my breath before beginning the long walk back towards the stable.
Sparks nudges me as we walk through the woods and I look at him "What was the meaning of that Sparks?" I ask him in between breaths. He shakes out his mane as though he clearly enjoyed himself and I sigh "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, but now you've gotten me in a load of trouble!" I say. When we reach the stable yard everyone looks up at me as we walk past. Perkins looks relieved I caught him, and hands me Sparks' halter so I can tie him up outside.
Once he's tied I begin rubbing him down. After that gallop how am I supposed to work him today? He probably tired himself out already! I guess we'll just have to work lightly. I finish grooming him and tack him up, mounting and joining the others in my group. Thankfully today we'll be working in the school. Sparks seems to be just fine, but after about two hours of riding, I can feel him tiring under me. Captain Nicholls seems to notice too "Private Phillips! Bring that horse to the center!" he says. Oh great, now I'm in trouble for the second time today!
I bring Sparks to the center of the ring and the Captain examines him "How hard have you worked him? He's exhausted!" he says. I tell him about the gallop he'd had earlier and he actually chuckles "Ah, well at least you caught him in the end. Still, I can't have you working him anymore. Cool him down and put him in his stall. With some rest tomorrow I'm sure he'll be alright again" he says. I nod and thank him before dismounting and walking Sparks out of the school and towards the post outside the stable.
The group that had been out in the field with Jamie has now replaced my group on the posts outside. They don't seem to notice as I tie Sparks at the end of the line and untack him, rubbing him down for the second time that day. Once that's done I lead him back into the stable and put him in his stall. I take a deep breath, now I'm going to have to go face Jamie. What if he figures out that I'm a girl under interrogation? If that happens he'll throw me out of the cavalry for sure! That would be horrible, we're going to be shipped out in another month or so!
But, what if he's the answer to my prayers? I can tell him about those men who have been bullying me. Of course, I'm going to have to play it right, so as not to sound like a coward who can't defend themselves. Alright, I'm ready to face him! I give Sparks a final pat before closing his stall door and heading towards Jamie's quarters. When i reach the door I straighten out my uniform, fix my cap, and then knock on the door. He asks who it is and I say my name, he tells me to enter.
His office is immaculate, all the papers on his desk are piled neatly, and anything hanging on the walls has not a speck of dust on it. It motions to a chair and I sit down. He leans back in his chair and looks me in the eye, taking quick drag of his cigarette before asking "Now, would you care to explain what your horse was doing galloping across Salisbury Field this morning?". I swallow, suddenly I'm afraid of messing up again. I'm not exactly the best talker around, but it's too late now! I begin explaining to him how I was walking to the stables to get my horse when a group of men, who had been harassing me lately, had opened the door and let the horse free. I'd tried to catch him, but neither I nor Perkins could catch him, and the chase ended up in the field.
Throughout my story Jamie seems to be examining me with a critical eye, as though trying to see through me, trying to see if I'm lying. When I finish he puffs some smoke casually before asking "Would you care to give me the names of those men who released your horse this morning?". I have to use all my strength not to look shocked or scared at his question, he's using this to see if I'm lying! If I tell him who has been bothering me, I'll be free. If I don't, he'll think I made the whole thing up, that I was incompetent in caring for my horse and he managed to get away from me. But, I don't know the names of those men!
I bow my head "I'm sorry sir, I don't know their names" I tell him. He snuffs out his cigarette "Well, since you can't come up with the names, then the responsibility falls on you. You're to polish tack for the next 2 weeks, no excuses, after training I want every buckle, stirrup iron, and piece of leather shining! That includes all the tack in the stables, and the tack in Captain Nicholls' office. You start tomorrow. You're dismissed" he says. I sit there for a moment before managing to stand and walk out. Great, just great. There are 120 in this unit each with different pieces of tack, and that doesn't include the tack in Captain Nicholls' office! If I remember correctly, he had quite a bit of stuff hanging on the walls!
When I reach the mess hall some people look at me and snicker, news must travel quickly around here. I don't feel that hungry, so I grab an apple and head to the stables. Sparks has his head hanging over the stall door when I get there and I rub his nose before grabbing a bucket and entering his stall. I lock the door behind me and put the bucket down, perching on top of it and taking a bite out of my apple "Oh Sparks, what the hell am I gonna do?" I ask him.
He lowers his head, clearly interested in my apple. I finish it and feed him the core before leaning back on the bucket so my back is against the wall. I close my eyes for a moment, all that running is suddenly taking its toll on me! The next thing I know I am being nudged by someone and I open my eyes to see Charlie standing over me "Hey, get up!" he says. I rub my eyes and look around, Sparks is lying in the corner of the stall, dozing "What time is it?" I ask. Charlie smiles sympathetically "Almost 5 AM" he replies. I groan, that means I slept all night on a bucket! Propped against a wall!
I stand up and stretch before Charlie tells me I have enough time to get back to my tent and clean myself up for the day. I thank him before trudging sleepily towards my tent. When I get there, my pillow and blanket look so inviting, it feels as though I didn't sleep a wink! But I have a lot to do today, and I'm already in trouble! I can't afford to be late this morning because I slept in! I take some water and splash it on my face, wetting my hair and combing it before replacing my cap. I've started to grow fond of this cap actually, and this uniform.
The morning bugle sounds and I get out of my tent, heading to the mess hall with everyone else. I have some eggs and milk before heading to the stables to get Sparks. I make sure to leave before everyone else, so that those men won't have a chance to get Sparks loose again. I take Sparks outside and tie him to a post, spending the extra time to groom him until his coat glistens in the sun. About an hour later everyone else comes, and an hour after that we're all riding out behind James towards the practice field. He says our little group is going to have a practice charge or two, so that we're ready for the big practice charge at the end of the month.
The rest of the day is spent doing charges and maneuvers. As James said, Sparks is back to normal after resting last night, and he doesn't falter for an instant. Finally we finish and head back, and I make quick work of untacking and putting Sparks away. Lord knows I have a lot of tack to polish. I head to the tack room, opening the door and groaning at the sight. There are so many saddles, and so many bridles, and so many other pieces of tack, it boggles my mind! I take a deep breath and grab some saddle soap and a sponge, sitting down, I set to work.
It takes me a good 3 hours, but I finally make it through the entire tack room. Once all that's done, I take my things and head over to the Captain's quarters. I knock on the door and he tells me to come in. He's sitting at his desk drawing, and I smile sheepishly "I'm here to clean tack" I tell him. He nods "Ah yes, Jamie told me about that. It shouldn't take you all that long" he tells me. I take down a bridle and begin scrubbing it, he looks up at me "Sit down, relax. Jamie may be punishing you but I'm not" he says. I thank him before sitting in one of the wooden chairs and beginning to scrub again.
The phonograph is playing 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary" and it helps me relax as I continue to clean the tack. It's been so long since I heard music, and I used to love music so much! In my own time period, I wanted to be a Broadway actress! I sigh at the thought, those were the days. I haven't sung in so long, I'm probably not that good anymore. I used to be a soprano, I remember singing for the first class on the Titanic. My heart clenches and I mentally slap myself, no! That is behind me! I'm not going to think about it anymore!
Before I know it all the tack is clean, and I'm just about to leave when James stops me "Since you worked so diligently, I thought you deserved something. Here, I drew this a few years back, I thought you might like to have it" he tells me, handing me a piece of paper. I look down at it and I can't help but smile, it's a picture of Sparks! He looks so grand! I look up at the Captain "Thank you! You certainly draw well!" I tell him. He blushes modestly "Oh, it's just a hobby, I'm really not that good. Certainly no Monet".
I laugh "Monet draws landscapes" I tell him and he chuckles "Well yes..." we're interrupted by Jamie coming in "Private, have you quite finished?" he asks. I nod "Yes sir, I was just leaving actually. Thank you Captain" I say. He nods "Thank you" he says quietly so Jamie can't hear. As I leave I can't help but feel bummed that Jamie interrupted us. I wonder for a moment if I find myself, attracted, to the Captain. He's certainly handsome, he's the kind of man I'd been after in the future. Blonde hair, blue eyes, charming, sweet, funny, a true gentleman. No! No, I'm not doing this! I didn't join the cavalry to fall in love with handsome officers! I promised my fiance I wouldn't fall in love with anyone else in this time period, and it's a promise I intend to keep!
When I reach my tent I duck in, tossing my cap to the side I bury my face in my pillow. I'm so exhausted, I don't even care that I'm hungry! I close my eyes and almost immediately fall into a dream. I'm standing on the bow of a ship, the sun setting over the horizon. Someone has their hands around my waist and I turn my head to see my fiance standing there. He smiles and kisses me and I kiss him back "I miss you" I tell him. He smiles sweetly "I know" he replies. I turn around and fall into his arms and he begins running his fingers through my hair, which is now back to being shoulder length "I won't break my promise, I won't" I tell him.
He takes a step back away from me, grabbing my hands "Listen to me, I love you, I want you to be happy. The only way I'll ever be happy is if you are. If you love another person, and they make you happy, then be with them" he tells me. I shake my head "Never, I love you!" I assure him. He kisses me before beginning to fade away "Don't doubt yourself. There's room in your heart to love someone else, actually, there's room for three more loves. You'll have to choose, or fate will choose for you" he tells me. What is he talking about? I try to reach him but he vanishes, and with him the ship around me falls away and I'm left in the dark.
I jolt awake, pulling out my pocket watch, I see that it's nearly 2:20 AM. I sigh and snap shut the golden pocket watch, tucking it back under my pillow where I've been keeping it safe. I'm almost afraid to go to sleep again, in fear of another dream. So instead I lie awake and try to process what my fiance just told me. Love three more people? Well I know I like James as a friend, and Charlie too, but who could that third person possibly be? I shake my head, what does it matter anyway! I don't care what he said, I'm not breaking my promise to him! Too tired to stay awake and think about it anymore, I fall back asleep, only this time, thankfully, I don't have anymore dreams.
Two chapters in one night? Aren't you all special? Well I had this idea in my head and I couldn't just go without typing it, so here you go. I'm actually on a bit of a roll here, so there might even be ANOTHER chapter by tomorrow! But that all depends on the weather and how lazy I'm feeling.
Now people, reviews are important. SO PLEASE REVIEW! That is all, Thanks for Reading!