58. Horse Wife
Horse Wife
MARY
Leaning on the arena fence, I took in Betty’s face on ride number two.
I knew I could return to the house, but wanted to soak her up.
Betty was in her element. Her youth afforded her the ability to ride horses for hours after being drunk for two days in a way it did not for me.
Still, her happiness was infectious as ever.
I ignored the sinking feeling that I’d have to go in a few days and who knew when I’d see her again.
I knew I would. I trusted it would be imperfect most of all the time, as all things were with us, but that the perfect moments would make up for all the lulls.
“She’s on a roll today.” Hank sidled up, resting his arms on the rail. “Boundless energy.”
“I have no idea how. I’m going to be hungover for a week.”
“You all did go a little wild.”
I shrugged. “I suppose it comes with the territory.”
“She’s happy as ever,” Hank said. “I love that for her.”
I did a double take.
“What?” Hank chuckled.
“You’re remarkably well-adjusted for a straight man. That’s all I’m going to say.”
He snickered. “Betty is one of my longest-time clients. I selfishly love when she’s happy. It makes things much, much easier for me. I get the focused, composed version of Betty not the scatterbrained, confused version.”
“I worry I will distract her,” I admitted.
“Nah. She’s very motivated. I worry much more for you than Betty.”
“Why?”
“Because… you’re being dragged along.”
My face dropped.
“No, not like she’s leading you on. It’s not that. To competitions?”
“Yeah. I assume, anyhow?”
“I guess, yeah? I’m still wrapping my head around these beasts, honestly. I don’t mean to sound like a complete wanker, but I do not see the appeal.”
“They’re special to people like us. Nothing you tell us will change that. Betty has been riding since before she could walk. If you try to take the horse from the girl, it won’t work.”
“I’d never dare. I just have no idea what she is saying.”
He patted my back. “Stay with us long enough and you’ll get it. The horse husbands always adjust if they’re going to last. Even if they complain, they get over it. Although, you’re not a horse husband. You’re more of a horse wife.”
I giggled. “Horse wife?”
“That’s about right. You are the one to hold the horse, dust the boots, and wipe hay slobber off a bit.”
I pulled a face.
“Look, I don’t make the rules, but you’ll do it—for her. They all will. Unless you’re too good for the task?”
“No, no, of course not,” I said, confused. “I love her. I want to support her like she does me. It’s more of… timing. I have a huge European tour coming up and worry I’ll never see her.”
“She’s going to be doing her own European tour. I promise I will go easy on her as long as I get her attention when I need it,” Hank said. “I want this to work for her. She deserves that much. Betty is one-of-a-kind.”
I grinned. “She is, yeah. In a beautifully infuriating way sometimes.”
“You’ll figure it out, Mary,” Hank said. “I have a feeling.”
“How does everyone say that?”
“Don’t you feel the same?”
I kicked my shoe in the dirt. “Yes! And that’s what worries me.”
“I know because I know what wasn’t right,” Hank said. “And it’s probably true that you know when you know. I think you two are both old enough. Besides, that girl blew her entire life up—gladly—for your ass. She’d never have done the same for me.”
“Oof, mate.”
“I tell the truth no matter how awful it feels to hear.” Hank rested his face on his hands. “We’ll be around. You’ll see her. I will put her on a plane as needed.”
I smiled, “Good.”
Betty stopped the horse in the arena, calling. “Can someone hold her while I adjust these standards?”
“I could if you weren’t such a diva!” Hank gave her shit.
I realized this was my moment, whether I wanted it or not. “I got you, ?lskling!”
“There you go, horse wife!” Hank teased as I trotted into the arena.
Betty hopped off the horse and raced towards a set of jumps, doing them just so. It took her far too long, but I appreciated how fastidious she was.
Betty gave me a quick kiss, “Can you give me leg up?”
“What? How?”
She demonstrated and I followed course, amazed by how quickly she hopped up atop the chestnut mare.
“You’re cute,” Betty said. “Thanks for being so sweet.”
“I guess I’m a horse wife now,” I said. “I’m stuck with the grunt work.”
“I love you for it.”
I patted her boot. “I love you for so much, Betty. Thanks for holding my hand through all of it and telling me I was worth it.”
She took her reins. “There was never a more deserving person. Live it up. I’ll always be here, elskling.”
And no matter what played on in my mind, belief in Betty’s love deafened the doubts. She was perfect. She was mine.