Six

At the end, Katie won. Scores 4:2, Pearl could already imagine her daughter planning when she would teach him the game but as she sweet as she was, allowed him to teach her how to chess but for her? She needed to teach someone a lesson.

Now, she looked towards the tree, William was teaching Katie how to stay on a horse and since Katie was a fast learner she was able to go up and climb down the horse and she could even move it an inch.

'You should come and learn too.' She heard.

She moved her gaze to him. 'I prefer watching them from a distance; it is more beautiful like this.'

William looked at her. 'Haven't you ever had a pet or those Pictures of animals you take, haven't you ever dreamt of touching them or coming close to them.'

'I have, I am not in the mood today.'

William snuffed. 'I perhaps, you are scared it will change into a monster and all your dreams will be crushed?'

She looked away; she didn't like it when he could read her.

'Thanks William, not just in the mood.'

He shrugged.

'Mom, please.' Katie added.

Pearl put more effort to stand and move towards them, in order to prove to him, she wasn't afraid or in the mood, she touch the horse and her heart melted for it, it was soft and warm beneath her skin, it was like she felt the whole energy in its body with just one touch.

'Did it bite?'

She looked at him with a go-to-hell look.

She pulled her hand from it. 'There, are you happy?'

He smiled. 'Now to teach you how to climb...'

'What!' She shook.

He looked at her and pats his horse. 'It is going to easy.'

'What?'

He moved to her and tried to get her on the horse but she shrieked.

'What are you doing?'

'Teaching you how to ride a horse.'

With eyeballs wide opened. 'You think I want to learn, well I don't.'

He tried to hold her again. 'Leave me, you can't force me, let me go!'

He moved away from her as the horse shrieked and she bolted away.

'I'm sorry.' He heard him say.

She looked at him then turned to her daughter. 'Honey, let's go.'

'Mom….'

But she didn't wait, she just walked on, packed up the picnic and headed towards the car, Katie ran after her.

William heard his son saying; 'Girls, so scare of everything.'

William just looked on as she stunned away. 

She sighed as she was about to retire to bed; after what happened today, he changed totally, she didn't even see William for lunch or dinner, was it because of what happened that he is avoiding her?

Feeling his horse was the best thing that ever happened to her, it had a lot of life in it, the horse looked so fragile but it had a lot of energy.

She stood up, she headed to Katie's and she was fast asleep, she closed the door and walked out; She wanted a walk.

She walked towards the stables, she didn't take any light with her because it was the full moon and it glowed a lot, it guided her way.

She stopped in front of William's horse in the stables; so it felt it that was why it couldn't sleep too. She placed a hand to its body again and this time she move close and rested on its body; it very nice indeed.

'I'm sorry. I'm very sorry, I was very scared.' She told the horse.

'But you are the most beautiful animals, I have ever seen.' She smiled as she spoke to him.

'I wished I knew how to ride but you have a very handsome rider, he loves you a lot.'

The horse nodded.

'I think he is angry with me but since you know him so well, so please ask him to forgive me.'

The horse shrieked. 'I'm really sorry, believe me.' She said trying to convince the horse; who thinks she is lying.

'Will you be able to apologise to him in person?'

She nodded looked at the horse. 'Yes, I will.'

'Then you let me carry you, right?'

She sighed. 'If it means you have forgiven me, I will.'

'Okay.'

She stopped for a while and looked carefully at the horse, the horse talk back to her? No, unbelievable.

'Did you talk to me?'

The horse shook its head.

'Who did?'

'Me.' she heard from behind her.

She turned and almost fell into its barn but the door saved her.

'What are you doing?' She asked as she placed a hand on her chest.

'Do you want to kill me?'

He just smiled walked past her to the horse, unlocked the latch and brought it out.

'Where are you taking it?'

He stopped and looked at her. 'You mean Alex. He is going for his walk, he does this every night.' He said and moved ahead.

She looked at him; what will she do now?

She caught up with him as she wondered if he heard everything she told his horse.

'How long were you here?'

'Been here a long time. Throughout today I think.'

'I mean…..did you hear everything I told the horse.'

Then he smiled. 'What if I did, what if I didn't, it will not put the words back into your mouth.'

She placed her hand on her mouth.

He left the horse free but it stood looking at them.

'What are you doing out here?'

She shook her head. 'I couldn't sleep.'

He nodded. 'Sometimes it happens.'

She nodded too, looking at the horse.

'Since you are here, let's make good use of the time….' He told her.

She blinked.

'I am referring to the promise you made to Alex.'

She took a step backward. 'I didn't know you were the one answering me and either ways, your horse is not interested.'

He smiled. 'This isn't for the animal in question to be interested; it is for the victim to be interested.'

She swallowed. 'Victim?'

He laughed. 'Come on it will be fun beside I won't let you slip or get hurt.'

She looked at his face searching for the assurance that he was telling the truth.

'Are you certain?'

'Why will I let you get hurt, you are responsible for my son and so I am responsible for you.'

She gave him a look. What did he mean by that?

'I mean....you render and I reward and at the end; it is either we lose or win, it is your call.'

She looked at the horse; maybe it won't be so bad, she should do it for Katie; maybe they could ride a horse together, it won't hurt beside the master assured her. She took a deep breath.

'Okay, what do I have to do?'   

He smiled and took the reins of the horse on one hand and put his hand for her to climb on to the horse.

'Are you sure, it is safe?' She asked him as she held him and tried to climb on the horse.

'It is safe, just lean on me.'

She shrieked she felt her hands shook all over him; it would be hard for her to lean on him like he is suggesting. When did she get here? She looked at the face that was close to hers, when he turned to her; she panicked and staggered in his hands, she came down before she was able to go up.

'What is the problem?' She heard him asked her.

How can he ask her what the problem was, when he was right in front of her?

She shook her head. 'Nothing.'

He smiled and inhaled and exhaled, she looked at him and wondered, why was he doing that, isn't he feeling as tense as she is right now? 

She closed her eyes and climbed on his hands. 'Try and focus on what you are doing, ignoring every other thing.' She listened to his voice.

She sighed. She could do this. She tried to focus on his instruction and that was when she moved closer to his neck as she held on to him and the horse.

He smell of apples, opening her eyes, she saw the bone on his neckline, he pushed her up.

'Cross your legs over the horse, close your eyes if you can but cross your legs.'

She did that, she clapped her hands and cheer but she wasn't done yet, she was not balanced on the horse.

'Try to be stable, it will do too.'

When she didn't it she smiled. She knew how to sit on a horse, isn't that great?

'What do I do now?'

He smiled. 'Get down and go back up.'

She nodded. She watched him stand by the horse and stretched his arms to her, he brought her down holding her waist, she saw the colour of his eyes; they were grey and he had fine lashes and he had fine lips.

She try hard not to look at them too much but he was looking at her and she wondered why, she got herself when her feet touched the ground, she moved away from him but not completely, he was still holding her.

'You are really handsome.'

She saw him smile, why was he smiling? 'Thank you.'

What did she say?

He gaze moved back to the horse; 'Sometimes, you will have to get down by yourself.'

She nodded as she felt him released her already.

'Master William?'

He looked at her. 'Yes?'

She sighed. 'I will like to go back to my room now.'

His face changed showing disappointment. 'So soon but…..'

'I'm sorry, master...'

'Call me William.'

She sighed again. 'William.'

'It was really nice but I have to get back to my room.'

He nodded. 'I will see you tomorrow, we could continue....'

She looked at him one last time.

'Goodnight, William.'

He nodded at her. 'Goodnight, pearl.'

She walked to the house as fast as she could making sure William didn't see her almost on her heels; at least it was better she left before her sub consciousness abandons her.

She perceived toast from her bed; freshened up and went down; the children were already seated round the table so was the rest including William.

She said good morning, giving Jacob and Katie kisses, she took her seat then the maids dish the food.

She saw Patrick lean towards her on the table.

'I'm sorry about the other day, Ms Jackson.'

All faces glanced her way and back to Patrick.

'This is new.' She heard William say with a smile.

She smiled at him; 'Call me Pearl, everything has been forgotten.' She told him; how could he remember that?

'Patrick, what suddenly happened? Everything became white this time?' Molly asked him jokingly.

Patrick smiled. 'I was just pissed but I'm okay now.'

'Well, next time you will try not to transfer aggressions.' William told him.

'I said; I'm sorry, William.'

He made a dismissive face and they all went back to their meals, everybody will be fine, even her, will she be fine?

She glanced at William as he ate; he looked so cute; when she got back last night, she ended up turning and turning on the bed, she couldn't get any sleep, she had to convince herself that everything that happened was just a nightmare; a sweet beautiful nightmare.

'Pearl.'

She looked at the direction she heard her name. 'Yes?'

'What are you thinking about this early morning?'

She shook her head and faced her meal.

'I want to take the kids out would like to join us?'

Before she could even think twice about his offer, he was just trying to be nice.

'Out? Where to dad?' Jacob asked him.

'The town fair.' He told his son as Jacob turned back to Pearl.

'Say yes, you will like it there, I only go there often, please come with us, we will do everything you tell us, I promise.' They heard Jacob plead to her.

She looked at her daughter; who said nothing but quietly ate her food. If she didn't give permission or go with her; Katie wasn't leaving her sight.

She nodded and smiled at Jacob and turned to William. 

'Okay, for the kids.'

He smiled back.

What was this sudden thing?

'William, Elizabeth is coming today.' Patrick reminded him.

He nodded. He knew that and he will meet her just as he had promised, for now…

'Molly, please entertain her, till I get back.'

Molly nodded with a smile.

Pearl watched him turn to the kids. 'Katherine, how was the game of chess with Jacob?'

Pearl took a sip of her juice as Jacob dropped his spoon and looked at his father.

'Dad, she was cheating...'

'I wasn't, you can't accept defeat especially from a girl younger than you.' Katie retorted back.

'You were cheating! Cheater!'

William smiled. 'What are the scores?'

'One to three.'

'Dad! She was so cheating.' Jacob told his father as people round the table laughed.

'Who taught you?'

'I did and she outsmarted me, she is just showing off, when I am in the full swing, I'll beat you.'

Katie looked at him. 'It isn't my fault you don't know how to play.'

Jacob changed into a sober. 'I know how to play; you just didn't give me the chance to win.'

They all laughed.

'What about you, Pearl?'

She shook her head. 'Not a fan of chess.'

He smiled. 'I could teach you.'

She smiled. After what happened yesterday in his teaching…..

'Don't bother, since you thought Jacob and Jacob taught Katie, Katie will teach me.'

'Isn't it better to learn from the master?' Patrick asked her.

'Sometimes, the student becomes the teacher and then the master, play with Katie and prove your title.'

Jacob turned to Katie. 'You can't compete with dad.'

Katie just laughed just as her mom taught her; 'it won't hurt to try'

Katie looked at her mom as they exchanged glances.

'William, are you scared?' Molly asked him when he didn't say anything.

He sighed. 'Alright, you are on, Katie, when we get back, we will play.'

She nodded. 'Okay.'

They laughed.

'What is the prize?'

She couldn't believe it. 'She is just...'

'You get something for something.' Patrick told her.

'Yes and something interesting.' Jacob added.

She looked at Molly and Katie who looked back at her. 'Fine, anything you want.'

'Dad…..'Jacob called with a smile.

He nodded. 'I will tell you what I want later, for now hope Katie wins.'

Patrick nodded. 'When you bet with William....'

'You have to do it.' Molly completed for him.

She laughed.

William smiled at them; this was the kind of family, he wanted a happy family.