Chapter 0148

A few hours later, I’m leading Heathcliff back into the stables from our ride. We didn’t go in the ring today, but instead spent most

of the early afternoon trotting around the property, admiring the scenery. It’s a beautiful landscape with beautiful vistas and as I

rose I resented, a little, that I hadn’t been allowed to ride freely out here before.

But then again, I’m not as interested in what I’m allowed to do as I used to be.

The day is growing hot, and both Heathcliff and I have a light sheen of sweat on us as we walk into the stables. I wipe it from my

forehead with the back of my arm, looking forward to wetting Heathcliff down with the hose and taking a nice long drink from it

myself, when I see him.

Just standing there, in the middle of the aisle that runs between the line of stable stalls. His arms crossed, his feet spread wide

apart.

Glaring at me.

Heathcliff surprises me by checking his step a bit, apparently intimidated by the raw animal fury that we can both sense coming

off of the predator standing there. But I click my tongue at the horse, tugging his lead rope and asking him to come a long with

me. I don’t check my stride at all, barely glancing at Kent as I make for Heathcliff’s stall.

After a moment, Heathcliff follows.

If Kent wants to talk to me, he can damn well wait until I've taken care of my horse.

I take a minute to settle Heathcliff in his stall, tying his rope to a metal ring on the wall and reaching for his hoof pick when

suddenly one of the stable hands shows up at the stall door.

“Um,” he says, awkward, glancing over his shoulder. “I'll do that for you, ma’am...”

“What?” I ask, standing up straight. “Why?”

He hesitates again, even more awkward, glancing again at Kent, who I’m sure gave him the order. I just give him a little laugh

and wave my hand.

“Thanks,” I say, dismissal strong in my voice as I turn away and lean down to pick up one of Heathcliff's feet so I can clean it.

“But I can take care of my own horse.”

“Your horse, Fay?” I hear Kent ask. I drop Heathcliff’s hoof and straighten up again, turning to see Kent standing at the stall door

now, furious at having been ignored several times this morning. “Last time I checked, I paid for that horse, and its care.”

“Really, Kent?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest and glaring at him. “You’re going to take your present back, just because

you're mad at me?”

Kent narrows his eyes. “I can take back more than the horse, Fay,” he warns, his body seeming to fill the entire doorway.

“Is that what you want, Kent?” I ask,

turning fully to him now, feeling my

defiance slip a bit as I think abeyin

what he’s yingcBEdaulse, as much

iets efy him, in this moment I

just...need to know. “Is that all I am to

you? A contract? I defy you, and you

take things away from me? I do as

you Say, and I get rewards?” Please

read the original content at

.

I see Kent tense at this change in

direction. I think that he, too, was

expecting a fight. Mayopdookig

f it “D6Sou have a problem

with that, Fay?” he asks, his voice low

and resonant. “That seems to have

been our deal, all along.” Please read

the original content at

.

“So that’s it, then,” I push, taking a

step closer and looking up into hi

face. “I reall a iystaibor lio Coll

TRar you'd SS up and move around

your play house, sending me where

you want me to go, doing what you

want me to do.” Please read the

original content at .

I take another step towards him, looking up into his face, truly curious to see how he reacts. Kent works hard to hold my gaze, to

keep his emotions tucked away and not let me see anything at all besides that which he wants me to see.

“This is a job, Fay,” Kent tells me, his voice stern. “You understood that. Services in exchange for pay, for...privileges. And if you

don’t perform those services...well, like any other job...”