'The Horse Farm' - Part Ten

Louise couldn't remember the last time that she ran six miles on the road. She used the treadmill at the gym most of the time and occasionally dragged Walter to the park for a three-mile jog. Walter preferred cycling, the thrill of speed and the wind blowing the blond hair that fell below his helmet. Walter hated running and Louise had run less since they'd met.

Today, her strides were effortless. Block by block, the miles sped by. She remembered the long runs that she used to take in college, the ultimate stress release after exams and her favorite escape from the pressures of campus life.

Louise was stretching when the phone rang.  She recognized Terri's number.

"Hey! How ya doin'?" Louise greeted her.

"I'm good," Terri responded. "Where ARE you?"

"In front of the house, stretching," Louise answered. "I just got back from a run."

"I didn't think you ran anymore."

"I just felt like being outside."

"How was it?"

"Relaxing!" Louise said in a voice that floated on her breath.

"So, you're not still upset about today?" Terri prodded.

"Well, I had almost forgotten about it until you mentioned it just now."

"Sorry!"

"Hang on, I'm getting another call." Louse switched lines. "Hello!"

"Hello! May I please speak with Ann?"

"This is Ann," Louise replied.

"Hello, Ann! This is Frank from El Corazon. My son told me that you called today."

Louise searched for the proper response.

"Yes! Could you please hold on for a second? I was just finishing another call."

"Sure!"

Louise switched back over to Terri. "It's Frank!"

"How did he get your number?"

"I guess because we called today."

"Okay, go! I'll talk to you later!"

"Okay!" Louise switched back. "Hi! I'm so sorry."

"No problem at all," Frank assured her. "I understand that you would like to come to see the stables."

"Uh..." Louise was unsure how to continue.

"We are having an open house this Sunday. You could come for the day or just come for the cocktail hour. It begins at 4 pm. Please feel free to invite your friends." Frank's voice was warm and reassuring.

"Friends?" Louise asked while processing Frank's invitation.

"Sure!" Frank responded. "It's an open event. Bring as many friends as you like. We'll have plenty of refreshments."

"Okay," Louise struggled. "Because I have a couple of friends who are really into horses."  She wanted to bite her tongue.

"Great! I hope that they can come with you."

"I think that will work," Louise offered. "Sunday at four, you said?"

"Sunday, 4 pm. We'll be serving champagne and hors d'oeuvres."

Louise was trying to figure our how she could make this work. Walter would be home on Sunday. Sneaking out was not an option.

"Frank, one question..."

"Yes?"

"Would it be okay if I brought my boyfriend, too?"

Without hesitation, Frank replied: "I would be honored to meet the man in your life."

'This guy is smooth', Louise thought to herself.

"Okay, good!" she said. "Oh, and there's just one more thing."

"Yes?"

"My name's not Ann. It's Louise."

"I understand entirely," Frank said with a reassuring tone. "I guess that's why it says Louise when I dial your number."

Louise laughed out loud. "Oh, boy!"

Frank chuckled with her. "No worries!" he said. "Good day, Luisa. Until Sunday."

"Until Sunday."

She heard the line click to silence.

"Who was that?" Walter asked walking up behind her.

"Oh, Terri. Your favorite woman!"

"Oh, what's she up to?"

"Uh, there's some cocktail party that she and Jo want to go to on Sunday. It's out in the country somewhere - on a horse farm - some high society thing. Would you want to go?"

A lot was riding on his response.

"What time?"

"It starts at 4, but I'm guessing that people will be fashionably late."

"Uh, yeah," Walter agreed. "Sounds like fun. I'll see you inside."

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2013 Daniel R. South

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