Oklahoma

"No." Cat spoke defiantly, her arms crossed over her
chest. She stood in Christian Ferry's door as the forty year old was putting the final changes on her makeup.
          "Catherine...I"
          "Cat," she interrupted, a stubborn look set her jaw
and a dark look crossed her blue eyes.
          "Cat, I have been quite lenient with you. I let you
bring your horse up and board it, let you dress the way you
Want; let you redesign my guest bedroom to that horrid horse
theme, and for the most part, left you alone. However, in this subject I stand firm. You will take a shower, get dressed and you will go to church."
          "I'm not much of a church-goin' gal." Cat's southern drawl kicked in and she pulled the baseball cap off her head. Fire-red hair hung in a ponytail at the base of her
neck. Cat was covered in dirt; her red t-shirt’s sleeves were rolled up and tucked under her bra straps to keep it in place. She wore ratted blue jeans and cowboy boots that Only Cat knew what was on the bottom of them. She had a beautiful tan, but Christian wasn't going to do the workload that Cat does outside to get that tan.
          "I don't mind taking care of you until your mother
gets her priorities straight, but as long as you are staying on my property, in my house, you will abide by my rules."
          "Fine, but do I have to take a shower?" Cat could've sworn Christian's eyes were about to pop out of her
head.
          "Yes!" Have you looked in a mirror? You are
covered in mud, you smell like horse and sweat. To top it off you haven't taken a shower in three days!"
          "There ain't no point in takin' one if you're going
out to get dirty all over again."
          "Take a shower," Cat rolled her eyes but obediently
left and went into the baby blue bathroom. She peeled off her clothes and looked in the mirror, okay maybe Christian was right, she is caked in dirt. She'd hate to see what the shower would look like after she gets out. Then she thought about a second and figured she'd probably laugh then clean it up later. She flipped on the water and pulled the elastic out of her hair. The pin straight hair covered her back. She tested the water and stepped in; she looked at the bottom of the once white bathtub, which had now turned a murky brown color. She did her best not to laugh as she splashed the water, she couldn't see the bottom of the bathtub anymore.  Cat reached to the side and picked up the shampoo bottle. She glanced at the label and shook her head; it was made especially for redheads so she knew that Christian had picked it up for her. It was one of those ten-dollar bottles of shampoo. At home, she probably would have bought a one-dollar bottle, if she bought any at all. She rubbed the expensive shampoo in her
hair, wishing she were home with her mother. Mother, a person
she hadn't though of in a while. She pushed her mother out of her mind and rubbed the conditioner in. While the conditioner set, she ran some expensive smelling soap over her body. She hated being here.
          She shut off the water and wrapped a large purple
towel around herself. Water dripped down her back, then got
trapped in the towel. She thought about not brushing her hair but decided to go ahead. She ran the brush through her hair and heard a knock on the door.
          "Cat?" It was Christian, she heaved a sigh and
opened the door. Christian smiled and held up a dryer and a
curling iron.
          "No, no, I'll go to church, but I'm not curling my
hair."
          "Cat, you don't have a choice." Christian gently
pushed Cat onto a stool, which she had kicked, into the room.
Cat glared at her reflection as Christian started to blow-dry her hair. One hour later Christian was just starting to curl Cat's hair. When Christian finally pinned a few of Cat's artificial curls back she heaved a sigh and Cat had the strong urge to push Christian back into shower.
          "I look stupid,"
          "You look professional,"
          "I look stupid,"
          "Just get your dress on. Then I'll do your makeup."
          "I'm not wearing makeup. I refuse to wear makeup."
          "Please?" With one look from Cat, Christian knew
makeup was pushing the envelope. She sighed and nodded
her approval. Christian left and walked into her room. This
room was the only thing that even remotely reminded her of the ranch she left behind. The tan walls covered in horse
pictures, her horses. She had only been allowed to bring one up; the others were being taken care of by a good friend of
hers. She saw the lavender dress that was freshly pressed and lay across her bed. She picked up the conservative number and prayed she wouldn't have to wear this ugly thing every Sunday. Christian had offered her credit card to Cat but Cat had refused, too stubborn to adapt the lifestyle she was dragged in. She slipped it on and looked in the mirror, she hated how she looked, and she looked like the top of a wedding cake. Christian knocked again and Cat hollered that it was okay to enter. Christian gasped and smiled,
          "You look perfect, we're leaving in ten minutes, will
you are ready?"
          "I’m all set, why should I take any longer, you
practically dressed me myself."
          "Great, then we can leave now." Cat felt like biting
her own tongue off. 'Open mouth insert foot' she thought as Christian grabbed her hand and pulled her into the car. The
car ride was silent and Christian handed Cat a bag, she looked in side it and saw her riding outfit.
          "The church is by the farm, next door in fact, that's
why did I know about it? I figured you'd want to go ride Bella Mae after church, my way of apologizing I guess." Cat smiled and grabbed Christian's hand,
          "Thank you," Cat took a deep breath as she locked
up her car. Christian gave Cat a reassuring smile; it didn't help much as Cat still felt her heart rise up in her heart. Feeling like crap, she walked into the church feeling the judging eyes of the churchgoers on her back. Cat walked her up to a Sunday School class.
          "This is my niece Catherine...she's staying with me
until further notice. She goes by Cat," She added quickly after a quick nudge from Cat. Cat forced a smile and the man at the front gestured for her to sit down. Cat plopped in a seat in the back then with a smile from Catherine; she answered a few questions from the surrounding people. Where she was from, why she was here, so many questions that she had answered thousands of times.
          "I'm from out West, small town, I have over thirteen
horses, one which I keep at the farm next door." After a few
moments of hard grilling the teacher had called the attention towards a Bible he was holding.
          "If you'd like Catherine, you can share a Bible with Elizabeth there." A girl with a blue dress scooted over and
opened a Bible.
          "Call me Lizzie; they don't take much to nicknames
here. I hope you don't mind me interfering here, but if you
don't have a Bible within the next two or three visits they'll start complaining." Cat rolled her eyes and Lizzie could tell she hated being here. "It isn't that bad Cat, I promise." Cat started to tune the man out, Pastor Justin, was that the name she heard?
          "We've been discussing sins lately, envy, pride,
wrath, today we'll discuss the sin of homosexuality." Cat's attention was grabbed; she knew this was going to be bad.
          "If I could get everyone to open to Romans 1:26-27, Catherine will you read?"
          "Cat, "For this cause God gave they up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." Romans 1:26-27. This seems so wrong."
          "Catherine is right, it is wrong, so wrong, men
should be with women."
          "No, that's not what I meant, I have plenty of gay
and lesbian friends. They're wonderful and nicer than some
straight people I know."
          "I'm sure they are nice Catherine, but they do live in
sin. They will go to hell if they are not forgiven and change their ways."
          "Shouldn't God love everyone, no matter what?"
          "God does love everyone, He does not love their
sin." Cat's hands started to shake and she was becoming
visibly frustrated.
          "That's the biggest pile of shit I've ever seen. Assholes." Cat stormed out leaving Lizzie in her dust. Cat felt heartbroken and tears ran down her cheeks as she ran out to her car. She grabbed the pile of clothes and ran over to the farm. She raced into the bathroom and stripped, putting her riding outfit on. A tight pair of sturdy pants with boots, a worn down shirt and a cowboy hat. The hat was a little cliché but it had a helmet in it. She hated the bicycle-like helmets, or the English ones. This at least represented where she came from. Here the cowboy hats were out of style, where she came from, they were a safety feature. She ran to the stables, her tears making it almost impossible to see. If her horse hadn't whinnied, she probably would've saddled the wrong horse. She grabbed a saddle blanket and saddle, after adjusting them on Bella Mae she grabbed the bridle that was hanging on the stall door.
          She slipped it on and pulled Bella Mae out into the
arena where a few jumps were set up. She didn't see Lizzie
walking up to the fence. She put her foot in the stirrups and swung her other leg over. She plopped down in the English saddle and gave the horse a swift kick. Bella Mae took off towards the jump and Lizzie gave a worried look.
          "Is she going to make it? That jump must be like
three feet high." Cat crouched in the saddle putting her face close to the horse's mane. Bella Mae was kicking up dirt furiously and the muscles rippled in her legs as she pushed off to cover the jump. Lizzie gasped as Bella Mae barely brought her back legs over the stands. Lizzie was relieved as the horse landed down safely. Cat finally took notice to the girl standing on the wooden fence. She yanked on the reins and Bella Mae gave a whinny in protest. The horse stomped her feet as Cat glared at Lizzie with bloodshot eyes. The tearstains on her cheeks were dusted with dirt.
          "What do you want?" Lizzie looked at Cat with
slightly frightened eyes.
          "I...I just wanted to see if you were okay."
          "I'm fine, now go away."
          "How did you do that?" Lizzie asked with awe in her
eyes and voice.
          "Do what? The jump?" Lizzie nodded slowly, "I've
been riding horses since I was ten, I started riding ponies
since I could walk. It took sixteen years of practice to get this good."
          "You're seventeen?" Lizzie nodded and jumped off
the horse,
          "I could teach you, if you want. Bella Mae is very
gentle, some of my other horses are feisty; I tried to bring my favorite up."
          "You said you have thirteen rights? How did you get
so many?"
          "My...my Mom and I had horses from her parents,
that farm had been in our family for generations. It had been burnt down and remolded thousands of times throughout the ages. For the most part all of the horses we have we bought from a breeder. Bella Mae and her twin Iris were foaled by my grandparent’s horse. I had to bottle feed Bella Mae because her mother abandoned her for Iris. It's a lot of stress for a mother horse to take care of two foals. I know her name is a little lame, but I was little. We grew up together, Bella Mae and I. We've been through it all together." Lizzie reached out and stroked Bella Mae's velvety nose that extended it towards her.
          "Can I?"
          "What hop the fence?" Lizzie nodded and Cat
shook her head,
          "Not in that dress. Are you stupid? Come by
tomorrow at three, and I'll give you your first riding lesson. Wear jeans, tight ones, if you wear a size eight shoes I can pretty much let you borrow an extra pair of my riding boots. You can wear your hair down if you want." Lizzie smiled, and shook her chin length blond hair.
          "I'll be sure to do that," Cat nodded and gave a
rare smile, she pressed her heels into the horse's flank,
causing Bella Mae to rush off in a swift gallop. They must have been there an hour because the church was starting to let out. Lizzie stared at the horse and rider. Mesmerized by each, she jumped when a hand clapped on her shoulder.
         "Hey Lizzie, you ready to go?" Lizzie smiled at her
brother who looked at Cat. "Who's that?"
         "Cat, new girl, she's gong to teach me to ride."
         "Horses? Are you sure you're up to that?" A glare
from Lizzie made Aidan smile. The blond-haired boy stared at
Cat with intense brown eyes. He shoved his hands into his pockets and jiggled the keys. Cat pulled the horse to a stop. Walking forward just a touch to be even with the two
observers.
         "Look, if people keep showing up I'm going to start
charging admission. I'm Cat," She leaned as far out the saddle

as she dared and extended a hand.
          "Aidan, I see you've met my sister, Lizzie," Cat
nodded as Aidan firmly shook her hand.
          "Pleasures all mine." Aidan gave a gentle smirk.
          "You're not from around here are you?"
          "You could tell?" Aidan smiled and gave a nod.
          "Accent gave it away. Where exactly are you from?"
          "Out west, Oklahoma, I have a farm out there."
Aidan nodded. He turned and saw Christian storming up the
hill. He clapped Lizzie on the shoulder and suggested they
leave. As Lizzie was about to protest she saw the expression
on Christian's face, she decided it would be best to leave.
          "Catherine Jane, I am thoroughly ashamed of you! You humiliated me in front of the entire church and using vulgar language in front of the pastor, dear God, what got into you?" Cat let go of the reins and put her hands behind her
back, she pushed her heels into the horse's side who took off in a gentle jog. Using only her legs, she forced the horse to turn left.
          "Will you pay attention to me?"
          "No,"
          "Why I ever brought you here is--
          "Then send me back." Christian was doing her best
to regain her calm, by the strain she heard in Cat's voice, she figured that Cat was doing the same.
          "I'm just trying to help."
          "I don't need your help!" Cat yelled, finally
snapping. "Mom and I were doing fine. She was going to her
meetings and I threw out the alcohol. I even got rid of the
cooking sherry. She didn't do anything without my permission. She didn't go to the store unless I knew she was leaving and what she was buying. If I'm not there she can fall right back into that hole."
          "Cat, I didn't--"
          "Go,"
          "I'm sorry?"
          "They keys are in the dressing room, take the keys
and go home."
          "How will you get home?"
          "I'll find a way. Just get out." Christian sent her a hurt look and walked off. Cat barely felt that touch of remorse a she watched her car pull away. Cat's stomach rumbled and she thought of the mini kitchen in the main part of the barn. The barn was in two parts, there was a main building where the offices were. There was also a loft with a TV, couch, mini-fridge and other items, making it mostly livable. Cat knew she could crash there for a few days if she needed to. Cat guided Bella Mae to the gate where she jumped off and opened it. After dissembling the horse's tack, she put her out
to the six acre pasture.
          She picked up her dress from the dressing rooms
and draped it over her arms. She climbed up the stairs to the
loft where she threw the dress over the couch. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out one of her vegan frozen dinner. She popped it in the microwave, she turned on the television. The microwave shut off, but she didn't hear it. Cat rose, and then plopped down in front of the computer. She logged onto her e-mail. There was a new email from an address that was very familiar to her.
          "Amy," She said in a whisper, her heart pounded as
she opened the letter.
          "Dear Kitten," she read, aloud straining to keep her voice even.
          "Dear Kitten,
         It sucks being here without you. Your horses are
fine, I know you'd want me to, so I'm taking care of your
mother for you. I've moved in for the time being until she gets completely sober. She says hello, I miss you, and I love you. No need to thank me (because I know you would) your mother is my mother. (Or will be once you turn 18.) I'm awful lonely down here. I feel selfish, like I’m only helping your mother just to get you back. Its worth it kitten, being selfish isn't my worst sin. I love you. Love, Amy."
         Cat broke down, she couldn't even reply, she had to
get up and go lie on the couch. A door opened then slammed
shut. Cat tried to stifle her sobs; the mystery person looked around, and then glanced up at the loft where he could see the top of Cat's head through the railing.
          "Hey! The loft is for boarders only!"
          "My horse is Bella Mae."
          "The new one?" Cat heard him climbing the stairs
and she did her best to clean up. Her eyes were still bloodshot but it was as good as she was going to get.
          "Yeah," The boy with black hair and brown eyes
appeared over the stairs.
          "She's a pretty mare," After evaluating the situation
concern filled his eyes. "Hey, are you alright?"
          "I'm fine," He could see through the lie, but decided
to ignore it. He got a wine cooler out of the fridge and tossed one to Cat.
          "I'm only seventeen."
          "I'm only nineteen, so these drinks are illegal for
both of us."
          "I'll pass thanks though." She puts the drink back
in the fridge.
          "Not a wine cooler girl?"
         “Not an alcohol gal." The by could see he was
making her uncomfortable so he thought of an easy topic.
          "Where's your horse? I didn't see her in the stable."
          "Pasture, I'm going to give her a bath later."
          "Are you aware that it's cold out? Your horse won't
appreciate that."
         "Is it really that early?"
         "Yeah, why? Do you have to go home or something?"
         "No, I'm staying here; I have a riding lesson tomorrow."
         "Oh, so you're just learning to ride." Cat laughed,
making his brow crease.
         "No, no, I'm teaching the lesson. By the way, what's
your name?"
         "Clay and yours?"
         "Clay, as in the dirt? Name's Cat."
         "Cat, as in the mammal?
         "Touché," Clay smiled, and rose.
          "Well, I was just here to pick up some paperwork.
I’ll catch you later Cat." She said goodbye as Clay walked
down the wooden stairs. Cat pulled out the cushions of the
couch and yanked on the metal bar that made it into a bed.
She tossed a flannel blanket on it, kicked off her shoes and
jumped in. She would've undressed as well if the day hadn't of drained her completely. She closed her eyes and fought off a new wave of tears. Her last thoughts were of Amy and her horses.