Page 37 of Entwined

She laughs as I walk out. “I knew I’d make you leave too.”

And I don’t even care. It’s not her winning. I get it now. People win by leaving her toxic presence.

I take my phone out, biting my lip. I only know two souls in this city: Alex and Ben. I could call either one of them to have somewhere warm and safe to sleep tonight. But in the end, I decide not to. I’m a girl who always depended on herself in tough times and this is no different.

I hurry outside, towards the heart of campus, finding the path Ben took me on hours earlier. It’s dark; unlit. But I won’t be afraid. I feel in my pocket for my ship’s knife and walk briskly ahead. It’s a long ten minutes, but finally the lights from the barn come into view. I hop over the fence, praying one of the doors will be unlocked. The first one I try doesn’t move. Keeping to the shadows, I walk on light feet trying not to make any noise.

Bingo.

The handle of the back door easily turns.

I’m in.

A few horses whinny sensing an intruder. I speak low and softly assuring them I’m no threat. The barn is larger than Exmoor’s and dare I say—fancier. Show ribbons hang on a few horse’s stall doors. The barn smells of oiled leather and hay. A warmth floods through me.

I’ll be okay.

Everything will be okay.

I just need to get through tonight.

I find a tack room and take a stack of horse blankets down to make a makeshift bed on top of a few trunks. I’m safe and warm and oddly find it comforting to be back sleeping in a barn without a clue what tomorrow will bring.

Voices stir me from my sleep. I wake up disorientated and with a stiff neck.

I really need to pee is my first thought.

I’m going to get caught is my second.

I’m busted is my third.

“What in the bloody hell is this? The barn is not a place for drunks to sleep it off. Up with you. I’m reporting you to the Dean.”

I push my tangled hair off my face, “Please don’t. I’m not a drinker. I just needed to escape my roommate from hell.”

Her lips purse, not believing me.

“It’s true. I-I’m just a girl who loves horses. The barn was always a safe space for me.”

She places her hands on her hips then passes me the metal pitchfork in her hands. “I won’t report you this time. But if I catch you in here again I will. You can start mucking out stalls. Do you know your way around horses?”

“I do… a bit. I’m a beginner rider though.” She grunts keeping an eye on me as I walk past her out of the tack room. I open the first stall door, talking sweetly to the horse as I coax him to move to the side, so I can begin mucking his stall out. I feel her eyes on me as I get to work.

“You have a way with them. You’re a natural.”

“Thank you. They soothe me. Make me believe I’m more…. does that make sense?”

“It does. Are you a student here?”

“I am. I’m Jessie. Jessie Montgomery.”

“Do you need a job?”

I turn, pausing as I lean on the pitchfork thinking fast. “I do.”

“Good. You’re hired. I have more horses than staff. I’m Sally McBride, the head trainer here at King’s. My barn manager called out sick. His name is Barry. Stop by my office at the other end of the barn when you’re through and we’ll get the paperwork sorted.”

“Okay. Thank you. But I’m American, do I need a work permit of sorts?”

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