Chapter 13: Road Closed - Deserted

Weasel is waiting for me in the hall. “I need the invitations, Winifred.”

Dad strides into the room. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Erminia. I need to talk to Winifred privately. I haven’t had time to discuss my business plans with her.”

“Of course, Charles.” She smiles at him and joins her husband who is on the phone in the living room. Daria sits next to him, kicking Mr. Dudley’s leg. He ignores her.

I turn to Dad. “What’s up?”

“Let’s go outside.”

I follow him out the back door.

“Win, I’m buying the stallion we wanted.”

“Awesome! This is so great! Wow! Who will you breed him to first? Mitsu? Delilah, Sonora - ?”

Dad interrupts, laughing. “Calm down. I’m as excited as you are. There’s a hitch. The owner won’t hold him until after the wedding. I have to get him now.”

“A road trip.” I sigh with happiness. “It’ll be great, just the two of us.”

“I’m sorry, Win. As much as I want you with me, you have to stay home.”

“What!”

“The stallion is in Florida. If I leave now, I can just make it back before the rehearsal dinner,” Dad says.

“You can’t leave me here. Hire a transport.”

“You know I personally take care of our horses, Win.”

“Please, let me go. You have trouble staying awake. Mr. Winters and his son always take over the ranch when we have to go on a trip.”

“Not this time. Mr. Winters is on vacation and I won’t trust my ranch to anyone else. David is too busy with the wedding.”

He hesitates.

A horrible heaviness seeps into me. I wait for the bomb to explode.

“Now don’t be mad. I asked Scott to go with me. He’s old enough to help drive.”

The world stops. My heart explodes and the ground seems mushy under my feet. I can barely breathe. I stand there, dazed.

“It’s awkward enough, having to leave our guests for over two weeks. Luckily, the

Dudley’s understand and support my decision. I want you to be very grownup.”

“I don’t want to be grownup if it means I can’t be with you,” I mumble.

“We don’t always have a choice. I need you to stay here.”

Stay here? With the rat, the brat and the cat?

“But, Dad - ”

“We’re leaving in a few minutes.”

I shout, “I’m glad you decided to inform me before you left!”

Dad frowns. “Your sarcasm is getting out of control, young lady. I know it won’t be easy for you. Erminia can be demanding. Impossible, even. I don’t have a choice. I expect you to do everything she wants or needs. With respect. I don’t want to come home and hear that you have misbehaved. She is in charge.”

“It’s my house.”

“I know. She’s the adult. Do you understand?”

“I understand that you are leaving me in the hands of a closet dictator. I’ll be lucky to be alive when you return.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic.”

My heart is breaking and he keeps talking.

“I left all the directions for everything on my desk in the stable. I know you can handle it. David and John will help with the outside chores. Can I count on you?”

I hate those words. Count on you. Like it’s okay to be a kid until a dad wants something from you. Why do parents count on you when you don’t want them to?

“Winifred?”

I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth. “Sure, Dad. I’ll take care of the zoo.” Don’t forget to bring back a straitjacket, I think.

The lump in my throat grows when David drives the green and gold horse van out of the barn. My home away from home with all the comforts inside; beds, refrigerator, stove, bathroom as well as horse compartments and hay storage.

David jumps out, leaving the motor running.

I shut down inside.

David says, “Since you’re going to be gone, I’ll use the barn for building everything I need for the garden, Dad. The supplies are supposed to be delivered today. We’ll be lucky to finish in time.”

Dad hugs David. “Good luck, Son. Help Win as much as possible.”

Scott whistles as he comes out of the kitchen with a duffel bag. He stops when he sees my face. “Er, ready to go, Mr. Smith.”

I want to throw up.

John and Claire follow him outside. John ruffles his brother’s hair. “Be good and drive carefully. You’re not used to such a big rig.”

Scott says, “I’ll get lots of practice before we pick up the horse.”

Dad looks at all of us. “I’m sorry I have to leave. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this stallion.”

“It’s okay, Dad,” says David. “Claire, John and I will help Winifred. You be safe and don’t worry.”

Scott turns to me. “I’m sorry you can’t go, too.”

I can’t speak, ‘cause if I do, I’ll burst into tears.

Mr. Dudley comes outside. He shakes Dad’s hand. “Have a good trip and don’t

worry about things here. Erminia is great at organizing.”

He goes back inside and I hear Weasel. “I don’t really want to do this, Otis.”

Otis says, “You have to do your part, Erminia.”

“What will I cook?” she asks.

“We don’t need extravagant dinners, dear. Cook something simple, like chili. You haven’t made chili in twenty years.”

Dad winces. “Help as much as you can.” He kisses me goodbye.

I grab his arm. He pats it. “You’ll be so busy with the wedding, you won’t miss me. I’ll call to check in with you. Be good.”

Dad and Scott climb into the van.

I can hardly stand up when Dad drives away. At least, I could talk to Scott. And now he’s gone.

“Dad, don’t leave me. Please come back,” I whisper.

The van disappears around a corner.

“Winfred!” commands Weasel from the back door. “I need those invitations before the mail comes and we need to discuss your chores.”

“I thought we were going to plan them together.”

“You are always gone, so I made them. She hands me a bunch of papers. “Here is the list of daily chores and here is the list of things that absolutely have to be done before the wedding.”

I don’t want to look. I know her lists. I stuff them into a pocket.

“Sorry, the horses come first.” I take off for the stable.

I collapse in Dad’s office chair and read his list. Kong puts his head in my lap. Pain and betrayal wash over me.

I gotta’ get out of here. I feed all the horses, except Dancer. I bridle him, grab my hardhat and we ride out of the stable.

Daria runs from the house shrieking, “Winifred, Mommy wants you to come at once!”

Dancer does a little sideways hop and rears. “Whoa, boy. Easy.” We were way too close to Daria.

I calm my horse down, burning inside. I see red. “Don’t ever scream around a horse again. Do you want to be trampled?”

Horrified, Daria bursts into tears and scrambles toward the house. “Mommy! She tried to kill me with her horse!” She slams through the kitchen door.

Squeezing Dancer’s sides, we gallop away. The wind rushes through my hair. I wish I could ride and never come back until after the wedding.

Remembering Dad’s instructions, I return two hours later.

Big mistake.