CHAPTER 11

The night had already fallen when Monica left the old little chapel. But right now, she did not ride the bicycle she had borrowed earlier as there was no hurry to go back to the farm. Instead, the angel started a slow walk on the short road that led to the Snyder’s property, pushing the yellow bike and having Brady walking right by her side – the animal had one eye on her and another on the path ahead of them like a loyal guardian.

“I know I should not runaway, after all it’s my assignment.” Monica spoke, returning her companion’s inquisitive gaze. “But I confess that this small visit to the chapel brought me some peace and maybe some strength to move on.”

She let out a tired sigh as the farm came into view. “I just hope Andrew isn’t too worried. I don’t want to tell him about the latest events as he too has many important things to solve.”

Monica crossed the farm gate but instead of heading to the main house, she took another direction. Mrs Snyder had taken the bicycle from the warehouse and she wanted to put it back before joining the others.

“You go ahead, boy. I won’t take too long!” She stroked Brady’s soft fur and moved away, but instead of going to the house, the animal decided to sit down and wait for her.

The Snyder’s property was undeniably a beautiful one, but after the sun was gone, it became rather sinister. Slightly uncomfortable with the darkness that now surrounded her, the little angel walked in between tall trees and bushes up to the warehouse.

But as she got closer, two very distinguished voices soon reached her ears, and she froze with concern.

“I don’t care what the hell that Monica woman thinks or how she does her job! I just don’t want her sticking her nose on my business and my business is to train those horses so that they can win that race!”

Ian glared at a fragile Caroline who kept her arms wrapped around herself and could not even face him. “She told me you were pushing too hard and was afraid that you could end up killing Joy.”

“That stupid woman doesn’t know anything about my job, I’ve told you that before! These animals mean money and what I’m trying to do is to assure that this money comes to us!”

“Can’t you just slow down a little? I know she spoke to dad earlier before talking to me and I’m afraid she’ll do it again if I don’t listen to-“

“Stop acting so stupid, Caroline! If this moron insists on this matter just fire her!”

Monica flinched at Ian’s angry tone of voice and found it strange that Caroline allowed him to talk like that with her.

The young woman ran her hand through her hair with an expression of uncertainty on her face. “She’s doing a good job with Grace. I saw that her leg is getting better.”

“And she better do a good job because I’m gonna ride Grace on that championship.”

“Do you think she’ll be able to run?”

“She will run. If she gets tired after the race, it won’t matter anymore.”

The Irish angel felt a lump forming on her throat at those words.

“What do you mean, Ian?” Caroline’s shocked expression made him rethink what he had just said. His expression softened a little despite the fact that his eyes still held much cruelty.

The man approached Caroline and held her chin rather abruptly. “Look, I know what I’m doing. How many times have I been wrong?”

“Never...” she spoke, her blue eyes staring back at his dark ones in some sort of a trance. “You’re never wrong, Ian...”

His lips curved in an evil smile. “You’re an intelligent girl, Caroline!”

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her hardly, somewhat possessively, and apparently with no other intention other than satisfying his own need.

Monica shook her head, horrified with her discovery. Now everything made sense to her: Caroline’s reluctance in discussing Ian’s violent methods, his position as a horse trainer despite the continuous warnings of the jockeys that had worked there and his trust that nothing would happen to him.

“Just promise me you’ll reduce the training time...”

He sighed with impatience, letting go off her rather abruptly. “Keep on acting stupid like that and you’ll end up with no farm! And I’m not gonna be around either!”

Visibly hurt, and with tears filling her eyes, she looked back at him. “Sometimes I wonder why I’m still with you...”

His ironic and intimidating gaze caused her to lower her eyes. “Because you know what’s good for you!” he said, turning around to leave the area without being seen.

Caroline stood still for a few moments, as if forcing back the tears that threatened to fall at any instant.  The young woman finally moved but her short walk up to the house was interrupted when she heard her name again.

Except that now it wasn’t Ian.

“Monica?” she looked surprised and scared, fearing that the new veterinarian had been there for too long.

“I want to talk with you...” the little angel spoke, slowly approaching her. And Caroline did not miss the disapproving and shocked expression on her face. She knew about her and Ian.

“It’s late, Monica... If you want to talk, then we can do it in the morning, I-“

“Why are you doing this to yourself?” The angel ignored her attempt to escape from that conversation.

“I don’t understand... What is it exactly you’re talking about?”

“In the short time I’ve been here I learned that Ian has no respect for any other living creature on Earth other than himself!”

“Yes, you said it all. You’ve been here for a very short time and should know better before going around talking about other people!” She was defensive, but Monica was not intimidated. She felt an almost unconscious need to speak to that young woman the truth that was in her heart.

“You don’t deserve to be treated like this...”

“You know nothing about me, Monica.”

“I know that you have a loving family. I know of your love for the animals in this farm, the farm you were raised and that now you’re fighting not to lose. Someone who holds so much affection to the family and to the place where they were born has to be treated with utmost respect.”

Monica’s voice was soothing despite the seriousness of the situation, and brought so much comfort that for a moment Caroline lowered her eyes and gave up her little façade.

“He helped me keep all those things you’ve just mentioned... This farm... it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for him.”

“It’s an odd way to show that he honours what matters to you.”

“He’s a good man... a strong man, Monica. And never lost any competition... Ian made those horses true champions.”

“If these are the arguments you use to convince yourself to remain in this... relationship then perhaps you should start making questions out of them...”

The Irish angel’s inquisitive gaze seemed to be able to see deep inside her soul. “I don’t get it... What question are you talking about?”

“How does his presence make you feel now?”

Caroline averted her eyes for staring at the angel made her see the truth she tried to hide even from herself. “It’s complicated...”

“It shouldn’t be.”

Trying to avoid more questionings, which would eventually lead her up to the sorrow caused by Ian’s mental and somewhat physical abuse, the young woman took a deep breath, meaning to put an end on that conversation. “Look, Monica, just because Andrew treats you like a princess it doesn’t mean that every men in the world has to act like that too. Has it occurred you that people are different?”

She started to move away from her but Monica made on last attempt to carry on with that conversation. “Caroline...”

“And I would appreciate it if you did not comment what you saw here with other people. For the sake of your own job.”

The woman’s final words made her gave up following her. Monica had seen enough already, and had also said enough to at least start touching the woman’s heart. Now she knew that her assignment there was much more complex that what it looked like. Caroline was the one to be saved and the little angel was determined to do everything she could to set her free from Ian’s hands.