Cloud Riders(88)

‘Sorry, Pops but I’m good. You can give up now if you want,’ she stirred.

‘Just deal, cheeky one. I still have a few tricks left.’

As the night went on, Cassie kept beating him and as she dealt the cards she told him of the bets they made, in particular the one where they played strip poker.

‘Lucky you’re getting smashed because at least I can tell you anything and you won’t be quick enough to catch me and discipline me in your state.’ She slurred a little.

‘Don’t bet on it, young lady! I still have some wits about me. Winning at cards proves nothing, just that you cheat a lot,’ he laughed at her.

‘Cheat, you say!’ She jumped up, grabbed his arm and a card fell out.

He grabbed her and tickled her, making her fall drunkenly on his lap. She looked at him seriously for a minute. He feels like home. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He was limp at first and then cuddled her back. Spent and too drunk to move, she put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

In the morning she found herself in a strange bed, fully clothed and under the covers. The curtains were closed so the room was in darkness. She had no clue what time it was but knew she had been sleeping a long time. Jumping out of bed with a spring in her step from having such a great night she went into the en suite and showered. Walking out of her room, she looked over the railing and called out. ‘Hi down there, is anyone around?’ A servant walked out from below. ‘Can I get you something, miss?’ he asked.

‘Coffee would be nice and can you tell me where they put my horse?’

‘Yes ma’am. Coffee is on its way and your horse is in the stables to the left of the front door. I’ll take you as soon as you’re ready.’

‘Ready!’ she giggled. ‘I’ll take the coffee to go.’

She checked her image in the wall-to-wall mirrored tiles at the end of the corridor. Her outfit, even though slept in, had magically refitted itself to her after the shower with not one crease. Her face and hair were the same, perfectly replenished as well. A happy glow reflected back as the image was that of someone who had maybe just stepped out of a beauty parlour.

‘Amazing,’ she giggled, touching her reflection in the mirror before skipping down the flight of steps, feeling like Cinderella going to a ball. Magic! How lucky I feel. This new world is so cool: an absolute dream.

She chatted to the servant (whose name was Lamar, she discovered), while sipping her coffee as she was directed out towards her horse. Lamar had worked in the castle for twenty-two years. Cassie was pleased to think that if her pop could keep his staff for that long he mustn’t be so bad after all.

Arriving at the stables, Cassie found Starburst looking well rested but restless. She took him outside for a run and a bit of fun with her before putting him back in his stall. After getting him a fresh bucket of water, she filled his feeder with some grain from the stockpile in the loft as well as leaving a decent pile of hay to munch on while he waited for her.

‘We’ll be here for a bit longer, Starburst,’ she told him. ‘But tonight after dinner you can take me home. Okay?’

He nodded and snorted so she took that as a yes.

Skipping back into the house, Cassie felt like a great weight had fallen from her. Talking to her father about her mother last night had purged many ill feelings. And now knowing Starburst was looked after, she could enjoy the rest of the day. She was starting to believe that her father wasn’t that bad after all and was looking forward to spending the day with him.

On re-entering the castle, the servant Lamar took her straight into the dining room where Aldebaran sat reading a book. It looked like he had only just woken up. His hair was a little ruffled and his eyes had dark rings as if he’d had very little sleep. She guessed it had been a bit of a shock with her just turning up and no doubt it would have interrupted his sleep. Unlike him, she always slept well and drinking never gave her a hangover so she was glad for that.

‘Can’t you handle it like you used to in the old days, Pops? Hope I don’t inherit those genes.’ She stirred him as she sat down and poured a juice.

He looked over his novel. ‘Someone woke up in good humour this morning.’

She looked carefully at him to judge his mood. The last thing she wanted was to put him in a grumpy frame of mind and have it spoil the day. Then she remembered that this was the old way that she used to think. She had to stop worrying that he would turn on her like her other parents did. As Woody said, they were not like normal people. They were cruel and spiteful. Yet it was strange because although she knew her dad was both, there had been no sign of that towards her. She had to give him a chance to prove he was different, worthy of a daughter’s love.