Free REMEMBRANCE by Nicole Maddison

placed her hand upon the soft fabric of his sleeve to be led out onto the sweeping driveway at the front of the house.
    The beautiful brown mare pawed at the ground in her haste to be away; she flicked her mane and neighed loudly at her new master’s approach.
    “Shush, Cleara,” he soothed the magnificent animal, as he gently stroked the side of her head. He turned towards Maria. “Is she not the most handsome horse you have seen?” His voice was full of expectation, as if asking for her approval.
    “She… she is very fine, Mr Bradley. I am sure that such a fine beast will make an excellent ride.”
    He continued to stroke his new prize. “She was as smooth as they come on our journey over,” he added, his voice exuding pride.
    She smiled her approval when her attention was diverted by the enormous black stallion that was being led up the drive towards them. Suddenly, her mind started racing.
    “Blaze?” she exclaimed in disbelief, as the elegant black head came level with her face.
    The stallion nuzzled against her, blowing down his nose. He gave the impression that he was pleased to see her. She, too, found him familiar, even though she couldn’t remember how she knew him; she just knew that she did. It was confusing; her mind was whirling around with all these memories. The longer she spent in this time the more the world that she knew began to fade.
    Thomas lifted her into the saddle and she hooked her leg over the bar that would steady her. As she sat elegantly on the side, the blue of her outfit spread across the silky black rump of the stallion, which danced a little in his eagerness to run freely. Suddenly nervous, she clung to the reins.
    “Shush there, Blaze,” Thomas spoke softly, noticing Maria’s nervousness; he looked up at her from where he stood, “Are you alright?”
    She tried to smile, but Blaze started to move again, and Thomas had to hold onto the reins in an attempt to steady him.
    “Miss Austin, are you really alright with this?” he asked, clearly concerned.
    “It has been a long time, Mr Bradley, but I am sure that it will be fine.”
    She was sure that her heart must have doubled its speed as she now sat atop this huge animal. It had been a great many years since she had last ridden; her mother had encouraged her to go to the local riding school and she had taken to it like a duck to water, but she had only been ten at the time. Still, she was sure that, once she relaxed, she would be fine.
    Blaze moved sharply again and she let out a little squeal.
    “Miss Austin?” Thomas enquired again.
    She smiled nervously, “I am fine, Mr Bradley.”
    Reluctantly, he released the rains and waited a few seconds to make sure the frisky stallion didn’t make a bolt for it. When he was happy, he mounted his own horse and slowly guided both their mounts down the driveway. Thomas noted that Sir John had ordered his groom to accompany them. So much for him wanting to have M all to himself today, he mused. Yet, when Sir John had insisted that they watched the sunrise unchaperoned, he knew that his good fortune couldn’t last. After all, Sir John still had to abide by the rules of the society, even if Thomas was the one escorting his niece. When they were out of earshot of the servants and the groom had settled to a respectable distance behind them, he turned slightly in his saddle, so that he could see Maria when he spoke.
    “Did you not ride when you were at your finishing school?”
    She would have laughed at the comment if her fear would let her. Instead, she was still holding on to the reins so tightly that her knuckles ached and her entire body was as stiff as a board.
    “Should I take your silence as a ‘no’?”
    “Pray forgive me, Tom, it really has been a long time; I assure you that I shall be quite fine in a moment.”
    He suddenly smiled at her discomfort, “Maybe we shall just stay to the lower land for today?” he suggested, glancing at her face. “I mean, just until you