Cassy sighed and walked toward the stables, which were down the hill from the mansion where she had worked since she was eight years old. The woman who owned the mansion had taken her in after her mother died, for she had no father. Cassy didn’t remember him; he had disappeared long before she had even learned to walk. She grew up with her mother as her only parent until she became very sick. Her mother died a week before Cassy’s eighth birthday. That was when her mistress, Lady Sinfonia, had taken her in as a maid for her two children. Now, Cassy was old enough to be a real maid; just like her mother.
Cassy trudged over the hillside, walking quickly. She was eager to finish feeding the horses so she could ride for a while before she had to go inside and make breakfast. In her left hand, Cassy held a bucket filled with carrots and apples, and dangling from her right, was her riding helmet. When she got to the stables, she dropped her helmet, grabbed a carrot and headed to the back stall where her favorite horse, Sterling, was kept. She held the carrot out to him, and pet his nose as he ate it. When he was finished, she went into the tack room to get hay for the six horses that were kept in the stables.
As the horses ate their breakfast Cassy adjusted her riding boots and put on her helmet. When she was finished she ducked back into the tack room for a moment to grab her saddle. As usual, Sterling was the first one done. She picked up the bit and bridle off the door of the stall as she went inside. Sterling stood still while Cassy got him ready for the ride. A few minutes later, she was on his back and they were riding down the winding trail towards the apple orchard.
As Sterling trotted into the grove of trees, Cassy reached up and picked two apples off one of the lower branches. She leaned forward and fed the first to Sterling. When he finished, she began eating hers. Cassy glanced back to make sure they couldn’t be seen from the house. When they were far enough away, she pulled Sterling to a stop, and hopped off. She landed softly on the grass beside him. Cassy quickly pulled off her boots and laid on her back in the damp grass. She put her hands behind her head, closed her eyes, and tried to relax.
When Cassy woke up, the sun was high in the sky and someone was screaming her name. She gasped and sat up. After hastily pulling on her boots, she got on Sterling and rode as fast as she could to the house. Cassy ran in through the kitchen door to find Lady Sinfonia red in the face, standing in the dining room with her hands on her hips. She turned swiftly as Cassy entered the room. “Where have you been?” she demanded sharply as she glared down at Cassy.
