Metty wiped lecture notes off the whiteboard after her student teaching class ended. Working with students with reading disabilities was interesting and rewarding. Many of her students had begun to show improvement.

Her advisor closed her laptop. "You're doing well, Metty. The students respond to you." Ruth Cooley was young, modern, and up-to-date on teaching methods. She was devoted to her students. Metty was glad she'd gotten her for an advisor instead of Sparrow.

"Thanks. I like the work. I hope I can learn to teach."

Ruth nodded. "That's a good way to put it. You can be a good teacher. What are your plans after you get your degree?"

"Look for work around Charleston, for a year or two, till I can afford graduate school in Boston."

"College of Charleston has a graduate program. You should look into it."

"I've wanted to go to college in Boston for years."

"No young man in your life?"

"I'm dating someone. He's Almu-from Europe. He'll be going to England this fall. We plan to continue our relationship, though."

"Long distance relationships are difficult. I hope it works out for you. Now, the testing schedule."

Alexei ate dinner with the Griffins that night. Sylvia served fried pork chops with instant mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner. Canned green beans. It was one of Sylvia's better meals. Metty added rolls and a green salad with homemade vinaigrette, irritating Sylvia, who complained that bottled dressing was OK. Metty ignored her, wanting to add a fresh touch to the meal.

After dinner Alexei and Metty cleaned up. They finished as Metty put the leftovers away and Alexei swept the floor.

"How's the teaching going?" he asked.

"Very good, according to Ruth," Metty said. "Are you going to talk to my class about Almurian settlement here?" She wrung the washrag out and hung it over the faucet.

"Yeah. Pick a date in the next two weeks, if that's good for you."

"I'll set it up," she said. She took the broom and put it away.

"I want to talk to you about the official dinner at Dalmurias Plantation with the President."

"OK."

He sat down at the table and she sat next to him. He took out his cell and looked in his calendar. "Don Sebastian wants to invite you and a guest."

Metty was surprised. "Isn't it a formal political dinner."

"Yeah, but not a state dinner. Less than fifty people. Dalmurias can't host more than that for a dinner. Don Sebastian and President Biden are going to meet in Washington to sign the agreement about the US Naval Base on Isla Manta before they meet again here."

"So that went through."

He nodded. "The dinner will be semi-formal. You can wear an evening suit or cocktail dress. Dolores says she will be glad to help you with protocol."

Metty felt a little dizzy. She'd get to see the President. "I appreciate that. You said a guest? Who? I mean."

"Don Sebastian and Doña Alma would like to meet your mother again. They won't get a chance to talk much, but they want to know your family better."

"Ok, I'll talk to her." Metty was thrilled at their interest in her family.

"Are you free this weekend?"

She nodded.

"Good. Have you ever been horseback riding?"

She shook her head. "Twice on pony rides as a kid. I'd have loved to go more often, but it was too expensive."

"We have a stable at Dalmurias. For your third ride, let's go riding there this Saturday.

*

Metty stared sleepily at the large black horse that watched her curiously over the stall door. The stallion had lustrous eyes, a long thick mane and a forelock hanging over a white blaze. Its nostrils searched for the scent of food.

A rooster crowed somewhere. It was just past dawn. Alexei had insisted they start their day with the horses' day, and so they had arrived at Dalmurias Plantation before seven. She was half awake. She looked around and saw the sun just over the horizon. It was a chilly, bright morning. When she woke up, it would be a perfect day for a ride.

Six other horses watched from their stalls as she offered the stallion a carrot. A large grey horse in the next stall whickered when it saw the carrot.

Metty pulled another carrot from her pocket and offered it to the grey. Soft lips nuzzled it from her hand, then searched for another carrot. Looking into the stall, she saw a small black foal, a white star on its forehead, watching her from the safety of its mother's side.

She turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Alexei coming with a pail, which he set on the hard dirt floor.

"Did you meet Noche?" He pointed to the black stallion.

She nodded. "I gave him a carrot. And one to this pretty grey with the baby.

He scooped a handful of oats from the pail and offered it to Noche, who muzzled at his hand greedily. Alexei took his hand away before Noche finished, causing the stallion to reach out trying for more.

"Enough for you, greedy. You must eat your special diet. You go to the show next month." Noche's ears pricked forward at Alexei's voice. When no more oats were offered, he watched where Alexei took the oats.

Alexei scooped more oats and poured them into Metty's hand.

"You can give them to Paloma."

"That's a pretty name."

"It means Dove. She's a champion, a great horse. That's her son, and Noche's. Noche should get his championship this year in America. He's already a champion in Europe."

Metty smiled. Alexei was obviously proud of the Almurian horses, and fond of them. "They're lovely horses, but they're so big. I don't think I can get on one without a chair."

Alexei laughed. "We do ride these, but they are for experts. Mostly they are used as coach horses. They are descended from warhorses that came with Ximena de Montserrat, who married Rodrigo I in 1525. Some people say he married her for the horses, but it was love. I'll tell you the story someday."

"I'd like to hear it."

He led her to the last stall, where a black gelding waited. It noticeably smaller than Noche and Paloma. "This is Franco. He's a good, gentle mount." He watched as she held out a handful of oats. The horse snuffled them from her hand and looked at her for more. She gave him another handful.

She stroked the horse's soft neck, scratching under the mane. The horse turned his head to her. She laughed.

Two grooms approached. She recognized Carlos, Fr. Menuzo's son. Alexei had told her that Carlos was gifted with animals and would be offered a job when he completed his studies at Clemson.

"Good morning, Don Alexei," said the other man, African-American, older, rugged, with the look of a cowboy.

"Good morning, Bart. Metty, this is Bart Parker, the head groom here. Bart, this is Metty Griffin."

She offered her hand and he shook it briefly, then turned his attention back to Alexei.

"Your message said you wished to ride this morning with this lady. I understand she has not ridden before."

"Right. I thought Franco would be a good horse for her. I'll ride Bolero."

Bart nodded. "The horses need to be fed, first, though. We'll get them saddled and ready for you. About 20 minutes?"

Alexei nodded. "Just feed ours, please. I'll show Metty how to saddle and bridle them."

Bart tensed but nodded.

"We'll be back in about 20 minutes," said Alexei. He took Metty's arm and led her out.

Walking to the house, she frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"I think Bart isn't happy with my lack of experience with horses."

Alexei said, "He's protective. The stable has done well under him. You have to start somewhere. Treat the horses well, learn to care for them, do your best, and he'll approve of you."

*

The sun was up when they returned to the stable, and a cup of coffee had woken Metty up. Alexei showed her the tack room, handed her two bridles, and took two saddles. He led her to Franco's stall.

He showed her how to saddle and bridle the horse, and make sure they fit comfortably. He led Franco out of the stable and handed Metty the reins, leaving her there when he went to saddle Bolero. She stood there holding the reins of the large horse and hoping he wouldn't try to run off. Alexei returned leading the magnificent black horse with white legs and a blaze.

They saddled the horses and Alexei helped her into the saddle. He leapt to the back of Bolero, laughing at the look on her face. They rode down the walkway, past visitors who stared at them. A child pointed at them. Franco followed Bolero down a path in the woods. Alexei watched her, instructing her as needed.

They rode for almost two hours, through the fields of Dalmurias, along the river, through paths in the woods. They galloped through a field with goats, which stared at them out of their odd eyes. Finally, they returned to the stable.

Alexei dismounted and helped Metty off. She staggered slightly, gaining her balance.

"Too much riding?" he asked.

"I'll know tomorrow," she said, raising her eyebrows, and smiling. "I enjoyed every minute of it."

They unsaddled the horses and brushed them down. Bart appeared and took the horses as they finished. He led them to a field and released them. The horses began to graze.

Alexei walked Metty to her car. "I have to go to the office this afternoon, so I'll see you tomorrow, right? We'll go to dinner and a movie. Sunday at three good?"

"Good. I have to get home and pack. Mom and I are moving to Grandma's next week. Before Easter." She stood on tiptoe to kiss him.