The New Breed.

Disillusioned, Lorelei Lonergan finished emptying her fridge, and sorted the last of her humble belongings, mostly second-hand. Her former co-jockey had loaded the rest of her cardboard boxes into her quite trusty wheels. Lorelei gave her the keys, and then drove to the stable to collect her horse.

She was still limping after her devastating horse-racing injury, but her physiotherapist was pleased. This was it, time to move on to a new chapter of good intentions in her individual book of life. The future had no doors, Lorelei was no quitter, she had been brought up that way.

When she had turned 21 years old, a couple of years before, her loving father had gifted her with a magnificent colt, the pride of his stable. Now a massive black stallion, Proudly Delusional was the king of her heart. He had won a couple of early races, but was not over-raced, as his valuable breeding line was faultless.

Now Lorelei was taking off from the city racing center to agist her pride and joy as a stallion standing at stud, while she worked around a horse farm. Luckily, Proudly Delusional was easy to load into his horse float, and seemed to love travelling, he really had a placid nature. He did love nuzzling into Lorelei, when she wrapped her arms around his velvety neck. Her horse loved a snuggle.

The agistment farm, Happy Valley, was more than a couple of hours away by road, but Lorelei was impressed as she drove through the emerald, lush pastures. Sleek, well-fed and contented horses and cattle grazed in the sunshine. She had chosen this particular job offer for a stable hand for more than one reason. The photo of dark, handsome Declan O'Toole just might have swayed her choice somewhat.

Her knee twinged again. Lorelei smiled to herself, she was now disabled, but anyone can dream. She could imagine turning on a man like that. However, she realized her past encounters had left her in a zone of confusion, largely due to dark, handsome males. She was somehow looking forward to meeting Declan on his thoroughbred breeding farm, while hoping Proudly Delusional would turn into a champion baby daddy.

Finally, slightly weary, she turned her car and horse float into a long driveway to the homestead of Happy Valley. There she was welcomed by an old woman, who introduced herself as Maureen O'Toole, Declan's grandmother. She still kept her broad Irish accent, but smiled as she directed Lorelei to the stable for her horse.

Inviting Lorelei into her home, Maureen put the kettle on, to make a refreshing cup of tea, with some ham sandwiches and a lovely chocolate cake. Lorelei sat down, glad her trip was over. During their refreshments, Maureen grasped her hand, as she said, "I was born with a gift, and so were you my dear. I can sense things, I come from a long line of women with the second sight. Fate has brought you here, this is your home. I shall read your palm."

While she sat there being quite complicit, Lorelei was listening, fascinated. Maureen held her hand, tracing the lines of fortune ahead. "Your innate sense of intuition has brought you here to be always welcome in my family. There may be a struggle for love, but give things time and patience, and your heart will triumph. In spite of your past health, you shall create the foundation of a new breed, of gifted children, all born with special talents, human witches and wizards. They will be very well bred, like you. Declan will be here in a minute. I best put the kettle on again and make fresh cups of tea. You can meet the other staff here."

Lorelei had been raised to keep an open mind about the spiritual realms of the metaphysical, so she did know whether Maureen was slightly ageing. Then the door burst open, there was Declan, and some others. He smiled, and shook her hand. "Hi Lorelei, so glad you got here. I like the look of your stallion. You can be my new assistant breeding manager. We shall sort the stud bookings in the next few days. Here are the stable hands."

Lorelei shook hands with each of them. One was a girl, slightly taller than herself and Declan. He had also been a jockey, now retired for a few years. This girl's name was Kitty, red of hair, full of an evil eyes, secretly glaring at Lorelei. She did not look too fussed about another pretty girl in her workplace. Declan did not appear to notice, chatting away to his new assistant about thoroughbred bloodlines. It was instant appeal, soon the handsome Declan was telling her funny tales of his personal jockey days.

She felt herself being attracted by Declan's charming gift of the gab. She did not notice old Maureen also casting a very evil eye of her own at Kitty, but don't tell anyone. Lorelei started her first day in her new career at 6 am the next morning, quickly finding her metier, using her family knowledge and training in the thoroughbred industry. She also rapidly came to realize that she and Kitty both had a crush on Declan, who seemed much too smart for their slightly catty rivalry.

One afternoon tea, Lorelei received some more sage advice from Maureen. "Keep your peace, my pretty. Say nothing, it is not your place to sink to Kitty's level. I have your back here." Fortunately, things did not come to a head straight away, only a bit of teenage silliness from Kitty, such as hiding some feed bags for Proudly Delusional. Lorelei did not comment, she tried to rise above their conflict.

There was no doubt among the stable hands that Kitty had set her very attractive cap at Declan. Nonetheless, Maureen took Lorelei under her wing, and in the evenings asked her to visit her cozy hearth, coaching her in the very ancient wise woman skills . They went sourcing local flora for cooking love charms and natural healing solutions. Declan was there in the evenings too, instructed by Maureen to bottle up these potions for sale to her regular stream of female customers for her matchmaking. After their efforts, the three sat down in the parlor with a welcome glass of best whisky, and some local cheese.

Pleasingly for Lorelei, Proudly Delusional was proving to be very capable at his new vocation of breeding. Some of the mares he impregnated were agisted there at Happy Valley too, awaiting their foals. Kitty was pushing Lorelei, but she had not gotten to her yet.

Then on a calm and peaceful night, the first foal of Proudly Delusional was birthed. The mare foaled uneventfully. The new arrival was a colt, with excellent conformation. As Lorelei and Declan embraced, so thrilled together, he suddenly kissed her, right on the lips. Unsurprisingly, in that darkened stable, Lorelei kissed him right back.

Just then, in through the open door, in stormed Kitty. She looked more than horrified. "You're nothing but a tool, O' Toole! How dare you?"

"Cause I am the boss!" Declan said, as old Maureen heard all this blather.

"Kitty, I have heard enough from you for the last time. Pack your bags and leave tonight. You can find a job anywhere. I am the boss!"

Maureen was giving Kitty more than her evil eye. That was the end of Kitty, but Lorelei did not notice, as Declan kissed her again, just because he was a lad. She was euphoric. She was a girl after his own heart. Lorelei's fate had not led her down a garden path. She was still not sure that about this personal breeding plan, but she did discover that there was nothing wrong her womanly bits.

Proudly Delusional's first foal was aptly named That's Metaphysical. His owner was happily wed, and began mothering dark, handsome citizens of a new breed, all with a gift.