Karma's A Bitch

The man I call my husband had rocked my world. He was everything I had ever wanted in a man. A true romantic straight out of a dime store romance novel. The dark hair, chiseled face, and the body of Hercules, I fell head over heels. I was standing in line at the grocery store when I noticed him standing behind me with a few meager groceries.

“That’s not going to be much of a meal.” I jokingly said to him as I pointed to his cart.

“I don’t require much, I usually eat out.” He winked at me and I knew that my face turned red.

“Must get lonely eating out all the time.” Watching his face as the clerk rang up my groceries and I paid my bill.

“It’s not too bad if you have someone to share it with. Would you be willing to join me at Feraldo’s tonight, say around seven? Unless you have other plans.” Paying for his items and walking to catch up with me.

I was a little leery of this sudden invitation. Things like this did not normally happen to me and I joked, “I can’t afford Feraldo’s, that is way over my budget.”

“I am asking you out. I assume full responsibility for the sum of the bill. I will even encourage you to choose the most expensive meal they offer. You can’t say no to a double decker cheeseburger, can you?” Winking at me and wiggling his eyebrows.

Feraldo’s was the local diner in town and pretty much the cheapest place in town to eat. I said yes and told him I would meet him there. If he didn’t show, I would just grab my food to go and cry my heart out at home.

Getting in my car, I looked back to see where he had gone, trying to see what kind of car he drove. I watched him get in a small green sports car that was barely large enough for his size. I giggled to myself and thought this should be fun.

My small herd of horses was waiting for me as I drove into the gate. They stood patiently at the fence while I unloaded my car, changed clothes, and went out to feed them and fill the water trough. My horses were a ragtag team of rescues and each of them had been close to dying when they arrived. They were my world and my whole life and nothing in the world made me happier than seeing them thrive under my care. Two of them couldn’t be ridden, but the last one could. She was my adventure horse. Meaning that I didn’t know how to ride when she came along and I learned to ride through her. I took lessons and learned everything I could about riding when the veterinarian had told me that she would make a great saddle horse. She had been a hack horse at a disreputable stable that had been shut down.

I groomed her and got the tack from the tackroom and saddled her while she was busy munching the grain. She picked her head up, licking the last of the grain from her lips and I slipped the bridle over her head. I led her to my small arena and mounted her. The arena was boring but I didn’t have time to take her for a long ride this afternoon. I had a date. She picked up on my excitement, as we went aimlessly around the ring. We jogged, cantered, and walked for about an hour. She was the perfect steed and my heart soared when we rode.

Checking my watch, I pulled her to a stop and dismounted. I led her back to the barn and unsaddled her and put everything away and brushed her down. She nickered and tried to groom me while I was brushing her. Finally getting the last of the sweat and dirt off of her body, I turned her loose and went in the house to get ready for my date.

I exited the shower and went into my closet. I pulled out my small collection of blouses from the closet and my only nice pair of jeans. Standing in front of the mirror, I held each blouse up to my body and finally chose the one that complimented my complexion the best. I blew dried my hair into a relaxed over the shoulder do. Putting on my blouse, I dabbed a bit of blush on my cheeks and eyelids and slipped on my jeans. One last look in the mirror and I headed out.

He was standing by the front door of Feraldo’s checking his watch, when I pulled up. He smiled and came over to the car and opened the door, holding out his hand.

“I wasn’t sure you would show up. I kicked myself for being so abrupt and not getting your number. I don’t normally accost beautiful women in grocery stores.”

I laughed and took his hand and exited the car. He put my hand on his arm and led me into the diner, holding the door for me as we walked in. The rest of the night was wonderful. He was charming and full of fun facts and trivia. I listened as he talked about growing up and the adventures he had when he was younger. The entire evening was magical. He gave me a peck on the cheek at the end and took down my number and said he would call me in the morning.

The next morning, my phone rang, “Did you sleep well? I have to admit, that I don’t believe I have ever had such an engaging date. Would you be willing to go out with me again, this weekend?” He blurted out when I answered the phone.

“Sure, when and where?” I wrote down the details and hung up. I couldn’t believe it. This was crazy. I had never had a man so thoroughly embedded in my mind. He was in my every thought. The next date went even better. Each date was better than the last. He was funny and charismatic and I doted on his every word. He asked me about my job and about my horses. Showing a genuine interest in everything that I said. Soon after, we were an item. He started coming to my house and picking me up. Then he suggested moving in together. He lived in an apartment on the outskirts of town and told me that it would be better if he gave up the apartment and moved in with me.

After ten months of none stop dating, I said yes to his suggestion. He moved in immediately and I was infatuated with him. We still went out and ate for the first few weeks then I suggested that I cook a meal for him. He loved the dinner and asked for me to cook the next day. Then everyday. Our dates stopped and we never left the house other than to go to work. He started coming home and expecting dinner to be on the table. I was not always able to accommodate him due to my work schedule. His mood soured and he was belligerent on those days. Apologizing for his callousness the following day, with flowers or cards.

He decided that the only solution was that I stop work and marry him and that he would take care of me. He did all this down on one knee. I was swept away and said yes like a ninny. I was still so crazy for him that I was missing the clues. We went before the justice of the peace and got married a week later and I resigned my position as a nurse. He was my sole source of income now and I didn’t want for anything.

I went to the barn one day and noticed that my oldest horse was not doing well and called the vet to come out. The vet gave him a thorough examination and told me that he needed to be put down. He was the oldest horse in her care and it was a miracle that he had made it this far, considering their health when I rescued him. I told her I would think about it and she gave me some medicine to mix with his grain to ease his aches and pains. I talked it over with my husband and he agreed that he should be put out of their misery.

The next day I called the vet and she came out with a large stock trailer and put the horse inside and euthanized him while I stroked his face and neck, crying my eyes out.

In the days that followed, I barely did anything. I had never thought that I would have to put down one of my horses and the shock and sadness overwhelmed me. My husband was grumbling daily about my failure to keep him satisfied and he finally snapped.

“YOU NEED TO PULL IT TOGETHER, I AM THE ONE TAKING CARE OF YOU!” He yelled one night after I had failed to put together supper on the table once again.

I wailed and ran out to the barn where my faithful riding companion waited at the fence. I climbed the fence and slid onto her back and sobbed like a child. That is where he found me. I yanked me off the horse slapping my face and yelled, “I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SNIVELING AND SOBBING, NEGLECTING ME IN FAVOR OF THIS STINKING BEAST THAT EATS US OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME.” He threw me to the ground and kicked me.

He looked between us once more and said, “It’s either her or me”, as he pointed at my faithful saddle horse. He raised his foot to kick me again.

“NO, STOP, NOT IN FRONT OF THE HORSE.” I screamed. The horse reared, struck him in the head killing him instantly.

I slowly got to my feet and stared down at this man, who had once rocked my world. I saw him for the narcissist that he was all along. My horse had saved my life. It was only a matter of time until I would’ve become a victim of his abuse. All the signs were there, being a nurse I should’ve realized. I patted my horse on the neck and went to the house to call the ambulance.