Fantasy Fiction posted January 23, 2025 | Chapters: |
...10 11 -12- 13 ![]() |
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Diantha interacts with Mary and her children.
A chapter in the book Body of a Horse, Heart of a Man
Getting Aquainted
by davisr (Rhonda)
Background A fanciful tale of adventure. Phoebus, son of Poseidon, is a god turned Centaur by Zeus. Diantha, is a young lady in peril. Together, they must face an evil foe, and make some difficult choices. |

Ending of last chapter:
Finally alone, Diantha lowered her aching body into a great porcelain tub. She couldn't remember enjoying a bath this much. Was it the company she was with, or the trials she'd been through, that gave her such pause to enjoy the moment? Was Concorde Valley truly the paradise it seemed, or did it, as she feared, have a serpent in its midst?
New Chapter begins:
Once bathed, Diantha put on the lovely dress she'd been gifted. She breathed in the charming scent of flax flower woven into the fabric of the garment, and let its soft texture caress her skin.
With a spring in her step, she made her way into the kitchen where she found Mary and two young girls preparing food on a wooden table.
There was a wood-burning stove alight and ready for cooking lunch. The girls were arrayed in jumpers, one in blue and the other silver. The older girl had a patch on her bib embroidered with a harp, and the younger with the image of a girl.
"Can I help?" Diantha asked the group.
As a unit, their eyes raised and met hers. As individuals, they smiled.
"Sure," Mary answered. Her voice reverberated in the small room even as words poured from her mouth like water rushing over pebbles in a brook -- fluid and abundant.
"Well, hi, Diantha. I hope you enjoyed your bath. You look lovely in that dress. I'm so glad you're my sister's size."
"So am I, and I appreciate your hospitality."
"What hospitality?" Mary grinned. Her rosy cheeks broke into a smile, her blue eyes sparkled with deep joy. "I plan to put you to work. Tabitha, get a knife and let her peel potatoes, Brenda find an extra bowl. Diantha, these are my daughters Tabitha and Brenda. They are 14, and 12."
"Hi, ladies," Diantha said. She held out a hand to exchange greetings.
The girls refused with a head shake. They came over and gave her a hug instead.
"Only men greet with handshakes," Brenda explained. Curly blonde hair danced around a freckled face. "Women and girls hug."
"Sometimes men do, too," Tabitha added, "especially if they like you." Dark as her sister was light, Tabitha had straight, shiny hair. A calmer radiance defined her age and familial position.
"Daddies always hug," Brenda said, "and brothers. We have four of them." She put her hands on her hips and closed one eye in concentration. "Brice is 8, Tommy is 5, Carter is 2, and baby Hank is 5 months."
Diantha smiled as she realized the girls had inherited their mother's fast-paced, barrage style of speaking.
"That's a pretty big family," Diantha said. She divided her attention between Tabitha and Brenda. "So, you two are the only girls?"
"Yes." Tabitha looked disappointed. "But, we're also the oldest and help Mama do her real job."
Mary flicked her eyes up from chopping onions. "And they're invaluable, too. Of course Brenda is still in school during the day, but Tabitha helps me full-time. Maybe now that you're here you can help as well. I really need an official apprentice since my last one got married and moved to the other side of the valley."
"Was that your sister?"
"No. My sister did get married and moved out, but this was a lady who grew up on the other side of the valley. She relocated here to work. You're very perceptive, my dear," Mary said.
Diantha couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I only wish that were true. I messed my life up before I got here because I trusted the wrong people, or my parents did, anyway."
Mary looked at her knowingly. "We can all be deceived, sweetheart. Innocence and trust are nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not as much ashamed, as traumatized." Diantha looked away, then changed the subject. "What work do you do, Mary?"
"She delivers babies," Brenda interrupted. Her smile betrayed a deep level of pride.
"Let mama explain," Tabitha chided. A raised eyebrow silenced the younger sibling.
"I'm a midwife," Mary said, "and I'm not the only one on this side of the valley. Having babies is a pretty big business in Concorde."
"That's cool," Diantha said. "Where I used to live, I was studying to become a nurse for sick newborn babies, or at least that's what I wanted. My family, of course, had other plans."
"Like what?" Mary asked. Her face betrayed disbelief that anyone would interfere with such a noble career choice.
"They wanted me to marry a man I barely knew whose family is prominent in the horseracing world," Diantha said. She was surprised she was opening up to Mary and her daughters. She certainly hadn't intended to.
"And help him with them?" Tabitha asked. "Raising horses is a big thing around here, too."
Diantha allowed herself an indulgent chuckle. "I don't think anyone really expected me to do anything besides entertain parties and go to horse races."
"And have a bunch of kids?" Brenda interjected. She was twisting a blonde curl around her finger in what appeared to be a habitual way.
"No, and that's the sad part. Wilson told me he hates children."
A disbelieving silence fell on Mary and the girls.
A few heartbeats later, they all spoke at once, sputtering, huffing, and expressing their utter disgust for anyone who would expect someone to sit and do nothing all their lives, and who hated babies. Even his love of horses failed to redeem him in their eyes.
Finally, Tabitha's voice stood out. "No wonder you came to Concorde Valley."
"Yeah, no wonder." Diantha's eyes dropped to her potato peeling as emotions and memories threatened to drown her.
The ever observant Mary intervened. "Girls, why don't you go check on the babies?"
"Brice and Tommy are in there with them," Tabitha complained. "They'll let us know if they need anything."
"Girls, scoot. Diantha isn't going anywhere. You'll have plenty of time to get to know her later. If they're awake from their nap, please bring them in here. I'm sure Diantha will want to see them."
"I would love to," Diantha said. She watched as the eldest two Barton children exited the room.
"So what's this schooling you were telling us about?" Mary asked. "In what capacity were you learning to take care of sick babies?"
Diantha thought for a moment on how to explain what she didn't completely understand herself. "When babies are born prematurely, or if they have other complications from birth, the nursing school I was going to teaches you to take care of them."
Mary gathered the pieces of potato she had cut and added them to a bowl. She let Diantha's words incubate in her mind before responding. "If a baby is born that sick here, there's not much we can do to help it. I mean, we have our ways, like keeping them warm and giving them herbs, but we need to learn more."
"Learning is a never-ending process," Diantha said. "Even once you complete nursing school."
"True, true. I've always lived by that adage, but Diantha, dear, you probably know more about caring for weak babies than I do even after a lifetime of being a midwife. Perhaps we can help each other."
Diantha looked doubtful. "Oh, I don't know if what I was learning can translate to this valley. You don't have the same equipment or medicine."
"Maybe not, but I'm sure we can help each other learn new things. I can teach you to deliver babies, Concorde Valley style, and you can share with me what you can about saving the little ones. What do you say? Would you like to be my new apprentice?"
Diantha shrugged. "What about Tabitha and Brenda? Wouldn't they resent me coming in and stealing their jobs?"
"They won't be old enough to be apprentices until they turn 16. At this stage, they're still classified as assistants. By the time they're both of age, you can start your own practice."
"That's a great offer," Diantha said. "But I'm pretty mixed up about what I want right now. How long do I have to think about it?"
"As as much time as you need. Why don't you come out with me on a few calls and see how it fits you?"
"I think I'd like that. As a matter of fact, I was telling Atrius how worried I was that I wouldn't find a way to fit in. I just got to your house, and already I've gotten a job offer."
"I've found that very few things happen by accident, young lady," Mary said, "and I seriously doubt your coming here was one of the exceptions."
"I'm beginning to think the same thing. It's all sort of overwhelming, though."
Finally alone, Diantha lowered her aching body into a great porcelain tub. She couldn't remember enjoying a bath this much. Was it the company she was with, or the trials she'd been through, that gave her such pause to enjoy the moment? Was Concorde Valley truly the paradise it seemed, or did it, as she feared, have a serpent in its midst?
New Chapter begins:
Once bathed, Diantha put on the lovely dress she'd been gifted. She breathed in the charming scent of flax flower woven into the fabric of the garment, and let its soft texture caress her skin.
With a spring in her step, she made her way into the kitchen where she found Mary and two young girls preparing food on a wooden table.
There was a wood-burning stove alight and ready for cooking lunch. The girls were arrayed in jumpers, one in blue and the other silver. The older girl had a patch on her bib embroidered with a harp, and the younger with the image of a girl.
"Can I help?" Diantha asked the group.
As a unit, their eyes raised and met hers. As individuals, they smiled.
"Sure," Mary answered. Her voice reverberated in the small room even as words poured from her mouth like water rushing over pebbles in a brook -- fluid and abundant.
"Well, hi, Diantha. I hope you enjoyed your bath. You look lovely in that dress. I'm so glad you're my sister's size."
"So am I, and I appreciate your hospitality."
"What hospitality?" Mary grinned. Her rosy cheeks broke into a smile, her blue eyes sparkled with deep joy. "I plan to put you to work. Tabitha, get a knife and let her peel potatoes, Brenda find an extra bowl. Diantha, these are my daughters Tabitha and Brenda. They are 14, and 12."
"Hi, ladies," Diantha said. She held out a hand to exchange greetings.
The girls refused with a head shake. They came over and gave her a hug instead.
"Only men greet with handshakes," Brenda explained. Curly blonde hair danced around a freckled face. "Women and girls hug."
"Sometimes men do, too," Tabitha added, "especially if they like you." Dark as her sister was light, Tabitha had straight, shiny hair. A calmer radiance defined her age and familial position.
"Daddies always hug," Brenda said, "and brothers. We have four of them." She put her hands on her hips and closed one eye in concentration. "Brice is 8, Tommy is 5, Carter is 2, and baby Hank is 5 months."
Diantha smiled as she realized the girls had inherited their mother's fast-paced, barrage style of speaking.
"That's a pretty big family," Diantha said. She divided her attention between Tabitha and Brenda. "So, you two are the only girls?"
"Yes." Tabitha looked disappointed. "But, we're also the oldest and help Mama do her real job."
Mary flicked her eyes up from chopping onions. "And they're invaluable, too. Of course Brenda is still in school during the day, but Tabitha helps me full-time. Maybe now that you're here you can help as well. I really need an official apprentice since my last one got married and moved to the other side of the valley."
"Was that your sister?"
"No. My sister did get married and moved out, but this was a lady who grew up on the other side of the valley. She relocated here to work. You're very perceptive, my dear," Mary said.
Diantha couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I only wish that were true. I messed my life up before I got here because I trusted the wrong people, or my parents did, anyway."
Mary looked at her knowingly. "We can all be deceived, sweetheart. Innocence and trust are nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not as much ashamed, as traumatized." Diantha looked away, then changed the subject. "What work do you do, Mary?"
"She delivers babies," Brenda interrupted. Her smile betrayed a deep level of pride.
"Let mama explain," Tabitha chided. A raised eyebrow silenced the younger sibling.
"I'm a midwife," Mary said, "and I'm not the only one on this side of the valley. Having babies is a pretty big business in Concorde."
"That's cool," Diantha said. "Where I used to live, I was studying to become a nurse for sick newborn babies, or at least that's what I wanted. My family, of course, had other plans."
"Like what?" Mary asked. Her face betrayed disbelief that anyone would interfere with such a noble career choice.
"They wanted me to marry a man I barely knew whose family is prominent in the horseracing world," Diantha said. She was surprised she was opening up to Mary and her daughters. She certainly hadn't intended to.
"And help him with them?" Tabitha asked. "Raising horses is a big thing around here, too."
Diantha allowed herself an indulgent chuckle. "I don't think anyone really expected me to do anything besides entertain parties and go to horse races."
"And have a bunch of kids?" Brenda interjected. She was twisting a blonde curl around her finger in what appeared to be a habitual way.
"No, and that's the sad part. Wilson told me he hates children."
A disbelieving silence fell on Mary and the girls.
A few heartbeats later, they all spoke at once, sputtering, huffing, and expressing their utter disgust for anyone who would expect someone to sit and do nothing all their lives, and who hated babies. Even his love of horses failed to redeem him in their eyes.
Finally, Tabitha's voice stood out. "No wonder you came to Concorde Valley."
"Yeah, no wonder." Diantha's eyes dropped to her potato peeling as emotions and memories threatened to drown her.
The ever observant Mary intervened. "Girls, why don't you go check on the babies?"
"Brice and Tommy are in there with them," Tabitha complained. "They'll let us know if they need anything."
"Girls, scoot. Diantha isn't going anywhere. You'll have plenty of time to get to know her later. If they're awake from their nap, please bring them in here. I'm sure Diantha will want to see them."
"I would love to," Diantha said. She watched as the eldest two Barton children exited the room.
"So what's this schooling you were telling us about?" Mary asked. "In what capacity were you learning to take care of sick babies?"
Diantha thought for a moment on how to explain what she didn't completely understand herself. "When babies are born prematurely, or if they have other complications from birth, the nursing school I was going to teaches you to take care of them."
Mary gathered the pieces of potato she had cut and added them to a bowl. She let Diantha's words incubate in her mind before responding. "If a baby is born that sick here, there's not much we can do to help it. I mean, we have our ways, like keeping them warm and giving them herbs, but we need to learn more."
"Learning is a never-ending process," Diantha said. "Even once you complete nursing school."
"True, true. I've always lived by that adage, but Diantha, dear, you probably know more about caring for weak babies than I do even after a lifetime of being a midwife. Perhaps we can help each other."
Diantha looked doubtful. "Oh, I don't know if what I was learning can translate to this valley. You don't have the same equipment or medicine."
"Maybe not, but I'm sure we can help each other learn new things. I can teach you to deliver babies, Concorde Valley style, and you can share with me what you can about saving the little ones. What do you say? Would you like to be my new apprentice?"
Diantha shrugged. "What about Tabitha and Brenda? Wouldn't they resent me coming in and stealing their jobs?"
"They won't be old enough to be apprentices until they turn 16. At this stage, they're still classified as assistants. By the time they're both of age, you can start your own practice."
"That's a great offer," Diantha said. "But I'm pretty mixed up about what I want right now. How long do I have to think about it?"
"As as much time as you need. Why don't you come out with me on a few calls and see how it fits you?"
"I think I'd like that. As a matter of fact, I was telling Atrius how worried I was that I wouldn't find a way to fit in. I just got to your house, and already I've gotten a job offer."
"I've found that very few things happen by accident, young lady," Mary said, "and I seriously doubt your coming here was one of the exceptions."
"I'm beginning to think the same thing. It's all sort of overwhelming, though."
Mary patted her arm. "I know, dear. From what Atrius has mentioned and you've told us, you've been through a lot. I'm just glad you've agreed to try."
Tabitha returned to the room carrying a sleepy-eyed baby. She had, apparently, overheard part of their conversation. "So does that mean you're going to stay with us?"
"And work with us?" Brenda added excitedly. She was tailed by an equally sleepy toddler.
"I guess I can give it a try," Diantha said. "Like the old adage says, nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"Good, then it's settled," Mary said. "You're helping until you decide what you want to do."
Diantha smiled. She couldn't deny Mary's enthusiasm was contagious. She took baby Hank from Tabitha's arms, sat at the preparation table and started to tickle him, which brought a barrage of giggles from the youngest member of the Barton family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary smiled to herself. If anyone could pump spirit back into a lost soul, it was her. Diantha's strength was healing sick babies. Mary's was mending sick hearts.
Tabitha returned to the room carrying a sleepy-eyed baby. She had, apparently, overheard part of their conversation. "So does that mean you're going to stay with us?"
"And work with us?" Brenda added excitedly. She was tailed by an equally sleepy toddler.
"I guess I can give it a try," Diantha said. "Like the old adage says, nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"Good, then it's settled," Mary said. "You're helping until you decide what you want to do."
Diantha smiled. She couldn't deny Mary's enthusiasm was contagious. She took baby Hank from Tabitha's arms, sat at the preparation table and started to tickle him, which brought a barrage of giggles from the youngest member of the Barton family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary smiled to herself. If anyone could pump spirit back into a lost soul, it was her. Diantha's strength was healing sick babies. Mary's was mending sick hearts.
She vowed to not let this one leave her household until she was fully healed... that is, if they survived the next week intact. Her husband and Atrius might think they were being secretive with their garden meetings, but a person doesn't have to see smoke to smell it.
![]() Recognized |
The AI images are from IZEA. The one of Mary doesn't meet her exact description, but was as close as I could get.
Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.






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