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The sky was black, only illuminated by the street lamps on I-26. A podcast played on the radio, highlighting some political issue Alexander was too tired to care about. He was annoyed at this point, he had to drive an hour out of his way to pick some kid up, before driving another 7 hours down to the tip of Florida. The whole trip should be split up over 2 days, but caffiene was cheaper than a layover.
That and there wasn't any point in pushing off the work they had at their feet when they got there, but at least Washington had went ahead with most of the set up.
This whole ordeal was apart of the equestrian industry's annual migration down south for the winter, where everyone who had clients who could afford to drop their lives and go to Florida for weeks on end packed their happy asses up to go enjoy the warm weather. Alexander was grateful for it, it beat trying to work outside in the Virginia winter.
So here he was, 6:30 am, having left home base at 11 pm. He was pulling their smaller rig, an f450 and a 42 foot trailer, which he had filled with 10 head of horses. Washington was an hour ahead of him with the semi in tow, 12 head of horses on board, and a groom was between him and Washington with a cargo trailer.
And, despite his current annoyance, he was excited. The horse country of Florida in the winter was prime entertainment. Constant horse showing, grand prixs, and action packed classes, followed by partying after the fact. Some day drinking in between for some barns. Every winter down south was like living in a reality TV show, except by the end everyone made up because they had to see eachother that next fall and winter once the year's finals season commenced.
So perhaps it made up for the drive, and the fact that he had to pick up a kid to help them in South Carolina. Well, he wasn't a kid, he was older than Alexander. But by Alexander's logic, he was a kid. He hadn't been working since 14 trying to chase a dream.
***
Miles went by, the street lamps reducing in number until the stars started to shine through the cover of light pollution that the center of Charleston cast. That's when Alexander hit his blinker and pulled off.
The truck complained as it stopped the weight behind it, and complained just as much again as he hit the gas and whipped the trailer into the truck stop.
They'd agreed upon the stop as a meeting place, as Alexander had no want to navigate back roads with 42 feet of steel in the dark. He much preferred scoping out a spot on Google maps, knowing he could get in and out without playing truck shimmy.
He scanned the parking lot, lit with flourescent light. The only thing there was a beater Toyota, definitely not what this kid was driving. He sighed, contemplating his next moves before he murmjred, " might aswell",and cut the engine.
He slid out the truck, locking it behind him as he sulked in the gas station.
" Don't see that everyday"
Alexander looked up, brow furrowing, cogs grinding, before he put two and two together, that the older man behind the counter was looking at his truck and trailer.
" Coming down from Virginia, we don't usually drive out this way",he replied, an informal explanation. He grabbed 2 monsters and a bag of cheez-its, dropping them on the counter.
The man toyed with the pocket knife in his hand once or twice more before he scanned the items, prompting Alexander to pay as he let out a thoughtful hum.
" Where you headin' ?",he asked, " why you stoppin' out here?"
Alexander slid Washington's credit card in the reader, and leaned on the counter.
" Florida, and I'm picking up some help, so I don't have to pick shit. "
The man let out a laugh, shaking his head. Alexander took back his card and the man handed him a receipt, and in the fashion of older folk, kept talking," There's a big o' pretty farm down the road, its got all white painted wood everywhere. They got some pretty lookin' horses in the pasture. Owned by Henry Laurens, you know em?"
Alexander met the man's eye and nodded.
" Somewhat, I'm picking up a John Laurens. I've met Henry before, I've got two of his horses on the trailer. "
The man hummed again, a slow nod coming from his head as bright LED headlights turned in the parking lot.
" Well, John is a good boy. "
Alexander hummed, doubtful. Apples don't fall far from the tree.
" Goodnight, sir. "
He took his plastic bag and walked into the chilly December air. The headlights belonged to a half-ton truck, fairly new. The tint on it was too dark for him to identify the driver and passenger but he had an idea considering it stopped by his own truck.
Voices came from inside the smaller truck, and Alexander took the time they used conversating to top off his tank off with diesel.
As he put the pump back in its slot, the passenger door of the half-ton swung open and a tall blonde stepped out. Alexander looked up, meeting the other's blue eyes and he greeted, " good morning."
The blonde nodded, looking more recently awoken than Alexander. The blonde, whom he presumed was John, retrieved a suitcase out of the bed of the half-ton and Alexander gestured to the backseat of his one-ton.
" It's fine in there, just push around whatever."
The window of the half-ton rolled down, and Alexander was cursed with the sight of Henry Laurens.
" Be good, Jack",He tossed into the night's air, not really caring to look at "Jack", instead holding his gaze on Alexander.
" Boy, tell Washington I said hi"
Alexander nodded, smiling and biting back a smart ass reply. He wasn't a "boy".
" Yes sir I will",he said, with all the sweetness of a honeysuckle, " He'll be happy to hear it."
" Im sure."
With the pleasantries concluded the old bastard rolled up his window, black, no doubt illegal, tint obscuring his figure. The half ton revved up, and pulled out of the truck stop, leaving Alexander and John the only people in the parking lot.
Alexander turned to view John, who finally seemed to move once Henry left, like a weight had been lifted off his spirit.
" So was this your idea or your father's?",Alexander asked, taking a handful of steps closer, narrowing the gap between him and John.
" A mixture",John replied, guarded in tone as he looked up to meet the red-head's eyes.
" That's vague",Alex threw back, walking around him and glancing through the trailers windows, doing a brief check of life before he waltzed back to the truck's door.
" Not in university?"
Laurens swallowed, shook his head, back straight.
" No."
Alexander raised a brow, " why not?"
" Why aren't you?"
He snorted at that. There was some humor behind this cold persona.
" A pleasure to meet your acquaintance John, Alexander Hamilton at your service, get in the truck. "
***
4 hours later they were just past Jacksonville. The sun had risen and Alexander had drained and refilled his energy drink supply from the stop outside Charleston.
Laurens had taken to staring out the window through Savannah, till eventually succumbing to boredom and pulling out his phone as they hit the Florida-Georgia line.
Alexander had switched from podcast to song once Laurens had gotten in the truck, with rap music now playing on the radio. It was fast paced enough to keep him awake as he was hitting that 24-hour mark. He turned on his blinker and got in the middle land, before glancing over at Laurens. He wracked his head for a moment, for some ice-breaker, before he ended up saying,
" So you want to be a groom?"
Laurens looked up, seemingly suprised that the silence had been broken before he looked to Alex and gave a nod, " I do, I've always liked working with the horses. "
" Do you ride?"
" Not yet. "
At that Alexander raised a brow, and turned down his music.
" You don't ride?"
" No?"
" Your father is the largest sporthorse breeder in America and you don't ride?"
" No, he never bothered to have me learn."
Alexander smiled, amused by the absurdity, to have top level horses at your fingertips, and not having your son ride them? Not crafting an olympian?
" Does he have a reason?"
" Like I said, he never bothered. "
" That's vague."
" You like asking questions."
" You like not answering them."
John let out a sigh and Alexander laughed again, maybe it was the sleep deprivation but this was very entertaining.
" Seriously, there's got to be a reason, we're stuck together for the next 3 months. Tell me now, or I'll pry it from you later, John."
John ran a hand down his face, Alexander was persistent. Horribly so.
" He didn't want me getting into this industry."
Alex grinned, he made a crack.
" What a hypocrit, he's in it."
" He didn't want me being a rider in it."
" There's some better answers, why?"
" You want more?"
" I'll have you figured out come March."
" Good luck."
" I won't need it."
***
4 hours later, they were pulling into the winter farm. Washington's semi sat on the left of the paved drive, doors open and shavings strewn about from where his string of horses had unloaded. The cargo trailer sat up closer to the barn, where their long-time groom, Mateo, and Washington were unloading practically a whole barn.
Alexander reached over and shook John's shoulder, causing the other to open his eyes as Alexander hit the breaks. He pulled the truck to park and unbuckled, before turning to face a bleary eyed Laurens.
" Welcome to Mount Vernon Show Stables, Wellington location. "