As the words of my admission dimmed and the weeks passed a ritual was set, and running nicely; concerning my tending to Sterling.

I would arrive close to dawn and ride. If John wanted company a steaming mug of coffee would be on the gate post as I passed by the house on my way out, if not, he was still asleep.. or in a meeting.

If Harry's car happened to be parked up, the coffee wasn't on the post. I wasn't sure whether to take offence- treat it that Harry still thought I was hopeless or just plain ignore it completely.

Another night at the club and they were fully on the turps. Alice asked me to keep away after a while. Ringo stepped out a few times asking for water, as a way to slow his night down, without the others catching on.

"You shouldn't hide the fact your trying to cut down, you know" I spoke softly, leaning over the end of the bar with him, this end being shrouded in darkness hiding the fact that a real live Beatle stood there.

"Well you know that lot, I wouldn't stop hearing about it for a month of Sundays" He raised his glass in a toast and I joined him with my own glass of water. "So how is the horse riding thing going at Johns place?"

"I didn't realise anybody knew there was a horse riding 'thing' going at Johns place" I replaced his glass with another and he took a sip.

"Oh yeah, he's always wandering down to talk to that nag, I mean horse, of yours. I think he's going a bit balmy in his old age"

"Hate to point it out, but you sir, are older than him" I flicked the bar towel at him and replaced it on my shoulder.

"Oh, that's right all my personal details are in every former teenage girl's diary" Ringo laughed heartily, slightly toasting me and walked back toward the vampire room. As he walked away I realised I had just been branded old as well. Grinning at his snide aside I cleaned the rest of the glasses away.

The bar was closed and I sat counting dockets, register floats and the vampires bar tabs, which was always a mess and most of the time one of them, mostly John, would end up laying down the entire amount, letting the others off the hook.

I looked at my watch and it was 4am and they still were playing up! So, to get them all moving, I stood and walked over to the light panel flicking on the main lights to that room which was met with a chorus of groans and swearing. Chairs were flung around and they had that eventual fight with the black drapes that hung heavy over the door way. You know, like the comedian on stage trying to find a way through the curtain to the audience.

Alice hit my head as he crawled past, Mikey was led out by Moon who was tonight, or should I say this morning, rather jolly and lucid, even kissing my cheek as he meandered past towing the ever snoring Monkee.

"Night luv" Moon rustled my hair, I had pulled the bun apart an hour ago, my head had felt tight and a headache was close.

"Night Keith"

Ringo sat beside me and flicked a stray peanut and muttered "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

I gave him the look. The look of a manager at the end of her daily tether and he held his hands up in defeat.

"I'm almost....nearly. Hold on.... There done. Where's Lennon?"

"Loo"

"Hmmm. Well off you go, doors that a ways, grab him on the way out" I got up and piled the paperwork and took the float to the safe returning to find the two of them standing scratching their heads, obviously waiting for me.

John swaying on his feet, drunk. "It's almost dawn" He stated as he pushed his glasses up his nose, a habit that he seemed to use when he wasn't sure of which direction in a conversation he should take. He missed at first, shoving his finger close into his eye socket then found the glasses, pushing them up.

"That it is" I ushered them closer to the door, his driver stood patiently waiting for his boss. I turned to set the alarm but an arm stopped it.

"Well, you'll be wanting to ride soon, why don't I give you a lift" John smiled drunkenly and I frowned in thought, thinking about the offer.

"I'll need my clothes and boots"

"You left your boots yesterday remember... in the tack room...They were caked in mud" He was still with us but leaning heavily on the door, Ringo smiled, shaking his head at Lennon remembering something so trivial and insignificant.

I looked down and, glory be I was back in jeans, no need for a change. "Ok...but I need to be back here by lunch"

"No you don't"

"Yes. Yes I do"

"No, it's Monday today. Slooow day so... no BethJ day" John turned on his heel, he was right of course. A quietly chuckling Ringo and myself tailed him to the car. I sat in the front, I wasn't having John flopping round like a fish out of water beside me.

I turned in my seat "Can I call you Richard, I feel a total tool when I call you RingO"

"Sure luv or Richie, all good"

"Or prat or twat or Bongo!" John laughed and wacked his head on the window as we rounded a corner. We laughed at him and he shut up, glaring out the glass as the world drift by.

I walked away from the car towards my morning ride, listening to Rich pushing his friend toward a shower or bed or perhaps both, maybe when I wandered up later I would be met with silence  and or snoring.

*****

"Hello luv"

"Hi Richard" we smiled broadly at each other as we met at the entrance to the bottom of the main garden.

"I'm off then" Richard noted casually, like I should know.

"Oh, where are you off to? Can I grab a lift?" I pushed through the gate and it shut with a thud as I let it go.

"Ummm sorry luv no can do, going to pick up my new love at the airport and times a ticking" Richard tapped his invisible watch, his naked wrist, and started off  for the taxi now parked at the front gate.

"Well is the boss's driver about?"

Ringo shook his head making me giggle, his hair was slightly shaggy at the moment so the Beatles mop top appeared for but a moment.

"No, seeing as he was up all night and all...."

"Well I better start walking. I need a shower"

"Don't do that darlin. John will eventually wake.." The taxi tooted and I shut the gate for Ringo as he continued chatting. "Look. Go into the guest house just where I was, shower, towels all that- yeah." I shrugged non committal then he was off to meet his love at LAX.

And I was left all alone.