|
|
Post by Nicole on Mar 31, 2009 11:13:54 GMT -6
"Working on flat work for half an hour isn't very much." Claire said, frowning. She didn't want to say yes, but she didn't want to say no either. She sat there deliberating. In her experience, it was always two or three lessons on solid flatwork, then jumping. Flatwork included ground poles and then raised ground poles. There were none for it. Though Jamie had some riding experience, Claire had instincts that said 'no'.
Claire shook her head, making the professional decision. "As a trainer of riders, I would say no. And if Chasing does come over and make fun of him, you have my word that I will defend you. You can even blame me if you like." She said it in a very strong voice and watched Jamie for his answer. "I'd rather you not fall off, even if you have Pegasus as your mount." She didn't want him to get hurt. It could happen, bones broke and muscles got sprained and torn. It would not occur on her watch.
"Does that bother you at all?" Claire asked. If he didn't agree with her, then how could she possibly be his trainer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chasing on Mar 31, 2009 13:30:59 GMT -6
His face went stony still when she denied him his request but he let her finish and then sat the for a moment thinking about it. Truthfully it did bother him a little, he was a grown man who knew the risks of falling and getting hurt and she was treating him like a beginner. He couldn't lie about it, it was the truth. But he was no professional, he knew that too, so he just shrugged. "Oh a bit aye, but I won't argue with ye on that matter. I don't heal like I used too". She could deny his request on jumping but not on running about acting the barbarian as if his father would say. Shrek needed some sort of exercise later.
"I like it that ye hae some measure of concern for me body. Bodes well fer the next time I ask ye to dinner. Ye will no be saying no then I am thinking", he winked at her as Chasing appeared on a slightly sweaty Saint who was unhappy at his current state of being. Mud was splattered across Chasing's shirt and he had angry scratches on his face and arms. "What happened to ye?", Jamie asked curiously. Chasing blushed a bright red and mumbled something. "I'm sorry? Sounded like ye said ye got chucked off?", Jamie asked, a smile on his face. "Saint threw me into a blackberry patch", white petals were liberally stuck to Chasing's body. "Oh blackberries was it? They are no ripe yet aye?". "No. No they are not ripe yet".
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Mar 31, 2009 14:11:32 GMT -6
Claire felt a small degree of relief. "And I'm glad you're not a pouter." It showed maturity, acceptance, and patience. All of which were good qualities in her opinion. "Because no amount of pouty faces affect me, I am quite immune to such things." She smiled as she said it. Of course Jamie had to mention to dinner again and she looked away and decided to pretend that he hadn't said it, though she couldn't hide the light blush on her cheeks.
"Heavens, what happened to you?" Claire asked as Chasing approached. He looked as if he had gone for a roll and left the horse to jump all on his own. She looked to Jamie as he spoke and her head shot back over to Chasing and waited for him to fess up. He could hardly ride Saint, why did he try so hard to make the horse do things that he had not the ability to control. She merely shook her head and sighed at him.
"You need to be more careful, like Jamie is, he isn't doing things he isn't ready to." Granted this was a bit of a jab at Chasing, but it was true in some ways. Claire looked to Jamie and said, "Here is your living proof that practice makes perfect for both horse and rider." She said it with a little humor in her voice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chasing on Mar 31, 2009 14:29:13 GMT -6
Chasing glared at Claire as she lectured him about being more careful. Why did he always feel like a child around her? "If I wanted to be perfect then I wouldn't be riding this maniac", Chasing retorted, "And I wouldn't be here instructing and I probably wouldn't be engaged to Adri", he added angrily. Without a single further word, heels went into Saint's side, and startled, the stallion jumped to the side and then took off like he'd been shot. The cremello stallion was quick over the ground, his rider fearless as they galloped for the barn.
"Well", Jamie said, slightly embarrassed for his friend, "That was certainly unexpected. I wonder what got stuck in 'is craw?", he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I hadn't heard he'd gotten engaged, I will hae to congratulate him later. Did ye ken?", he asked Claire, watching Chasing's retreating backside. It was highly unusual for Chasing to get that level of upset, even more so that he showed it to someone. Chasing just didn't show that kind of emotion often.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Mar 31, 2009 14:38:26 GMT -6
Claire was stunned silent. Engaged? When had he gone and done that? She wouldn't think that anyone would accept having only months of a relationship. Claire hadn't noticed, but she had gone pale and she slumped a little in her seat. After about a minute of that and longer of Chasing's absence, she shook her head and righted herself.
"I didn't know, but he has no obligation to tell me everything." Claire put on a fake smile as she said it. She was still a little saddened by the roller coaster ride she had lived through with Chasing. "Our relationship was... not what it could have been." Her gaze at Jamie was a sad one, but still she bore a smile.
She shrugged and played with Gunner's mane. The gelding was being very patient with her. "I suppose he got upset because I have always known how to get to him. Usually it is because I'm right and he's too stubborn to admit it." Claire laughed and shook her head again. "It is something I wish to leave in the past, it is better and safer that way, for everyone."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chasing on Mar 31, 2009 14:56:13 GMT -6
Jamie lifted an eyebrow in question but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn't going to ask any questions about past relationships. If Chasing had tossed her over in favor of another woman then Jamie wasn't going to ask questions that would bring up bad memories. He wasn't going to pry either that wasn't his style. "Ye ken", he began wondering just what to say, "ye sound like ye need a night out". He held up a hand to keep her from saying no. "No dinner mind, but drinks? Maybe we'll go to a pool hall?", he offered with a shrug.
"Ye sound like ye need to hae some fun away from surly", he nodded towards the direction Chasing had went. "I'm good for a laugh or two and I won't beat ye too badly at pool", he told her letting Shrek move even with Gunner. "I'll understand if ye don' want to, afterall coming after me rejected dinner offer it's prolly a bit much. But sometimes a body just needs to let loose".
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Apr 1, 2009 15:55:30 GMT -6
Claire looked up at Jamie with a new light in her eyes. He was right. For so long she had been serious. She hadn't had any fun at all. It was nice to hear someone say so. "You're right Jamie, I haven't had much 'me' fun time in a long while. Aside from riding, I don't have much fun." She laughed. It was a little bit of a nervous laugh. Such was the truth of life.
"I'll go out to a bar with you, I could use a good shot of whiskey or two." Claire nodded with a smile. In the least, Jamie might be able to help her forget. He didn't pry, didn't ask. He was respectful. A true gentleman. He deserved a bit of a chance at least, and besides, what did she have to loose? She didn't have much to begin with. "Time away from horses and just be is valuable time indeed."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chasing on Apr 6, 2009 11:22:51 GMT -6
He nodded in understanding. Sometimes he got so involved with his work that he forgot to eat and have any type of 'me' time. Once those jobs were done he became an entirely different man, one that couldn't be paid enough to come back to work for at least two weeks. So he did understand what she was talking about, why else would he have bought Shrek? The gelding must have known his owner was thinking about him because he arched his neck and began to prance in place, recieving a gentle scratch on his neck for the effort.
"Wonderful. Where do ye want to meet?", he asked, idly playing with his reins. He'd be staying here tonight since his apartment in the city wasn't ready yet. Good thing it was the weekend. "Well if I could take Shrek into the bar wi' me I would, but since I canna, I'll survive wi'ou him", he shrugged. Jamie's time was valuable only to those paying for it. Since no one was paying for it at the moment, it was free time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Apr 6, 2009 11:37:04 GMT -6
"I need to go home and clean up a bit, but I could meet you at Tiller's Grocery." Claire said, her voice thoughtful as she mused over the question a little. She smiled and nodded. "If we get going and head back to the barn, I'll be ready in two hours. I have to see to Gunner, turn out Kleido, and then head home." It seemed like a little that took up far too much time, but in reality that was truly quite quickly. She was efficient like that.
"I'd ride down into town myself." She chuckled, agreeing with his feelings. She'd ride a horse anywhere if it was possible, but these days everything went quickly and horses were not welcome everywhere you went. "As it is, we should be going, make sure Chasing isn't tearing the barn apart, and take care of the horses. If I'm going to be your trainer, we'll need to come up with a schedule also." Gunner began to perform a rough piaffe as she asked, the black gelding's neck arched nicely. "Shall we?"
|
|
