PUPPIES! (issa) [Q]

[jaydenmitchell]

At his growling tone, she hurried to grab her plate and sat down at the table, picking up a slice of bacon and munching on it slowly. She understand that he wasn't really mad at her. She didn't have any siblings, but she imagined she'd feel pretty pissed off too.

He came over and sat down, offering apologies. She offered a weak smile. It's okay.

[/b] Then she laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. I guess me being here eating breakfast in your clothes does give off a certain impression.[/b] She blushed again, thinking about what had been suggested. She hadn't even kissed the guy yet, and here his brother was pegging other things on them.

She looked at Shane again, this time taking on a serious tone. You'll make sure he understands though, right? That nothing went on. I mean, that I'm only here because of the puppies and, well, you know.[/b] Her words rushed together as she spoke, not wanting to leave anyone with the wrong impression. She didn't really care what people thought of her, but she didn't want to get a reputation. She wasn't that girl.
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[free3]

He gave her a half smile as she told him it was okay, hoping he still made a good enough impression she felt like riding with him after breakfast. He had to shake his head and smile as she laughed, knowing it wasn't a far fetched impression his brother had jumped to. She was in his clothes, and his brother had seen her last night. It wasn't good, and Shane himself had even teased her about what she'd tell her dad.

He put his hand on hers as she rushed through her words, seeking to stop her and look into her eyes. I'm not that guy, you aren't that girl, okay? He'll know it as soon as I find him again. He didn't mention that his brother would probably tease him about it, even if he did believe they hadn't done anything. He was just that kind of a guy. Hurry up and eat, the horses are waiting. he told her with a smile, starting in on his breakfast.

[Ethan Ott]

She relaxed at his touch, and trusted his words. If he said he would, then he would. She somehow knew she could count on him. She nodded her acceptance and felt eased enough to start eating again.

As he told her to hurry up so they could go see the horses, she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Bossy much?", she asked with a light laugh, letting him know she wasn't really serious. "Do you plan on riding? You remember my lack of skills in that area, right?" She smiled though, knowing she was up for learning if he was up for teaching. She just hoped she wouldn't make a complete fool of herself when he saw how little she did know about horses.

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[free3]

He grinned as she called him bossy. Why, of course. How else would I run a ranch? he asked her, giving her his most innocent look. He continued eating, but stopped as she spoke again. Of course. You're at my beck and call, remember? He became a little more serious. You can ride my old reiner. He's a been-there-done-that horse, he'll take care of you. Did you think I didn't have a plan? He turned back to his food, not wolfing it down, but eating quickly.

He was finished before Jay, and had an idea. He had his mom's chaps down in the tack room, had she left anything else here? Be right back. he told Jay, wandering toward the bedrooms. After thoroughly searching one guest room, he moved to the next. The first drawer he looked in had a worn pair of women's jeans. They still looked too big for Jay, but they'd do better than anything he had. He looked around for anything else, but could find a shirt, or anything else for that matter. He came out triumphant still. Jay, found you a pair of my mom's jeans when she was still smaller. They'll be better for riding.

[jaydenmitchell]

Jay nodded as Shane spoke, and then watched him leave her to finish eating. She moved the food around on her plate with her fork, slowly eating the remains. It was good, but she just wasn't feeling as hungry as usual. Maybe her nerves were still playing with her.

Shane bore a sort of excited look on his face when he came back in, telling Jay he'd found a pair of his mom's jeans she could borrow. "Thanks Shane, I'm sure anything is better than your shorts,"

[/b] she said with a laugh. She stood up and put her plate away, then took the jeans from him, heading to the bathroom for the second time that morning.

It only took her a moment to slide off the gym shorts and pull the jeans on. They were a couple sizes too big, and a little too short, but she just shrugged at her reflection in the mirror. She rolled the waistband down, which made it fit just snug enough to stay up, and called it done. Then she paraded out of the bathroom back to Shane, striking an exaggerated model pose. "Just my style, don't you think?"[/b]
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[free3]

She was finished by the time he came back, and he just smiled at her words. That's what he had thought, too. Too bad he hadn't found a better shirt or something, because his were just too big for her. He grabbed their dishes and quickly rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. He then tidied up the kitchen while she changed.

He laughed at her as she came out, but affected a serious face and pretended to be examining them. Well, if you think so... he replied, but then grinned up at her. They'll be fine. C'mon.

He led her out to the barn, first stopping in the tack room. One wall held saddles, and he thought a minute before grabbing a worn, but comfortable saddle. It was a little small for him, but it had many miles on it. He pointed her to the stack of saddle blankets. Pick two. If you dig deep enough, you can find some fun ones. he said. He grabbed two bridles and put them on the saddle horn of the saddle he held, then grabbed a second saddle and carried them out of the tack room. He placed them over two stall doors right next to each other, and waited to see what saddle blankets Jay picked, and who she assigned to which blanket.

[jaydenmitchell]

Jayden laughed when he offered her such a serious task. Judging by the stack of saddle blankets, she knew it was intended more for fun than anything. She gave him a salute. "Aye, aye Captain. At your service!"

[/b] And then, laughing, she kneeled down and began poking through the stack.

There were a lot of them with black and brown colors, a few with reds, some greens, and navy. Then buried somewhere in the middle, she found one with varied shades of pink and brown, and she pulled it out with a laugh to herself. She frowned momentarily, wondering why Shane had an obviously girly saddle pad, since all she'd heard mentioned were guys, but she brushed her thoughts aside and continued her search.

Finally she came to one that had royal blues, a little lime green, and dark charcoal grey. She smiled, pulling it out, deciding it was perfect. Then, with saddle pads in hand, she strolled out of the tack room and found Shane standing in front of two stalls. She thrust one saddle pad toward him. "I picked this one just for you,"[/b] she spoke with a wink. It was the pink one. She was keeping the one with blue and lime for herself.
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[free3]

He wasn't disappointed. He was handed a pink and brown one, while she kept a more... sedate one for herself. He took it from her, but just stood there and blinked at her for a second. Then he rolled his eyes, playfully muttering that he should have known. He put the pad over his saddle, then picked up the grooming supplies on the ground. Just stick that on your saddle. He opened up the stall door that held a friendly chestnut sabino. This here is Wishful Thinking, known affectionately as Willy. She's still trying to make up for her unfortunate gender by having a boyish name. He turned to Jay. Have you groomed a horse before? he asked, putting his free hand on the mare's neck.


Willy
Sam

[jaydenmitchell]

Jayden didn't miss the rolling of his eyes, and she smiled. Jayden: 1, Shane: 0. She halfway hoped they'd run into someone later, just so they could give Shane a hard time about the saddle pad.

She did as instructed though, laying hers on her saddle and then walking into a stall with Shane. She reached her hand out and let the horse - Willy - nuzzle her. "Hi Willy,"

[/b] she spoke to the horse, "are you gonna take it easy on me?"[/b] She laughed, knowing the horse wouldn't answer her, and turned back to Shane. "Um, yes. But it's been a long time, so you'd better show me again."[/b] She could probably have figured it out on her own, but better safe than sorry.
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[free3]

Willy thoroughly checked Jay's pockets, but not finding any treats, heaved a sigh and cocked her back foot. Shane grinned at Jay, watching Willy's ears flicker as Jay spoke to her.

Well then. He took out a curry brush from the box. This you run in circles all over her body to stimulate blood flow and bring dirt and loose hair to the surface. He demonstrated on the mare's neck, who promptly leaned into the pressure. Oh shoot. Willy, be nice to her. She's not as strong as I am. He muttered to the horse, before setting the curry on the mare's back. Then comes the dandy brush, which goes in the direction of the hair. Be gentle on the face, but everywhere else you're trying to get as much dirt and dust out as you can. He then placed that on the mare's back, pulling out a hoof pick. Here, come around where you could see. He bent over and picked up the mare's foot. This is the frog, and you're getting the dirt and shavings out from around it. He demonstrated, and then handed her the pick. Do this first, then drop it in the bucket. I don't particularly want our shelf here to have something metal on her back.

He then left the stall, moving to the next where he took in another set of supplies and began to groom.

[jaydenmitchell]

Jayden intently watched Shane, for once taking something seriously because she didn't want to screw up. What he demonstrated triggered her memory, and she felt comfortable with the concept. "Got it,"

[/b] she said, as he left the stall and went to groom his own horse.

She used the curry comb exactly as he'd shown her, moving over the mare's coat in circles. Then she picked up the soft brush and used it to remove the remainder of the dirt from the mare's body. "Does that feel good girl?"[/b], she asked with a laugh when the mare craned her neck around to nuzzle Jay again. It's a good thing she wasn't scared of horses, she decided, otherwise she might have been scared the mare was trying to attack her or something.

Once she finished that, she returned both brushes where they belonged and walked back out into the aisle to check on Shane. "I do believe I'm done,"[/b] she told him, "who'd guess a rookie like me could beat the old pro here?"[/b]
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[free3]

At her comment, he turned around, one finger held up. Okay. he began. Willy has been in her stall all day, Sam here was out in the pasture, and he likes to roll in as much mud as he can. I like it when my Paints look white, and he was definitely black and brown there for awhile. I gave you the easy horse, missy. he retorted, grinning. But Sam was looking much better, and his white was almost white again. Shane wouldn't be able to get it perfect, but he liked his horses to be clean.

He let himself out of the stall, going into Willy's. He grabbed her saddle blanket while giving her a look about it, unfolded it, and placed it on Willy's back. He then grabbed the saddle and let it settle gently on the mare, and then quickly grabbed the cinch and tightened it. Willy, I know your tricks. He told the chestnut as he turned away. To Jay, he said, She likes to blow up her stomach so that I can't get the girth tight enough now, but I have tricks up my sleeve. He took the bridle and put it on, then led the mare from the stall. I'm going to set you up in the round pen and you're going to get used to Willy here. He spoke as he walked, and led Jay and Willy to a large round pen. He opened it up and let the mare and woman in, then closed the gate.

He hooked the reins on the saddle, then turned to Jay. Remember how to mount? I'll give you a leg up and then I'll give you a refresher on riding. He turned and tightened the girth, then cupped his hands for her knee, and then boosted her into the saddle. Put your feet in the stirrups and sit deep, she'll take care of the rest. She neck reins, so just put the reins to one side and that's the way she'll go. He demonstrated. Kick and she'll go faster. Say the gait you want with a kick and she'll go. You've got walk, trot, canter and gallop, but I wouldn't recommend galloping, but cantering should be okay. Pull the reins and she'll stop if you keep the pressure on. I'm going to go finish Sam and join you. He smiled at her and then left her to her own devices.

[jaydenmitchell]

Jayden somehow managed to mount the horse, with Shane's assistance of course. She nodded repeatedly at his directions, trying to remember it all for later. Kick, turn, pull. Easy enough, right?

He walked off and she shifted her weight around in the saddle a couple times, getting comfortable. Sorry Willy, you're stuck with a beginner,"

[/b] she said to the mare. She tapped her heels against he horse's sides, but the horse didn't move. She frowned, and tried again, this time using her calves. Still, the horse didn't budge. On her third try, she gave the horse a little more contact, and finally Willy eased forward into a slow walk. Apparently Jayden just hadn't been kicking hard enough. She reached her free hand down and patted the mares neck, thanking her for not taking off and dumping her just yet.

She guided her towards the rail of the round pen, and then tried her best to keep the mare walking on the circle. Of course, she didn't know that once placed on the rail of the round pen, the mare would have stayed put walking in circles for hours. Instead, she felt a little more confident, thinking it was her commands keeping the mare going. She kicked her again, and the mare walked a little faster. Then she kicked harder, clucking as she did, remembering something from her old lessons. Willy hesitantly moved into a trot, and Jayden smiled as she kept her balance at the new gait.
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[free3]

Shane hurriedly finished grooming Sam, tacking him up with the pink blanket and leading him out of the barn. Jay was trotting with Willy, and seemed to be fairly confident. He mounted Sam, and nudged him to a trot to go over to the round pen, matching Jay's pace and trotting on the other side of the fence. Ready to come out now? he asked, Or do you want to try cantering while you're still in the round pen? You don't have to, but if you want to you can. He told her, making sure to keep track of Sam, who was younger and greener than Willy.

[jaydenmitchell]

Jay didn't notice Shane coming back, and was startled when she heard him talk. She looked down at the mare and then back over at Shane. "I think trotting is good enough for now,"

[/b] she spoke with a smile. "But I can think I can handle her outside of here. She's a pretty good girl, once I got the hang of her 'go' cue. It seems I'm a bit weak in the legs."[/b] Jayden laughed, and then guided the mare back over to the gate. She wasn't sure if Shane intended to open it and let her out while she was on Willy, or have her dismount, but she figured he'd tell her if he wanted her to get off.
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