-- && Mustang Run ]] -Daniel-

[rebel]

-- && -- Mia entered the barrel arena riding Rain casually. She opened and closed the gate easily mounted. Rain fidgeted and it took her a bit to understand the job, but she got the hang of it. she was very bright. her intelligence could be seen in her eyes. her vocabulary was huge, larger than most horses'. mia gently nudged the mare forward and could feel the mare extended her walk as she spotted the barrels. she was ready to go. she had so much energy, and even though the long trailer ride, she had come here in great physical condition. her emotional condition never changed because Moss had stayed with her throughout most of the trip, and one night even slept on her back during the ride late at night. yes, it may have been extremely dangerous for Moss to do that, but she didnt care. She trusted Rain. Rain may not have been perfection under saddle, but she was safe with Moss and would never hurt her.

-- && -- mia gathered rain beneath her basketweave western saddle. this saddle Moss only used when barrel racing or polebending. speed events. typically she would use the western ranching saddle when riding western, but it weighed alot. not for speed. even though moss was an preferred English rider, she still knew her Western, and was prepared to have her horse as an All-Around Mare. She had already gotten past the spooking stages with a year of solid work, but she still had problems under saddle. not many people could ride this mare because of her forwardness and how she took advantage of an under-knowledged rider. Moss was the only one that could have minimal problems on the mare.

-- && -- Moss turned the mare for the barrels and felt her coil up prepared to spring into a fast gallop. this mare was crazy fast, and surefooted. Moss took a deep breathe and gently held the reins on contact. Rain got low to the ground near her haunches and waited for the signal. as soon as mia rested the shortened reins on rain's neck, they were off. within a second they were circling the first barrel. the mare could do this pattern in her sleep, they were just working on her control. she had come a long way since they started barrel training. she use to knock over all the barrels. moss circled rain around the second barrel and leaned forward to whisper in rain's ears as they came around the third barrel. she only had to whisper knowing rain heard her. " Give 'em that mustang run. " like another shorter coil they sped home like devils. they were fast. and accurate. and ready for another run.

[daniel]

Daniel had decided it was time to get some actual training under Pence’s belt. The multi colored stallion actually looked better under the western saddle. His pelt seemed to flow more gradually and perfectly like that. It was odd but true. Dan was intent on getting to the barrel arena quick, he knew the risks of waiting until later, the more horses, the more he would have to keep pence in check, and he was in a mood to work him casually. Pence danced at his side in anticipation and high strung need for whatever was coming.

Dan did not bother to calm him down yet, That would come. He stopped outside the gate though and observed the girl a moment. She was pretty, that was obvious. Her posture was good and her horse was exquisite. He hoped he could get pence to that ability some day but for now he would just have to run the basics. Out of habit his hands grasped the reins harder and he watched them dance fluidly around the course. He pulled Pence’s head close and whispered softly, “See Pence, tha’ is what we’re practicing for.” He said calmly and opened the gate, leading him in. He waited patiently for the girl to finish and waved to get her attention.

“Oy miss?” he called, his thick British accent making his voice far from common place in this region, hoping she heard him. “Mind if I take up the other ‘alf of the ring hum? I am trying to get a bit of training under Pence’s belt today.” He said with a little nod of his head. He hoped she would ok him but some riders preferred to ride alone. He could make a crude pole bending course in the English ring he supposed with jumping posts. He was just teaching him how to walk it for now.

[rebel]

-- && -- as they flew down the home stretch moss could see she was being watched. by a handsome guy, and a equally handsome stallion. they had been running full throttle but rain's attention had caught onto the stallion and she slowed. what a damn flirt. moss gave her a gentle yet swift correction and then motioned to keep speed until the fence until Moss asked otherwise. the horse wasnt worried, and raced towards the fence. moss shut her eyes and leaned back, the mare reacting to this command, and slid to a halt. if they were in a reigning show, this slidding halt would make many riders jealous. but western was the mare's easy side. English is what Moss wanted out of her and what Rain found difficult.

-- && -- she could hear the gate open, and the nearly silent footsteps of the two who entered. she was practicing her stealth side. eyes opened as her spoke and she fidgeted in the saddle slightly. she wasnt great at talking, and was hoping she wouldnt embarass herself. a meek expression came across her face as she replied. "Well, you can have the whole arena if you want. I'll give Rain a break before the next run. Mind if we watch?" what this guy didnt know was before Moss spoke she had gone over hundreds of things to say. This sounded the best so she said it. "and uh,....my..name is..Mia Stone. ....you can call me Moss if you want. it's my nickname........and uh.....you are?" she tried not to be rude, but near the end it came out alittle snappy. she sighed and tried to clear her cluttered thoughts. people worried her. perhaps where her love of horses came. eyes moved from the guy to the horse he held in hand. a beautiful stallion. she analyzed him carefully, and it seemed he analyzed her always. his conformation was great, and made moss wonder if he was mustang also. rain flirted, making small whinnys to him, and if he looked, she'd make a small flirty squeal. mia laughed then waited for the reply of the guy.

[daniel]

Dan watched them finish and smiled at the sight. Western was his weaker point but working through it with Pence would fix that and he knew it. He knew how to train him to do well but that was just training. Actually working the horse daily was harder for him. He knew pence was stronger on the western reign though, he detested jumping usually throwing a kicking screaming fit about it, and heaven forbid you get him still enough for dressage. Dan was determined that whoever could get pence to do any dressage drill had drugged the horse. He was alright in steeple chase and cross country because he was given more freedoms but under the western saddle he was happy.

Dan nodded as she spoke and flashed her, his usual lopsided grin thankful she had offered. He didn’t want to worry about pence spooking if the pair came to close, he was prone to another sort of fit from that. Speaking of which, his hand came to his stomach to touch the still slightly tender bruise, he would have to take it a bit easy today. The stallion had kneed him in the gut in a charge the other day and it was starting to heal up, making it painful. “That is fine if you want ta watch. I must admit Pence ‘ere spooks a bit so its will be nice. I will tell you we’re just walking and trotting the poles today.” He gripped the saddle and lifted his leg into the stirrup before pushing off the ground and throwing his leg over the stallion.

Pence wasn’t really focusing on anything but the mare now since she was interested. He puffed out his chest and arched his neck showing off his paint breeding, maybe he had some mustang in him Dan didn’t have a clue. His ears perked forward and he tossed his mostly white head in response to her whinnies. He pranced in place under Dan shifting from hoof to hoof wanting to go and visit. It was a mare, and she was paying attention. Being only three and never bred the stallion was quite sure he was interested. He puffed and grunted giving little wuffs and chuffs to her as he looked the mare over.

Dan shot Pence a look but returned his gaze on the girl before him. He glanced over the wave of her brown eyes and couldn’t help but take the tiniest peek at her more feminine assets. He flushed the slightest shade of red as he forced his gaze only to touch there before meeting her face, he hoped to hell she hadn’t noticed. He nodded at her name and reined pence in feeling him wanting to take off again. “I am Daniel. Or Dan. Nothin’ too special about the name. Moss is nice. Never heard it used as a name before. Not saying it’s a bad thing or anythin’…” he trailed off and decided to shut up. He had always been bad at making conversation with people. He decided to try again, they both seemed equally awkward with people and anyone watching would take her pausing and his speed talking as something comical probably.

[rebel]

-- && -- "nice to meet you dan. and it something my brother made up. my intials are M.O.S. " moss's eyes were focused upon the dirt, not really looking him in the eye at all. she flick him a glance, but shy away. normally she was bolder, but she had just moved to a whole new state. she knew no one. that would knock the most egotistical person back a step. she was taking the change hard, but it was her desicion. she had lost ten pounds, and now she was at the peak of her physical condition. she was at the perfect weight of 124. she had to watch it now, she couldnt lose anymore or she would get underweight and very sick.

-- && -- mia wasnt paying attention to where he was looking, and she really didnt care. she wasnt offend if people looked at her, unless they made it very obvious and acted egotistical about it. she hated the brave foolish guys who thought they could get her whenever they wanted. rain was focused on the stallion when moss asked for a side step. typically this manuver was simple for them and very sophisticated but today Rain decided to throw a temper tantrum. after a tap on the haunches with the end of the reins a few bucks were thrown. but the dang mare never moved further than two feet. she was destined to stay and flirt more with the stallion. finally after more bucks, and then a sharp crack on the haunches with mia's hand, the simple step was taken.

-- && -- "She aint no angel. dont let her fool you. everything she does is because i trained her non-stop and put it into her. she's smart and she gets it. she just has her faults too. bucking, and my god dont go near her with a whip, or she tries to kill anyone near her. got to work on that next year. after i finish her control at fast speeds and the more difficult manuvers. shes got the basics down though. took 2 years with 5 hours a day every day. dont ask me how i did it. i just did. and shes right on schedule. she's only eight. " moss had forgotten Daniel, and was talking to herself. that was the only reason she said so much. she seemed to be lost in thought as she spoke. but she still spoke loud enough for Dan to hear her. her head snapped up for being focused on the mare and she looked at Dan. she blushed and couldnt help be embarassed. "sorry. i..was..just..like........uh......lost thinking about her.....spoke..uh..my thoughts." she normally didnt talk this much. it was akward. she shifted her weight over, and stared at the neck of her mare embarassed. anyone could tell why she was embarassed. she was a blabber mouth. and she thought too much. she had more instinct than alot of people. and when she couldnt think, she was all instinct.

[daniel]

Dan nodded just listening for now. He was patient and it was good not to be the one blabbering for once. He was the same way, either he said far too little or far too much. He was glad she was the one doing the talking. He just let her talk until she talked herself out and waved a hand. “No worries Moss we all do it from time to time. It’s a good nickname. Mine is, you know, every guy named Daniel is called Dan.”

He shrugged his shoulders trying to somehow make this less awkward. “You been here long? I have only been here a few weeks you see. Couple days.” He nodded and smiled again. “So perhaps it’s a good thing we met. Can’t know too many people you see.” He watched the horses display and frowned at the mention of a whip. “I never use whips. Can’t stand them. If you work with a horse long enough the only time it will stop is when you are in danger. I… well I train ‘orses you see… if you like I could work on ‘er a bit to tone down her bucking problem?” he was trying to be friendly he didn’t mean to overstep bounds.

“I mean if you don’t want it I won’t mind. Its ‘ard to offend me.” He nodded a bit trying so hard to not just take off to work with pence. Pence was still dancing under him and when she threw her fit he froze perched on edge as if wanting to join in but dared not move a hair. He knew better then to throw Dan, it meant extra time out just being run. Dan had a philosophy. If a horse wanted to be rowdy. It obviously wanted to keep it up. SO he would work it out on a lunge with a bit of rope to keep them moving.
]

[rebel]

-- && -- at his offer to help train Rain she froze. it wasn't sudden, but she was thinking very hard at her reply. "Well, i think it would be easier for me, if i did so, but thank you for the offer. " she tried to be polite but the reply came out very mechanically. she shook her head and sighed going back to his original topic. "Yeah, ive only been here for three days. It's taking a toll on me though. i dont react well with big change like this. i know no one except you now. " she smiled, a true beautiful smile and looked his way. she was trying to get herself back into her regular attitude and actions but this place was...different. she loved it but it was new. she ignored the conversation about whips, worried that her view of them and his view may cause a disturbance in their new friendship.

-- && -- rain was very tense, and moss knew why. because she was also. she closed her eyes and took a deep breathe and her relaxation could be seen throughout herself and the mare. moss spoke without opening her eyes. "sorry if i seem uptight. i promise im normally not like this....its..just.......well ....im....." she started to choke on her words. this was so embarassing to say but it was the truth. "im scared......like, ive never been far from home, and stuck in a place where i know no one. its not like i could go back though. " she sputter the last words out on accident. her eyes slowly opened to look at him. why was she opening up and trusting him already? she's known him for what? two seconds? there was just something about him that she felt ....safe with. before he could say anything so quietly spoke for the last time, "you can go start working with your boy if you'd like. dont let me hold you up. " she watched him while rain fell asleep finally attention off the stallion. for the moment. moss had still avoided eye contact, and while she looked over Dan and his features, she avoided his eyes. for what? she didnt know. probably the same reason she was scared. rejection. from social life.

[daniel]

Daniel winced at her words but didn’t take them to heart. He knew most people didn’t like others interfering it was just ingrained into his bones to train animals. Horses, dogs, well he didn’t know how to train dogs. He was just good at it so he did what he knew. It was the only thing familiar about this place. He tightened the reins feeling pence becoming antsy with the extended stillness so he walked the twitchy stallion in a circle both directions, keeping most of his focus on the girl. When she spoke of fear he smiled again, that was something he related well to.

It was not a rational sort of fear, the kind most people got when staring down a wild horse. No he did not get that fear. Even when a horse charged him down he didn’t panic but coming to a new place was something he could not rationally grasp, especially when he knew what would be coming after him. He cringed internally at the thought of his father standing over him with that iron. He winced visibly at that memory and shook it off. “If it makes ya feel any better I can’t go ‘ome either. So I am in the same boat. And I switched continents to a place I knew no one not even a lick of family.” He shrugged. “But I got Pence. So it’s easier.”

At her mention of taking the course he nodded and pushed Pence into a walk, the ovoro stallion straining to move faster, tossing his head as Daniel kept him reined in. He nodded to her. “I best do as you say. If not Pence ‘ere might ‘ave a stroke from standin’ still too long.” He was trying to joke and be happy but it was hard with that sharp, crisp, memory hanging over him. Just like her tension he felt the stress that Pence was generating because of him. He calmed his mind and let it only focus on the task at hand, the way he had in his flight from his home country. He grasped the reins and nudged him into a bit faster walk and weaved him slowly through the course each step held steady to make the stallion feel the movements instead of racing through it.

It was clear Pence was frustrated and suddenly gave a sharp buck with a squeal. Dan simply leaned back and pulled him in. They spun once then the stallion reared up pawing the air, Dan leaned forward and pushed on his shoulders until the stallion fell and took to pranceing. Dan looked annoyed and finally gave a sharp push into his ribs sending the stallion running. He let Pence run himself around the ring, avoiding the girl and her mare, until Pence slowed panting slightly. Instead of letting him stop Dan forced him to gallop three more laps before tugging him into a lope, a trot, then a walk before finally stopping him. “Why bother you silly git. You know 'ow those fits always end up.” Pence dropped his head panting hard. Dan knew that he wouldn’t try anything again so he walked him through the entire course before returning to Moss with a small sigh shaking his head. “'e is so stubborn sometimes.” He muttered out but shot her a grin looking like the run had been what he needed too.

[rebel]

-- && -- she sighed slightly as he spoke about himself not going home either and it seemed like both of them were struck of memories that haunted them. moss flinched as she thought about the night she came in the house to find her dad dead. he had a pulmonary embolism. but she didnt know that. only knew he was dead and she was alone. and she had been alone ever since. no male figure of any relationship had entered her life and she found that even if she were to try it was going to be way to hard. but she was very vunerable at the moment. her guard was down and a guy better take advantage of that while they still had the chance. if her guard went up again, she may stay single for the rest of her life.

-- && -- she watched the issue the stallion threw at Dan. she stared with wide eyes open, and she was slightly worried but she knew he would be fine. he seemed like he had horse sense and she admired that. it was hard to find a guy that liked to be around horses. back home she had lost a few guys because rain had tried to attack them. but rain didnt do anything yet towards Dan. not even give him a glance. She was either too busy sleeping or staring at the stallion. moss watched with interest at his riding, the first real emotion shown. she was starting to relax in the ring. as they came back and Dan spoke, she smiled a crooked smile, flashing her white teeth for the first time. she enjoyed watching him ride. he was good. and what he did was a smart way, but each had their own way. "Your a good rider. So, what else do you like to do other than be with horses.....well i assume you love to be with horses as much as i do....i meann....you seem like you ..d-do....uh. sorry if i assume. " her eyes went down to focus on rain's mane, gently pulling loose strands out.

[daniel]

Daniel smiled at her assumption for it was absolutely correct. He would sleep in the stable if he had the option but it was not one they offered so he had bought a tiny trailer and lived there. He loved horses more then most finding their presence exhilarating and calming all at once. They had more power then they let on and he would watch them as they run wishing for a moment he could be that free. Free of the painful past and the frightening future. He knew if his father caught up with him he was as good as dead, he also knew if he was caught by state officials before passing his test for a visa he could be deported for he was here illegally. He had told customs he was here on pleasure and simply moved in.

Stroking pence, as the horse panted beneath him he looked moss over again, she was not unappealing on the eyes but that was not what he was looking for. He was looking to see if she was afraid of him or looking to get away. He didn’t want there to be distance between a new friend so for now he was trying desperately to keep himself in conversation. He wasn’t good at this sort of thing. “Yes I spend most of my time here with Pence. Couldn’t ask for a bet’er horse actually. ‘e migh’ be skit’ish and wild as anythin’ when he gets upset, but ‘e is a good ‘orse.” He said smiling at the stallion under him. His attention was on the other pair more now assessing them as he tried to ignore Dan.

He looked across the ring, running them out was the best way, with pence anyways, to calm his fit. If he wanted to run Dan let him run and kept him running until he didn’t want to then he pushed him a bit farther to show he was in control. He stroked the stallion again to showed he cared even though they sometimes didn’t see eye to eye. “What breed is your mare?” He asked suddenly trying to pick up another topic that might go somewhere. They both were ridiculous, unable to hold anything but short choppy, embarrassed conversation. Either that or it was long drawn out rambling on either side. It would be rather amusing to watch, like a sitcom.

[rebel]

-- && -- she smiled as he spoke. she understood their relationship. maybe not to the depth it was, but she loved rain even through her spats and issues but she was the best horse. and maybe that's how Dan felt with his boy. as dan spoke again, Moss watched him intently. " She's pure mustang. an auction captured both parents from the wild, and i bought her immediatly. Had her and her mother since day one. but her mother died about six years ago. Colic. but her name is Rain. ...her show name is Mustang Rain. i just thought that fit her. What about your boy? " she understood that he was trying to make conversation and she was going to talk more. she needed not to be so shy. she looked over his body, then moved to his horse. with a nudge rain's head popped up as she startled. awake now, she was focused on the stallion. she started walking closer to him, and Moss didnt stop her. she wouldnt get too closer, but she didnt want to be so far from Dan.

-- && -- rain made a slow walk over to the stallion. she flirted for a moment, then attention snapped up to the male aboard. nose flared and she speculated. moss wondered if she'd move forward or spazz away from him. moss hadnt done much work with Rain with males. but she hadnt found anyone that could help her. something about males made Rain unsteady. moss wondered what her ex boyfriend had done to the mare while moss went to the feed store a long time ago. the mare had been perturbed for weeks after that. moss snapped back to reality as rain shied. moss nudged her closer again, and rain continued to shy. " Sorry. she has a problem with guys. one day i came home and found my ex boyfriend leaving, and my horse terrified. no clue what happened, but i havent been able to work on it at all. "

[daniel]

Daniel watched them near and carefully reined Pence in not wanting him to get too excited. He knew the stallion was utterly in want to do what nature intended, breed. Dan just kept him under control and waited patiently. He watched the mare with more interest then the noted control he kept on the stallion beneath him. She was his focus. How the mare reacted determined how he behaved with Pence. To his shock it was not Pence she shied from it was him.

The trainer in him wanted to slip from pence and get down so she was above him, to crouch and let her take her time to decide what to do. “Would you mind if I tried somethin’?” She muttered softly and eyed the mare slowly. He wasn’t about to do it without permission but he knew it would help me mare see he meant no harm. Right now he was on Pence, he was a threat as he was bigger than her. He knew better then to panic a horse and he wanted to be able to let the mare close enough to sniff him without taking more damage then he already had from pence a few days earlier.

Hands gripped the saddle horn a moment as he pondered then snapped back to his conscious thought and he spoke again ”Pence’s full name is My Two Pence. The woman I bought him from called him Senseless. It was an ‘orrid name” he speculated a moment and frowned. ”’e went all three years of ‘is life with out a lick of trainin’. Well I was upset and gave ‘er quite a piece of my mind. She told me that was my own two cents to keep it to myself. I told her that it was my two pence actually and bought him then and there. ‘e ‘as been Pence to me ever since.” he spoke the words a little spitefully as if the woman who had cast Pence off was mad but he had gotten a good horse and for very little money.

[rebel]

-- && -- she watched Dan's attentive behavior to the mare. at his question she dismounted. the mare looked worriedly at Moss, but with a soothing murmur she calmed. " Please do. You can even get on her if you wanted. See i've never been able to find a guy to help me, so try what you'd like. im not able to train this part out of her. " moss tied the reins to the horn loosely and began slowly walking towards Dan and Pence. The mare desperately wanted to follow, but wouldnt get any closer. she began pawing, and moss responded with a swift no. the mare began to shift uneasy. trying to go forward but terrified of the male. Moss slowly approached Pence, an eye on her mare, and an eye on Pence. She didnt want to spook him, so she moved slowly. she stopped near Pence but not within reaching distance. She didnt know if Dan wanted that.

-- && -- the mare was whinning now, anxious by not being able to get to Moss. Moss motioned for Rain to come closer, but the mare only reared in place, a wild mustang look in her eyes. this hurt Moss ever so slightly, because she knew the feeling. wanting something so badly but not being able to get to it because of fear. a shaky sigh could be heard from Moss because she was worried. She had been the only one to ever truly train rain, and she didnt know what rain would do if it wasnt her training her. moss looked up to Dan as Rain's temper tantrum picked up. she had begun running in a circle around them, and every time that she'd get near moss, she spot the male again and dart off. this was starting to bother Moss and she was close to saying maybe another day.

[daniel]

Dan slowly watched her dismount and then the temper tantrum. He soothed pence as he watched the woman. He wasn’t spooking and it was a good sign. He slid slowly from the stallions back, using his strength to keep himself easy and slow, nothing threatening about him as he kept his hands out in front of him, palms up in the most submissive gesture he could. “Take Pence’s reins please. Stroke his neck.” His tone was soft and even but he didn’t look to either. [ b] “’e won’t spook so long as you don’t”

[/b] it was a way to keep both of them calm. If moss had a task to do he doubted she would worry as much and he did know what he was doing.

Slowly he took a few steps away from pence, to the opposite side of where the mustang ran right then. Once again with the patience of a saint, and palms still up, he slowly lowered himself into a crouch not meeting the horses eyes. He was far enough away from the pair if the mare charged him he could dodge and she could easily change course. He was below her level now. Not a threat anymore and though he might still make her nervous it should be enough to calm her nerves a bit. Nothing was threatening about his posture and he looked utterly at home crouching there in the sand.

“Steady girl I promise I won’t harm a hair on your beautiful head.” He forgot pence and Moss were there for now his eyes following the graceful legs of the mustang. Still he did not meet her eye knowing that was a sign of a challenge. “Come on girl come see me. I won’t move until you’re ready.” He cooed out his British voice dipping into a soft baritone hum, like one might use to calm a frightened child. He was easy, not afraid of her. He had taken some serious thrashings from horses in his life and if this one intended to give one he could get to pence, and pence would have nothing to do with that. He knew he was safe enough in the ring with her and that if things got out of hand the fence was not ten feet away. He might take a blow but not enough to kill him in that time.
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[rebel]

-- && -- Moss did just as Dan requested and slowly approached Pence and held the reins in one hand and stroke his neck and head with the other. She could hear Dan speaking to Rain but she didnt know if watching would be smart. she didnt want to interfer. she decided to watch though, against better judgement. the mare was slower moving but she was still prancing around. she stopped as her lowered and lowered her head to his level. she snorted, blowing dust around her nose, and watched him. a single step of curiousity was made, but her attention moved to Moss and her head popped up. she didnt move though. her eyes focused on Dan trying to decide what he was doing.

-- && -- the mare pawed again and Moss made a movement to correct her, but stopped herself. Moss stood relaxed near Pence, but she really was worrying. Her mare was her life, and if anything happened she wouldnt survive. She didnt feel Dan asa threat but Rain got stupid when she was upset. the mare darted left, then darted right. when she found Dan not moving, and no attention that got her thinking. she lowered her head again and started to move forward. she suddenly halted, and rose in a rear, about five foot from Dan. "Dan, i dont know. maybe this isnt a good time? i dont want you to get hurt. i mean she does get a temper after a while. " Moss's voice was a meek whisper. She didnt know how to react. her mare hadnt done this in so long.