Pence for Pence

[daniel]

Dan had long decided he needed to get pence away from the hectic stables for a while. He spoke around to the locals to see the best trail. He was advised not to go alone but he knew it was better for his horse that way. So the next day he waited for the sun to start rising before he tacked up Pence, in his hackney, saddle bags and western saddle, and headed to the trail head. He had chosen the early morning for one reason; it would be less likely to run into another person.

So he spent the first hour working on keeping the stallion calm and steady. He made him walk, Pence hated him for it. Occasionally he would give the stallion his head, when he had an open enough space, and would let him trot or canter before reining him in. Dan was pleased with the progress and soft talk to the stallion was all in praise. He stopped him before the meadow though and pulled out his breakfast trusting pence enough not to bolt so he removed the hackney and left him to graze.

He sat himself on the dew dampened ground not seeming to care if his jeans got soaked as he pulled out the sandwich with a grin, “now this is what I call a good day.” He peered at the sun just now getting above the horizon. He Glanced to pence who looked red and gold in the light and watched the stallion a minute.

Seeming to realize he was under surveillance Pence lifted his head and walked lazily over to Dan. He nibbled at his hair a moment before returning to grazing beside him. It was clear both were more relaxed out here then they were most places. He chewed the sandwich more than happily and glanced to the trail thinking he heard hoof beats headed their way.

Sandwich was placed on its plastic bag and he made quick work of securing the bitless bridle, the sharp movement making pence dance and huff on the reins as Dan reeled him in. “Shhh shhh Pence. It’s alright I promise.” He muttered and blew into his nose softly before stroking the stallion slowly to calm him waiting for the other horse to appear. He trusted pence but not enough to leave him unattended before another horse. Pence was too flighty for that.

[rebel]

-- bella led her personal horse Della Joia Bella out of the barn silently. she wasnt tacked up, just in a halter and lead rope. bella had a spare lead rope clipped to her jeans. they ventured out far enough from the other horses, and bella stopped bells. she clipped the other lead rope to the side of her halter and then she patted her shoulder and softly spoke. "down. please. " the horse obediently followed directions and bowed. bella leaped upon the horses back and nudged her with her heels. " we haven't done this in a long while. how about we let you stretch your legs and get some air? fresh air. mmm. " bella relaxed completely as they started off. bells stayed at a walk along the trail for the first bit, but as they turned onto a straight long path, they couldn't resist. bella gathered the lead ropes, and leaned forward as bells sprung into a full throttle gallop. bella didn't have a hard time staying balanced and on because of her experienced knowledge of this type of riding.

-- they galloped down the strip, and into the woods weaving through a few trees off the path then ventured back on the path. they crossed a meadow at a steady gallop, with bells breathing calm and bella just enough the ride. after rounding a turn bells' ears pricked forward and she slid to a halt. "Wha'? You hearing something? i think i might have heard something too. Take me to it Bells. " the horse turned left and took off into a canter. after a few moments of listening they heard someone speaking. they rounded a turn in a trail and bella reined bells in. they stopped and both pair of eyes were straight ahead on the stallion. he was tacked up, but where was his rider? bella didnt dismount, she didnt know the stallion. then all of the sudden she spotted the guy standing next to the horse. she sighed with relief that she wouldnt have to rescue a horse. " Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your picnic. we can go if you want. but im Bella, and this is Bells. We were just out for a relaxing ride. " bells stood with her eyes on the stallion, but she was calming herself done from the run. bella awaited his answer anxiously, fiddling with the two lead ropes she used for reins.





[ -- ooc -- sorry sucky post. >_< -- ]

[daniel]

Dan watched them round the bend and wrapped his free arm around Pence’s neck his fingers entwining with his black mane near the roots. He sighed knowing at the speed they were going Pence was going to spook. He was glad when they slowed and he sighed. Eyes flickered to pence and he released the mane slowly knowing he would be fine now. He let his grip on the reins slacken as well letting the stallion have his head.

The fact the girl actually stopped surprised him a bit, he thought she would keep riding but that didn’t happen so he nodded as she spoke. He wasn’t exactly the most social in the world, but that didn’t make him rude. Eyes shown with some humor at the similarity of their names but he kept it quiet. He nodded to them both, as if the horse were another person standing beside her instead of under her. He clearly had great respect for the beasts that bore them.
“You’re fine I was just stopping for a spo’ of breakfast.” He said calmly keeping his hands on the reins as he felt Pence stiffen and straighten a bit. Dan rolled his eyes at the behavior glancing to the stallion, ears up and nostrils wide as if to somehow catch a better scent, mares… he thought. “I am Dan, and this is Pence. Pleasure to meet you.” He said calmly his thick British accent showing just how little time he had spent in the states. He rolled stuck his free hands into his pocket his fingers playing with the head of the eraser in the confines of his jeans.

He glanced around then nodded to her. “Care to join us?” he asked smoothly trying to be polite though he seemed to be grasping for words now. He turned pence slowly away from the mare, causing a snort and a tug of agitation from pence. Dan hardly seemed to notice as he practically dragged the stallion to a thinner tree and tied the reins about it loosely keeping the stallion relatively still. Pence butted his head into the tree and pranced in the most childish manner, it made him look like a child having a temper tantrum the way he stamped his front hooves. “Ignore ‘im ‘e isn’ used ta not getting’ ‘is way. It is a pleasure Bella.” He said calmly.

[rebel]

-- bella smiled as she watched the stallion. her stallion was like that. if he wasnt center of attention he wasnt happy. " Nice to meet ya' Dan. " she smiled politely at Dan then looked back at Pence. " Nice to meet ya' too Pence. " she spoke to the horse like it was a human. that made her chuckle. when he offered her to join her she was hesitant. " Thank ya for the offer, but i dont wanna intrude on ya'. .....but i'll stay if ya' want. " she laid back so her head was on bells' rump, and her feet rested on bells' neck. she sat like that for a minute, then rolled off and landed beside the horse. the mare's head was lowered, but she wasn't grazing. she was groundtied. thats the position she was taught to stay in unless told to graze. bella removed the lead ropes and motioned for bells' to graze. the horse started to eat but began to sneekily venture towards the stallion. bella whistled and the mare went back to her spot. that mare was amazingly trained, but bella couldnt take the claim of that. she hadnt trained her, just added to her training.

-- bella moved closer to Dan, hesitantly, almost waiting as if he was going to tell her to leave. as she watched the stallion have his little temper tantrum she chuckled. That's 'lright, i understand. So Dan, why you up so early? i figured i'd be the only one out on the trail this morning." she chuckled and sat down in the grass, halfway between bells and dan. if he wanted to sit with her, he'd have to come over here. but this was a relatively small meadow. it wasn't like they were too far apart. they could probably whisper and still hear one another. she loved the sound of his british accent, wondering if her southern accent sounded weird to him.









[-- ooc -- again, another sucky post, so sorry. i promise it'll get better when they interact more. --]

[daniel]

Dan gave a slow, steady nod of his head and eyed the mare, watching amused at the proceedings. He was a bit impressed with how specific each thing was. He eyed Pence doubting he would ever behave that well but with the improvements he had hope. Blue eyes turned back to the girl though and he scooted over on the fallen log and paused to stand and wandered to the saddle bags. He pulled out a second sandwich, his favorite ham and sharp cheddar with mustard and mayo. He held it out in her direction. “Made a second incase I was still hungry your welcome to it if you are.”
He pushed an awkward, lopsided, smile from himself and hoped it looked convincing; he was not good at human interaction. Sitting down he set the unopened sandwich beside him then began to eat his own once more. He enjoyed the taste and sighed happily. Her question of why he was out so early made him pause. He finished chewing the bite he had and brushed the crumbs from the bite he had off his lips before speaking. “Pence is a new project of mine you see. ‘e was left untrained for the first few years of his life making him, well a bit of a problem. He was too wild to ride and too crazy for anyone to take on. They were going to put ‘im down at a stable I was helping with on my way through. I offered to take him so long as they would give me a ride, with him, to here. I was already told I could bring my own ‘orse so long I just saved him along the way. Got offered a part time job training ‘orses here”

He looked at pence with some deep understanding. It was hard to read his expression. “Well I have only had him three weeks and the fact I am already riding him and treating him like a civilized beast is amazing. But he still doesn’t have all of his bearings with all the interaction so I was taking him out to stretch and run. It’s a wonderful trail.” There was a good deal of pain trapped behind those blue eyes as he shook it off. His eyes turned back to her and he shrugged. “Anyways. Sorry for my rambling. Why are you out ‘ere so early all alone? I mean what if I was dangerous or something? I’m not mind you but still.”

[rebel]

-- bella accepted the sandwich, not wanting to be rude and denying it. but then again she was being rude cause if he got hungry, then he had nothing to eat. as he scooted over on the log, she got up and sat down beside him. she opened the sandwich and munched on it while she listened to him. " It's great that you rescued him. I'm sure he's very thankful. and when you say run, what exactly do you mean?" she gave a playful chuckle and smiled. " i mean, cause i have heard people say out for a run then just trot. when i go out for a run, me and bells or gun go full throttle. bells can handle the turns on this nice trail easily at whatever speed. but being Gun is so big, he has some difficulty. so i rarely take gun out. he doesnt really prefer the trails anyway unless its a big group. " she gazed over at the horse who seemed like he had calmed down a bit.

-- dan's horse was just gorgeous. she had a huge spot for wild horses. and obviously so did bells. bells kept trying to wander her way over to the stallion and flirt. bella kept on the mare until she finally got fed up and went and chased her horse away. she started laughing as bells threw a few bucks at bella. that mare would never really kick Bella, but she liked to think she would. the mare trotted to the place where they first saw dan and pence and started grazing again. bella returned to the seat next to dan again. " Your not rambling. just talking, and trust me im not bother by talkers. i talk alot myself. Ha. and we are just out for a gallop. i need a break from life, and she hasnt been out for a gallop in so long. and my past experiences with trouble have taught me to protect myself. dont worry, try to pull some stunt on kidnapping me or something and ill kick your ass. " she chuckled lightly, hoping she didnt offend him.

-- she munched again on the sandwich then sat it down. " so dan, do you have a girlfriend? or a girl that you'd rather be sitting here sharing breakfest with you other than me? " she made a small attempt at a conversation, hoping he would catch that and keep things talking. she looked over to pence and smiled as the stallion was looking at dan. bella stood and slowly walked over to him. she raised her hand and stopped a foot away and waited to see if he would come to her. at first he shied away, not enough to undo the tie that held him to the try, but then he stood normal again. she just patiently waited, wondering if pence would sniff her hand or not. out of the corner of eye she saw bella starting to hesistantly wander toward Dan. bella knew that bells was probably going to try to steal the sandwich Dan gave her, but she wanted to check out Dan before she stole it. Bella laughed and waited for Pence, unsure if he'd even step any closer to smell her hand.she really hoped Dan didnt mind that she was visiting his horse.

[daniel]

Dan shrugged at Pence “I am sure ‘e is grateful, but ‘e is a bigger ‘andful then you could imagine.” He said offhandedly just watching the mare. He knew pence wouldn’t cause her problems but he was a stallion and could get a bit rough if he wanted to. It was more out of safety for Bella that he had tied the stallion. The talk of a run he looked at her and burst out laughing, trotting? Really? He wondered.

“No when I say run I mean ‘e gallops full tilt until I reign ‘im in. ‘e loves running. ‘e would be a good barrol racer once I get ‘im fully trained. ‘e takes corners like a champ. I was stoppin’ ‘ere because once we ‘it that meadow… ‘e won’t want to stop.” He nodded to the field just past them and chuckled It was nice to have some conversation and he was beginning to relax. Her comment on kidnapping he raised his hands in his own defense and shook his head chuckling at her. “I ‘ave no such plans. If I took anything it would be your ‘orse.”

He shook his head watching her curiously then Bells noticing the horse was getting awfully close over and over, pence pranced on the end of his rope clearly wanting to meet too but each time the girl shooed bell off he snorted and stamped his hooves like a child throwing a fit. Dan just shook his head knowing he would get past this phase eventually. He brushed his fingers through his hair and watched in shock as Bella suddenly hopped up and actually chased bells off causing a wild spur of activity. He grinned from ear to ear watching bells every action. That horse had enough spirit in her but she was tamed down to be able to be ridden

When she spoke of a girlfriend he chuckled, “I’ve only been in town ‘bout a week, not that big of a player you see. Ta tell the truth I am not really lookin’.” He stated with a shrug. “No need rushin’ things aye?” His eyes followed her progress towards pence and he watched as the Stallion dashed out of range only to freeze eyeing the girl.

At first pence seemed hesitant as if unsure what to do then slowly he reached his head out and sniffed at her hand. Head withdrew as he perked his ears glancing to bells then Dan. Finally, seeming to make his decision he slunk the few paces between them and sniffed her hand a bit again slowly calming. He pushed his nose into her hand and lipped it half hoping for a treat but found nothing.

Dan’s blue eyes turned to bells watching her approach and he reached out both hands allowing her to get a good wiff of him if she chose, and if she came close enough he would scratch the middle of her nose lightly. “Allo there miss. Aren’t you a beautiful mare. Hum.” He said softly seeming far more at ease with her horse then with her. He just wasn’t the best with people. He found them complicated, hard to understand. A horse, if you bonded with it, would follow you to the ends of the earth, you did the same thing with a person and they would beat you bloody both emotionally and physically depending on the person.

[rebel]

-- bella watched pence, then watched her horse with Dan. " Hey Dan, i got an idea for ya. How about we let these two "stretch their legs" and race each other? if you think you could keep up with us. '' she was messing around with him now. but she was sure up for a race. and hopefully he was too. she grabbed the lead ropes after downing her sandwich and went after Bells. Of course Bells thought it was a game and had to be chased for a few minutes before getting her leads ropes hooked up right into a makeshift bridle. she nudged bells to bow without asking her, seeing if she would. she tapped her shoulder and waited. it took bells a minute to understand but then she lowered and let Bella on. She climbed up onto the mares back and patted her shoulder again and the mare rightened her posture.

-- "So you up for it? " she was desperate for him to say yes because she loved to gallop. especially bareback. she began flexing her mares neck left and right, trying to stretch out her back real quick. she immediatly felt bad for ignoring nearly everything he had previously said, but she had forgotten when this idea popped into her head. she stared at him anxiously then looked down at her clothes. for a moment she was confused, and then it clicked. the reason she felt weird was she had forgotten to take her bathing suit off from last nights swim. and when she awoke this morning, the first thing she wanted to do was get down to the barn and get riding. she didnt even changed out of yesterdays clothes. up partying last night at the club. she giggled slightly but she wasnt going to let Dan know that. that would be very embarassing. but she didnt stink. merely smelt like horse. and that was a smell she was very fond of.

[daniel]

Dan finished his sandwich chuckling at the challenge as he slipped the bags into his saddle bags. He made sure they were secure and slipped before pence to untie him. Pulling the reins back he glanced to her and chuckled. “Well one thing is for certain if you stay ahead of us I will buy you a meal. I can promise on that. Pence can run like the devil is on ‘is ‘eals.” Dan swung his leg into the stirrup and walked pence in a circle one way then the other letting him stretch each side before looking to Bella and walked pence over. Pence nudged the mare sniffing at her and huffed trying to puff up and look impressive, and honestly he was. A stallion with his appearance was hard to find. Those black and white and brown markings almost seeming planned instead of chaotic.

He turned the stallion away from the mare and nodded. “’ow about this… I will give you a two second ‘ead start even.” He said with a small smirk. He could feel pence coiling his muscles to run but he reigned him in making him prance in place and dance side to side. He could see the open expanse and he knew what that meant. Small stamp was given as if to say let’s go already!
“offer isn’t going to last Bella make up your mind… I mean we could start even but then it wouldn’t be a fair race.” He shot her a devilish, lopsided grin and reigned Pence in even more making him a bit more frantic. Dan knew he was working the excitable stallion up but he also knew it would make the release that much better. “This is no old nag Bell ‘e isn’t going to behave much longer.” He teased out hoping she would take the challenge and take off.

[rebel]

-- bella bursted into a crazy laughter when he finished speaking. bella shied momentarily unsure of what was happening, then got the cue to prepare for a takeoff as bella reigned her in. "Deal! It's a date then! " she was referring to him buying her a meal. she kicked bells forward, making bells react with a half rear then darted forward. she kept nudging her mare faster, knowing this wasn't her fullest speed. as they hit the beginning of the meadow, bella leaned forward and kicked bells once more. bells nearly doubled her speed and began gathering her hind preparing for more power. bella stopped nudging her, waiting for Dan to catch up to them so she could blow by them again.

-- bella kept at her speed, a nudge away from bells top speed. bella was holding on with her thighs and through her hands up in the air and was hooting and hollering. she enjoyed this, but she was prepared for her race. she knew pence could catch her, and would most likely win this race, being bells want built for speed, and on occasion mis-stepped. bella knew pence was built for speed and a surefooted horse. she could tell. he may be alittle messed up in his head, but he sure didnt look like he'd have any problem catching up. bella hunkered down on her horse back and pressed her faster again. she had slowed a bit when bella was acting wildly. she saved the last bit of bells power for when they caught up. then she'd give them a race.


[[ ooc -- sorry its so short. >_< lost muse at work this morning. if we had galloped today, i'd have so much muse in the world haha. ]]

[daniel]

Dan caught his reins feeling Pence surge when bells took off and began squealing in discontent. “Steady.” He whispered counting in his head, one… two.” Then he relaxed the rains and Pence took off like a bat out of the gates of hell. He hardly lifted his front hooves before diving forward. Dan loosed the reins fully and took a grip of mane along with holding the strap of leather to keep it from falling anywhere dangerous.

He pitched forward to get closer to the stallions neck as he barreled towards the mare. Black plume whipped the air like a flag as he flew over the land. His black hooves hardly hit the ground before he was flying again. He was taking it full tilt and did catch the mare after not too long. Dan gave a slight tug to control him, and set his heals a bit more as Bella took to whooping, Pence chose to dance around them at a greater distance but was not going to be swayed. Then glancing to her, with a wild lopsided grin showing he was enjoying every second, and he gave Pence a sharp nudge. He felt Pence’s muscles coiled under his legs and he grinned. The stallion curled his head then surged forward like a downhill train every muscle working amazingly. Dan actually seemed to relax totally his hands on those leather straps entwined with the reins keeping him balanced but he hardly seemed to need them he was so at home on a horses back.

Dan doubted she was going to let him win so easily but the end was insight, a good distance off still but it was coming up on them. He grinned devilishly and chanced back at the mare almost expecting to see her streak past him just then.