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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 25, 2013 7:20:07 GMT 10
The dark stallion skittered beneath his rider, white dipped legs moving in a flurry of abundant snowy energy. The young man sitting astride him only chuckled at the display, reaching down to pat the equine's crest affectionately. "Ease up, big guy." Jace murmured to only his magnificent steed, sitting up straighter in the chestnut colored western saddle. He leaned his head back, letting the sun spill across his face. It was a perfect day for a ride, and by the looks of it, Shade enthusiastically agreed.
Finally, Jace let up just slightly, and the black stallion bounded into a buoyant lope, chomping eagerly at the bit as his ears strained forward. His hooves whispered down the trail nearly soundlessly. He let the frisky stud canter until he'd had his fill and slowed finally to walk on a loose rein, a light sweat made his slick neck shine in the dappled light of the trees. His long stride carried the pair over the endless, winding first paths, looming pines and scattered oaks creating a canopy overhead.
Life was much too stressful these days. Absently, Jace reached up, fingers brushing the dog tags hanging around his neck, and then moved to his shoulder, pressing against the barely healed bullet wound on his shoulder, a subtle pain shooting through his arm. He dropped his hand back to the saddle horn, sighing. He'd considered reenlistment, in fact, he was considering it. But the military had been the source of his father's demise. Did he really want to go back to that? A grimace crossed his handsome features. It was time for a new start. It was time for a new life.
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 6:25:46 GMT 10
Issy felt like she had to get away. Away from the farm for a while to clear her head. It was such a beautiful day and she wanted to escape for a wee while. The track that wove its way through the forest was tree lined and shaded her from the sun. The canopies of leaves contained the coolness of the wind and trapped the heat from breaking through.
It was cool that she had met a keen grazer Alex and his mare Jazz, and it certainly would help having an extra pair of hands around the place. But she still felt anxious about giving up her university degree in order to look after the farm. She briefly smiled though, thinking of the opportunity of getting her own pony.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 7:04:49 GMT 10
Lost in thought, he nearly didn't see the pretty blonde walking down the path. In fact, Shade saw her first, coming to an abrupt halt and jerking Jace out of his daydreams. Glancing up, shocked, and only more so by the vision before him. Dumbstruck, his eyes fell over the pretty girl, and he immediately straightened in the saddle, squaring his shoulders. He quietly cleared his throat, not wanting to startle her.
"Beautiful day for a stroll, yeah?" He enquired, attempting to draw the beautiful girl's attention to him, just as Shade released a loud, obnoxious whinny, bobbing his head in a friendly invitation. He always had been a people horse.
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 7:24:17 GMT 10
"Goodness!" Issy exclaimed. She clearly spooked at the sight of someone else more than the horse seemed to itself. "Yeah lovely day. Wasn't quite expecting to see someone else out and about."
The horse was beautiful. As she walked up to greet him, he put his muzzle out greeting her with soft nibbles with his lips. "He is gorgeous." Issy was so caught up in the beauty of the horse she barely noticed the rider on top of the tall stallion.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 7:35:27 GMT 10
He smiled gently with her words, reaching down to fondly pat the stallion's neck, though Shade hardly noticed, caught up in greeting to young woman enthusiastically, ears straining forward as his nostrils quivered in quiet, welcoming nickers.
Jace swung off the horse easily, to be on the pretty woman's level. "I'm Jace, this is Shade." He held out a hand warmly, introducing them both. "Yeah, we really hadn't either." He trailed off, utterly astounded by her beauty now that he had a better look at her.
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 7:39:37 GMT 10
"I shouldn't be surprised that someone else is out enjoy such a beautiful day!" Realising how stupid she must have sounded. "Are you from around here?" Issy quizzed.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 7:47:04 GMT 10
He chuckled, nodding. "It would be a shame, wouldn't?" He flashed a charming smiling, slipping the split reins over Shade's white dipped head. Jace shook his head with her question. "No, actually." He reached up, tugging the dog tags from beneath his shirt. "I just recently was released from the Army. Injury. Needed a fresh start." He glanced toward the black appendix. "We decided to go take a look around, didn't we boy?" He smiled, scratching behind his ears. |
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 7:58:38 GMT 10
"Oh wow! Are you okay?" She was only guessing, but he looked a couple years older than her, it was young to take a break from the army. She once new a friends family member who was listed until thirty years of age.
"Well it is beautiful around here. I actually own a farm down the road. Well I didn't buy it, I certainly couldn't afford that kind of thing at my age. It's sort of a long story!" She really didn't have long to talk, she had to go check on Jazz, the new horse at her farm and get some lunch, but for some reason she didn't mind the hold up.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 8:02:33 GMT 10
He shrugged, smiling. "Just a field injury. Misfire. It's all good." He smiled easily, eyes brushing over her features, tempted to comment on how stunning she happened to be, though he held his tongue, instead asking. "Do you ride, then?" He tilted his head. There was only one farm in the area. He'd been tempted to look into the property that was for auction. But he was more of the sit and watch type. He would let other's battle it out before he got into the mix. "You're welcome to hop on him. He's a gentleman." He offered, suggesting it easily. "I can see it in your eyes-- you want to." He nearly teased, voice still level. |
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 8:35:32 GMT 10
"Hahahaaha" Issy giggled "Nah, I'm okay, I havent riddent since my mother passed away. I used to ride her horses on the property when I was younger. I have never had my own horse, but my mother competed in dressage quite often so Id always help out with grooming and stuff. I am keen to get into riding again and possibly find a pony to hack out"
The day was so lovely and almost wished she was horse back as the midday sun heated up and peaked between the forest canopy. She was dreading walking back up the road from the forestin the extreme heat.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 8:42:20 GMT 10
"No, really, I insist!" He laughs, enjoying the sound of her laugh. "I could use the exercise, anyway. I feel lazy riding him around everywhere. You can just take him back to your place, and I'll ride him home from there." He explained, looking at her doubtfully. "Come on, how can you resist him?" Jace chuckled, Shade bobbing his head repeatedly. |
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 26, 2013 9:05:13 GMT 10
"Aww thats a lovely offer. Are you sure he's fine..." she cautiously asked. She had never ridden a stallion before and believed in the stereotypical "all-stallions-are-crazy" label.
It wasn't far up the track back up to the road from where they were but she felt terrible for interrupting Jace's ride.
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Post by Jace Reid Beaumont on Feb 26, 2013 9:09:31 GMT 10
Jace laughed. "Better than any gelding you'll ever sit on." He enthused, holding out the reins to her. "The best part about a western saddle? You have to do a lot less than in an english one. Just sit up and hold on." He instructed, still smiling broadly. "You'll enjoy him, I promise." Of course you couldn't stick Shade with a mare and expect him to be on his best behavior, but he was as quiet as any gelding under saddle. |
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Post by Isabelle Weaving on Feb 27, 2013 5:11:08 GMT 10
"Aaaahhh thanks." Issy said anxiously. In the back of her mind she knew that Jazz would be in a paddock at the farms and she hoped the stallion wouldn't go mental at the sight of the mare.
Jace offered her a leg up and she swung over the saddle perched up high behind the horn. It was a while since she had ridden and she knew the next day her calf muscles would suffer regardless of being in a western saddle or not.
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