Riding(Jarred)

[Nenet Willcox]

Leaning against the stable door of her chosen mount she waited for Jarred to show up. She hoped he would not too much longer but she had realized that she had never told him a time just in the morning. It was now just before eight and she had been out here since six thirty. She had upset the nurse by waking her up early to get her shot then she slipped into the kitchen to get breakfast as well as arrange for a lunch to be made for them. It was not much just a few sandwiches and chips with a couple of butterbeers and waters.

Why was she out here so early, well she wanted to make sure that she beat Jarred but also because she wanted to make sure she could find a mount that would work for him. She had found a perfect one; it was a gilding not too old but was very sturdy and had been used often for helping new rides learn. It would take a lot to fall off Thomas then she had to find the tack and get it all ready. She was going to have Jarred put the bridal and saddle on of course with help from her but she felt this way he could get use to the horse before just trying to get on. She had chosen a lovely mare called Poppin.

“How much longer do you think his going to take Poppin,” she asked the horse with a sigh. 

[Jarred McCallister]

Jarred was having a sleepy morning. His roomate had woken him up with all his rompus homework doing because he had spent the rest of the weekend doing anythign but! He had been up around 530, so he had come to the stable to nap since then. The stables had a nice air to them, the smell of animal, which was relaxing. And they had the heat from the animals which helped keep it at a nice temperature in the morning chill. Finally around 8, and he was coming to again, when he looked down from the rafters he noticed Nenet.

When she asked how long he would be, he let out an answering Mrrow as he hopped down and shifted back into his human form. He looked disheveled and sleepy as usual. He yawned as she stretched out.

So...how do we do this?

[Nenet Willcox]

If she had had any idea that he was out there sleeping she would have had him woken up a long time ago. As it was she gave a little start when she heard the mrrow of an answer. Her cheeks became a little dark as she thought of all of the time she had taken in making sure the horse she picked out would work for him. Had he seen all that? Oh she hoped he had not, he probably would pick on her a little if he had… then again that might take too much effort for him to do that.

“Well ah… first you need to learn to saddle your horse,” she quickly turned away from him so he would not see the crimson marks on her cheeks. “But before that you need to decided what type of saddle you want to use. There is the English saddle which is lighter and you feel the movement of the horse better but there is less holding you on. Or there is the Western Saddle, its heavier but stronger straps and you have a horn to hang onto if you lose the rains.”

As she spoke she walked to where she had the two different types of saddles. One was a small piece of leather that was black the other was brown and rather large. “There are other types of styles but these are the two basic, I prefer the English saddle because you feel the horse move better. But the western one is comfortable and you can attach things to it. It’s nicer to go on longer rides with. Today I will be using a western because of our lunch someone needs to carry it.”

[Jarred McCallister]

He had actually not seen all the work she had put into this. He had indeed been sleeping. But what he had seen was the slight color in her face. His mind wandered on the causes. Thinking of a few, he shoved them aside, not letting them trouble nor raise his mind to other thoughts of his own.

Alright, um....lets go with the light one.

He pointed to the english saddle, he chose it because it was light, and therfore easy to move around, should he be forced to use it. He wasnt planning on using the horse to cross some vast desert and steal some natives land, so he wouldnt need the other sort. He also chose it subconsciously because she had made high refrence of it.

So what is lunch?

[Nenet Willcox]

Giving a nod to his chose she picked up the western saddle and took it back to the tack room. When she came back out she went to the saddle he had chosen that was still on the gate. She had thought he was going to pick the western because it was easier to stay on with if she knew that some of the reason why he chose the English was because of her she probably would have blushed again. But as it was she did not know so her cheeks were safe that is until he asked about lunch.


“Uh… well I decided on chicken pesto sandwiches with avocados and baby spinach leaves. The chips are baked and some water for drinks,” her cheeks darkened for a moment because she had made the sandwiches herself even though she was not going to admit that. “Now back to the riding.”

Going over to the saddle he had chose she put her hand on the seat of the saddle. “This is an All-Purpose or Eventing saddle. It’s the basic English saddle without getting into all the different variations. But first you need to meet your horse.” She walked over to Thomas’s stable and opened the gate. “Here’s a carrot just walk slowly towards him and hold out your hand flat with the carrot on it. Let him get to know your scent his a good horse.”

[Jarred McCallister]

He blinked at what she had chosen. He thought on the inside, that she had chosen a very girly lunch, but since he had not made requests, he didnt have room to complain. But he did notice her cheeks kept going dark every few moments.

He took the carrot as she handed it to him and looked to the horse, a natural reaction was to purr at the horse, and instintually did so. He purred a little as he held out the carrot to the horse, not afraid of the animal at all.

Are you sure you want to go riding today? you seem ill maybe, your face seems to be going dark everyso often.

[Nenet Willcox]

Nenet probably would have laughed if she had heard him purring at the horse as it was she did not hear him. To bad she did hear what he said and of course her cheeks darkened once again for the simple fact that he had noticed when it had happened before and also the fact that he had to point it out. For a moment she was quiet the did not last long as the embarrassment faded and anger took over. She was upset with herself for the fact that she had blushed to start with and again now and angry with him for having to point it out.

“I’m perfectly fine as you well know,” she snapped at him and turned on her heal as she stormed back to where she had left the saddle her ponytail bobbing as she walked.

She stood there for a few moments with her back towards him before she turned around her eyes looking as cold as ever.

“If you did not want to ride with me you could have just said so the other night instead of waiting till now and trying to put it off on me to walk out.” Crossing her arms across her chest she glared at him, “Well tuff luck I’m not going to walk off. If you don’t want to learn just say so and I’ll just go riding by myself.”

[Jarred McCallister]

Oh geez, she was getting angry. He seemed to get smaller and his body contracted, as if to provide a smaller target as her voice showed her anger.

No...I dont know. You have to take potions for an illness, you have been sick before, and Im just...

He looked away, not finishing his sentence. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he closed his mouth instead, prefering not to say what he had on his mind at that moment.

No...I want to go...I just didnt want to have to rush you to the hospital wing because you were pushing yourself too hard...

[Nenet Willcox]

As he started talking about her having to take a potion for her diabetes her face started to darken again but this time from anger. She hated being reminded of the fact that she had to take that stuff and that she would be on it for the rest of her life. As he trailed off she was about to snap at him but then he started talking again saying he waned to go. Giving a bit of a huff she turned away from him placing her hand on the saddle.

She was quiet for a little bit as she tried to get a hold of her anger, she knew she was blowing up over nothing and could not figure out why. It just seemed that when ever he was around she would get upset at things more readily. With a deep sigh she seemed to deflate some her shoulders slumping and her head dropping down.

“I’m sorry I snapped,” she muttered, then turning around with the saddle pad in her hand. “You need to put this on first. Then I will teach you how to get the saddle on.

Walking into the stall with him she handed the pad over to him. “See how this is cut in a little bit that goes on his shoulders right at the base of  his neck.”

[Jarred McCallister]

He was starting to see a pattern, Her red cheeks and her anger. He calmed himself, keeping his skiddish nature in check. refusing to revert to that template.

Its ok... without trying...I somehow...get you angry...

He came over with her after patting the horses net. Apparently Purring helped. He took the pad from her as she gave it to him.

oooook...

He attempting gently putting it on how she instructed, actually putting it on backward by accident. Jarred was not in his zone of superiority, he knew nothing to little of any of this. and that made him feel vulnerable.

[Nenet Willcox]

A look of surprise that turned to a bit of guilt and a ting of sadness crossed her face for a moment while he spoke about him getting her angry. It really was not his fault she knew, part if it stemmed from the fact that she was annoyed with herself for blushing too much. She had wanted things to go smoothly today and here she was already throwing tantrums.

“It’s not really your fault,” she muttered turning her head away,” It’s just that…”

Her voice trailed off not wanting to say anymore on the subject. Instead she turned her attention to him trying to put the pad on Thomas’s back. Seeing that he had turned the padding backwards she could not help but to giggle a little. Here was this genius who was suppose to know everything and he could not even put on a saddle pad.

“It just might fit a little better if it were turned around. It sure would make it more comfortable for Thomas to wear that way,” she stroked the horses velvety nose as she watched Jarred. Her eyes still showing with a hint of laughter as she watched to see if he could get the pad on right. Aside from some hints here and there she was going to have him saddle the horse by himself. If he was going to get any kind of feel for this it was best this way or so she thought.

[Jarred McCallister]

He saw her face and he lowered his head again. the look of saddness and she too evaded saying things.  When she told him that he was doing it wrong he raised an eyebrow. The way he saw it, this was how it was supposed to go. But apparently he was off. She was amused at him getting something wrong. Well that wasnt too much of a suprize.

Hey Nenet? why are we doing this?

He turned the pad around like she said it was supposed to be and looked to her expectantly, as if looking to her for the lead.

[Nenet Willcox]

A look of confusion crossed her face when he asked her why they were doing this. She thought that was rather obvious from the converation that had brought this whole thing into being. Had he forgotten that or was he still trying to figure out why she felt the need to try and get him to do something. With a sigh she leaned her forehead against the horse’s long face.

“Because it’s fun, because…,” she paused for a moment looking at him for a moment, “because I thought  you might enjoy it. Because even though you like your life how it is I thought you might like to try new things once in a while. I thought that you might like to try some of the things I enjoy.”

She looked at him for a moment longer before she felt her cheeks get a little warm and she turned away and walked back to the saddle. Lifting it up she stood there for a moment thinking. Maybe he had only agreed because she was forcing him too. Maybe he really did not want to be here even though he said he did want to be.

“You really don’t have to go if you don’t want too. I have no problem riding alone, in fact I do enjoy riding out by myself. It gives you time to think and it’s rather peaceful.” Turning to face him she wore a simple smile as she walked back to where he was. “So you coming or does Thomas get another day of rest?”

[Jarred McCallister]

There was a look of confusion on her face. And then she went on a tangent. Well he wasnt the most blunt with the question. So she was able to go off on a different answer to a different question. At first her answer confused him. His head lifted up to level with her and this look of utter confusion came to his face and almost...a look of being insulted. But it faded when he realized that she mistunderstood the question.

He reached over to her, and lightly touched her arm.

No... Not that...I know...well...at least I think I know why Im here.

He took a breath, as if he were having trouble putting the words together for the phrase he wanted.

Why...do we go back and forth like this...? I mean...you get angry...I feel sorry...or do something stupid. I just dont know about it...but I feel the whole thing is...forced, or... I dont know. I mean...do you really not like me or something? Or is it something else?

He let out an exasperated sigh. Unsure of so much right then.

[Nenet Willcox]

The touch to her arm had started her a little but she did not move away from it. It felt oddly warmer where he had touched her. But as he started to talk another look of confusing crossed her face when he started to say he knew why he was there. What had he meant then when he asked my they were there? Was he not questioning as to why she had wanted him to go riding with her?

“B-but I was  not angry I was just simply explaining that I did not want you to think you had to go riding with me just because I had insisted on it,” she muttered dropping her head. So he thought she was still angry. Well it was not that big of a surprise she normally did just get upset with him and then would just tell him what to do.

“I just thought we could do something other then sleeping, getting hurt or fighting,” she shrugged and looked away from him, “It’s not that I don’t like you. I would not let you nap in my lap if I did not like you.” She looked back at him with a small smile, even though she knew her cheeks were still a little pink from what she had said, “So let me ask this the right way, would you like to learn how to ride and would you like to have lunch together?”