"I'm off to the market" Ted Narracott called to his wife and children "to get a horse" There was a small bang and 19 year old Christinatina came running to her father with her long red hair flying behind her.

"Father, may i come too?" she asked with big green eyes that she knew her father could not say no to. Ted sighed and nodded while Christina smiled then they walked off to the market. Christina was a beautiful young women with many men chasing her, her having long curly red hair and sparkling green eyes.

When They reached the market, while going to where the horses would be shown, they walked past where the horses were going to be until they would be taken out. It was there where Christina saw it. She saw a beautiful chestnut coloured stallion with a black mane and a white mark on its head, she smiled as the horse looked her but then she was taken by her father for her to stand by him.

The auction ring is full of people of all shapes and sizes. There is a sense of celebration and busyness about market day. Christina stood quietly by her father, Ted Narracott,who was in his forties, clearly both the cares of the world and alcohol have worn him down before his time, and Si Easton, his more solid friend, both working farmers. Just behind Si is his 15 year old son, Andrew. Ted has a drink in his hand. They all look at the horse who Christina was looking at before, bridling against the men who are trying to hold him.

"Now that's a beauty." Ted told them as Christina nodded.

"Forget it, Ted. He's half thoroughbred and not got a day's work in him." Si then points to a plow horse next to the horse " Now, there... There's your ticket."

In contrast to the horse Christina looked at , the solid and bulky plow horse stands like a rock. But Ted remains fixated on the chestnut horse. "But look at him, Si. Look at that creature." Indeed, the chestnut horse is magnificent, his power clearly emerging because of his upset.

"Don't be daft. You need something solid to plow a field." Si fought. Christina rolled her eyes 'Like that will stop him' she thought. but Ted's eyes were fixed on the horse.

"Yeah, but he's something else, that one." Ted told, Christina smiled again at the young horse.

The AUCTIONEER announces the start of the auction "Alright gentlemen - settle down - settle down - horses on my right - men with money in their pockets on my left - it's the perfect combination. Is Fred Goddard here?"

FRED shouts his reply from the crowd. "YES! I's here."

"Good - more money than sense." The crowd laughed "Dave Hill?"

"I'm here. Yes!" still chuckling

"Bugger off, you tight bastard - you've been coming here for 20 years - never bought so much as a pork scratching." The man said, joking. The crowd are loving all this. Ted notices a figure across the ring, LYONS, clearly a man of money. There was a light in Ted's eyes - a combination of dislike and alcohol while Christina looked over to see Lyons son, David who smiled at her and winked. All Christina did was roll her eyes at him , for years he has tried to get her to marry him, even having his father offer money but that just made Christina and her mother even my angry. Christina looked away to see her Chestnut being led into the auction pen. "Okay - first up today - a gorgeous young horse - prettiest thing I've seen since my wife on our wedding day." Everyone laughed once again "Let's get going, shall we? Who wants this wonderful creature."

But no-one bids. until one voice speaks up. "One guinea." it was Ted

5.

"One guinea, one guinea, one guinea..." The auctioneer said

"I thought you needed a plow horse, Mister Narracott."" Andrew spoke.

"Any advance on one guinea? Any advance on one guinea?" continued the auctioneer.

It was clear that the horse trying to get back to his mother, Christina just stared at it and it relaxed slightly at seeing A voice from the crowd pipes up:

"Two guineas." it was Lyon

"Three!" countered Ted.

"Ted Narracott - it's completely the wrong animal." Si told Ted.

Lyons whispers to David, next to him. David eyes the horse skeptically.

"Si Easton - I'm not gonna let that bastard see me off."

"Five guineas." Lyons called out.

"Six!"

"Oh for the love of...!" Si was cut off by an elbow to th gut off Christina. The horse is straining to get to his mother, the men are pulling him back.

"Seven."

"Greedy sod thinks he can just buy anybody." Muttered Ted then started bidding again "Eight."

"Stop it - he's your landlord - you can't be picking fights with him." Si tried to convice.

Lyons looks over. There is now tension in the crowd as they sense a Battle Royal for the horse.

"Ten guineas." Lyons smirks at Ted.

"You haven't got the money. Let's go home - let's have a pint." Si said, still not giving up but the thing was neither was Ted.

"Eleven guineas, sir, from as good a man as any in this town."

They all look at Lyons in his suit and bowler hat.

"Do I hear twelve guineas? Twelve guineas?"

"That's top price for a workin' animal. Ted! Save it for the shire!"

"There are big days and there are small days, sir. Which will it be?" Christina asked turning around, smiling Slightly. Ted pulled His daughter to his with an one armed hug.

"Do I hear any advance on eleven guineas?"

All eyes are on Lyons and his son. "Just let him go, Ted, I don't care for him, he's too... jumpy." Lyons isn't listening to David; he's looking hard at Ted. "Shall we say - twenty five?" The crowd gasps. This is clearly personal.

"Well, he's got you there. Nice try, Ted." Si patted his shoulder

"You were great, Mr N. Gave him a run for his money." Andrew congratulated But when he looks at Ted, Ted's eyes are locked into the eyes of his rival.

"Going, going..." Went the Auctioneer.

"Thirty. Thirty guineas!" Ted suddenly shouted . Total silence. He stares hard at Lyons. Who simply smiles, raises an eyebrow, tips his hat and walks away. It dawns on Ted that he's won the auction. He breaks into a sweat.

"Thirty guineas. Thirty guineas. Going going gone - to Mister Ted Narracott." The Auctioneer bangs his gavel. It's a done deal.

"What have you done, Ted? What have you done?" Ted doesn't acknowledge Si.

Moments later - Ted stands next to Christina staring at his new horse, who looks back while Christina strokes his neck and nose as the horse pulled lightly on a strand of her curly red hair as if he was already happy with her. Ted holds his reins numbly, accepts his receipt from the auction man in a kind of daze. Suddenly, Lyons appears at Ted's shoulder.

"Quite a beast, there." then they start to walk with Christina who now had the reins behind them and David behind her "But what you gonna do with him - on a working farm? I hope you got the rent, Ted. I'll be around for it when it comes due." Ted does not acknowledge Lyons. Lyons smiles and walks away with David, and his cronies.

Si shakes his head at Ted. "You're a fool, Ted. And our Rosie'll never forgive you." Christina stops at hearing that and turned to the horse.

"Brace yourself when we get home. Mother may not be too happy" She started walking again with the horses head on the shoulder.