Racing to a Chance Future chapter 1
A young tall blond man walked up the dirt road. An old, worn out bag slung over his shoulder that carried nothing except a fresh change of clothes and a toothbrush. He sighed as he made his way up to a black iron gate as it opened. The blond slowly made his way through the gates and feasted his eyes upon a huge house, almost manor like, near a huge stable. He started to wander and looked over to the paddocks. The grass was green, lush and healthy. He was so drowned in his thoughts that he didn't even realize where he was going. He felt himself run into something like a brick wall. He looked up and stared into a pair of green eyes.
"Excuse me. You must be the new stable boy we hired."
Ronald's throat became dry and he couldn't speak all of a sudden as he looked up at the teen. The boy seemed to be around his age maybe a bit older, considering now tall he was. He towered at least a foot over the blond. He simply nodded and he looked down, too embarrassed as a light shade of pink tinted his cheeks.
"Well you best get settled. The stables over this way." The other teen said as a smile crossed his lips.
Ronald slowly began to follow the taller teen into the large oak wood stable. He could see why it was called Oakland Stables; the whole barn was made of oak with the exception of the iron bars that made up the upper half of the stalls. His mind began to wander again as the scent of hay mixed with horse manure filled his nostrils. Other stable boys would complain about the smell, but not Ronald. He adored the smell.
At least it's better than...
Ronald stopped himself as he felt his stomach knotted and twisted. He didnt want to think about the place he had formerly came from. This was his home now.
"Ah. So 'is is our 'ew stable boy."
Ronald was jostled from his thoughts as a tall, well-built man walked up to him. He guessed the man was at least in his early twenties and the head groomer. He felt the man's strong hand pat him on the shoulder, causing the blond to freeze up. The older man chuckled.
"Bit 'umpy I see."
Ronald loosened his muscles as he let out a sigh.
"I trust you can take it from here, Murphy." The taller teen said as he began to walk out of the barn, "Oh! I almost forgot..." He said as he suddenly stopped and held up his index finger, "Can you tack up Prince for a afternoon hack?"
The man looked over at the teen and smiled. He bowed slightly.
"Of course master. I'll have 'im ready at 12 o'clock." Murphy said.
Ronald's eyes went widen. He turned to look at the other teen, only to see that he had disappeared.
"That 'oung man is the owner's son, William." Murphy explained, seeing the puzzled looked on the blond's face.
The man chuckled and smiled at Ronald. He patted his back.
"If ya 'top wanderin' 'round. We'll get started." He said as he led the new worker to the paddocks.
Ronald looked around the pastures. The grass was neatly cut, lush, and green; a feast for a horse. The horses all seemed fat and happy. A whinny came from in front of them, causing the blond to snap back to reality. He looked up to see the most beautiful horse he'd ever seen: a pure black colt with the exception of a long, thin white strip of white that ran down it's forehead. The horse trotted up to the gate and hung his long, seek neck over the side.
Murphy glanced over at Ronald for a second before opening the gate.
"Ya wanna stay 'ere and wait for me 'hile I get Prince?" Murphy said as he uncoiled a lead rope from the fence and coiled it back in his hand.
Ronald nodded and closed the gate behind him as Murphy walked up a hill and disappeared, leaving him alone.
Well almost alone.
The black colt stepped towards the blond teenager. Ronald glanced at the horse, only to see the horse had stopped. He could have sworn the animal was moving towards him. He shrugged and thought nothing of it and got lost in his thoughts again for the third time that day. The horse stretched out it's neck and began walking to the blond once more. He nudged Ronald with his soft nose and snorted, causing the blond to jump a bit in surprise. Ronald looked over to see the black colt's big dark brown eyes staring straight at him. He cautiously reached his hand out and gently stroked the horse's forehead. He crackled a smile as the animal's ears flicked back and forth.
"Oy! Seems 'ike ya made a friend."
Ronald froze at the sound of Murphy's voice as he pulled his hand away. Murphy chuckled as he led a light silver Arabian horse down the hill. Ronald opened the gate as the black colt backed away.
He began to follow Murphy and the silver horse when the black horse snorted and whinnied. Ronald glanced back at him and cracked a smile before following Murphy.
" 'at 'oung colt is called Trendin' on Lightin'. He's only one year old." Murphy said as he hooked the silver Arabian to a post and began grooming him.
Ronald picked up a brush and started to help.
"So this is the young master's horse?" He asked as he loosened the dirt from the light silver coat.
He was so focused on cleaning the silver stallion that he didn't even look up at Murphy.
"Whatcha mean? If ya want to 'now why he's 'ere is cause he loves ridin'. 'At boy was basically raised on horses." Murphy replied, "I think Prince is clean enough. Go 'nd get his saddle. It's 'ang up in the tack room. It's the black one on the far left 'nd his bridle is right above it."
Ronald nodded as he walked over to the small tack room. There were a number of saddles, bridles, blankets, and whips. He stopped in his tracks as his eyes feasted upon a single golden trophy in the center of the top shelf of the tack room. He looked for the saddle Murphy described and found it in the place he had said it would be. He picked it up with ease and brought it back. Prince was already dressed with a black blanket across his back. Ronald looked at Murphy and gently placed the saddle on the silver Arabian's back. The other groomer fixed and adjusted the leather black saddle to rest on the horse's withers as Ronald raced back to the tack room to fetch the bridle. He unhooked the bridle from the hook it was on and raced back to Murphy.
"Hold the halter, Ron." Murphy said as he unhooked the halter from Prince's face and handed it to Ronald as he bridled the young steed.
"Good job, Ronald." Murphy said with a big, goofy smile on his face.
"Very good job indeed."
Ronald whipped his head around as the sound of another voice. He saw William next to an older gentleman.
That must be Mr. Spears... William's father.
The older man was tall with broad shoulders. He stomach was round and was a bit visible from his waist coat. His black hair was tinted with grey and his eyes were as blue as the sky.
Ronald's jaws quivered as he tried to thank him.
The older man smiled as he stepped closer to the blond with Will at his heels. The blond bowed slightly and didn't look the two in the eye.
"My apologies master. I didn't see ya." He whispered.
The man chuckled and patted Ronald on the back.
"No need to be so formal, boy. I just wanted to check up on your progress but it seems you've got the hang of things." He said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
Murphy nodded in agreement with his master.
"Yeah. Lightin' 'ready loves 'is company." He said with a smile as he held Prince's reins.
William took the reins and threw them over the horse's thin, sleek silver neck. He hoyested himself into the saddle and smiled down at Ronald.
"Does he now? Well you're good at grooming but we must see how you ride soon enough." Will's father said.
Ronald nodded slowly as he watched Will trot off into the wooden field.