Brushing in a downward motion, I watched Mustang twitch his ears trying to flick the flies away. Mustang was light brown in colour and has black socks on both front and hind legs. His mane and tail is black too. He was my mothers horse before she died, now he's no ones. My father wants to get rid of him as he thinks he caused my mothers death, as she was riding him before she died.
I flinched out of my thoughts as he stomped his hooves. He never did like you doing a blank on him, mum said she thought it freaked him out. I couldn't help but smile and pat his neck as he made a nickering sound. I absolutely loved this horse to death. I always wanted to ride mustang but after my mum died, my dad doesn't really like anyone going near him unless it's absolutely necessary.
"I love you boy, don't worry" I assured kissing his forehead before I went back to the house to tell my dad how he was doing.
Crossing the court from the stables to the house wasn't a very long walk, a couple of minuets maybe, but it was long enough to let a lot thoughts enter your mind. I was coming up to twenty one and I was planning to buy a small farm with the money mum had left me, to get Mustang and clover away from somewhere they obviously don't like. Clover is my horse, she's a mustang as well, her whole body is black. Stepping carefully on the cobble path, I remembered the time when me and little brother would have water fights on the court next to the stables, and Mustang would watch us, whinnying to the other horses around as if he was laughing at us and letting his friends see the scene too.
"How is he?"
I looked up and smiled gently. It was my dad. He may not like mustang, but he'll show concern for him. I sometimes saw him stroking mustang and having a little talk with him before going to his office to do some paper work on a possible new horse coming to the farm.
"He's good, Dad, We need to get him ridden. He's getting bored out in the field all the time" I sighed tucking my thumbs through my belt loops and scrapping my boot along the ground scuffing the front.
Mustang hadn't been ridden since my mum died, and that was three years ago. I would gladly ride him but my dad refuses to give me the keys to the tack room. I would also gladly ride him bareback with no safety gear, but dad being dad would murder me before a horse got to kill me.
"Yeah, well your not riding him." He said firmly before stepping round me with his head down. I really hated him when he was being like this. Refusing to let the horse live whilst he blamed him for something that couldn't be prevented.
"Dad, please!" I begged, bringing my arms up in exasperation. "If he's not ridden soon, he's gonna start irritating the other horses, and then we'll have a bigger problem" I explained holding my arms out as if to show him what will happen.
We started a started a staring contest, but I let out an irritated sigh as he broke it off and walk away from me again. I growled out as dropped to my haunches with my hands over my face. If mustangs not ridden, we're gonna have to sell him, and I don't want that. I looked up, I caught a glint of something shiny being reflected by the sun, with a frown I crawled towards it only to break into a beaming grin. He'd dropped me the keys! That old stinking rat! I started laughing as I held up the key ring that held the keys to all the barns and the tack room.
I ran to the office where I found my dad sitting with his head in his hands, and I went over to him and gave him the biggest hug ever.
"You're not going to regret it. I promise you" I said walking back out, sprinting to the tack room and grabbing all the essentials then making my way to mustangs stable where he was standing with his head poked out the top of his door looking around at all the stuff I had laid out next to his stable.
"See boy, I told you I loved you" I smiled scratching his forehead. I smiled as he nickered at me, saying hello whilst nudging my hand.
I quickly got to work with tying him up so I could clean his hooves. He stood still, like any other time he would get his hooves cleaned and re shooed. Dad came out and watched me for a while before sighing and stalking off back to his office.
After I had got him suited and booted, I lead him to the middle of the court to warm him up.
"Walk" I commanded leading him in a circle letting the line slack a bit. "Dad, could you pass me that whip please!" I shouted so he would hear me from his office. Within seconds he came running out like someone had been hurt, but looked relieved as soon as he saw that I was okay.
"he's thinking about bucking. Pass me the whip." I said pointing to the long stick with a thin line coming from the end of it. I lead him around in circles, commanding him to trot, and canter whilst I waited for my dad to hand me the whip, careful to watch his body language. Luckily he didn't buck, he was just looking at the floor.
Half an hour later, I mounted him, patted his neck for behaving. Then went towards the front gate of the farm only to be stopped by the voice of my father.
"Where do you think your going?" he asked. His hands on his hips, clipping the heel of his boot to the floor.
"The beach" I said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"No. If I'm going to let you ride him, that is one place your not going with him. He gets spooked out there."He said shaking his head making his way towards us. "Go through the trails around the farm"He smiled tentatively gently stroking mustang's neck. So he did like him, just took a while for the love to come back.
"Okay, I'll be back in about two hours then" I smiled at my dad before getting on my way.
The trails was a narrow path between our farm and next door's farm, even though the path ran through their land, they let the public walk across it. It started out nice and flat, a narrow passage way with parted trees and wire fences. As we made our way through the enchanted walkway, it started to get a bit steeper, mustang not minding a bit, his ears listening out for the birds and other woodland animals. I looked around, noticing a small house in the middle of a field we were passing, it was beautiful. The outside walls were a beige colour, and the roof was a terracotta red. The car parked outside was an expensive looking one. I smiled as I saw a small boy running around with a golden retriever in the garden surrounding the house. As more of the house come into view, a young woman came into view, her hair long, blond and shiny. She seemed as young as me, sat in a folding chair reading what looked like a vogue magazine.
"Mommy! Look, a horsey!" the little boy exclaimed pointing in my direction. This part of land had no fences at all, just land, without any interruptions, with the exception of the house. So if I wanted to, with the ladies permission of course, I could just trot up to the little boy and let him stroke him.
"Can I go stroke him?" He asked gently, looking back at his mother for confirmation, who was sat up straight looking in wonderment at my horse.
"Of course darling, but only if it's okay with the lady." she said getting up her self, the magazine long forgotten as she made her way towards me with her son.
I smiled dis-mounting him and leading him over to the pair. Even though I knew he would follow me if I didn't lead him, he'd only been ridden for an hour max, he could go whoopy on me any moment and disappear in the woods.
"Hey there, may we stroke your horse?" the blond asked, taking her son's hand in hers. I nodded with a big grin, watching the boy's face light up as he slowly made his way over with his hand stretched out in front of him, but soon flinched back when mustang nickered at him, snorting his nose and moving his hooves making stomping noises against the grass.
"It's okay, he's only saying hello" I giggled, reassuring his fears.
He took that as an okay and went to stroke his nose again, excepting his 'hello' with a toothy grin. I watched the boy with a smile as he looked up at my long faced pet with awe, snapping my head to the voice of his mother asking me a question.
"How old is he?" She asked scratching his shoulder and laughing as he lent into it. His favorite spot.
"He's just turned ten yesterday" I said looping the reins and placing them gently on the saddle, confident that he wasn't going to do an episode on me.
"Happy birthday for yesterday! Where have you come from? There's not a lot of horses around these grounds" She queried with a look of longing as she ran her hands along the saddle.
"Down at deep dean farm. My dad's land, we have six horse there" I answered crossing my arms, relaxing for once in the past hour, my legs sore from ridding.
"Wow. I would have brought my horses here but my husband didn't think about building a beautiful set of stables to go with the house" She laughed tucking her hands in her pockets smiling at her son.
"have you got all stallions down their or..?" She added with a look of interest.
"nope, two stallions, one filly, one colt and two mares"
We kept chatting about the horses, and I found out she used to show jump until she had an accident and that left her terrified of jumping, not horses, just jumping them. She moved here about three months ago, with her newlywed and her five year old son from a previous relationship. Her son's name is Sean, her's; Sharpay. Sean was soon begging to sit on his back, so with a nod of the head, he was standing in my cupped hand as I bunked him up to the saddle and walked him around the ground. When we returned, Sharpay's husband, Chad had made an appearance with his camera shooting shots of his 'son' having his first ever horse ride.
After exchanging numbers with both Sharpay and Chad, and a very heartfelt goodbye from Sean, me and mustang were on our way home, down the steep grassy hill to go and jump the fence that separated the ground I was on now and my dad's farm. I jumped successfully with a pat to the neck to mustang as he galloped across the top field jumping the wooden fence and making our way across the middle field through the gates that led to the concrete path that led from half way through the farm to the front gate.
"What the hell?" I asked my self under breath with a frown. There was a black jeep at the gate, I could see the silhouette of a guy in the drivers seat, and a giant of a bull mastiff's head hanging on the side of the bed of the truck.
I watched as he honked the horn three times, then lent out the window pointing at me and motioning to the gate. I nodded quickly dismounting mustang and tying him up before running to the barn to open the door to let what seemed like a flood of dogs out. We have twenty dogs in total, yes we break several fights up a day but they get on well when their playing, and anyway, most of day most of them are our hunting for rabbits and rats and things like that. Right at the front of the pack like usual, was Dozer our Argentinian Dogo, next to him was our largest dog TanZee our Irish Wolfhound. And like usual, under him was baby, our oldest patterdale. Baby is the boss of the pack, even though he's seconds smallest, he's half jack Russell and jack Russell's run everything once they get a foot in. Next to baby. Like a loyal daughter she is, is barbie, don't ask about the name, Poor thing, my auntie found her abandoned in an ally beside her house and her tag said that her name was barbie so why name her again? They were at the gate now, all jumping up like good guard dogs. But what made me fold in laughter was the sight of Dozer on the hood of the guys jeep, baring his teeth at the windscreen. He would never actually hurt anyone, not a fly even. He's the dog who splits the fights up in fact, but when it comes to his territory, he lets you know when not to cross the line.
Putting my thumb and fore finger together, I put them in my mouth and blew, sending a high pitched whistle to their ears and running at me whilst I pressed the green button to open the gates.
"C'mon you monsters, come get some food!" I yelled like I was playing a game of pirates with a bunch of children. I walked around the field placing bowls of dog biscuit everywhere at least twenty foot apart to prevent fighting. When I walked back down to the main barn, the guy was standing beside mustang stroking his flanks, talking to him like he was a friend.
"Whoa dude! You got muscles alright! Bet you've got girls on your tail all the time huh?" He laughed patting his neck.
I watched him walk around mustang inspecting him with an impressive eye, nodded exceptionally at his build.
"May I help you?" I asked, interrupting his wandering. When he looked up I could of actually wet my self laughing right then and there. His face was a sight of pure shock and I wouldn't doubt that I just made him jump out of his skin and a mile away.
"Yeah, quite a pack you got there" He laughed scratching the inside of his elbow with a rather charming smile on his cheeks. Did I mention the eyes as well? Their blue. Like..really blue.
"Yeah, I collect them." I joked with a serious face, my arms folded, my legs a 'what you gonna do 'bout' it' stance. "It's taken me ages. I've got almost twenty, thirty seven if you include the puppies." I added, I couldn't help but slip a smile as he seemed to get uncomfortable.
He laughed along with me deeming it safe to talk, he asked about my dad, "You know where Damien is? It's important." That's when I spotted the tracks of dried saltwater running from his eyes, he had been crying. Shit.
"Uh, yeah, follow me." I mumbled not knowing if I should ask what was wrong or not. Choosing not too, I led him down the wide concrete path that was lined with cars and a forklift truck, into the square court lined with horse filled stable going to the end one- an empty stable converted into an office. I twisted the handle and knocked whilst opening the door.
"Oh, Gabriella, your back" My dad's smile disappeared as soon as he saw who was behind me. I watched in confusion as my dad mentally collapse as he took the guy who was now crying into a hug. I looked on with sorrow as I left them in piece. On walking out of the office I noticed two small handles in a standing position through the back windows of the jeep and I my curiosity got the best of me as my feet lead me to the back door of the vehicle to show me two baby seats. Each seat containing a bundle of blankets.
"Oh my!" I whispered on opening the door to find a pair of the cutest babies I had ever seen in my entire twenty and three quarter years of existence. Gently folding back part of the closet blanket I found the smallest of bald heads ever, I cooed at the sleeping baby before going round the other side to look at the other baby.
"Hello" I whispered to the baby, who seemed to have found a fascination in me, it's eyes big wide and blue. They couldn't have been more than a couple of days old I'm sure of it. The baby in front of me started to whimper as I stroked it's face, I couldn't stop my hands as they unlocked the baby from it's confines and wrapped my arms around it like it was my own. I quickly checked it's gender before I went any farther hugging him.
"Oh you're gorgeous aren't you" I cooed laying him on my chest as I boosted myself up into the front passenger seat.
Gently tapping his tiny back I couldn't help but smile at the little burp that came up and the little hiccups that came out of his mouth. He was so small! I could span my thumb and middle finger and he'd fit inside the gap! I hushed him as he started to whimper but jumped when I heard a cough.
"Oh! You scared me!" I exclaimed, making the tiny being on my chest jump- poor thing. The man gave me a pointed look motioning to the baby, peeling him off of my chest I watched how careful the man was with him.
"He's gorgeous." I complimented holding the back door open as he strapped the baby in again. He gave me a tight smile before clicking his fingers and the mastiff jumped from the bed of the truck and stood loyally by him side before being given a bowl of food from the bed of the truck.
I smiled and turned making my way to mustang to out him in his stable. He nickered at me as I approached. "C'mon boy" I said as he followed me into his stable. I said goodbye to him and went into the house to feed our four African Grey parrots. Having a conversation with our oldest, Megs.
"Hello" She chirped
"Hello megs, nice day today huh?" I replied as she stepped onto my index finger to get carried to her food bowl and perch.
"Sunny today."
"Very sunny. Nice food?" I asked going back to the other side of the room to collect our youngest bird, Cookie who also said hello.
"Foods nice, want some more." Megs said walking about on her perch.
I laughed collecting Peck and Lucky at the same time to bring to the perch then left to go into the living room, where that guy was. With the babies. And my dad.
"Hey dad" I smiled sitting next to him looking down and the naked baby girl on his lap as he changed her nappy.
"Hello, sweet daughter of mine" He laughed, looking at my face- a face of longing I guess. I can't wait to have kids, just gotta find the right guy.
"This is Troy, he'll be staying for a while" He said gesturing to the tanned man beside him, who also had a baby in his lap- naked.
I smiled over at him with a small wave. "I'm Gabriella" I introduced my self holding my hand our in front of my dad.
"Nice to meet you, Gabriella" He smiled taking my hand in his a shaking it a little.
That night, Troy went to bed early with his children I found out. Half way through the night, the twins woke, I ignored it knowing troy was there for them, when I heard a frustrated voice that got me alerted.
"Shut up! Just shut up, please!"
springing out of my bed, and out to the hall to his door where the cries got louder and so did the groaning.
"Please kids, let daddy sleep for at least one night, please" I walked into him sitting on the floor with two wriggling bundles of blankets on the floor in front of him, his hands cupping head head as he lent his elbows on his legs that were tucked under him.
"Hey" I whispered, closing the door quietly and walking over to him and sitting on the floor next to him scooping up a screaming bundle that soon turned into whimpering. He looked up from his slouched position and eyed what I had just done, and tried the same with the other twin, letting out a relieved sigh out as she started to calm down.
"You're a miracle worker." He said as I left his room, leaving two peaceful sleeping babies.
"You did it too, Troy, You're a miracle worker too" I giggled turning to go back to my room.
"Night, Gabriella"
"Night, Troy"
Shutting my door, I let out a small giggle as I laid down and let the night take me away to neverland. I was totally fine with Troy living here, as long as I got to see them two angel's everyday.