Some Author's Notes:
I'm combining viewpoints now. Sorry if it gets confusing. I'll try to keep it clear.
I fully recognize that it is supposed to be Bennet. I did two t's for a reason. ;)
Also, I have a 'glossary' at the bottom. If you know what the stuff is, great! It gets more complicated than this.
SATURDAY MORNING
William Darcy pulled up the short driveway at 7:06 AM.
Lizzie Bennett was not happy. "I told you seven."
"Well hello to you too." He mumbled.
"Excuse me?" I will not have his sass. Especially if he wants to show up late.
He looked up and saw Lizzie in skin tight beige pants, knee-high black boots, and a baby blue button-down dress shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and her eyes were... furious.
"I said hello." He said stiffly
"Hello to you too." She turned and started walking down a gravel path. "Follow me." She wanted to add 'don't dawdle', but she decided to try to be polite. He hurried to walk besides her. "If you don't know how to do something ask." She looked him up and down. He had to admit, he almost laughed that they matched in color. "I have boots for you and you'll probably fit into Carson's pants."
"Excuse me?" He stopped.
She turned slowly and smiled. "You didn't do your research." She laughed and continued smiling. "This should be interesting. At least Charlie came prepared when I won him." She turned back and opened a little gate.
When the two walked through, William almost tripped over his own feet. Horses?
"Welcome to Longborn Farm." She smiled and started walking down the path again.
The white tin on the side of the buildings blended into the clouds. The hay and grazing fields on one side and the black fences of the paddocks on the other formed a gravel lined path down to two open doors. There was a large raised ring behind the paddocks with jumps of every size, shape, and color. He heard a horse and looked up to see a large black one running in one of the paddocks.
"CARSON!" Lizzie called and picked up her pace.
"Yeah?" He saw a figure in the barn.
"How long has Indy been like this?"
"I was just coming to get him!"
"I got it!" She leaned over and grabbed something off the grass.
She opened the gate and the horse ran at her. For some reason, his heart stopped. She slipped a halter over the horse's head and led it out. "Coming?" She turned to look over her shoulder, still smiling.
He started moving again. When he got to the barn, Lizzie was putting the horse into a stall.
"Can Mr. Darcy borrow some pants?" She looked back and he realized she was talking about his khakis.
"Mr. Darcy can borrow anything he likes."
"Carson, you're my best friend, but-"
"Say no more." He headed towards a door on the side.
"Carson lives upstairs." She closed the stall and locked it. "Mary's out in the fields checking the hay." She turned back to the stall and hung up the halter. "Have you been around horses before?"
"Every summer until I was sixteen." He sighed at some of the memories he had of his mother and horses.
"Then you know how to tack up?" She smiled.
"Yeah. But I never had to." Obviously.
Stuck up, much? "Have you cleaned stalls before?"
"We had people to do that for us." Doesn't everybody?
"Well, not here."
"What?"
She ignored him and started walking down the aisle. She turned left and headed into another room. He stared at the saddles and bridles hanging up. "Each horse's hook is labeled. I have two saddles. Each one has a nameplate on it. Mary can help. Don't take a bridle off the hook unless I ask for a jumping bridle, otherwise I'll tell you which bit to use. The training bridles are over here with the martingales, girths and other training equipment. Any questions, ask. I don't have time to fix mistakes."
"What?" He just stood there staring at the room.
"Your helping me ride my horses today." She smiled.
Ride? Horses? "What?"
"You will be tacking up the horses today, and riding them with me." She smiled. "That's been my date since I've owned the farm. Who I win rides with me for a day." She said lightly.
"What!" He turned red. She shrugged.
"You get a lunch break. Usually Jane and Charlie are here, but they're busy today."
"And Charlie works for you? 'Cause I know he doesn't ride horses." Selfish, scheming, little-
"He works for Jane when she rides here. And he gets on occasionally for a lesson. Otherwise he fixes some of the electrical and works on the fields with Mary when she needs him." She smiled. "Your first horse will be Tango." She attempted to walk around him.
"I don't ride." He stated.
"So you want a lesson?" She asked.
"I don't need a lesson. And I don't ride."
"Did you fall of at sixteen?" She scratched her head and tried to dance around him again. He put his arm up to stop her.
She smells good…
If he tries anything…
"No. I just don't ride. My sister does. I don't."
"Tango is really gentle. If you are scared, it's perfectly understandable. Poor Charlie was terrified until Jane came out."
"I'm. Not. Scared."
They glared at each other for a minute or two before they heard Carson. "I think he's a-" He stopped. "Was I interrupting something?"
"No." They both continued to stare at each other.
"Well I have a pair of pants for him." Carson held up a pair of beige riding breeches.
"What do you say, Mr. Darcy?" She smiled.
He reached to the side, took the pants, and asked for a restroom.
"What was that about?" Carson whispered in her ear when he had disappeared from sight.
"I don't know…" Lizzie turned back to Carson. "Is my first ready?"
"Cajun is in the wash-stall."
"Starting me on a baby?" She laughed.
"I like to keep you on your toes."
"Jumping bridle?"
"Yep."
"Which bit?"
"Just a D-Ring snaffle."
"Perfect. Care to set?"
"It would be my pleasure." They heard the bathroom door open. "But maybe I should help hottie first?"
"Carson!" She giggled. "Stop! You know I don't date my dates."
"So you admit he's hot?"
"And a raging ass!" She whispered. "Fine. Help while I warm up. Then come out."
"Will do, Lizzie."
She grabbed the reigns and headed out to the arena.
martingale- keeps the horses heads down by attaching to the nose-band or reigns of a bridle and attaches to the girth with a strap around the neck to keep it in place.
girth- the thing that goes around the horse to keep the saddle in place (very important ;))
D-Ring Snaffle- a type of bit where the outer part is in a 'D' shape and it has three pieces on the inside. (not very strong)
anything else, just ask!