A/N: Aha! I have finally updated... the really sad part is that this is the second part of the last chapter and its been basically sitting around in my computer since the last update just basically waiting for me to fix the two little problems with it and post. *facepalm* I know. I fail. But so many of you have come to like it that I finally (FINALLY!) got off my lazy butt and updated!
I am already working on the next chapter and hopefully it will not take nearly so long to update this further. The really exciting part is yet to come. After all we have riding lesson...so what fun lessons await outside the castle walls?
Note: Sadly Harvest Moon does not belong to me and is copyrighted to Natsume. Hanna is the only character who is mine and hopefully she is not reminiscent in any way to any character in Harvest Moon as she is not intended to be.
Chapter 6: Lesson of the Day
Chelsea fiddled with her riding skirt a little as she and Hanna walked slowly towards the stables. The sun was shining quite brightly again today. Of course it was the middle spring so she supposed that was to be expected. Really, from what she had heard every day was sunny on the island of Sol. Even in the winter. If she stayed long enough maybe she might find out.
"Now, remember, Lady Chelsea, one step at a time." Hanna said drawing her attention back to her as the stable came into sight.
Chelsea smiled, tugging her riding gloves on more securely. "I know, Hanna." She paused as they reached the top of the path and she saw the stables in decent light for the first time. It was the first time that she had actually come this close.
Looking at it now she noticed the building was antiqued but still in very nice shape. All wood it seemed that it had recently been repainted with varnish and the only sign of wear was the creakiness in the hinges on the doorway as they opened up to reveal Master Vaughn walking out a small dainty horse the color of a new copper penny.
She gulped down a terrified whimper as Hanna started forward. "Good morning, Master Vaughn."
Turning, Vaughn looked over his shoulder to see who had spoken and noticing it was Hanna he turned slow and nonchalant to tip his hat to her. "Morning, Miss Hanna." He said speaking gruffly.
"I've brought your charge for the morning," Hanna said walking delicately up to the fence with a smile on her face.
Vaughn looked over Hanna's head and as he saw Chelsea standing as properly as she could manage his eyes darkened. "Lady Chelsea…"
She dipped a very stilted curtsey in return unsure if he wanted her gone or perhaps meant that as a good morning. At least he tipped his hat politely at her before grunting, tilting his hat down and turning back to the horse he had just walked out into the corral.
Hanna seemed unperturbed by his behavior and walked slowly back to Chelsea. "Now, remember what I said."
"Yes, Hanna." Chelsea said certain she wouldn't have to worry about taking horse riding too fast. She wasn't even sure that the horse and she would see eye to eye. Last night had shown her that some horses had very big personalities—she looked sideways at Vaughn who had removed the bridle from the horse and was now brushing it (her? him? She couldn't really tell) down—like their owners.
Hanna nodded apparently satisfied that Chelsea was being sincere and smiled. "I'll be back at lunch time to bring you your food and we'll take a walk in the gardens for a break. And don't forget, you may not have lessons with Sir Nathan today but you still have some reading to do later."
Chelsea smiled, really she tried, but she just didn't like being indoors and reading usually meant in the library, closed away from the sunshine. "Yes, Hanna."
Hanna smiled. "I might even allow you to read in the garden today…IF you behave."
Now Chelsea did smile. "Yes, Hanna."
"Then I'll be off. Treat my charge well, Master Vaughn, I'll be back to collect her at lunch time." Hanna said throwing a stern look over her shoulder.
Vaughn turned and tilted his hat again. "Yes, Miss Hanna."
Then Hanna was gone and the silence seemed to stretch between the two for eons. Disturbed by the sudden quiet Chelsea nervously walked up to the fencing and waited as patiently as she could. But Vaughn didn't speak a word to her. Still she waited. He was after all her riding instructor. Surely he'd eventually decide to speak to her. Surely eventually he would have to speak to her.
But the silence stretched on and Chelsea sighed turning to look at the stable doors. Peaking at Vaughn who seemed intent on brushing down the copper she decided it wouldn't hurt to get a good look inside. When she took a few steps and he didn't yell at her she decided it was a good sign and took a few more steps inside the stables.
The stables inside was just as clean as the outside. Although time had shown itself on the well worn walls and doorways it was clean. The smell of fresh hay was everywhere and the musty smell of horse flesh seemed a welcome accent. In total there were ten stalls and each one housed a horse. Slate, with his dark mane was by far the darkest of the horses and as she stepped a little further into the stables he immediately whinnied at her and shook his great mane.
She laughed. She couldn't help it. Slate was as outgoing as his master was taciturn. "Good morning to you too." She said as she crossed the stables and as she reached her hand up Slate reached his head down and the two met in the middle. It was clear he was as fond of her as she was of him even though it was only their second meeting.
Slate nudged her and she smiled. "Ah, you know already don't you?" she said as she stepped back and he bobbed his head excitedly as if answering her. Reaching into her riding jacket she pulled out a carrot she had filched from the kitchen this morning when Cook wasn't looking.
Slate whinnied again and gladly pulled it from her hand nearly chomping the whole carrot in one bite. Chelsea laughed again. "Good boy, if you eat the evidence then they'll be nothing to convict me with." She brushed a hand down his nose and smiled up at him as he munched happily.
"I see you and Slate are getting along." A voice said from the doorway that led to the corral and turning Chelsea saw that Vaughn and had re-bridled the copper and pulled her inside again (she was pretty sure it was a mare now because she looked so much daintier compared to Slate).
"Yes, well, he's not very talkative but we get on alright I suppose." She said feeling suddenly as she had been caught doing something bad. Folding her hands in front of her she felt the spark of impishness rise in her before she could control it. "And at least he's happy acts like he's happy to see me."
He turned a violet eye on her and looked up at Slate as he was still happily munching on the carrot. "Well, I suppose it's easy when you can bribe him." He replied as he locked the copper's gate.
"I don't suppose I can bring you a carrot and make you happy, can I?" she murmured not really sure where the words were coming from.
Vaughn turned to look at her more fully now, his expression quiet distraught for just a moment before he resettled his non-expression into place and shrug his shoulder. "No, I don't suppose you can… or should."
"Well, okay then. So glad to have that out of our way," she said feeling the blush running up her neck to her ears. It was times like these when her impish mouth ran away with her that she wished she could keep her hair down over her ears. "Do you suppose that we might learn to ride today?"
He looked over at her and then walking past her went to the corner stall on the opposite side from Slate. She watched him as he unlatched the door but he didn't say anything else. Finally as he walked inside and she waited. That's when he poked his head out and looked at her, his expression pointed. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Well, do you want to learn or not?"
Nervously stepping forward, she peaked slowly around the corner, saw the small and delicate mare and fell in love. She had a light cream colored coat and a mane of the purest blonde almost white hair which had just the slightest curl to it. It almost looked like she had a perm. There was a streak of white running right down her nose between two bright amber eyes and her left shoulder was mottled so that it almost looked like someone had brushed stardust there. The only other white marking was the skin right above her right hoof was all white.
This was Evening Light, the mare the king had told her about. She knew even before Vaughn stepped aside as if to offer her a chance to move closer.
"Hi Eve…" she murmured as she stepped slowly into the stall. Vaughn was already standing against the wall grabbing something from a hook but she paid him no mind.
The mare seemed docile but she approached her slowly just in case. It was a small space and she'd be nervous too if her room was suddenly crowded with people. Eve turned backing herself up slightly so she could see Chelsea better with one amber eye.
Apparently she wasn't terrified by what she saw because she flicked her mane and then turned to face Vaughn who had grabbed a bridle form the wall. Docilely, almost lady-like she nudge him and, for a moment, Chelsea could swear there was a small smile on his face as he looped the bridle gently into her mouth and then looked up at Chelsea. She knew before she even saw his face there was and would be no soft smile for her as he held out the reins before turning to grab a few more items and then turning out of the stable.
Alone in the stables, Eve and Chelsea eyed each other for a moment and then Eve moved walking towards the door. Chelsea followed. Although Eve was tiny compared to Slate, she had a regality about that begged her to be commanded. But when Chelsea stumbled, Eve slowed and she waited. By the time the two had reached the open doorway into the corral where Slate had been the night before the two walked almost in tandem.
Vaughn set the saddle onto the railing and then turning picked up one of the smaller items he had pulled from the stable and turning he seemed pleased if not ecstatic with the progress the two made side by side. "Good." He grunted. "Walk her around the corral. Make sure that she is following you and not leading you."
Chelsea turned and looked at Eve who seemed content to stay where she was but she nodded to what Vaughn said and gave a small tug on the reins. Eve moved, slowly fluidly but she moved and as Chelsea walked in a circle, so did Eve.
Chelsea grinned. She couldn't help it. That had to be good right? I mean Eve wasn't trying to pull her arm off and she wasn't staying put like a mule either. Turning her smile at Vaughn she thought he might smile or nod or give some sign of approval.
He just frowned tighter.
"Good, stop her by the water trough." He said halting Eve with his hand gently on her nose.
Looking down at her, Chelsea suddenly realized just how tall and intimidating he was. "Today you'll learn to care for her."
Walking around, he took the reins from her and tied them lightly to the post. Then he handed her the brush and pointed to the bucket behind him. Turning he walked away.
What? Seriously you have me walk her around the corral once and you're done? Was it because I smiled?
"And where are you going to be, mister riding instructor?" she asked as docilely as she could manage.
"I'll be doing my job." He said it without even looking over his shoulder. "This job, by the way, does not include babysitting spoiled princess who run around in the middle of the night for their own enjoyment."
She looked down at the brush in her hand and sighed. She knew that she shouldn't have worried about moving too fast. If Vaughn had his way he probably wouldn't let her on a horse til she was old and grey.
She sighed. "Lesson of the day: never smile at Master Vaughn."
