Adrian spoke again.
"Alright, if you could all go back into the barn and saddle and bridle your horses, that would be greatly appreciated. I'll be around to help if anyone needs it." He went around us and back into the stables. I turned Storm around and headed back to her stall. I tied her up to the bar of the window went outside again, and carefully got the saddle and saddle pads down from the rack outside the stall. I saddled and bridled her, and noticed that I was the first one finished. I looked across the barn to where Dimitri was trying (unsuccessfully) to bridle his horse. Midnight kept throwing his head up whenever Dimitri would try to get the bit in his mouth. His ears were laid completely back. I grinned and untied Storm and went to help him. He was gritting his teeth and muttering, "Come on Midnight, easy boy," over and over. I smiled and let myself into the stall. Dimitri started a little when I got in, but handed me the bridle.
"You try," he said. "This is impossible." I carefully went up to Midnight and put my hand out gently to stroke his face. His ears perked up slightly.
"Shhh…. It's okay…" I put my arm up around his face and held the bridge of his nose tightly in the hand that held the bridle strap. With my other hand I carefully held the bit close to his mouth. I saw his ears go back, and I began stroking his nose. He calmed down slightly, and I managed to slide the bit into his mouth. I brought the strap up and over his ears and put the reigns over the saddle horn. I stroked Midnight, and he nuzzled my hand. I turned to Dimitri with smile. I had actually succeeded in something he couldn't do. He was watching me and then he grinned.
"Congratulations," he said. " I was worried you were going to get your hand bitten off." I laughed.
"Not me. This is the one thing I can do right. Deal with horses." I smiled and petted Midnight.
"It's not the only thing you can do right," he murmured, and leaned forward, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed me. A loud throat clearing interrupted us. It was Stan. I blushed crimson and I saw Dimitri look at Stan sheepishly.
"Sorry, Stan. I was thanking Rose for helping me bridle Midnight." Stan rolled his eyes and said,
"Lord Ishakov wants everyone to meet outside when their horses are bridled." Once he had left, Dimitri and I glanced at each other and started laughing. I went back to Storm's stall and got her out. She was very powerfully built with strong muscles underneath her skin. She would be an extremely fast runner. She wasn't nearly as lightly built as Prancer, but I was sure she would still be fast. And that was just what I needed. I led her back outside and went to stand by Lissa and Artemis. She grinned at me excitedly, and petted Artemis. I smiled happily. She was having such a good time.
"Could everyone mount please?" asked Adrian. "We're going for a ride." I put my foot in the stirrup when I felt Lissa's anxiousness through the bond. She was a little uncomfortable with mounting, and Artemis was a tall horse. I walked over to her and she smiled gratefully at me.
"Leg up?" I asked her.
"That would be great." I laced my fingers together and helped her up into the saddle. She looked so regal sitting up high; I felt a rush of affection for my best friend. By now, I was the last one still on the ground so I swung myself up into the saddle quickly. Adrian led the way out of the corral and onto the field. I was next to Lissa and Eddie, and Dimitri and Stan were behind us, keeping an eye on the surroundings. I rode up to Adrian and he looked over and smiled.
"Like you're present, little Dhampir?" I grinned at him.
"I love it. But do you think you guys will be fine if Dimitri and I take off for a little bit. I want to see who would win in a race." I had been thinking about this since I had seen the horses. I would love to just compete for fun. Our lives didn't depend on the outcome, and I wanted to just be with him for a little while. Just having fun like two normal people.
"No problem. Just tell Stan. We'll be fine. I promise." I smiled gratefully at him.
"Thanks so much, Adrian." I gently squeezed Storm's flanks and turned her back to the end of the group. "Stan, Adrian said it would be fine if Dimitri and I went off for a little bit. You and Eddie can keep an eye on them, right?"
"Of course. You two behave yourselves." He said like he was so much older than we were. But I realized that he was relaxing a little. He wasn't so uptight. I nodded to Dimitri and he followed me curiously. I clicked to Storm and she started trotting. I urged her into a canter and she obeyed willingly. I could hear Dimitri following behind me and I smiled. I was going to whoop his ass.
"Alright, Guardian Belikov. You might be able to beat me in field training, but there's no way in hell you're going to win now. Race to the far end of the field and back. Good luck." I said grinning. He stared at me then trotted to the edge of the field.
"Come on! Are you scared?" he asked tauntingly.
"Don't you wish!" I yelled back. "Ready, set, go!" I kicked Storm and she shot forward. I urged her into a fast canter, and then, knowing I was probably testing my luck with a horse I didn't know, I asked her to gallop. She shot across the field and I risked a glance back. Dimitri was behind me, but quickly gaining ground. A wild mustang, even if it was tamed now, knew how to run. Leaning down over Storm, I coaxed her as fast as she could go. Dimitri was coming up right behind me, and I shouted back,
"You're getting beaten by a girl, Belikov!" I heard him grunt and the thundering hoof beats closed in on me. With one last burst of speed, Storm made it to the end of the field a half a second before Midnight did. I quickly slid off Storm's back and rubbed her sweaty neck. She was breathing hard, but she turned her head to nuzzle my hand. I leaned my head against her neck, somehow exhausted even though I had only been sitting there. Dimitri came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Nicely raced, Rose. But I was sure I had you there at the end!"
"Ha, ha! Never!" I grinned victoriously up at him, and he backed up and held his arms open. I glanced at him, unsure for a second, before running and jumping into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he brought his lips to mine and held me like that for several minutes. Finally, we broke apart and went back to our horses. We walked back through the field to give our horses a rest and met up with the rest of the group. Adrian glanced at the horses and said,
"You really must've raced hard. They look exhausted." I looked sheepishly at him.
"Sorry, Adrian. They are tired, but they raced well." I rubbed Storm's neck and she whinnied softly.
"Don't apologize, they're your horses now, not mine. Do you like her?" He looked at me carefully, and I guessed he was studying my aura.
"I absolutely love her, Adrian. She's beautiful. Thank you."
"You're welcome, little Dhampir. Your aura is streaked with gold much more than normal. You're having a good time?"
"The best time of my life, Adrian. I'm here with my best friends, a beautiful horse that is now mine, and my amazing boyfriend. What more could I ask for?" He pretended to think for a minute before answering.
"Hmmm…not much I guess." I laughed and smiled at him and though, for now at least, my life was pretty damn good.