Chapter 51 - Betsy
Sordd handed the scythe back to Mimi's father, who put them back in the byre. They both followed Avarak, wanting to see what had peaked the interest of the young Vulcan.
Avarak led them to the edge of a field. "Look, Sa-mekh!" Avarak pointed to a horse.
"That's Betsy," Hugh said, "FWEET!" he whistled.
Betsy, who had been eating some grass in the meadow, looked up and began to trot towards them. Avarak's eyes grew wider and wider as the horse came closer and closer. Betsy stopped at the fence then bowed her head over it, nudging at Hugh's pockets.
"Hello beautiful!" Hugh said, while rubbing her on the forehead and between the ears. He reached into his pocket and took out a mint which she ate gladly. Avarak stood in awe. Betsy, a Clydesdale horse, was chestnut all over apart from a white blaze and feathery white socks. She was massive, at 162cm from the ground to her shoulder blade.
"Is she dangerous?" Avarak asked.
"No, Betsy is a big softie!" Hugh replied, while climbing over the gate into the field.
Sordd, who was rubbing Betsy's forehead, could immediately tell that she was a very placid beast, a lot more placid than 'Mr Darcy'.
"Would you like to go up on her?" Hugh asked with a smile of encouragement on his face.
Avarak looked up at his father, asking permission without speaking any words. Sordd nodded his head then lifted Avarak over the gate. Hugh placed a pink halter, which was hanging on the gate, over Betsy's head and secured it. He then attached a lead rope to the halter. Like a true farmer Hugh had a piece of rope in his pocket but it was not of sufficient thickness or length for the job in hand.
"You use her on the farm?" Sordd asked, while still rubbing between Betsy's ears.
"For ploughing demonstrations," Hugh replied as he howked Avarak, who was very excited but trying to control the emotion, onto Betsy's back.
"Hold tight onto her mane!" Hugh said while showing Avarak where he should put his hands. Avarak duly clenched his fists around her mane as tight as he could. For the next fifteen minutes or so Hugh led Betsy around the field with Avarak happily sitting on her back, being so high up he got a tremendous view of the farm. Eventually they returned to the gate where Sordd was waiting patiently. Hugh lifted Avarak down, and then over the fence again. After removing the halter he gave Betsy another mint, she wasn't going to say no.
"Oh no, we are in trouble," Hugh said under his breath, "here comes the wife!" He knew she wouldn't be pleased that Avarak had been riding Betsy without a helmet...
Avarak couldn't wait until he was able to tell his friend Saros...
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