Katniss POV
I'm glad Peeta came to us 2 weeks before the camps started. It took him 3 days to get fully into the swing of things around here.
Mornings here are always the same. We start at 8am. I give the horses their hard feed, Gale gives them their hay, and then by the time we've gotten to the last stables the first few are finished so we let them out into the field and start mucking out.
Surprisingly, Peeta's first day went well even though he didn't get back until late. He was up and in the barn for 8. I must have looked shocked because he shrugged his shoulders and muttered "baker's hours" before walking off to grab his tools.
"There's no point grabbing tools yet," I call to him as I walk towards the feed room. "We need to feed first, then we'll muck out. Here, you push the trolley, I'll dish the grub."
As we walk through the aisles, I start asking him how his grandfather's yard was ran. He explains that most of the horses weren't used for much so they only needed hay and grass. They also used straw in the beds, so I'll have to show him how to muck out with the shavings we use.
By Wednesday we are a seamless team and barely speak while we work.
That weekend we get another working student, Annie Cresta. She was here last year so she knows how we run and fits in with the rest of us no problem.
She's a sweet, quiet young woman with long flowing brown hair and rich emerald green eyes. I don't know much about her past except that her family have all passed on in a tragic accident. She doesn't want to divulge the information, and I certainly won't push her to. Her family used to have a few horses in their little seaside village before they died and when she's around horses she feels close to them.
The camps are due to start next Monday, so I ask Hazelle, Gale's mom, if I can borrow Posy for a few hours so Peeta can see the difference between leading a pony with a rider on board. And of course Posy doesn't mind, she'll be getting some free lessons out of it!
Peeta proves to be a quick learner, both beside a horse and riding one. By the second Friday he is here, he's trotting correctly and cantering no problem.
"Good! You have the rhythm of your hips down perfectly," I praise him. "Now, would you like to try jumping?"
He looks over at me shocked but shakes his head.
"No, thanks. Maybe next time," he calls out from the other end of the arena.
"Ok, well walk Hunter off then bring him in," I call out. "I'm going to go tack up Mockingjay. That stallion needs a good working over."
Peeta's ears turn red and he nods while he continues to walk Hunter off. I leave the arena wondering why Peeta keeps blushing at the things I say about horses. I must say this aloud as Johanna snorts.
"It's because most of what you say can be taken the wrong way, brainless," she jeers.
"What do you mean, taken the wrong way?"
"I mean taken as an innuendo. Sexual, flirting, insinuation, hinting. And, of course, Peeta is an 18 year old guy whose mind will always go straight there. Especially when those words come out of someone as gorgeous as you."
"I am not gorgeous!" I snap. My eyes widen as I process this information.
"Jesus, Katniss. You really are brainless. Do I have to have the 'birds and the bees' talk with you?" she laughs.
"WHAT?! No, I know what sex is and all that. I just never realised what I said could…" I trail off not wanting to voice what Jo said to me.
"You are so pure. Come on, get your 'stallion' tacked up and we'll go give him 'a good working over' haha," she walks away cackling.
As I tack up I'm left recounting all the things I said that made Peeta blush and realise Jo is right. Oh god, I have made a massive fool of myself. How am I going to continue working with him when nearly everything I say comes out as a sexual reference?
It's only the second week he's here and I already feel like I want to run away and hide in the woods.