The Mediator

Chapter Four

Amelia Notes: All the information about horses and horseback riding provided here is true. I'm no expert, but I have been riding most of my life. I included the horse-lessons because I want all my readers to be familiar with horses. I plan on using them extensively in this story and it will be easier if my readers are acquainted with horsemanship. I tried to keep it short and to the point. Sorry if it bores you.

I guess everything was just going too right. Really, since when had my life been good? From my new friends Quatre and Trowa to meeting another mediator, everything was going just way too swimmingly. Something has to go wrong. It's like Murphy's Law or something. When everything goes right something will go immediately wrong, in a big way. There is absolutely no other way to explain it.

He's here to make my life miserable.

Heero, I mean.

When I came home from the meeting with Mr. Chilton he was there, sitting in my window seat; reading my book, like he belonged. I was so taken aback that I just stared at him for a few seconds. He hadn't been around since I'd threatened him, what was he doing back?

"What the hell are you doing here?" Okay, so maybe I haven't been very nice to the guy, but he just rubs me the wrong way. Seriously, it's my room and he should get out. The living have precedence over the dead.

"I'm reading," he answered.

I counted to about ten, so as to not scream at him. "I asked you to vacate my room. Now, I know I wasn't particularly polite, but I meant what I said. Either clear out or I'll make you leave. I can, you know." I added the last bit because he was giving me this level gaze that just screamed disbelief.

"This young woman, Beth, she died very recently. She's very angry; you shouldn't confront her by yourself."

That caught me off guard. "What? Have you been following me?"

"She's very dangerous."

"You didn't answer my question."

He gave me an oblique look. "I've been keeping an eye on you, yes. Allow this Mr. Chilton to assist you-"

"Do I have to exorcise you?" Finally, I got his attention with that statement. At least, he stopped talking. "Look," I say, "I'll let you stay and hang around here, but you have got to stay out of my business. And as for Beth, I can handle it. I've been doing this for years, buddy, and I know what I'm doing."

"Duo!" Mom's voice floated up the stairs. "There is someone here to see you!"

Sending Heero one last look, I left my room and bounded down the stairs. I wondered who could be visiting me. I didn't have to wonder long, because Trowa and Quatre were standing in the living room chatting with my mother.

"Duo, sweetie, your friends came to visit you!"

I winced at my mother's obvious excitement. I didn't have many friends back in New York, on account of my general weirdness. My only friend was Solo, and he was weird too. Maybe he's not as weird as me, but still a little odd. To Mom, Quatre and Trowa must look like a godsend.

"Thanks, Mom. What's up guys?"

Quatre beamed at me. He must have mothers falling all over him all the time, because he didn't seem the least bit upset about my mom's actions. "We thought you might like to come horseback riding with us. Trowa works at the Trail Rides, so they let him take horses out for free. Have you ever been horseback riding Duo?"

I blinked at him. He has obviously never been to New York. "Except for the horses they use to pull the buggies in Central Park, I've never even seen a horse."

Quatre's smile grew tenfold. "You'll love it! Put some jeans on-ones you don't mind getting really dirty-and some sturdy shoes!"

I did as told, feeling slightly bemused. My oldest jeans had holes in the knees, but I didn't think that mattered. I even owned a pair of cowboy boots, originally purchased for a Halloween costume, but quite serviceable. I was a little surprised to see Trowa driving a red truck, since I hadn't even realized he was sixteen. He was going to be a sophomore when school started, I knew that much. "Hey, do you even have a license?"

Trowa gave me a funny look. "Of course."

"But you're going to be a sophomore." I was seriously confused.

"I was held back a year in elementary school because I wasn't socially mature."

Quatre shot me a look and a wink. "He didn't talk."

"No," I said, dripping with sarcasm, "Trowa didn't talk?" The boy who simply exudes silence didn't talk as a kid? How come I'm not surprised? "So, where are we going again?"

"The Trail Rides." At my blank look, Quatre launched into a long-winded explanation. The gist of which was the Trail Rides were a tourist trap. Apparently they provided lodging and stabling for tourists who wanted to ride their horses around the scenic areas of Oak Grove. They also rented out horses on a daily basis. "Trowa's family owns their own horses, but Cathy has been monopolizing them," Quatre explained. "When school starts back up we'll be able to ride whenever we want, but right now it's no good to even try."

We were entering the Trail Rides now, if the big sign beside the little dirt road we were on was anything to go by. We pulled up to this big barn that didn't look anything like the barns you see in pictures. For one, it wasn't red, and two, it wasn't wooden. It was white and made entirely of metal. Several horses whickered inside.

Trowa and Quatre walked confidently down the aisle between the stalls. Several of the horses stuck their heads out a whinnied as they went past. I hung back; slightly afraid of the big animals I'd only seen at a distance before. It was awhile before either of them noticed I wasn't with them.

"C'mon Duo," Quatre called back to me. "Don't worry; Trowa will pick out a nice slow one for you."

I glared at him as I walked carefully down the aisle. They had stopped in front of the stall of a big, grey horse. It was whuffling into Trowa's hair when I joined them.

"This is Steel," Trowa told me. "He's big, but very gentle. Hold out you hand and let him get to know your scent."

I looked at the horse then looked at Trowa. "His nose is awfully close to his mouth."

Quatre didn't help matters by giggling. I shot him a glare. Trowa, for his part, didn't laugh or get impatient with me. He merely took my hand and guided it toward Steel's nose. I won't lie, I tried to pull back, but Trowa's grip was very firm. Soon the big horse was snuffling into my hand.

"He's so soft," I whispered, quite taken aback.

Trowa opened the stall door and slipped inside. "We use Steel for the most inexperienced riders. He just follows whichever horse is in front of him. I've never seen him spook, even when other horses did."

"Spook?"

"Take off, or bolt," Quatre explained cheerfully. "All horses will do it if they're scared enough."

"He'll take off?"

"Doubtful," Trowa replied, "and even if he does all you have to do is hold on until he tires."

"Hold on?"

Quatre smiled. "Don't worry, Duo, Trowa is an amazing horseman and Steel is a wonderful horse. Between the two of them, plus me, you'll be as safe as anyone could ever be."

Trowa nodded from his place beside Steel. While I wasn't paying any attention he'd slipped a harness of some kind around the horse's head. "I put children as young as eight on this horse by themselves. Do you think I would do that if I thought there was any real danger?"

I sighed. "No, I suppose not. He's just so big."

Trowa smiled and attached a rope to the harness. He led that big horse out of his stall and to what he referred to as a 'hitching post'. I followed at a distance, then joined him near the horse's head when he gestured me over.

"Beginning Horsemanship, Lesson One: Safety. When walking behind a horse, keep a distance of at least six feet. If you have to walk closer than that, walk all the way against him, keeping your hand on his hindquarters. He can see all around him, except directly behind. By touching him, he knows you're there. Also, if you're close, he can't get a full-force kick in if he takes it into his head to kick you."

"Really close or really far away. Check."

"No loud or sudden noises and always wear a helmet and sturdy shoes." He glanced down to check my shoes. "Where did you get boots?"

"Halloween costume."

Trowa nodded in understanding. "Lesson Two: Grooming. Always brush a horse thoroughly before riding. This gives you a chance not only to get him clean, but check him over for any injuries. Quatre, teach Duo how to brush while I get the other horses."

Quatre grinned and joined me over next to the big horse. We spent the next couple minutes giggling and brushing Steel. Quatre showed me how to get the coat as clean as possible, until it shone.

Trowa brought two more horses out of the stalls and introduced them to me as Valiant and Trixie. Valiant-called Valley-was what Trowa called a blue roan and Trixie was a palomino, which meant very little to me. They were quite pretty, though, as horses go. Quatre sent me a sympathetic grin before he went to groom the other two. Trowa bore down upon me.

"Lesson Three: Tack."

"Whassat?"

"Tack is the general name for the blankets, saddle and bridle. All the trappings that make you able to ride comfortably."

"Because riding bareback hurts!" Quatre quipped.

"After grooming you can tack up. First are the saddle blankets. What blankets are used and how many depends on a great many factors. You don't have to worry about that. Always check the underside of the blanket for anything that could rub or poke the horse. At best something like that would be irritating; at worst it could leave a sore which could get infected."

Trowa showed me how to check the blankets and where to put them on the horses back. He sent me into the tack room for Steel's saddle, which weighed exactly a ton. I was slightly put-out when he lifted it easily onto the horse's back. He quickly showed me how to attach the saddle to the horse-I was dismayed to learn that there was little more than a thick strap under the horse that would hold my saddle on.

"Now, this is the bridle. The bit-here-goes in the horses mouth. Attached to the bit are the reins, which allow you to control the horse."

I looked at the pieces of metal and leather in Trowa's hands. "How do you get the metal thing into the horse's mouth?"

"It's a bit."

"Okay, how do you get the bit in the horse's mouth?"

"Practice, mainly, but I won't make you do it today."

"Goody."

Trowa finished saddling Steel and went to help Quatre with Trixie and Valley. I contented myself with petting the big horse on his ultra-soft nose.

"I think he likes you."

I glanced up at the unknown voice. An older teenager with ginger-colored hair stood on the other side of Steel, one hand resting on the horse's neck. He was wearing one of those really traditional riding outfits like you see on T.V. You know, red coat, white pants and tall black boots. He held a black helmet and a riding crop loosely in one hand.

I was struck rather dumb by the picture he made.

"I'm Trieze." He offered a gloved hand for me to shake.

I accepted it shyly, not sure why I was being shy. "Duo Maxwell."

His eyes lit up in recognition. "Noin's little brother?"

"Umm, stepbrother."

"Of course. Are you here with her?" He glanced around the barn.

"No, I'm here with Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner. I've never ridden before," I added shyly. Oh my God, what was wrong with me? Since when do I turn into a shy little boy around impeccably dressed young men?

"Oh, I see. Trowa isn't really a riding instructor, you know, he's had no formal training."

"You don't need certifications to know how to ride a horse!" Quatre suddenly appeared next to me, looking quite indignant. "C'mon, Duo, we want to get on the trail before it gets too late." With angry movements he untied Steel and began leading him out of the barn. I followed quickly, afraid that Quatre would mistake my braid for a lead rope.