Dream On (Dare to Dream Book 2), page 6
“You’re not such a dragon after all, are you? You just wanted someone to give you a cuddle.” She continued stroking the mare, moving her hands across her strong hindquarters, and Majestic swung her head around and watched warily, but didn’t move away from Marley.
“Good girl Majestic,” Marley praised, her tongue tripping over the long name. “We need to find you a better name. Or a nickname at least.” She looked the mare over carefully. “Not that you aren’t a majestic creature, but you need a name for everyday use.” After a moment’s consideration, she decided. “I’m going to call you Maggie. That’ll do for now. Now c’mon. Being cooped up in one paddock is no fun. Let’s go see the rest of the farm.”
She clicked her tongue and led the pony forward, and Maggie followed cautiously. Marley led her through the gate, past their ramshackle barn, and down the track that led to towards the creek. Maggie spooked at every flapping bird and startled rabbit that crossed their path, but Marley spoke quiet and reassuring words to her and kept her moving down towards the water. The mare wasn’t sure about the flowing creek, but Marley pulled her own boots off and led by example, encouraging Maggie to step into the water and get her feet wet. The pony baulked, dancing at the end of the leadrope and snorting loudly, then took a tentative step forward. Marley praised her, relaxing the tension on the rope, and gradually Maggie’s courage built up and she walked down to the edge of the creek, then peered down at it, blowing hard through flared nostrils.
“It doesn’t bite, I promise,” Marley said. “C’mon, give it a go. You’ll probably like it.”
A moment longer the mare hesitated, then reached one delicate hoof forward and touched the water apprehensively. Marley laughed at her, admiring yet again her finely-shaped head and the graceful curve of her neck. Every line of the pony spoke of quality, of high breeding and exceptional strength, and she longed to sit on her back. What must it be like to harness that kind of power and spirit? Marley stood still, ankle deep in the water, watching as the pony slowly lowered her foot into the water, snorted and snatched it back, then peered down at the creek again. Water lapped over her left forefoot, and she slowly stepped forward with the other leg, testing the mud beneath her hooves.
Marley praised her softly and Maggie flickered an ear towards her, took another step forward, then raised a foreleg into the air and stamped it down again, sending a spray of water across them both. Marley laughed as the pony jumped backwards, alarmed by her own boldness, then ventured forward again.
Ten minutes later, they were both belly deep in the cool creek water, and Marley ran a hand down Maggie’s gleaming neck.
“Do you want me to ride you?” she asked. She’d promised Kris that she wouldn’t, but Kris wasn’t here. She’d never know, and it wasn’t as though she was going to ask Maggie to do anything difficult. Just go for a walk. Just discover that life could be fun, if she would only relax and let herself enjoy it.
“I hear that they keep you locked up in a box all the time,” Marley told her. “And I bet they only ride you for exercise and schooling, never just for fun. If you let me ride you, I’ll show you how to have fun.” She eyed Maggie’s back carefully, her desire to ride the pony almost overwhelming now. “What d’you say? Time to try something new?”
The pony lowered her head to the river and started drinking, and Marley couldn’t help herself. Placing her hands on Maggie’s muscled back, she sprang up and swung her leg over as the pony flung her head high, water spraying from her wet muzzle. Marley ran a hand down her hard neck.
“You’re alright. See? I’m just sitting here.”
All of Maggie’s earlier relaxation had vanished, and she stood stock still, her muscles rigid. A tremor ran through her and she seemed almost afraid to move. Marley continued speaking to her and stroking her, waiting for the mare to relax again, but it was several minutes before she felt Maggie breathe out.
“You wanna go back?” Marley asked her. “I can’t ride you all the way home, or someone might see, but we’ll go along the track for a little bit.” She looked at the entrance to the trail between the flax bushes that flanked the edge of the creek, and gave Maggie a gentle nudge with her legs. The mare flinched and started forward quickly, and Marley sat as quietly as she could on her bare back, wondering if she should’ve taken the time to knot the leadrope into reins instead of just having it off one side of the halter. Maggie strode up the track with a long swooping stride, and Marley continued to talk to her as they went. The bay pony spooked and sidled a couple of times, but nothing untoward happened until they were almost out of the bush and were heading back up to the farm. Marley was just starting to relax her attention and enjoy the sunshine on her bare legs when a pheasant shot out of a nearby bush, flapping and squawking. Maggie leapt a foot into the air, plunged her head between her knees and bucked, then took off up the track at full speed.
Marley dug her knees into the pony’s sides and gripped tight, pulling hard on the leadrope to try and slow their mad flight, but Maggie didn’t respond at all to her aids. As they galloped up the hill, Marley saw the tall wooden gate at the top that she’d latched shut behind her earlier looming ahead of them, and her stomach clenched nervously. Maggie was going far too fast to stop safely, even if Marley had been able to convince her to, so she grabbed a handful of the mare’s short mane and prayed fervently that the pony would have enough presence of mind to jump it. Horses that bolted blindly were as likely to go straight through a gate as they were to stop or go over it, and Marley’s heart was in her mouth as they pounded up the hill.
But Maggie didn’t even hesitate. She sighted the gate, sized it up and leapt, taking off almost half a stride early and soaring high and wide over it. Marley gripped tight, glancing down in mid-air to see the top rail way below her. They seemed to be in the air forever, but the landing was smooth, and it was no struggle to keep her seat. Despite the terror of the moment, Marley grinned in amazement. This pony was like nothing she’d ever ridden in her life before. Jumping was simple for Laura’s ponies and had come easy to Cruise, but it felt effortless for Maggie.
Marley’s thrill didn’t last for long. Two strides after the gate, Maggie yanked the rope out of her hands and bucked again, three times in quick succession. Try as she might, Marley couldn’t keep her balance, and this time she hit the ground hard. Her head spinning, she lay still, listening to Maggie’s rapid hoofbeats fading away into the distance.
Jake hammered the last nail into the post, then looked up as the pony came barrelling into the yard, snorting loudly. He recognised Maggie immediately, and as she skidded to a halt in the middle of the yard, he wondered what to do next. Van had gone into town to pick up more nails, and Kris was up at the house, but it seemed a long way for him to walk just to fetch her, and Maggie might have run off again by then. Setting his hammer down, Jake walked over to the pony, who was standing still in the middle of the yard, blowing heavily.
“What’ve you done with Marley?” he asked her. “Did you run away from her?”
Somehow it was easier to talk to horses than people, and the words flowed easily as he spoke to the mare. She listened, ears flickering back and forth as he reached out and took hold of the lead rope. Maggie snapped her teeth at him and he jumped out of her range, then gently pulled on the rope.
“Come on,” he told her. “You need to go back in your paddock.”
Jake had no practical experience with horses, but he’d watched the girls enough over the last few days to manage leading Maggie into her paddock. He shut the gate behind them and unclipped the rope from her halter. Maggie spun around and raced away from him, her head high and tail in the air.
Jake watched her for a moment, then looked around the empty yard. There was still no sign of Marley.
Marley had managed to get herself into a sitting position, but her head throbbed painfully and when she tried to stand up, she lost her balance and fell back to the ground. All of Kris’s lectures about wearing a helmet came back to her in a muddled way, and she cursed her own stupidity as she lowered her head onto her knees, waiting for the aching to subside.
“Are you okay?”
Marley startled and jerked her head up, then immediately regretted the sudden movement. A blurry version of Jake was walking up to her, and as she stared at him dazedly, he slowly came into focus. He stopped in front of her and put his hand on her shoulder, his mismatched eyes clouded with concern. Marley put her hands on the ground and tried again to push herself to her feet.
“I’m fine.” She swayed as she stood up, and Jake grabbed her arm to steady her. “Thanks.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“Banged my head,” Marley confessed. “I may have a slight concussion.”
Jake was frowning at her. “Can you walk?” he asked, clearly wondering if he was going to have to carry her back down to the yard.
“I’m not dead,” Marley replied. “Just a bit dizzy. I’ll be fine. Where’s Maggie?”
“The pony? I put her in the paddock.”
“She let you catch her?”
Jake nodded, and Marley looked impressed.
“Nice work.” She took a step forward, swayed slightly, and grabbed at Jake’s arm to keep her balance. “Hmm. I think I hit my head harder than I thought.”
“How’d it happen? Did she knock you over?”
Marley started to shake her head, then instantly regretted it. “Nah, I fell off.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she cringed. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“You embarrassed?”
“Hardly. But I promised Kris that I wouldn’t ride her.”
“Oh. Why?”
“She thinks she’s dangerous.”
Jake raised an eyebrow, and Marley elbowed him in the side as they walked slowly down the track. “Don’t even start.”
“I’ll keep your secret,” he promised as they walked on.
Marley hoped she could trust him. “Thanks.”
* * *
A few days later, a battered Land Rover rumbled up the driveway and came to a crunching stop in front of the new yards. Seamus turned the engine off and looked around as he pushed the driver’s door open with a creak. Two dogs came bounding out to greet him, a large black and tan one with a wagging tail and a small terrier, who was yapping a frantic alarm. Seamus got out of the car, letting the dogs sniff him over before giving the bigger one a rub on the head, then turned at the sound of hoofbeats. A teenage girl was walking towards him, leading an elegant dark bay pony. The pony startled at the sight of him and stopped abruptly, rolling its eyes and bracing against the end of the rope.
“Hello,” Marley said cheerfully, then looked over her shoulder at the reluctant pony. “Come on Maggie, I’m sure he doesn’t bite anywhere near as bad as you do.”
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full there,” Seamus commented, raising his voice to try and be heard over the continued barking of the terrier.
“Dash, shut up!” Marley snapped, and the dog finally fell silent. “Sorry about that. She takes her job as a watch dog very seriously.”
“As she should,” Seamus said convivially, crouching down and inviting the little brown and white dog to visit with him. The larger dog was immediately all over him, licking the side of his face as the smaller dog eyed him cautiously, then walked up to him with tail erect and ears cocked.
“I’m not so bad after all, so you know,” he told Dash, who decided he was right, flopping onto her back to offer her belly for a rub.
“Are you Seamus?” Marley asked, and he got to his feet, fending off the bigger dog’s amorous advances as he approached Marley.
“That’s right. You must be Van’s sister.”
“Marley.” She shook his weathered hand and nodded at the dogs at his feet. “Those troublemakers are Tucker and Dash. And this is Maggie.”
Seamus reached a hand out to pat the mare, but she snorted and backed up, looking at him fearfully.
“Sorry. She comes with trust issues,” Marley explained.
“I can see that.” His eyes travelled naturally to the mare’s hooves, and he looked at them with careful consideration. “Who’s been shoeing her?”
“I’m not sure. She hasn’t been here long,” Marley replied as Van came walking down from the barn.
“Well someone’s going to have to do it soon,” he told her.
“Are you up for the challenge?” Van asked as she reached her sister’s side.
Seamus smiled, deep creases appearing around his dark eyes. “Didn’t I tell you I’m leaving town?”
“We were planning on convincing you otherwise,” Van told him frankly, and he laughed.
“Her balance isn’t too bad, but she’s got a lot more heel than she needs.” Seamus stood at Maggie’s shoulder, eyes narrowed as he contemplated her hoof structure. “See how the outside wall on this back hoof is growing down straight?”
Marley stepped over to stand next to him, trying to see what he meant.
“That’s not ideal. What’s happening there is-“
As he spoke, Maggie snaked her head around and bit him hard on the upper arm. Seamus broke off with a yelp and jumped away, almost knocking Marley over. Snorting, Maggie tore the rope from Marley’s loose grip and took off across the yard, tail in the air and eyes rolling. She dodged through the open gateway and took off up the hill, leadrope trailing behind her.
Marley winced as she looked at her rope-burned hand. “Damn.”
Seamus was rubbing his upper arm, his brow furrowed. “Got quite a bite on her, doesn’t she?”
“She’s a crocodile,” Van said, calmly watching the pony disappear over the crest of the hill.
“Sorry about that,” Marley said quickly, but Seamus shook his head, grinning wryly.
“You did say she has issues. Guess I should’ve taken you more seriously.”
“She’s a pretty extreme case,” Marley told him, chewing her lower lip as she gazed up the hill in the direction that Maggie had gone. “I don’t know her full history, but I think she’s had a rough life.”
“Someone’s done a number on her, to be sure,” he agreed.
“Looks like she’s done one on you too,” Van said, pointing to the trickle of blood now running down the farrier’s forearm.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” Marley repeated as Seamus rolled his shirt sleeve up and looked unconcernedly at the torn flap of skin just above his elbow.
“Carnivore,” he muttered, then winked at Marley. “Enough with your I’m sorrys. It’s hardly fatal. But you’d better go and see whether that mad creature has tangled herself up in her leadrope or something.”
Marley scurried away in pursuit of Maggie and Seamus turned back to Van. “So where’s this horse of yours with the problem feet?”
“She’s down by the creek. I’ll run and get her.”
“Don’t wear yourself out, I’m happy enough waiting.”
Van grabbed a halter off a gatepost and headed after her sister, and Seamus leaned back against the fence and looked around the shabby farmyard. Nice place. It reminded him of home. Fat chickens pecking at the dirt, round-bellied horses grazing in the paddocks, happy dogs following eagerly at the heels of their owners. Nothing was fancy but everything was well-looked after, and it was clear that the animals’s needs came before the humans’ around here. Quite a lot like home.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement, and turned his head to watch a woman walking across the yard with a bucket in one hand. She shook the bucket and made a clucking sound, and the chickens suddenly went mad, dashing frantically across the yard with their wings flapping excitedly. The woman scattered the grain, bent down and stroked one of the chickens fondly, then looked up and noticed him watching her.
There was an awkward moment, so he thought he’d better go and introduce himself. Approaching her with his most disarming smile, Seamus soon realised that she was a lot younger than he’d first thought. The slight stoop in her shoulders and the careful way that she walked had led him to believe, from a distance, that she was middle-aged, and he’d assumed that he was looking at Van and Marley’s mother. But she was about his own age, possibly younger, with light brown hair, pale skin and anxious blue eyes.
“Hello. You must be another of Van’s sisters. I never realised she had so many.”
She nodded, a furrow appearing between her narrow eyebrows. “Just the two. I’m Kris.”
“Seamus.” He held out his hand and she shook it. Despite her slender arms and thin wrists, her handshake was firm, her grip determined. He liked her already.
“Nice to meet you. Van’s told us all about you,” she said.
Seamus cringed. “Sure that can’t be good. I haven’t known Van to have a civil tongue in her mouth since I met her.”
A slow smile crept across Kris’s face, and Seamus couldn’t help smiling back. God, she’s pretty. Then she looked over his shoulder and the frown reappeared, like dark clouds across her face.
“Where are my sisters?”
“Run off to find some more horses for me to look at while I’m here. Getting their money’s worth,” he joked, then noticed the way that Kris flinched at the mention of the word. “Or they would be if I was planning on charging them,” he added. “Lucky for Van, I’m here out of the goodness of my own heart.”
Kris started to smile, then noticed the dark trickle of blood running down his forearm. “What happened to you?”
Seamus’s eyes followed hers and he rubbed at the blood casually. “Ah, that’d be your sister’s bay pony, taking exception to me touching her.”
Kris’s eyes widened. “Hell, I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “Your sister has already given me all the I’m sorrys that I need. I’m all right, honestly.”
Kris ignored his protest. “I’ve got a first aid kit in the house,” she told him. “Come on in and I’ll get that cleaned up.”
