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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 16:13:33 GMT -5
"I can do it." *Lark blurted out, surprised to hear her own voice. She swallowed and shrugged.*
"I mean...if you just need extra hands. I helped a few times on my uncle's farm. It was a long time ago, but..."
*She looked down.*
"If you want."
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 16:22:46 GMT -5
*Jake glanced at her warmly.*
"Well now here's a surprise. Ya mean ya don't jus' pull a few tricks on top of a pony fer a livin'?"
*He bit his lip as he finished off the pie--he was quick like that with his food; you had to be, in the Quinn clan--she had spirit, and strength, but was that enough? Back home they'd had reservations about letting the women help, but then again, there were always enough hands to take care of things, and there was no need to get the women involved in the first place. And despite brushing it off, Jake held no illusions that Jacques would be well enough in time...
With a worried expression, he nodded slowly.*
"...we'll see how you do, Trouble. I'll see if there's a change of work clothes in the tack room, and you'll need some proper handgear. The rope'll burn right through those pretty little gloves o' yours," *he said, glancing at her dainty-seeming hands with another jolt of mingled pleasure and worry. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.*
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 16:34:32 GMT -5
Oh! Like...now?
*Lark looked about awkwardly for a moment before she started forward.*
"Oh! This way?" *She pointed and nodded and found her way there. Swallowing, she tried to clear her head as she changed into the spare clothing she found. It took a bit of work, the clothing was much too large for her small frame, but being in trousers would certainly make the job easier. Grabbing the smallest gloves she could find, she reemerged from the room, arms open for inspection.*
"This better?"
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 16:47:10 GMT -5
*She was the most adorable scarecrow he'd ever seen, and that's a fact. She was swimming in the clothes, but not so much that they'd get in her way. Jake hid a smile and nodded.*
"You'll do. C'mon, here let Penny git used t'ya fer a time. Pierre here sprained his shoulder last week, so you'll be doin' most o' the work, but he'll be right behind ya in case you need him on the ropes. Henri is stronger, but I'll need him with me t'handle Thunder. Try t'keep tension in the ropes, but don't lead 'er anywhere. It shouldn't take long, but we don' wanna rush things, either, the horses or someone could get hurt."
*Jake led her to Penny's stall, rubbing the mare's nose.*
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 17:08:16 GMT -5
"Of course."
*Lark couldn't stop nodding. She steadied though, as she approached the stall taking a deep breath before entering. She could do this. She knew she could. She gave the animal a few moments to see her and smell her hand before she initiated contact. Touching the mare gently, she caressed its neck with gentle strokes as she whispered to her soothingly.*
"There now. Things will be right as rain, you'll see. Shh now, it's just me."
*She smiled, comforted by the presence of the mare.*
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 17:10:35 GMT -5
*Jake leaned against the stall with his arms crossed, watching her, a small smile on his lips as he listened to the patter of comforting nonsense she whispered to Penny. He could get used to that.*
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 17:18:28 GMT -5
*As the other men approached, Lark moved to the side, letting them take up and direct her. She nodded to each direction, moving as she was bidden, taking the rope and awaiting the stud. Taking a few deep breaths, she glanced about, meeting Jake's eyes for a nervous moment and smiling. She was happy to help him. And that was...weird. She tried not to think about it, focusing on the task at hand.*
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 17:29:17 GMT -5
*Jake's eyes followed her as she led Penny out into the open space beyond the barn. Taking a breath, he turned back to the task at hand, getting Thunder's restraints in place and leading him out.
Clouds were gathering low in the sky, making the warm air crackle and snap with some kind of electric tension. The horses were agitated, but not nervous. It all began to feel familiar. Jake relaxed. He'd seen this done a thousand times, and had been on the ropes since he was sixteen.*
"Whoa...whoa..." *he murmured with soft command as the stallion strained slightly at the ropes, pawing at the ground. A glance at the mare, then at the stallion told him all he needed to gauge where they were at, but he felt compelled to catch Bonnie's eye, and hold it.*
"You ready?" *he asked, his gaze burning with the same primal fire that was coursing through his veins and making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The ropes burned against his callused skin, even through the gloves he wore, and the moment he'd looked at her seemed to last a lifetime, the instant stretched into eternity as pure, animalistic lust washed over him in a heady wave.*
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 20, 2008 17:40:50 GMT -5
*Things were coming back to her, much to Lark's relief. The gathering storm lingered in the air and her body shivered electric. She blamed that very thing for the sensation and coloring in her cheeks as she happened to meet Jake's eyes, swallowing hard but not looking away. There was some inherent understanding then, no matter how things were even a minute later, but she knew what he wanted. And was surprised that she wanted it too. Or...didn't hate the idea. She couldn't think on it, not now, this was too important. Moving her gaze away again, she refocused on holding her rope tight without risking her hands by wrapping them. The pressure was building against them, but her hands were strong, seeing as they had to be.*
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 1:52:18 GMT -5
*The handlers inched the animals closer together, tensely watchful for any sign of something going wrong. The stallion bucked and reared, deadly hooves pawing at the air and Jake immediately drew him back, away from the mare.*
"Whoa, WHOA," *he said, not quite shouting, but with stern command. The stallion still tossed his head and pranced in place, shaking himself briefly. The beast's muscles were trembling, and Jake had a vague idea of how Thunder felt at that moment. Still, as the horse quietened, he approached his head, holding a lump of sugar and rubbing the stud's nose.*
"Easy now, boy," *he murmured, his voice soothing.* "Easy. Don't you go hurtin' yer sweetheart. You be good to her, ya hear? She might be a li'l bit scareda ya, now..." *Jake shook his head.* "That's no way to treat a lady. Go slow with her, mmm?" *The horse, naturally, didn't comprehend a single word of what he'd said, but his master's voice had calmed him.
They led Thunder over once more, with a touch more tension on the ropes this time, though it turned out they didn't need it. Thunder sniffed at Penny, then snorted, blowing warm breath along her coat. The brave little mare shivered a bit, but stood her ground.
Thunder backed up a step, then, almost cautiously, he mounted.
Another minute, and it was over, and Jake realized he'd been holding his breath. He drew Thunder to the side and patted him on the neck.*
"Well done, boy. I'll be damned if ya didn't court her a li'l!"
*He wiped the sweat from his brown with a handkerchief, the air still heavy and warm as real thunder rolled in the distance.*
"Come on, let's git 'em inside before it pours!" *called Jake to the other handlers, stopping to smile at Bonnie. As she drew nearer with the mare, Jake let Henri take Thunder back to his stall.*
"How is she?" *he asked, the question perfunctory as he inspected the mare and saw no injury, before he glanced back to her.* "...how are you?"
((HORSE PORN AND METAPHORS FTW!))
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 4:27:50 GMT -5
((Without question.))
"Fine." *Lark stammered.* "Just fine."
*Her hands were shaking slightly from holding them in tension and well...no matter how many times one saw such things they were still...impressive. She tried to pull slower breaths into herself, hoping to slow her heart that was dancing in excitement. The blood coursing through her put her on edge. It wasn't something grating or unpleasant, but...it was some great precipice that she stood on, unable to look over the edge. Her eyes darted up to his, her hair starting to loosen from its tight pins with all the activity.*
"I...my hands hurt a bit." *It was dumb and rather obvious, but she couldn't stop herself from saying it. She smoothed the comment with a smile.*
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 6:11:39 GMT -5
"They do?" *Something in his face twisted with vague worry that he'd gotten her in over her head and made her suffer. He took hold of her hands in his and tugged off the gloves by the fingertips, flipping them over to inspect them. They were red, but the skin was unbroken. Still--it had to smart. The pads of his thumbs brushed against her palms.*
"I'm sorry..."
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 6:19:19 GMT -5
*Lark's eyes fell as he took her hand, gasping softly. It didn't hurt, just surprised her mostly. Her lips twitched as she pulled one hand away to tuck her falling hair back behind her ear. But she left the other safe in his grip.*
"Don't be." *She blurted, giggling to cover her shyness. Why did he do that to her? It was starting to get frustrating. But part of her never wanted to feel anything else.*
"I mean, I'm happy to help. I hope...everything works out."
*She glanced back to the mare.*
"That is, with the foaling and all."
*She swallowed anxiously, shifting her weight a little in a prance of her own.*
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Post by Jake Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 7:06:58 GMT -5
*Jake glanced at her face, then let go of her hand.*
"Thank ya, then. It was mighty kinda ya t'help."
*Jake glanced up as large drops of rain began to fall.*
"Uh, c'mon back inside now," *he said, looping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her back towards the barn with no pretense or overbearing desire, only casual care.*
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Post by Lark Quinn on Jul 21, 2008 7:10:45 GMT -5
*She winced as the rain started to come harder, laughing as they made their way back under cover. Once there, Lark paused, savoring the smell of the storm, the tingle in the air. She licked the rain from her lips as she looked up to him.*
"Uh...mind if I...wait it out?"
*She gave a shy shrug, her eyes questioning.*
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