Post by .~.T.e.a.k.~. on Mar 13, 2009 16:54:02 GMT -6
Fingers tapped idly against the steering column as the truck rumbled along the bumpy. The deep blue and silver truck wasn’t new, but nor was it trash, just well used. Michael Pierson leaned forwards slightly to switch the radio on, only to quickly cut it down as his cell phone rang shrilly from where it lay in the passenger seat. With a small smile on his face, he picked up the phone and flipped it open, putting it to his ear and mumbling a low greeting.
Moments later, the phone was back in the passenger seat and his attention was back focused on the road. He drove behind the two-horse trailer that held his two prized equines Cowboy and Campbell. He didn’t quite trust himself to haul the animals, so he’d enlisted the help of his very enthusiastic cousin.
The horses had been surprisingly easy to load, though Campbell had given a few moments problem… Cowboy had gone right in. Mikey pulled his thoughts from the two animals and followed suit as his cousin turned her huge grey and silver truck and trailer down the stable drive.
He slowed the truck down to put some length between the two vehicles, not wishing to slam into the rear of the trailer by accident, and pulled up alongside his cousins truck once it’d stopped. His cousin left the engine running as she stepped down from the vehicle and walked around the front. Mikey cut his engine and moved to greet her, a teasing grin crossing his face.
You really thought we were lost back there, Karen? His tone was light, and he mock-punched the older woman on the arm, shying away from her as she went to hit him back. Michael shook his head at the idea of being lost and ran a hand through his hair, making sure the long locks were covering his left eye, even though the dark shades he was wearing hid his eyes expertly. You’re pitiful with directions.
He thought he was out of her reach, so when she grabbed his upper arm, digging her nails into his skin, he yelped in surprise and slight pain. Watch it Kare! You’re nails hurt! Michael wrenched his arm from her grip and flashed her a cheeky grin. Make yourself useful and put Cowboy and Campbell’s stuff in the tack room while I take care of them… please.
The woman smiled at her ‘baby cousin’. She was well used to his attitude and the way he acted around her was just his way of telling her that he was comfortable with her. He meant nothing by it, for all he did. She was a fairly quiet woman by nature, too, preferring actions to words. Alright Mikey, you be careful getting those horses out.
Mikey lazily raised a hand and gave her a two finger salute. Aye, Aye Sergeant! He muttered as he spun around in an about face and jogged to the back of the trailer. The black t-shirt he wore was loose, the way he liked, and his jeans were faded from wear… the bottoms were scraggly from being walked on. His boots were worn, but well taken care of.
He swung open the back of the trailer, latching the half-door to the side, then pulled the ramp down and let it drop to the ground with a soft ‘bang’. Hey guys… He kept his voice low so as to not get the horses too excited, but that was impossible with Cowboy. The 16.3 hand Paint stallion knew that the long ride was over and was eager to get his hooves on solid ground.
Cowboy nickered softly and snorted, straining against the trailer tie as he tried to turn his head toward his owner. His ears were pricked and his eyes were alight with eagerness to get outside as he twisted his head around as far as he could.
The other horse in the trailer, a 17 hand Thoroughbred gelding named Campbell, was much calmer than his buddy. Campbell turned his head and whickered a greeting to his master, swishing his tail once before settling down to wait his turn. He hadn’t belonged to Mikey long, but already he’d learned that the bay paint stallion came first.
Come on Cowboy… Mikey unlatched the trailer tie from the halter and clipped the lead to the halter. He placed a hand to hover in front of the horses chest and muttered a soft Back up… back up, now… easy does it, back… back…. Carefully, Cowboy backed out of the trailer and down the ramp. Once Mikey had him out, he led the horse to the side of the trailer and quickly tied him with a quick release knot, then disappeared back inside the trailer to get Campbell.
The black Thoroughbred knew what was expected on him and, save for a little excited head tossing, he backed out of the trailer like a pro and stood still as Mikey tied him alongside the stallion. Cowboy reached over and nipped at the Thoroughbred, but quit at Mikey’s harsh reprimand.
Your stuff’s put up. Karen caught the horses attention as she walked around the side of the trailer and knelt down alongside Mikey to help him take the shipping boots and blankets off the horses. I’ll take these and put them with your stuff… then I’m out. I’ve got a long drive ahead of me. The woman stood up and gathered the traveling gear. She slapped both horses affectionately on the neck as she passed them.
Mikey appeared to ignore her as he untied the leads of both horses and situated them where one was on either side of him. He put the stallion on his blind side, as he trusted Cowboy a bit more than he did Campbell, and grasped both their leads just below their halters and tugged gently as he stepped forwards. C’mon guys, let’s stretch those legs a bit…. I need it too, sitting in a truck for the past few hours doesn’t do much good to a guy. The horses stepped off, Campbell lagging just a bit behind, and obediently followed their master. Ears flicked rapidly and both horses snorted here and there as the new sights, sounds, and smells of their new home surrounded them. Mikey didn’t look around too much, he’d have time for that later. His main concern was making sure his horses weren’t stiff from the long trailer-ride.
All right, let’s go. He gripped the leads a little tighter as he turned to lead the horses towards the barn. Karen had left just moments earlier. Mikey half wished she’d stayed and helped him put the horses up… Cowboy may have been a calm horse, but he was still a stallion and could get slightly rowdy, and what Cowboy did, Campbell copied most of the time. Cowboy was the leader.
He led the two inside the barn slowly, jiggling Cowboy’s lead to keep his attention focused. Mikey didn’t turn his head to look, but he knew that the big stallion was looking around, eyeing the other horses curiously. The young man read each stall sign twice, though he didn’t look at the horses the stalls housed yet. There would be a time for that later as well.
The trio stopped outside a pair of stalls near the far end of the barn. What do you know, boys… you’re right next to each other. Michael said as he looped one of the leads over his arm and unlatched the first stall door. The plaque on the door read:“Big Bad John
a.k.a
Cowboy
Owned by Michael Pierson”
In you go, Cow… Mike pointed towards the stall and clicked once, unlatching the lead from the halter at the same time, and the stallion obediently walked inside the stall, sticking his head over the door and giving Mikey an almost depressed look at he latched the door closed. None of that, Cowboy… behave. C’mon Cammie. Mikey led Campbell into his stall. The plaque read:“Easy Maintenance
a.k.a
Campbell
Owned by Michael Pierson”
Mike backed out of Campbell’s stall and closed and latched the door, whistling a soft tune to himself and the two horses. He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out two small carrot pieces and offered a bit to each of the horses. Cowboy eagerly went for the treat while Campbell took his carrot slice a bit more daintily, causing Mikey to grin at the differences in the two horses.
Horses... He muttered lightly to himself as he turned around to lean back against Cowboy's stall. cowboy nudged his owner on the shoulder for a moment, asking for more carrot, then sighed and stuck his head over Mikey's shoulder, accepting the fact that he wasn't going to get another treat right now.
Word Count: 1549