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Post by Ziva David on Nov 4, 2007 6:11:52 GMT -5
Ziva pulled her hair into a ponytail, yawning. It was early in the morning and the fog hadn't yet lifted from the valley. But Ziva was standing out in the frosted paddock, whistling to her horse. His name was Bailey and he galloped up, halting in front of her. "Hey there." She whispered to him, clipping a lead-rope to his halter. They made their way back to the barn and Ziva began to tack up the shaggy bay. She threw the heavy western saddle onto his back, accompanied by the old leather bridle. She lead him out of the stabe and was met by the others who lived and worked at Glenworth Valley LiveStock Ranch. And the reason they were all up so early was that they were bringing in the seasonal cattle to sell at action. She pulled her hat onto her head and mounted up, waiting instrutions. {{ i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa95/ziva0enchanted/ShaggyBay.jpg}} |
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 12, 2007 9:26:34 GMT -5
Jenny glanced across at the new arrival as she herself mounted, steadying the horse quietly. She could feel the horses tail flicking at flies as she sat there, her coppery hair flattered by the horse's coppery mane and tail, the dappled coppery-white fluff that covered her choice of horses was flat and smooth.
She took her orders and waited, glancing at the woman again as she heard the order. "Yes boss." She agreed steadily, glancing across at 'Ziva'. "C'mon..."
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 6:22:52 GMT -5
Ziva sighed, clicking her tongue and tapping Bailey with her heels. Ziva was pretty sure that Jenny didn't approve of her, which upset Ziva quite a bit. She was good at her job, but Jenny didn't seem to care.
They cantered out across the paddocks, the rhythemic beating of the horses hooves soothing Ziva somewhat, until she heard Jenny yell something to her.
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 14, 2007 13:38:45 GMT -5
Jenny remained unfussed by the commotion of cattle and horses, glancing across at Ziva's horse, noting something of a limp developing in the right foreleg. "Your horse seems to be wounded." She called across, noting the horse's determination to continue, forcing her own to slow as she rode a little closer to Ziva, glancing again at the horses leg, reaching across to gently still the horse and pull her own to a halt, glancing at Ziva again.
"You're going to need to see to the right foreleg." She warned softly.
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 19:11:20 GMT -5
Ziva sighed, mentally beating herself for missing the tell-tale short stepping. She dismounted, and moved to lift up Bailey's leg, resting it on her knee. Using her thumb, she brushed away some of the dust, releaving a stone caught under his frog.
Ziva pulled a hoof-pick from her pocket, diging out the stone and making sure there was no bruising. There wasn't, luckely, and Ziva mounted up once again, mumbling a "thanks" to Jenny.
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 14, 2007 19:16:05 GMT -5
Jenny smiled slightly. "Your welcome." She'd noticed that Ziva was a little more edgy around her than others. She paused for a while as the two horses settled into pace beside each other, glancing at Ziva in silence a few times before speaking up again.
"Miss David, listen..." She paused, pulling herself taller. "I know I've been kinda... cranky with you. I'm sorry."
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 19:25:12 GMT -5
Ziva nodded, taking the reins in one hand, resting the other on her thigh. "It's okay, I guess. I just don't understand why? I'm as good as all the other ranchers here."
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 14, 2007 19:27:42 GMT -5
"If anything you're better than most." Jenny replied simply, glancing again at Ziva, finding herself unable to keep eye-contact. "That's mostly why..." She added, speaking steadily but haltingly. "I guess I'm just scared they'll see you doing so well and find they don't need me any more." Her voice cracked a little and she looked away.
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 19:42:49 GMT -5
Ziva was shocked, and Bailey snorted at the sudden change in his rider. Ziva composed herself, turing to face Jenny. "They wouldn't do that. You're the only one here who always knows what is going on."
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 14, 2007 19:47:53 GMT -5
"I'm getting to old Ziva." Jenny replied softly, looking over at the woman. "They'd probably send you to me for training then fire me once I got done."
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 19:58:49 GMT -5
Ziva scoffed when Jenny mentioned age. "Jenny, I knew a rancher who was 56 and still going! He refused to stop working, and the farm owners cried when he finally had to stop. And even then, he stayed on to amke sure everything ran smoothly."
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 14, 2007 20:00:43 GMT -5
"He wasn't a woman." Jenny replied, a little sharply, spurring her horse onward for a while, refusing to stop. Eventually the horse itself stopped dead, refusing to budge. It seemed the horse knew she wanted to know Ziva better, even if the woman did drive her nuts.
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 14, 2007 20:17:20 GMT -5
Ziva couldn't help but smirk at the horse's anticts. "Woman can to anything men can do, that shouldn't stop you."
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Post by Jenny Sheppard on Dec 15, 2007 19:36:03 GMT -5
"Yeah well." Jenny sighed. "Maybe you have a point... they won't see it like that."
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Post by Ziva David on Dec 15, 2007 19:45:34 GMT -5
"Well," Feeling Bailey tense under her, Ziva spotted the herd of cattle out the corner of her eye. "We'll just have to prove otherwise." Reins in one hand, she and Bailey sped off. They spun around the back of the herd, yelling and waving her free arm.
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