A One Time Kinda Thing

[Danni }} thoroughbreds]

Hayden sat deep in her jockey's saddle and took a few

deep breaths. Daddy says I should be teachin' you how to

listen under saddle She whispered softly to the grunting

mare. But you wanna run. And damn it I'm gonna let you

She shoved her heels deep into the thoroughbreds flanks and

she burst foward in amazing speed. Hayden raised high on her

back and tuned her onto the dirt trail. Amazing that this mare

even had this much speed at her age, after being partially retired.

C'mon Lolly, c'mon girl. Hayden urged her foward,

pumping her arms faster, harder, and loosening her grip on the

reins. The wind grabbed her hair and sent it flying behind her,

whipping, turning, and smacking her cheeks. She lowered herself

closer to Lolly's neck, feeling her mane too push into her pores.

It was like she was riding the stallion that sired Lolly...what was

his name ? In the Dust. And that's exactly what she was doing,

leaving her past in the dust and flying hard into the future. She

closed her eyes tightly for a few moments, opened them once

more and pushed herself off the horses neck to peer foward.

All clear around the bend. She could feel Lolly's muscles

loosening beneath her, cool sweat beginning to line her saddle,

but she was not done, and neither was the mare. The just flew...

faster... faster... It was like they were in a different world. This

was the last ride they would have together, she would breed

Lolly to Murphy in a couple of weeks. One more time girl, what

do you say ? Give it all you got ? She pushed her around the

last bend. Raised high on her back and released the reins with

one hand to wave above her head like she was winning a race. It

was like she was a child again, moving around the arena on

some low scale pony, and she won the blue. She closed her eyes

once more for less then a second. That's when it happened.

Lolly ! Woah ! She pulled back sharply and exhaled

forcefully. Ahead a log lay in the trail, tall and thick. Lolly was a

flat racer, didn't even start her jumping training yet...and there

was no way she could clear it at this speed. No way she could

slow down before they hit it. Woah, girl. Easy. Hayden sat

far back, but there was no where for them to turn. The instant

Lolly came within feet of the object she slid to a stop. Hayden

grasped her mane and sat her seat. The mare shreeked in horror

and rose to the air, hooves lashing wildly. Your okay. It

was the last words she had said before the mare spiraled

backwards, and landed with a thump.

The question always was, if a tree falls, and nobody's there to

hear it, does it make a sound ? What if there was a horse fall,

and nobody was there to hear it ? It was the last thought to

cross Haydens mind before everything went black. The question,

feeling her leg burst out in pain, and Lolly cry out desperatly.

It was too late now... everything was black.

[Beau]

Unusually, Beau had taken time off to have a pleasure ride with his Warmblood mare. The horse had already adjusted to Beau’s weight- after being ridden day after day over the years; the horse wasn’t accustomed to anything lighter. And today, the stable owner managed to get a western saddle upon the horse. Usually ridden with a light training saddle, or an English saddle and bridle, the horse was a tad sketchy on their run today. With the thick leather saddle on, Beau sat comfortably, his usual fedora hat around the horn. His hair was styled up today, and the man didn’t have a need to wear it.

Holding the connected reins with a single hand, Beau raised his free hand to the small piece of rope around the horn. He took an end, gently slapping it to the horse’s rump. With a snort, the Warmblood lurched forwards with incredible speed, her shoed feet digging deep into the turf. Beau reined the horse to a few meters from the tree-line. He wouldn’t risk the horse, at breakneck speed to haphazardly trip over a log, with the sharp turns and jagged edges of the forest. Besides, the mare was sketchy about the trees. Whatever she couldn’t see past was immediately listed under Turner’s dislikes.

A sudden noise ahead made Beau start. Feeling the weight shift, Turner slowed her pace down to a collected canter, moving farther away from the forest. Perhaps it was the woodland animals with a cry that resembled a wounded person. Or maybe it was another horse. Beau was too sure that there weren’t any wild ones around- why would there be any in the state of New York? There were reserves for wild horses in Germany, but they had only a dwindling supply of mustangs. His eyes soon lay to rest upon a horse struggling to get back onto its feet. The horse was tacked, and too soon had he noticed the limp woman on the ground. Slowing the Warmblood immediately, Beau slid from the saddle and slowly approached the woman.

[Danni }} thoroughbreds]

Hayden had regained conciousness, though she wish she didnt when she remembered the fall and felt the ongoing pain in her leg, which had moved to her hip and now on her ribs. How long had she been here ? She continued to hear Lolly, grunting, and pawing at the ground, shifting her weight and trying to stand. The mare gathered her legs beneath her then rolled to the right, falling back onto Hayden with great force. Hayden bit her lip viscously, she wanted to call out but it would be a pointless struggle anyway.

She was not sure if this was true, or if she were hearing things. The pound of another horses hooves ? Her racetrack background caused her to cover her head and crouch, she had been run over one too many times in the past on the track. It was then she saw the man hovering above her. Gorgeous. She managed to reach up and slick back her hair, which had falled all over her face. No use. As the hair slicked back she bent foward and blood poured from her lip and all down her shirt. Clutz. Of course, this was no time to flirt anyway. I'm new here. I didnt... Out of breath, she stopped and caught up. didnt know about the fallen lo....lo More blood. Log. She shifted her weight and managed to sit up, feeling a bit embarrassed and still a little faint. Im sorry. She appologized as she struggled to keep straight but her body fell limb into his. Just help me help her. Lolly means too much to me.

[Beau]

Beau kneeled down, not exactly caring if his designer jeans got in a bit of dirt or mud at the moment. He grinned when the girl’s eyes opened, and she adjusted her hair out of her face. When it was unsuccessful, he reached up to stroke it from her face. Maybe she was okay. He smiled softly, but the smile immediately disappeared when the blood issued from her mouth. “Scheiße. Sie sind Blutungen im Inneren!” he cursed beneath his breath, his brows furrowing together. He shook his head, fighting the urge to wrinkle his nose. He greatly disliked blood. He just hoped it wouldn’t be all over him later.

He remained slightly stiff as the girl attempted to sit up straight. He held her once her limp body fell into his, rather speechless. He needed to act quick- it looked like she was bleeding internally. “Listen,” His tone was slightly stern, “do not apologize.” Shaking his head, he wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist to pull her up gently. It was an easy feat for Beau; he was remarkably strong. “Call your horse, I will ride with you back to rode, and I will take you to hospital.” He nodded, climbing to his feet easily. Whistling lowly, his own Warmblood trotted to his side.

---

“Scheiße. Sie sind Blutungen im Inneren!” - "Shit. She is bleeding inside!"

[Danni }} thoroughbreds]

Hayden managed to her feet and steadied herself before staring back at the man. No need, it was coming from my lip she coughed a little and wobbled a bit.I think my legs hurt, but that can wait. I have to get her up It was that sudden burst of energy, that adrenaline pump, that kept her walking on that leg that must have been completely shatterred at the bottom. She leaned over and stroked Lolly's neck, then moved around her to check her legs. Hayden scooped up a large stick to help her manage around as she felt up and down the thoroughbreds legs.

No heat... she murmurred. Relizing the saddle was still there, she unhooked the girth and the saddle fell in the mud. The fact that it was custom made and imported from Italy wasn't on her mind at the moment. She felt along the mare's ribs and down to her flank and rump. She began pushing slightly on her back. She's a little beat up...not that bad though. She tapped the mare on the rump a few times. Lolly grunted and flipped her head. Im thinking she couldnt get up only because I was under her. Poor baby... She frowned slightly when her leg finally gave in and she fell again. It must have looked funny because as she smacked the ground, Lolly finally gathered to her feet.

Hayden had almost forgot the man was still standing there. I'm sorry... I didnt introduce myself, my name's Hayden... this is Lolly. She burrowed her face in her hands a second and swiped away the dirt. She refocused on the horse who was buckling slowly. I have to get her to a vet...but I dont have her at a stable right now. Just an old pasture I bought to convert into an arena...