Unbridled Hearts

4. Mixed Signals pt 1

Willow lifted her pitchfork and emptied it into the waiting wheelbarrow.

Callum told her to do what Ruby does and she'd be all set. She hadn't realized what came after Ruby's first chores.

Lifting the wheelbarrow she pushed it out behind the barn to the dumping pile. It reminded her of being pushed around a wheelchair all the time. Damn, I came here to forget I'm not normal, not be reminded by a pile of crap.

"Willow, you done?!" Ruby called, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yup! Be right there!" She called back.

She finished dumping the manure and jogged over to where Ruby stood propped against a stall door.

"Did she make more work for me already?" Willow asked, pointing to the chestnut mare inside the stall.

Ruby giggled. "No silly, it's time to ride."

"Really? I can finally ride?"

"Well soon, first I gotta show you the ropes, pun definitely intended." Ruby said. "Come on, ya gotta learn to saddle up."

Ruby unlatched the stall door and led the pretty mare out. She hooked her to two ropes extending from the walls.

"Okay, now first the easy part, you'll need to get to know her. Belle, this is Willow, Willow, Belle." She took Willows palm and held it out in front of the horses nose, who sniffed it curiously. Then Ruby took a bridle off the rack and held it out.

Willow nodded and took the leather bridle from Ruby's outstretched hand.
She lifted it towards Belle's face and let her sniff it before slipping it over her silky muzzle and ears.
Belle shook her head up and down once the bridle was in place.

"Aww, she likes you." Ruby exclaimed. "Okay, now for the saddle."

She hefted a saddle off its rack and placed it in Willows arms. She grunted with the weight of it and swayed slightly on her feet.

"You got it?" Ruby asked concerned.

"No- problem." Willow strained. She lifted it over Belle's back and took a deep couple of breaths once it was resting safely over her.

"Alright, now to cinch it." Ruby showed her how to do it and once Willow had it tight enough she got her own horse ready. A bronze colored gelding with a snip of white on his forehead, Ruby called him Blaze.

"Okay, now Belle is real gentle, so no need to pull or kick too hard. She is very good at picking up signals. Sometimes, I think she's better at it than Harley." She chuckled.

Willow snorted in agreement and the two of them led their ready horses to a round pen just outside the barn.
Ruby unlatched the gate and motioned Willow inside.

"First things first, I'll show you how to mount properly." She explained. "You hook the toes of your boot in the stirrups here, and holding onto the saddle horn you wanna pull up and swing your other leg over the saddle. Now you give it a try."

Willow copied Ruby's movements. "Okay, toes...Check, saddle horn...Check, and then pull and... Swing!" Willow lifted herself over Belle's back and landed in the saddle.

"Somehow, I think I did it wrong." She said, looking down the horse's rear.

Willow heard a chuckle behind her and turned to see Harley striding towards them with a smirk. "You got that right." He leaned over the top of the wooden rails and grinned.

"Oh hush up Harley, its her first time on a horse okay?" Ruby glared at him.

"Well actually, I've ridden before. But that was a long time ago. I think I just need a little reminder." Willow interrupted their glaring contest.

She climbed down out of the saddle and as soon as her feet hit the dirt her world started spinning. She clutched onto Belle's neck for support and took a deep breath, calming her beating heart.

"Hey Willow, you okay there?" Ruby called.

I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. She told herself.

"Willow?" She heard feet coming towards her.
I cannot let them find out, they'll send me home.

"Uh- yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired is all. I think it's jet lag." She lifted her head and was faced with piercing dark eyes.

Harley stood over her looking unconvinced.

"Are you on drugs?"

The question took her so much by surprise she opened and then closed her mouth a few times but nothing came out.

"Harley! What the heck is wrong with you? She's just tired!" Ruby cried. She dismounted and came over to shove her brother out of the way. "Come on Willow, how 'bout a break?"

She nodded in agreement and took Ruby's extended arm, who tossed the reigns to Harley and stared daggers at him as they left.

"What a jerk huh?" Ruby said once they were out of earshot.

"Yeah," Willow muttered.

"You know, I bet you just need to get some food in ya. How about a piece of pie?"

"Sounds great." She replied.

Ruby led her inside and to the sunny kitchen. She took out some plates from the cupboard and set them on the island in the middle of the room.

"Here ya go," she said and slid her plate -now filled with apple pie- across the counter to her.
"So... I'm sorry about Harley. He can be..." She paused, thinking.

"Rude? Condescending? Arrogant? Conceited? A jerk?" Willow supplied.

Ruby snickered. "Yeah, all those things. But he is my brother, and he can be sweet, and funny, and thoughtful when the mood strikes him."

Willow snorted, taking a bite of her pie.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but it's true. I think you two could be friends if you tried." She sighed, seeming to give up. "Anyhow, tell me all about what you've been doing since we met."

"Actually, do you think I could escape for a nap before dinner? I'm pretty tired."

Ruby sighed dramatically. "Alright, I'll have someone get you when its done. Have a good rest!" She called to Willows retreating form.

Wow, Harley sure seems rude huh? Well he has a reason to be, keep reading to find out why! This chapter was a bit short I decided to make it a two parter. Happy reading!