Tattooed Mates

Chapter 3

                  

I didn't wake until the sun was high in the sky, I groaned and got out of bed stretching and waking up my tired muscles, I go into my bathroom looking in the mirror as I pass by it, after I use the facilities I come back and really get a good look, my hair in tangles, my make-up from last night smeared and drool lines going from my mouth to my cheek, I clean myself up and when I'm looking and feeling more like myself I go back out into my room take off the dress and take off the bandage on my side, I look down at what used to be four gaping wounds and see that all there is left is four pink lines that will fade with time.

I sigh and throw my hair up into a messy bun and get dressed in jeans, a tank top and my muck boots, I grab my sunglasses off of my dresser and head downstairs with Alec Eric's twin brother following me to the kitchen to grab two apples, one for me and one for my gorgeous gelding Bronco, as I walk into the kitchen I sniff and smell the scents of the morning, the last hints of breakfast, my mother's scent wafting from outside where she was in the garden working with the earth, and one scent that I absolutely adore with all of my being, my Grandma Ravenwood, after grabbing the apples from the bowel on the counter and race outside to the barn where I know my grandmother will be waiting for me.

I walk into the barn and Immediately see my grandmother brushing down Spartan, her old Warmblood that I take care of when she's not here, she rescued him from a kill buyer, he's a retired jumper from impeccable bloodlines, or so his papers say, I know she heard me come in, but I got Bronco's halter from his stall door and walked out into the pasture, I whistle to call him to the gate, I stop and listen for hoof beats on the grass, after a few seconds I heard them, shortly after I hear them, I see my brown and while Gypsy Vannar gelding pops over the hill, I can't help but grin at him, he slows down as he's coming closer and gradually comes to walk when he's a few feet in front of me,

"Oh Bronco aren't you a beautiful boy?" I say to him petting him on his neck, he wickers and nudges me, I slip his halter on, I don't even bother to clip it up, I walk him to the Barn and into the aisle so I can groom him and saddle him up. My Grandmother watches the both me and Bronco get ready, as I'm picking out his feet she walks up to him and starts to braid his mane as only a Native American elder can.

"He absolutely adores you, granddaughter."

I look up at her and she's looking into his eyes, her salt and pepper hair captured in a single braid that went down to her waist was gleaming in the dim light of the barn and the morning sun, her tiny but strong hands in his mane braiding what I know are protection and guidance charms being woven into the strands from her hands.

"I adore him right back, Nan he's the most gentile horse we have here, besides Spartan of course" as I look at her Warmblood standing there patiently waiting to be saddled. I look back at my grandma, I take in her familiar high cheekbones, her fullish lips, her cinnamon brown eyes that are mostly gentile but can cut you like a blade when angered, her small but lean frame, clothed in jeans, a t-shirt and riding boots, I look back at her face and she is smiling at me so the corners of her eyes wrinkle, "alright missy, let's get these handsome boys tacked up so you can talk to me about what's on plaguing your mind." She looks at Alec as he enters the barn and smiles at both of us, she nods her head as finishes the braids, and walks into the tack room to find her saddle and bridle for Bunny, I finish grooming Bronco as my grandma puts her saddle on and starts to tighten the girth, I go into the tack room to get my Barrel saddle and the matching bridle, I put the saddle on the stand and put the bridle on the saddle horn, then put on the saddle blanket and adjust it so it's over his withers, then take the bridle off the horn and lay it on the stand as I put the saddle on Bronco and start to tighten the girth, once the girth is set and tied I get the bridle and move to Broncos head, I take his halter off and let it drop on the ground, bronco takes the bit and I slip it over his head, I put the reins over his head then go to adjust the bridle so it fits his head.