The Time Giver

May 20th: Learning

The gentle scuff of the curry against Turner's sleek coat kept time with her teeth grinding on her hay. Zach smiled as he ran the comb over her rump before reaching for the finishing brush. As he started back up at her neck, the filly turned her graceful head to look at him, her large eyes gazing at him while he rubbed her nose. With a snort, she returned to her hay.

"Well, that's it," he mused as he stepped back to survey his work. Turner was well groomed, and her hooves had been picked. She'd pulled a little when he went for her back hoof, but when he scolded her, she'd stood quietly. In addition, she hadn't moved throughout her grooming. All in all, it was progress.

He lead Turner back into her stall, sliding her halter over her ears. She dug into her grain, ignoring the hay he tossed into her stall, up to her eyes in the bucket. With a chuckle, Zach closed and locked the door before walking down the aisle in search of Kelly.

As he was passing the tack room, she poked her head out. "Hey," she said, "Come here and help me with this." She ducked her head back inside.

The smell of leather was dominant is the small, homey room, where saddles were stacked on racks that lined the walls. One row of brackets held saddle pads, and a row of hooks held shiny bridles. Where there wasn't a piece of tack, photos were hung on the wall. Some were framed, others on pieces of cork board, and some were simple kodak photos, tacked on the wall with a small nail. Men and women he'd never met before smiled at him from the gloss, hugging their horses or clutching trophies.

Kelly was standing over one side, opening a large box with landmark stickers plastered all over the sides. She rustled around, then pulled out a helmet, tossing it to Zach. "See if that fits."

He eyed it warily, turning it over in his hands. "Why do I need this?"

Kelly laughed. "You're going to get a riding lesson. Now, try it on."

It hadn't even been two weeks since he'd arrived, yet he'd learned not to question her plans. Zach slid on the hat, surprised when it fit like a glove. "I think it fits good." He lengthened the chin strap, snapping it on. He noticed that the inside of the trunk lid was, like the walls, covered with pictures. However, many of them were of a young girl, aging through the polaroids beside various horses and other people. Samantha...

Kelly turned around to check on him, but stopped. She stared at him for a long moment, an unreadable look in her eyes, before blinking away the thought. "Great," she squeaked, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat, then handed Zach a bridle. "We'll grab Popcorn's saddle, and I'll show you how to tack up before we take you to the arena."

Zach eyed one of the many small, simple saddles hanging on the wall. "Am I riding one of those?"

Kelly followed his gaze and busted out laughing. "Those are English saddles, Zach, and no. I only own one of those, and it doesn't fit Popcorn anymore. No, you're going to ride in a western saddle." Kelly passed him a large saddle pad, then heaved one of the larger, bulkier saddles from the box.

Zach offered his arms. "That looks heavy."

"I've got it," Kelly reassured him, adjusting her hold. "And it's not as heavy as some. This is a lightweight. I don't believe in all the bling for a small ride." She stumbled out into the aisle, then headed down the hall, Zach following behind. "Popcorn, I have a student for you!" She called.

A smaller, pudgy head peeked over the stall door at the very end. A white star stood out on the copper face, placed almost exactly in the center. Zach loved Popcorn. The pony was a larger one, more like a small horse, and his whole body was the color of a fresh penny, while his mane and tail were a clean cream color. His eyes, like Turner's, were large, but one of them was a pale blue. He had a quiet disposition, and always nuzzled his hand for treats as he passed by.