The Bandit Mills

Free

It's been a year and we've successfully broke and trained Hansel, Gretal, and Alex. Rumple we decided that we'd work him last that way we had more time.
"What do you guys want for lunch today?" Marian asked before we walked out the door.
"Surprise us love." Robin said kissing her cheek.
We got everything ready and just sat on the fence watching him prance around.
"So how we gonna do this?" I asked. I don't know why but staying here made me a lot less worried weather or not I was committed to a spot. Though it hurt me that I couldn't do the same at Emma's.
"I say we throw the saddle and bridle on then see where it goes from there." I nodded and jumped down grabbing the reins and bridle off the fence while he grabbed the saddle.
I walked up to the animal slowly just glaring. When he noticed me he looked me up and down and just stood there. When I reached him I lifted the bit to his mouth for him to smell but he put it in his mouth without hesitation. I kept glaring until Robin got over to me.
"Wow without fighting you. That's a first with him." He chuckled.
"Have you tried before?" I asked as he put the saddle on with caution.
"Yes last year. He is four." I nodded and placed the reins over his neck.
"I'll go first." I said getting ready to be thrown off. I let my hand glide down his neck feeling the fur be neath. When I got to the saddle I took my gloves from my pocket and pulled them on letting Robin place the twine around my wrists to keep them from coming off.
"Now remember he throws his head back." I nodded and mounted with out problem. I stiffened to see if he would do anything. But he didn't.
I kicked with my left foot and watched as we started walking around the pen.
"What the hell?" I mumbled.
"How the hell are you doing that?" Robin yelled from the fence. I looked to see Marian and Roland coming out of the house to watch.
I decided to see what else he could do. I got him up to a trot. He acted as if he always did this. I was even more confused when I he held his head like a champion.
The rest of the day I worked with him. Robin tried to ride him but got thrown.
"He doesn't like you." I joked as I took the saddle off of him. I took the bridle and replaced it with a halter. I took out the whip from my bag but it wasn't my whip. It was Emma's. I started at it.
"Everything alright?" I looked up to see Roland. I smiled.
"Yes everything's okay." He looked at the whip and saw the swan.
"I like that bird. It's a swan!" I chuckled as I walked back into the corel.
I grabbed the train rope and tied it to the rounding chain that was attached to the pole in the middle. I let the end of the whip fall to the ground before I lifted it and whipped it in the air.
The crack that came brought back memories. But I kept focus on the horse's running.
He started to act up so I whipped his butt to get him in line.
"Look at that ass!" I glanced to the group of men that started to form.
I smirked and made Rumple run harder.
Just make a show I walked under the rope when it came back around and ran and jumped onto the full speeding animal. I grabbed a fist full of his main with on hand and pulled my leg over the other side. I cracked the whip behind me. We passed the men who looked dumb founded.
I pulled him to a stop. Panting I climbed off feeling what his bare back did to my pelvis.
"Robin! Can I get a night with the help?" Everyone laughed. I glared at them before I took the horse to the fence.
I took the whip and swiped it across the bottom of the fence hitting the men in the shins.
"Shut the hell up." I growled opening the gate.
"Feisty." Someone mumbled.
"Men! This is Belle French. She's the one that trained the others!" Robin yelled. I glared as all the men dispersed to the out side tables as Marian set food on it for them.
Robin walked over to me and handed me a sack of coins.
"What this?" I asked.
"Your pay. Along with Rumple. I'm sure you two will get along great." He winked before joining them.

The next mourning I woke up early and packed my things along with my new pairs of clothes. I got a new pair of boots a month or two ago.
I grabbed the letter and placed it in my saddle bag. I had left my bridle and saddle in the barn last night.
I walked into the living room carful not to step on the squeaky boards.
As I was about to leave one of the lamps lit up.
"Leaving so soon Belle?" I looked to see Marian sitting in her chair wearing her night gown.
"Yes I must be going my work is done." She stood and walked to me.
"I know who you are. You're The Queen." She whispered my name.
"How would you know?" I questioned shutting the door.
"As soon as you got here she disappeared. Then when I was washing your clothes one day I found a letter to a savior of sort. I didn't read it not my place but it was signed with The Queen at the end." She winked smiling shyly.
"Well then you understand why I must leave." She nodded and handed me breakfast from yesterday. Two muffins.

I was walking down the road when I realized Rumple was taller than Caliber. I smirked as I kicked him into a run. I smiled as the bandana went around my mouth and nose like old times.
I let myself have the enjoyment of momentarily freedom. For next week I would not be free in the way I am now.