Mustang Dreams (COMPLETED)

Chapter Nineteen

      Misty couldn't remember a time that she had ever smiled so big in her life. Actually, there was a time...several times, actually. Like every time Clay would grin at her, or lean in to drop a kiss on her lips, really anytime that she was around Clay she found herself smiling. But second to being with Clay, there was nothing that made her smile more than working with Casper. Or, in this case, seeing someone else work with Casper. 

        "He's really come a long way, Misty." Jace said to Misty when he turned around from lunging the gray grulla in the round pen. 

         It had been about a week since Misty and Jace had talked things out, becoming close friends again. Obviously, nothing is resolved overnight, but to say the least, they were getting there, just taking it one day at a time. Misty's ribs were feeling better these past few days than they had felt for quite a while. Every day for the past week or so, Jace had taken the time to work with Casper for Misty because Clay had been overworking himself as usual. He seemed to be really worried about Misty doing hard labor, although she was finally feeling up to working again, but still Clay had been working twice as hard to cover, not only his chores, but Misty's as well.

        Recently, Misty had hardly seen Clay, and when she had, he seemed sort of distant, and it was beginning to worry her. They went on a date last week, and it was a great time for them, and they had really grown closer during that date, or at least Misty had thought so, but with how Clay was acting, she was worried he didn't feel the same way. Thinking back, since Misty and Clay had made it official, almost a month ago, Clay hadn't kissed Misty once. Sure, he had kissed Misty's cheek, or forehead, but they haven't shared a lip kiss since they began dating officially. If she was being honest, Misty kind of liked that; it was nice to just enjoy being with him and actually talking, rather than just kissing him, but in a way, she missed it. 

       Taking a deep breath, Misty focused back on the work being done below where she sat on the top rail of the round pen. "He is doin' really well. I never thought he would be this receptive to being worked. I'm extremely surprised he took to you so easy since you're still new to him." Misty watched as Jace slowed Casper to a walk before asking him to turn in before Jace sent him out again, changing directions. "Last week, Clay was able to get a saddle on him. Not cinched up, but Casper still allowed it, and a pad, on his back, so we are makin' progress, that's for sure." Misty smiled as she watched her horse trotting around the round pen. "It's takin' him a while; usually we can get the horses at least green broke in a week or two, but stubborn Casp here is takin' a little more time. But then again, he is a bit older than the other horses that we get in, so it only makes sense that he's requiring more time to be worked with." 

        Jace let the lunge line down by his side, waiting until Casper slowed and turned into him before walking over to Misty with a smile on his face. "You want to run him around some?" He asked, handing the line up to Misty. 

        "Is that even a question?!" Misty said excitedly, climbing down from the rail, grabbing the lunge line from Jace. 

        Walking out to the center of the round pen, Misty clucked to Casper, sending him out against the rail in the same direction that Jace had him running. "He's doin' so good!" Misty said, excitedly. Clay was busy out on the range, but he would be coming in soon, so Misty knew her time with Casper was limited. Earlier, Clay had deliberately asked Misty to hold off working with Casper until he got there, since he was being a protective boyfriend, not trusting anyone else to "look out for" Misty. Knowing that Clay trusted Jace, she wasn't too worried about working with Casper.

        "Let's try him the other way. That's his sour side, so he needs to work on it." Jace said from Misty's spot on top of the round pen fence.