The Bridle Path

Chapter 5

My phone goes off. It's Saturday! Time to get up. I jump up and look in my horseshoe mirror. My egg was almost gone, and my bruise was bright purple. I sighed and ran to the bathroom. I grabbed my fruit face wash. I went to my drawer and grabbed my deodorant. I walked out of the bathroom, then went to my closet and grabbed a pair of wranglers and a pink tank top with camo trim. I tiptoed downstairs, knowing that Dad was asleep, and crept to the kitchen. I opened the cupboard and reached for my oatmeal, and thought about making a mash for the horses. I grabbed the kettle and filled it with water. I grabbed a big pot, and poured the oatmeal in. Then I cut up some apple, banana, carrot, crushed some peppermints, and got 1/2 cup of honey and molasses. I quickly ran to the barn and grabbed 2 cups of grain and barley and ran back in. I took the kettle off the burner and poured the hot water in the pot. After letting the oatmeal soak the water, I poured in the grain, barley, and molasses-honey mixture in the pot. I stirred the ingredients till mushy, then added banana. I mixed again, mushing it all together, and added the tiny pieces of apple, carrot and peppermints. Then I finished the horses mash. For New York, chilly mornings were a daily thing, so I wanted the horses to be warmed up inside. I walked out and went into the barn. Greeted by neighing and stomping of impatient hooves. I giggled and scooped each horse a big whopping serving of mash. They all sucked down the warm mash when I realized there was another horse in the barn. I walked down and saw a bay dun sitting in the stall. I looked around, confused, but gave her the rest of the mash. She nickered hungrily and chowd down on the delicious meal. All of a sudden, I turn around and look into the Hazel eyes I saw yesterday. Walker stood there, in his white t-shirt and wranglers, with a piece of hay in his mouth. He grinned, " I thought I heard some footsteps by the stalls. How's your head?" He looked concerned, and looked at my head.
"It's better, is this your horse?" I asked still confused why he was here.
" Yeah, your Dad gave me a job here as a stable hand- and hay baler. Yeah, that's India, but I call her little lady." He smiled, petting her nose through the stall. She nickered and put her head on his shoulder. He kissed her muzzle and patted her neck.
I walked down to the tack room, sat down the pot, and got Commanche's Red lead rope. I walked to the 3rd stall and reached in to attach the lead rope to his halter. I un latched the door when his hand grabbed my arm. I looked at him and he glared at me.
"I can do that, Rose. I'm not useless, I know how to handle horses." He said cooly.
"It's not like I think your stupid. I have done this routine for 13 years now. I think I can handle my own horses. Thanks for the help, but I can handle this." I snapped. I unbolted Comanche's stall and lead him to cross ties. I grabbed the red grooming kit and flicked off any dirt, but he wasn't the dirty kind. I grabbed my barrel saddle and tacked him up. I walked out into the arena, and ground tied him, while I closed each and every gate. I set up 3 cones in the barrel pattern. I hopped on when I saw Walker lead his horse into cross ties. I asked Comanche for a trot, and kept checking on Walker. Soon, Lady was all saddled up and he walked her outside. I squeezed my heels and worked on circles for 1/2 then cooled Comanche down. I turned him out with Cinch and turned Willow and Malibu out as well. Then I grabbed Moonshines lead rope and state training him to pick up the right lead bareback. He was so smooth and I loved riding him.
Each horse was different for me. Willow was very hard to sit to, because of her rocking canter and big strides. Malibu was a breeze, but needed to stay collected or she would extend too much for me to handle. Cinch was perfect, he could run extremely fast, and then slow down to just the right speed. Moonlight and Comanche were raised to be Pulling horses, but they could do anything, western or English. That's what I loved about them. I hopped off and. Checked the time on my watch. 1:26 it read in purple numbers. I hopped off and put him out as well. On my way out, Walker rode up to me, hopped off, and uncinched the saddle a little for Lady to breathe. I stared at him, and we both awkwardly stared at the ground.
"I am putting the horses out to graze, then heading to the sale pens to buy some stuff for these guys. Do you, um, wanna come? The horses don't have to be put in until after dark." I rambled. I reached in my pocket and applied a coat of Coco Cola Lip gloss. Then grabbed my blue gum and popped a piece of spearmint into my mouth.
"Sure, I just have to run to my house to grab the trailer and put lady away. Meet back here in 10?" He replied softly. I nodded and dashed towards the house. I grabbed my stash of money from dad, 2,000 dollars to be exact, and my phone from the counter and checked myself out in the mirror. No dirt had collected on my face, no any sweat beaded on my forehead, so I am all set.
I ran back out and found him hopping into a Chevy Black Cummins, diesel running, and I loved it.
"This Is yours?" I stuttered. I stared at him while he smiled and laughed. God his laugh was hot. I smiled too and hopped in, and soon, we were off to his house.