Remedy

08

Getting into a stare off with Joey was not exactly how Dot thought she'd end her day. James had to dart off quickly and tell Jamie that he would be absent for a while because he was going to train with Joey.

"You're a very lovely fiery brown," Dot whispered and looked at the reins in her hands. She thought complimenting Joey would make her feel a little better about being so close to him.

Joey made a light sighing sound and shook his head. His black mane whipped about and moved in the light breeze of the late afternoon.

Letting one hand fall from the reins she held up her hand. Joey nudged his nose against it obviously thinking she had food. "Sorry I don't have anything for you." Either way he had a good sniff of her hand, Dot smiled and rubbed his nose.

"You two are the best of friends now?" James questioned, Dot jumped and in turn made Joey jump too. She hadn't even realised he had reappeared, the last she saw of him he was in a seemingly deep conversation with Jamie.

"We're getting there." Dot answered and held out the reins. "Here you go, have fun and good luck." James raised an eyebrow at her words yet took a step forward and took the reins from her grasp.

"Would you like to accompany me?" James asked, sounding a little hesitant. He even took to busying himself with refastening buckles to distract himself it seemed.

"Oh, that's a whole different bushel of apples is it not? It's one thing to get me to stand here with Joey but it's another thing completely to possibly get on him."

"You could have just said no, Dorothy."

"All right, no."

"But what if I happen to have an accident?" James smiled.

Dot flinched and crossed her arms. Pointing a finger at him she wagged it slowly. "I can see what you are doing."

"Doing? I'm not doing anything."

"Stop it!"

"What? I'm honestly not doing anything. I'm merely saying that if I happened to have an accident and I wasn't able to get back it'd be good to have someone trained in first aid with me." James reasoned and looked quickly up at Joey and then back at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" James asked, Dot was standing still cross armed with a slightly sulky look on her face.

Letting out a quiet sigh she shut her eyes. Slowly opening them again she looked up at him. "James, I do not know much about you, but one thing I can instantly pick up is that you are brilliant with Joey. There is no way you'd have an accident." Dot watched as he made sure everything was buckled up properly, again, before climbing up into the saddle. "I give you points for reverse psychology though. Or guilt tripping, whichever it was."

"I'd like to say it was a mixture of both." James said from his sitting position atop Joey. James nudged Joey's side lightly and he stepped forward a few paces. "Hope you enjoy the rest of your day." James smiled and ran a hand through Joey's mane, Joey looked at Dot and made yet another quiet sighing sound.

"Oh, go on then," Dot ran a hand down her face. A happy smile appeared on James's face and Joey nickered quietly before taking to grazing on the grass. "I don't think I can take anymore of your sarcastic yet well said guilt tripping. As for Joey's sake, I cannot keep getting eyed up by him." Reaching behind herself and tying her hair loosely up she rolled her eyes. "You two make a brilliant team."

James didn't answer her words but held out a hand for her to take. "Trust me," he said in a reassuring tone. Dot reached out and slowly put her hand in his, no sooner had she done so was her hand then enveloped in a tight grip.