Remedy

10

"Orion and Fletcher." Margaret said while thrusting two sets of reins in Dot's hands. She was still half asleep.

Admittedly after the outing she had yesterday with James, and generally all the seeing to injured men. Dot crashed out on her small bed last night and it took Alice ages to wake her up again.

Rubbing her eyes Dot looked at the two horses in front of her. One was a beautiful mixture of greys and whites. It's main colouring was white but there was a light dusting of grey, over top of the grey were spots of white. The other stood a little shorter than that one. It's build was much more stockier too, although that wasn't saying the grey one wasn't muscular in the slightest. The shorter of the two was tanned, around its ankles were black markings, Dot liked the fact that it looked like it was wearing little black socks.

"Wait a minute," shaking her head Dot finally registered what was happening. "Why are you giving them to me?"

"These two are going to be our new ambulance horses." Margaret said in a matter of fact tone. "You seemed more than content to spend time with Captain Nicholls's horse," her tone was a hard one. Obviously Margaret put more emphasis in saying his name than the mention of Joey. After all Dot had gone and done the one thing which the older nurse had said to them all not to do.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Dot asked, not really sure what it was Margaret was intending for her to do right now. She just put these two into her apparent care, without prompting or hinting at her to do something, or go somewhere; obviously the stables, but then...? Dot didn't know how to look after a horse, let alone a pair! Sure the care would be the same, but she was clueless.

"Take them to Sergeant Perkins, he'll be in the stables most likely."

"What if he's not?"

"Then I suppose you can learn to take care of them, because I suppose it would be helpful to have someone in our team who knows horses."

"Ah, well-"

"Good bye, Nurse Blake." Margaret said while turning and walking off with an air of smugness surrounding her.

"Where are the ambulance carts?!" Dot exclaimed after her, as for an answer Margaret turned and pointed in the direction of the stable. Dot looked over her shoulder at the stable and then back at Orion and Fletcher.

She didn't even know which one was which. Pulling a face she eyed them up, both looked in good shape but they needed a good wash. Where they had just appeared from was a mystery, but wherever they were from it certainly had a lot of mud.

"Come on then guys, let's go find Perkins." Dot rolled her eyes and turned and trudged towards the stables.

In all honesty the nurses were finding it hard to find things to do. It was the fourth day of the training, so as such everyone had quickly improved and there weren't any injuries. The injured were all fine and stable enough to join in with the military manoeuvres again.

Before the two popped up Dot was happily sitting on the steps of the huge manor reading a book she had found. Through her exploring she'd discovered the library. On her steadfast and determined walk Dot passed Alice who was conversing with Tommy and Percy, they were obviously slacking but both gripped tightly onto their rifles.

"Who are these two?" A stocky man questioned in a blunt tone. Dot was a little taken back and even more so when he plucked the reins from her hands.

"Orion and Fletcher, they're our new ambulance steeds." Dot answered as calmly and unaffected by his disposition as possible.

"Right," Perkins said while leading them to the side of the stable and tying the reins up. "Do you know anything about horses?"

"No, but I have a feeling I'm about to have a crash course."

"Enough of the sarcasm, Miss." Perkins smiled a cynical smile and took to inspecting the horses. "Why are you hanging around here for?"

"I have nothing else to do."

"Is that so?"

"Well, yes."

"Don't really see the point of you lot being here really."

"Considering how many of your fellow men hurt themselves in one day I think it'd be safe to say you would be lost without us." Dot smiled and crossed her arms, Perkins gave her a look but didn't answer her words.

"I'll just leave you to it." She stepped back and turned on her heels quickly. Diverting into the stables she walked along and stopped in front of a pen with a familiar fiery brown horse within it. "I don't like him," Dot said to Joey, "Like he's a tad abrupt isn't he?" She was talking about Perkins of course. Joey lowered his head over the bar and looked at her. "You don't like him either, huh? Glad the feeling is mutual." Side stepping she looked at the black horse which she did not know the name of. "What about you?" The black horse regarded her coolly. "Hm?" Dot looked at him, "No opinion?"

"You're talking to a horse, Miss, they can't understand you." Perkins voice chimed from the doorway.

Dot didn't even turn to look at him, yet smiled and stepped back in front of Joey's pen. "Yes they can...I think."

----

Hitching Orion and Fletcher up to an ambulance cart was a rather horrific thing. First up was Fletcher, the smaller one of the two with the black socks. He didn't take kindly to having a cart attached behind him. Perkins was ever persistent in trying to get Fletcher to accept his new job. Fletcher on the other hand wasn't having any of it.

While the struggle between man and horse was happening Dot stood near the calmer Orion. She was peering over his shoulders and pulled a face. "Sir, perhaps you should let him calm down for a moment?" Dot piped up and ran a hand through Orion's white mane. Perkins regarded her quickly before taking to trying to calm Fletcher down again.

This was stage one of the horses new jobs. So far only one of them wasn't up for it. How Fletcher would react once there were people on board the cart was another question completely.

The whining and complaining noises which were coming from the animal disturbed Dot highly. A part of him sounded so in pain, and then confused. Fletcher's distress was passing to Orion who started to pace backwards and forwards slightly from his tied up position.

Eventually energy ran low and Fletcher let out a heavy sigh. Perkins led him by the reins over to her and then took Orion away. "I'm sorry boy," Dot said while putting her hands hesitantly on Fletcher's head. "Here," reaching into her jacket pocket she pulled out an apple. Taking a small pocket knife out from her apron pocket she took to slicing the apple up. Putting a slice in between her teeth she took to eating it while holding a piece out for him.

"Well done though, Fletcher." Dot smiled and gave him another slice. She was proud of her new ambulance companion.

Peering over Fletcher's shoulder Dot watched as Orion took more to the cart being attached to him than the horse in front of her. Holding out another slice she smiled as he happily ate it. Soon Orion joined Fletcher's side.

"Listen carefully, this one probably has more chance of not bucking everyone out of the cart. This one is scatty and you'll have a lot of trouble with him. But regardless we need decent horses do we not?" Perkins said quickly while patting Orion on the shoulder and then Fletcher.

"Thank you." Dot said although she didn't really know what else to say. Thanking him seemed like the more obvious thing. After all Perkins had quickly cleaned the two of them up and attached the ambulance carts to them. Which was more than what she had done for them. Although Dot liked to think the apple won out for them liking her.

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(Edited: 29/August/2019)