Post by *Ripley* on Jul 3, 2012 8:59:33 GMT -5
Witch Creek Stable Presents:
Mastermind and Ripley Marsh
Ripley pulled the black trailer up to the barn that she was sharing with another horse trainer at Green Horse Fields racing circuit. She only needed three stalls these days due to her small number of horses on the race string. Hourglass wouldn't be needed around GHF for a while. When the time came and all of her horses needed to be present then Ripley would certainly purchase another stall for use.
Ripley glanced in the side mirror on the truck to look at the silver Exiss horse trailer that would easily fit five horses, but now was only carrying El Sol del Mar's first colt Mastermind. Today would be the first day she would be back at Green Horse Fields as a trainer in two and a half years. Today the people around the track would get a glimpse of Sunny's lean son and take note that he could become a force to be reckoned with on the track when he got racing. She pulled the brim of her black hat down over her forehead, checking out the blue W for Witch Creek Stables that stood out on the hat.
She rubbed some color into her pale cheeks and stepped out into the early spring wind. A gruff neigh came out of the trailer along with the sounds of pounding hooves. Two grooms who were nearby stopped talking to watch the small woman skirt along the trailer to the back door. Their eyes widened when they realized who it was. They turned to each other in excitement. Ripley Marsh was back! That meant her horses were back! They ran off to their respective barns without a word. Ripley never even noticed the interaction. Her eyes were full of Mastermind.
The 16 hand colt looked absolutely impressive as he stepped down from the trailer. His body gleamed like an expensive ruby, his dark chocolate eyes were bright as they swept over the new surroundings. His muscles twitched strongly beneath a sensitive hide. Ripley had braided Mastermind's mane and forelock up into little balls. The white star gleamed brilliantly beneath the sun. His legs were wrapped in blue shipping boots. Ripley grinned at the sight. He looked spectacular, a specimen that would have made his dam and sire proud.
Ripley marched into the trailer as he let loose another call and untied him. He jumped off like a pro and allowed Ripley to lead him into one of the empty stalls. A groom she had known previously in her career had filled the stall up with shavings. The colt would be at Green Horse Fields for the next two days awaiting the race that would tell Ripley how much more work she had to do with the Speed Demon horse. Ripley knew she could have the horse running solidly off this one blow out over the Green Horse Fields dirt track.
Ripley wasn't usually prone to doing blow outs with her horses, but really she'd never had a sprinter to train. Mastermind was the first. If she did a five furlong blow out with him, well that was basically his race. She would go with that theory for the spider-legged chestnut colt. Ripley pulled out a tack trunk and set it down beside the stall. She had placed all of Mastermind and Indian Darling's items inside the tack trunk.
The little bay had run beyond expectations in her race at the Wire this morning and currently awaiting Ripley at that race track. Darla would be brought here to keep Mastermind happy. Both of them would race next week at Green Horse Fields. Ripley smiled, glad to be back where she belonged.
The auburn-haired woman went into the stall with a grooming bucket and set to work on the already spotless colt. He was very patient today, but Ripley was betting that he was more distracted by the new surroundings than patient. Whatever the case, the ball of energy was contained enough for Ripley to do her job. Once or twice her turned around with ears flat to his head as she neared his sensitive spots. Once he attempted a solid bite, but Ripley caught it and smacked him back with a firm slap on the nose. El Sol del Mar's foal was a trouble maker.
She was smiling contentedly and singing to the shifty horse when he let out a raucous neigh. Ripley stood up straight from doing up the girth of the chestnut colt. She saw the black hair and blue eyes of her pet stalker Clint Westerly standing at the stall door. Her eyes darkened with temper and attitude, his lightened up with amusement and delight.
"What the heck are you doing here!" Ripley snarled as she fitted the now dancing colt with the bit and bridle. "Don't you have a job to do at the farm!?" She went silent as Mastermind suddenly started shaking his head violently, tail swinging from side to side. He'd had enough of being patient for the day. Ripley moved with a brilliant quickness and efficiency to get the colt done up for the five furlong workout. The man just stood at the door watching the show. God he was infuriating.
"I saw that race of your filly's. She did great for a first time in a solid field. You must be proud." Ripley grimaced at herself. Damn her for finding his voice oddly sexy. Ripley rolled her eyes and shoved the stall open, launching out of the way when Mastermind bolted hard out the empty space. Ripley only barely managed to hang on. Then Clint's hands were there and he was taking hold of the fighting colt. Ripley was too shocked to move.
The man was shhing at the horse and patting his neck. Anything to calm the warrior spirit. Ripley watched in amazement as he had the colt circling in looping circles. From this angle, Ripley could really appreciated the Witch Creek and Akita Rose Stables foal. He was amazingly built even with the long legs. Clint's eyes were fired up now as he handed the brooding chestnut colt back to Ripley.
"Well thanks... I guess. Where'd you learn that?" Ripley said softly as she pulled on her half chaps and helmet. Keeping her tone light in case the colt fired up again. Clint leaned arrogantly against the stall door. "If you'd asked what my real job was when we first met, we wouldn't be having this conversation now Ripley Marsh." Ripley rolled her eyes.
"Boost me up." Ripley waited for the tom-cat grin to disappear from the man's face before she allowed him to boost her onto the fretful colt. After a moment of walking the colt near the barn, Ripley asked: "Well what's your real job or do I have to wait all day to hear it?"
Clint stood at Mastermind's thick shoulder, a hand braced on his neck as they walked to the dirt track. Clint noticed all of the surprised and excitable looks Ripley received as she paraded by. Ripley was too focused on him to notice. Clint didn't let the attention boost his ego up too much. "I've groomed and exercised thoroughbreds for most of my life. My father owned horses at one point and let me get on a few much to the annoyance of his trainers. However, they let me because I'm good."
Ripley snorted, but held her tongue when she remembered his care around the fired up colt beneath her. Boy Mastermind was feeling great today. Clint went on speaking, "I got so good that soon I was managing my father's stock. His stock did well and then he changed his hobby to construction. His hobby was gone and so was my passionate career. Then I saw your success with Native Flame and El Sol del Mar, no one could miss her career. She was everywhere, newspapers, radios, television. And I wanted to work for you. When I found your place at Kirsten Jade's barn, you were gone."
Ripley raised her brow at this and stopped the colt at the gap in the track. "And?"
Clint Westerly smirked arrogantly. "I've come to pick back up where I've left off with my favorite career. I want to be your barn manager. I've even got a boy who wants to groom. So what do you say Ripley Marsh?"
Ripley suddenly urged the colt forward at a canter. The colt took off excitedly spraying up dirt. Then she spun him back and shot a dangerous look at Clint. He realized that the woman could leave him tongue tied with those looks. "I'm the barn manager. You'd barely cut assistant."
She turned the colt up the track for a jog, waving the man pesky man away. Ripley stroked Mastermind's neck to calm his nervous breathing. Away from the barn and on the track the colt had settled down real nice. He moved like a freight train over the loamy dirt surface, ears pricked. He didn't twitch his head everywhere like he had when he'd first moved in at Witch Creek. He just watched and seemed really keen on the horses running along the rail of the track.
Ripley pushed the colt into a gallop, standing up in the irons. He rocked forward effortlessly beneath Ripley. Gosh she loved the stride that Mastermind had. He would have received that from his sire because as good as Sunny had been her galloping stride had been bordering awful. The colt was really playing with the bit today as though he were contemplating taking off beneath her full speed ahead. Ripley tightened her grip, forcing him to stay in the easy, yet strong gallop around the track for two and a half circuits.
The colt was slicked with sweat by the time Ripley was ready to ask him for his run. Not from hot-blooded sweat, but from hard work. Ripley liked her horses fit to run. She waited until mid backstretch to lean forward on the colt. She let the reins out just a bit and pushed with her arms. The colt leaped forward like a comet then. His red mane smacking Ripley in the face as he picked up his natural cruising speed. Ripley felt the power and brilliance flow through the reins from the colt to her.
He was magnificent to behold today. He bowed his neck as he raced through the first two furlongs. Knees lifting and plunging. Hooves digging holes into the sandy surface as Ripley guided him to the rail. She wasn't aware that a line of people had gathered at the rails on both the backstretch and homestretch to watch. Mastermind was full of himself now without Ripley pulling him back into obedience.
The colt put forth another burst of speed, ears flat to his mane. A red flame burning its way over the track. They rounded the far turn, centrifugal force carrying the horse to the three path. Ripley moved her hands only then to keep him straight as an arrow. The savage little head pulled against her and his long body barreled into the homestretch. A horse was running in front of them and with a flick of the wrist, Ripley cut Mastermind to the inside.
Competition spurred the red horse on and he suddenly raced alongside his new rival, a bay with a blaze. Then suddenly, so suddenly Ripley nearly lost her breath, that rival was gone in a plume of dust. Mastermind put on a devastating burst of speed to cruise under the wire. She looked under her arm to see the bay floundering in his wake, five lengths behind.
As Mastermind roared back around the first turn. There was a collective gasp in the crowd along the rail where Clint stood. He could hardly believe his eyes. Voices chanted "Did you see that? Wasn't that amazing? :56 and change was the time for five furlongs!? That's Ripley Marsh! Whose the colt?"
To the last speaker, Clint responded aloud. "That's Mastermind. El Sol del Mar and Speed Demon." Without another word, the man went to meet the woman and the barely controlled 16 hand chestnut at the gap. Ripley met Clint's eyes with a look of glazed over shock. No words passed between them as the trio went back to the barn.