Green Tea #6-sundown, Pistachio #12- an apology
Author: Bitz
Title: Legend's Chance
Rating: PG-13
Challenge: Green Tea #6. sundown Pistachio #12. an apology
Topping/Extra: N/A
Story: Hearts on Fire Series
Summary: Phoenix has a wild horse filled day
Characters: Phoenix, Chaison, Michaela, Heaven (horse), Fox (horse), Legend (horse)
Word Count: 1856
AN: This is a full chapter from my first novel, Destined Hearts. Right after "Off to a Rough Start"
I was frozen in place watching one of our best stallions running like he was searching for a new life and after blinking back to reality looked up at Chaison. “Do you need me to catch him for you?” Chaison asked me. I scoffed and snapped, “No thank you. I can do this myself.” Chaison shrugged and smiled smugly. I was baffled as to why he was smiling like that and then I slowly understood. He thought I couldn’t do it. I was about to show this ass who knew what!
I walked briskly away to one of the corrals where Heaven’s Gate and another stallion, Swift Legend were grazing along. Mickey had been riding Legend so he already had a bridle on but no saddle and I knew that while Heaven was fast he was only half Thoroughbred and Legend was full so I always felt he was faster. I ran inside and up to Legend, pulled myself up by his mane and immediately urged him into a gallop.
As we galloped towards the corral gate I lowered my face to Legend’s ears and said, “Swift Legend, this is your chance to shine. You help me get Blazing Fox back and you will get a million carrots.” Legend’s ears flipped back in acknowledgement and he snorted running faster. I braced myself as we soared over the corral and landed smoothly
I urged Legend faster, the wind blowing my hair back forcefully. Glancing back I saw that Chaison and his horse were gone and smiled in triumph. He finally decided that he wasn't needed and went home. The day was starting to get better. "Now if we can get that little rascal." I said as I felt Legend's strides eating up the Arizona earth. We galloped for what seemed like forever with no sight of Fox and I began to get discouraged until I saw the horse nibbling on some grass. I shook my head and whistled. Fox's head popped up and I yelled out, "Fox! Come here, Fox!" But instead of coming toward us, just seeing Legend galloping toward him, made him turn and start galloping off as well. I cursed over and over, knowing that it was in Fox's blood to race, but surprisingly, I felt Legend leap to a new level of speed and hung on to his reins tightly, letting him take us where we needed to go. "Way to go, Legend!" I exclaimed. His ears came back at the words and he kept running. I was so proud of my old man.
However...being the old man that he was, Legend was starting to tire and I could feel his speed slowing down. I didn't want to push him but I didn't want to lose one of my stock either. "You can do it, Swift Legend! Keep going." Legend kept running but his breath was quickening and I knew that I needed to slow him down. I lowered the reins, saying softly. "Whoa...whoa, Legend. You can stop now." Legend came down from his exhausting gallop to a trot and then finally stopped. I looked around on top of his back, trying to see if I could see, Blazing Fox anywhere, but he was gone. Hearing Legend's hard breaths, tore at my heart and I pet his neck saying, "Well, we tried, Legend. Guess little Fox was too much for one day huh?"
Legend let out a huge breath in agreement and I smiled softly, letting him get his breath before turning him and heading back towards Redbird.
"Hey! Wait up!"
I froze, halting Legend at the same time. I turned my head and my eyes widened in shock seeing Chaison trotting up to us, leading Fox back in a lassoed rope.
"You got him?"
Chaison smiled as he neared us, pulling his horse to a stop next to Legend. "Yeah, Wisdom here is full thoroughbred too, so it wasn't too hard to catch him. He was quite a little devil though.
I was still stunned. This wasn't something that Chaison was doing to show off; he actually did it out of the goodness of his heart. "Um...wow. Well, thank you for that, Mr. Kincannon. That was really kind of you."
Chaison gently pulled Fox up by the rope, handing it to me. "Please, call me Chaison. It was my pleasure." He tipped his hat at me and I resisted the urge to smile at his charm. I took the rope and turned both horses around and pulling Fox behind Legend. On the way, I looked back at Fox smiling and exclaiming out, "Man, Mr. Fox! What were you thinking? Don't you know where the food is?"
..............
The sun was setting slow on the horizon. When I got the horses back to the barn, I headed back inside the house to rest a bit on the couch. After doing chores inside and outside, with the combination of chasing after Fox, had me bushed. I lay there for a moment before hearing the front door open. Peeking through my fingers, I saw Mickey walking in with a huge smile on her face. Rolling my eyes I covered them back up then heard, "Oh gosh...I had the greatest time shopping with Josh today. What are you doing? Resting?" I scoffed. "Looks that way, doesn't it?" Mickey frowned a bit from my snippiness and said, "Hey! What's the attitude for?" I moved my hand and said, "Why do you care? You deserted me for the second time and I had to do your chores, Mickey so it's not like you really want to know anyway." Mickey bit her lip as I continued, "Fox got out of his stall and ran off, so I had to chase after him." Mickey gasped asking, "Oh no! Did you get him." I sighed. Now she wanted to be concerned? "Yeah, but it was thanks to Josh's friend." I looked at her and then got up to head into the kitchen for some water. "Why am I even telling you this stuff? You just want to talk about you and Josh's magical day right?"
Mickey held her hands out trying to make me feel better. "Fire, I'm sorry! I just...I just love to hang out with him and when he called me, I just jumped up and left."
"Oh yeah...I know. Although, I wouldn't have known since you didn't say anything at all. Josh's friend had to tell me."
Mickey was silent and I took a swallow of water. This was getting tiring with her and I was too exhausted to hear her excuses. "You know what? It's whatever, Michaela. You're a grown woman. Do what you want."
Mickey cocked her head. "Really?"
I turned and faced her. "Sure...I'll just let you know what your rent amount is going to be."
"Rent amount?"
"Yes."
"What the hell do you mean 'rent amount'?"
I crossed my arms. "What? You think you can just stay here and not do anything but sleep and eat? I worked my ass off today, Michaela and it's not fair! Maybe you should spend some money to stay."
Mickey put her hands on her hips. "You know I don't have that kind of money!"
"Then I guess something needs to change!"
We stared. My anger was staring to leave me as I explained, "I don't care where you go or who you go with. But I let you in this house to stay with me and I had hoped you would helped me, honey. Why won't you help me anymore?"
Mickey understood and came up to me, putting her long arms around me in a hug. "I know. I've been a bitch and I'm really sorry. I'll do better and will tell Josh the same, okay?" I stared up at my friend and she pouted. "Will you forgive me, Firebird?"
I chuckled. " You know you are my Mickey Mouse. I always do."
Mickey squealed in happiness and kissed my cheek. Afterwards she looked at the clock and said, "Guess it's time to start taking care of the horses for the night, huh?"
I nodded and she slipped on her cowgirl boots saying, "Let's go then!"
I shook my head at my one of a kind best friend and followed her outside. We brought the horses in together, we groomed and blanketed the horses together and we fed the horses together. When she finally went inside for the night, I decided to tend to my hero of the night. I made sure Legend got the most time being groomed, rubbed him down really good, talked to him while I did it and even slipped him some carrots in his feed box "You did great, old man. You make Redbird proud." Legend nickered in agreement.
After I stroked the old gelding's neck one more time, I headed for my baby boy's stall. When I got there I smiled at him "Hey guy!" I greeted. Heaven's Gate didn't move a muscle; he just stared at me. Which was weird cause he was always excited to see me and showed me by bobbing his head or reaching his muzzle out for me to stroke it.
"Ready to get brushed down for the night?" I asked, reaching down for his brush. My horse turned around and in a shocking turn of events, flicked his tail and hit me right in the face with it. I cried out slightly in amused shock, backing up slightly. "Heaven!" He looked back at me once then away again. "What's your problem?" I asked, genuinely wanting to know. He gave a low sighing sound and it didn't take me very long to understand what was going on.
"Ohh...somebody is jealous of Legend. Is that what your problem is, boy?" Heaven gave another sighing sound. I leaned my head on the stall door. "Well, you can't get everything everybody else does, you spoiled brat." Heaven remained silent. I watched him shaking my head at his attitude and deciding that his huge ass was not the best view, gave in reaching into my pocket. "Heaven, come here. Looky what I got." I said, holding out a white cube of sparkling crystals.
Heaven's Gate turned around slowly, his eyes focused on the treat and before I knew it, his lips were gobbling it up. I giggled slightly at the tickling feeling and pet his muzzle. "There's my loverboy." Heaven bumped my shoulder slightly with his head and nickered. "Want to go for a ride, sugar breath?" My midnight colored stallion bobbed his head and I smiled. "Ok...let's go."
I hooked Heaven into his gear and we galloped out into the plains together. After a hour or so of riding...I turned him back toward the ranch but before I did, I turned and looked back at the spot where Fox was brought back to me. Why did it seem like somebody was watching? After getting rid of that awkward feeling that somebody was watching me I turned and urged Heaven into a trot back home, feeling good about the day.
Title: Legend's Chance
Rating: PG-13
Challenge: Green Tea #6. sundown Pistachio #12. an apology
Topping/Extra: N/A
Story: Hearts on Fire Series
Summary: Phoenix has a wild horse filled day
Characters: Phoenix, Chaison, Michaela, Heaven (horse), Fox (horse), Legend (horse)
Word Count: 1856
AN: This is a full chapter from my first novel, Destined Hearts. Right after "Off to a Rough Start"
I was frozen in place watching one of our best stallions running like he was searching for a new life and after blinking back to reality looked up at Chaison. “Do you need me to catch him for you?” Chaison asked me. I scoffed and snapped, “No thank you. I can do this myself.” Chaison shrugged and smiled smugly. I was baffled as to why he was smiling like that and then I slowly understood. He thought I couldn’t do it. I was about to show this ass who knew what!
I walked briskly away to one of the corrals where Heaven’s Gate and another stallion, Swift Legend were grazing along. Mickey had been riding Legend so he already had a bridle on but no saddle and I knew that while Heaven was fast he was only half Thoroughbred and Legend was full so I always felt he was faster. I ran inside and up to Legend, pulled myself up by his mane and immediately urged him into a gallop.
As we galloped towards the corral gate I lowered my face to Legend’s ears and said, “Swift Legend, this is your chance to shine. You help me get Blazing Fox back and you will get a million carrots.” Legend’s ears flipped back in acknowledgement and he snorted running faster. I braced myself as we soared over the corral and landed smoothly
I urged Legend faster, the wind blowing my hair back forcefully. Glancing back I saw that Chaison and his horse were gone and smiled in triumph. He finally decided that he wasn't needed and went home. The day was starting to get better. "Now if we can get that little rascal." I said as I felt Legend's strides eating up the Arizona earth. We galloped for what seemed like forever with no sight of Fox and I began to get discouraged until I saw the horse nibbling on some grass. I shook my head and whistled. Fox's head popped up and I yelled out, "Fox! Come here, Fox!" But instead of coming toward us, just seeing Legend galloping toward him, made him turn and start galloping off as well. I cursed over and over, knowing that it was in Fox's blood to race, but surprisingly, I felt Legend leap to a new level of speed and hung on to his reins tightly, letting him take us where we needed to go. "Way to go, Legend!" I exclaimed. His ears came back at the words and he kept running. I was so proud of my old man.
However...being the old man that he was, Legend was starting to tire and I could feel his speed slowing down. I didn't want to push him but I didn't want to lose one of my stock either. "You can do it, Swift Legend! Keep going." Legend kept running but his breath was quickening and I knew that I needed to slow him down. I lowered the reins, saying softly. "Whoa...whoa, Legend. You can stop now." Legend came down from his exhausting gallop to a trot and then finally stopped. I looked around on top of his back, trying to see if I could see, Blazing Fox anywhere, but he was gone. Hearing Legend's hard breaths, tore at my heart and I pet his neck saying, "Well, we tried, Legend. Guess little Fox was too much for one day huh?"
Legend let out a huge breath in agreement and I smiled softly, letting him get his breath before turning him and heading back towards Redbird.
"Hey! Wait up!"
I froze, halting Legend at the same time. I turned my head and my eyes widened in shock seeing Chaison trotting up to us, leading Fox back in a lassoed rope.
"You got him?"
Chaison smiled as he neared us, pulling his horse to a stop next to Legend. "Yeah, Wisdom here is full thoroughbred too, so it wasn't too hard to catch him. He was quite a little devil though.
I was still stunned. This wasn't something that Chaison was doing to show off; he actually did it out of the goodness of his heart. "Um...wow. Well, thank you for that, Mr. Kincannon. That was really kind of you."
Chaison gently pulled Fox up by the rope, handing it to me. "Please, call me Chaison. It was my pleasure." He tipped his hat at me and I resisted the urge to smile at his charm. I took the rope and turned both horses around and pulling Fox behind Legend. On the way, I looked back at Fox smiling and exclaiming out, "Man, Mr. Fox! What were you thinking? Don't you know where the food is?"
..............
The sun was setting slow on the horizon. When I got the horses back to the barn, I headed back inside the house to rest a bit on the couch. After doing chores inside and outside, with the combination of chasing after Fox, had me bushed. I lay there for a moment before hearing the front door open. Peeking through my fingers, I saw Mickey walking in with a huge smile on her face. Rolling my eyes I covered them back up then heard, "Oh gosh...I had the greatest time shopping with Josh today. What are you doing? Resting?" I scoffed. "Looks that way, doesn't it?" Mickey frowned a bit from my snippiness and said, "Hey! What's the attitude for?" I moved my hand and said, "Why do you care? You deserted me for the second time and I had to do your chores, Mickey so it's not like you really want to know anyway." Mickey bit her lip as I continued, "Fox got out of his stall and ran off, so I had to chase after him." Mickey gasped asking, "Oh no! Did you get him." I sighed. Now she wanted to be concerned? "Yeah, but it was thanks to Josh's friend." I looked at her and then got up to head into the kitchen for some water. "Why am I even telling you this stuff? You just want to talk about you and Josh's magical day right?"
Mickey held her hands out trying to make me feel better. "Fire, I'm sorry! I just...I just love to hang out with him and when he called me, I just jumped up and left."
"Oh yeah...I know. Although, I wouldn't have known since you didn't say anything at all. Josh's friend had to tell me."
Mickey was silent and I took a swallow of water. This was getting tiring with her and I was too exhausted to hear her excuses. "You know what? It's whatever, Michaela. You're a grown woman. Do what you want."
Mickey cocked her head. "Really?"
I turned and faced her. "Sure...I'll just let you know what your rent amount is going to be."
"Rent amount?"
"Yes."
"What the hell do you mean 'rent amount'?"
I crossed my arms. "What? You think you can just stay here and not do anything but sleep and eat? I worked my ass off today, Michaela and it's not fair! Maybe you should spend some money to stay."
Mickey put her hands on her hips. "You know I don't have that kind of money!"
"Then I guess something needs to change!"
We stared. My anger was staring to leave me as I explained, "I don't care where you go or who you go with. But I let you in this house to stay with me and I had hoped you would helped me, honey. Why won't you help me anymore?"
Mickey understood and came up to me, putting her long arms around me in a hug. "I know. I've been a bitch and I'm really sorry. I'll do better and will tell Josh the same, okay?" I stared up at my friend and she pouted. "Will you forgive me, Firebird?"
I chuckled. " You know you are my Mickey Mouse. I always do."
Mickey squealed in happiness and kissed my cheek. Afterwards she looked at the clock and said, "Guess it's time to start taking care of the horses for the night, huh?"
I nodded and she slipped on her cowgirl boots saying, "Let's go then!"
I shook my head at my one of a kind best friend and followed her outside. We brought the horses in together, we groomed and blanketed the horses together and we fed the horses together. When she finally went inside for the night, I decided to tend to my hero of the night. I made sure Legend got the most time being groomed, rubbed him down really good, talked to him while I did it and even slipped him some carrots in his feed box "You did great, old man. You make Redbird proud." Legend nickered in agreement.
After I stroked the old gelding's neck one more time, I headed for my baby boy's stall. When I got there I smiled at him "Hey guy!" I greeted. Heaven's Gate didn't move a muscle; he just stared at me. Which was weird cause he was always excited to see me and showed me by bobbing his head or reaching his muzzle out for me to stroke it.
"Ready to get brushed down for the night?" I asked, reaching down for his brush. My horse turned around and in a shocking turn of events, flicked his tail and hit me right in the face with it. I cried out slightly in amused shock, backing up slightly. "Heaven!" He looked back at me once then away again. "What's your problem?" I asked, genuinely wanting to know. He gave a low sighing sound and it didn't take me very long to understand what was going on.
"Ohh...somebody is jealous of Legend. Is that what your problem is, boy?" Heaven gave another sighing sound. I leaned my head on the stall door. "Well, you can't get everything everybody else does, you spoiled brat." Heaven remained silent. I watched him shaking my head at his attitude and deciding that his huge ass was not the best view, gave in reaching into my pocket. "Heaven, come here. Looky what I got." I said, holding out a white cube of sparkling crystals.
Heaven's Gate turned around slowly, his eyes focused on the treat and before I knew it, his lips were gobbling it up. I giggled slightly at the tickling feeling and pet his muzzle. "There's my loverboy." Heaven bumped my shoulder slightly with his head and nickered. "Want to go for a ride, sugar breath?" My midnight colored stallion bobbed his head and I smiled. "Ok...let's go."
I hooked Heaven into his gear and we galloped out into the plains together. After a hour or so of riding...I turned him back toward the ranch but before I did, I turned and looked back at the spot where Fox was brought back to me. Why did it seem like somebody was watching? After getting rid of that awkward feeling that somebody was watching me I turned and urged Heaven into a trot back home, feeling good about the day.