Open for business [open]

[tree]

As per usual, the kid was doing, well, his job. Already unloading a trailer full of hay, fixing a stall door twice due to a Thoroughbred repeatedly kicking at it, the boy was set to work stringing up electric tape around the stud pastures. It was easy work, but the fact that it was cold out made things a little more irritable. Cold fingers pulled at the white tape, putting it between the plastic conductors before moving onto the next. Truth be told he didn't mind working here. It kept him away from home, and kept him busy, which is what he needed most.

The thought of going home clouded his mind, a little guilt going in with it, knowing the only reason he went home was to make sure Ellen was taking care of herself, and to swim. The water being the only place the boy felt truly alone, where he could think and sort things out.

He pop back into reality as the border collie at his side bark at a horse coming there way to check things out. Jake simply scowled at the dog and she stopped, laying down at his feet, though her pale blue eyes never leaving the approaching equine. Jacob was raised around horses thanks to his grandparents, but never rode or did anything of the such, normally only leading or lightly lunging the animals when asked, but he had enough sense for them and a good hand, not to mention he had a good eye for prospects for any discipline. Came in handy at times, but in a reality, the knowledge was useless to him. It's not like he was ever going to buy a horse for himself. He thought about maybe getting into racing, but knowing he would eventually have to go back to the marines left him wary.

As the horse approach, Jake set the tape down, putting the tools back into the tool box he was carrying around, and the horse apparently thought there was food in it for it first lowered its head into the box before bringing it back up to search the boy. A rough hand was gently placed on the studs cheek, rubbing it just lightly, but apparently that's all it took. Jacob bent down to pick his things up and continued down the fence line, and the stallion followed, clearly happy for the company, all the while the boys border collie still keeping a wary eye on the horse, as if at any moment it might try to attack either one of them, in which case, Jacob was sure she would jump in for the rescue. He smiled lightly to himself before giving the dog an affectionate rub on the head, the collies black and white tail wagging happily as he do so before he stop and resume his work.

Notes: Bleh. I figured to whomever replies, he could be in their horses pen or something. Up to you.

[jessicaa]

As she normally did Lucy was down at the yard turning out her mare. Lady was happy to be leaving the stall and was throwing her head about in joy. It was a cold morning but it was a lovely morning, you don’t get mornings back home where Lucy comes from like this, the frost just on the top of the grass blades and the sun slowly melting it all away. It was so pretty and picturesque and it made her feel so happy. Not needing to worry about the lab as she walked alongside the pair, jumping about in the frost as it touched her feet, cold to the paw. The horse was wrapped in a warm rug, unlike the other day where the sun was shinny a little more and she was rug free. Already been groomed the mare was as clean as clean before heading to the paddock, something that was a must for Lucy.

The mare plodded on slowly, looking around her at the other horses and the activity that surrounded her, a move in a bush, the sound of a stone under Lucy foot, anything that grabbed her attention, but not enough to kill this chilled mood. It was always nice to feel so calm with a horse, so in tune that you don’t need to worry about what they are doing, where their feet are going it was almost relaxing. The dog stopped just ahead and waited for them to catch up. Lucy hummed to herself quietly, a tune she had had in her head for a few hours now, it was Mrs Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, an all-time favourite.

Up at the fields Lucy opened the gate to Lady’s paddock and let her head collar fall from her head, giving her a pat and a quick kiss she handed her a polo. See you later girl and Lady turned to walk away. As she walked back to the gate she saw that one of the tapes was just starting to fall lose, it could cause a problem with this weather, the cold would continue to pull and loosen the tape as it warmed and froze, knowing that Lady wouldn’t go or do anything if it did fall completely lose really wasn’t an option that Lucy could take. For now it would do.

The sound of a bark introduced Lucy to the knowledge that she was not alone at the pastures. Looking up she watched as Daisy's ears worked ninety to the dozen as she searched for the other canine. Yes, there, in the distance next to the stallions field was a figure, doing something with tapes, the dog was not in sight, too far away. Calling to Lady a goodbye Lucy called to Daisy to follow. The dog trotted at her heels as they slipped through the field gate and towards the figure. When up close it was clear he was doing tapes and that there was a dog, still undistinguishable.

After walking up to the pair Lucy watched as Daisy eased forward to the other who was in the field with the other and waited to see what would happen.

Hi...i am sorry to bother you, seeing as you look busy already, but are you doing the fences? I was wondering if you could take a look at my field if you had chance later...? Lucy called across the field, hoping it would reach the male, she didn’t want to startle him or the dog who in fact could be vicious to Daisy and really didn’t want that to happen, she knew full well that if she had a sensitive dog she wouldn’t want people just coming up and assuming. By keeping Daisy on a heel, she stopped the dog from bounding over, the all to friendly Labrador.

[tree]

His fingertips fumble ever now and then as the cold air get to them, forcing him to stuff them in his pockets to warm them up. He had a pair of gloves, but they only made things more difficult, especially when you were dealing with thin tape and trying to weave it accordingly into the plastic conductor. His focus shifted as the dog lying by his side shifted, looking past the cover of his legs towards the gate, and before you knew it, a voice rang out. Jake gave the dog a low whistle and she lay back down, the stud horse also now looking in the direction the voice came from. The boy give the horse a pat on the neck, going back to working on the tape, finishing the last line he was on. Wouldn't take long. The dog move with him, though her focus shifted from the boy and back to the figure at the gate. What did she say again? Her words were barely heard, something about fixing something? He ignore it for now, finishing up the last bit of electric fencing. Snipping the tape and fastening it to the conductor, he drop it into the tool box, stuffing his gloves over his cold hands before picking it up.

The collie at his side stand up quickly, knowing the boy was on the move and she eagerly followed by his side, never wandering off, moving ahead of him, or lagging behind. At the dogs abrupt movement, the stallion flinch and tore off across the pen. The dog quickly swivel her head int he direction of the horse, though it went back to the figure at the gate. To her, right now there was something she didn't know what to do about ahead of her, though Jacob gave an easy quiet laugh at her, and already she relaxed, tail going back to wagging as she stare up at him. He approach the fence, noticing a girl and a dog obediently waiting by her side, the collie at his perking up yet again, though not in a playful manner. He push his leg out, bumping into the dogs side warning her. She knew what it meant, and immediately she switched sides, going to the boys other side, opposite of where the other dog sit at the girls feet. He reach the gate, giving the girl a coy smirk as he open it, slipping past her and the dog before closing the gate again, dropping the toolbox on the ground as he stare at the girl expectantly. What did she want? Hmm...she was kind of pretty.

He stare at her like that for a few seconds, only to speak out of irritation as to why she was standing there, looking as if she was waiting for something, "Can I help you?" his tone held a slight touch of arrogance in it, but he truly didn't mean it to be. Jake wasn't one to socialize much, and when he did, he normally sounded irritated. He couldn't help it.

Notes: *hums* -.-