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Post by Kiersten on May 1, 2023 17:39:46 GMT -6
“So, the other two aren’t used at all?” Cosette asked, pushing Estella into a walk next to Dodger, though kept her distance in case either horse didn’t like the other. She didn’t want to end up fixing a wound from a bite or a kick if either decided to do it. It felt natural and good to be back in the saddle, even though it had only been three days since she last rode, she always felt the need to go out, even if it was for ten minutes.
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Post by Bri on May 1, 2023 18:18:46 GMT -6
"Rarely, I'll go out there sometimes to see if they need any work and there are times, depending on how I feel about the class, I'll take my more advanced students out on the trails and then once a year we do an over night with the advanced students out on one of the trails." He told her, there had been a few years he had skipped the trail all together because the class was too rowdy.
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Post by Kiersten on May 1, 2023 19:50:09 GMT -6
“How many students want to do the overnight trail?” Cosette asked, thinking about a night ride, seeing the stars, being away from all the noise of the city. Granted, being out in the open was also terrifying, but Henri didn’t know she was here, didn’t know she’d left France at all, she hoped. “Do you need chaperones for the ride?” she asked, though worried about the thought of being so exposed, even though being in her own home hadn’t stopped Henri.
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Post by Bri on May 1, 2023 21:57:32 GMT -6
"Between 10-15, it every year it's different and it depends on how many chaperons we can get. I'm required to go," he said, looking over at her as Dodger eyed Estella. "So I would assume that you would be too, but if you can't do it I'm sure we can find other people to help." He offered, not wanting her to feel forced into doing it, again unsure of what Leda and Cosette had talked about when she was hired.
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Post by Kiersten on May 1, 2023 22:40:57 GMT -6
“That’s a lot of students,” Cosette thought out loud, though she knew that was how many and possibly more, would be in her classroom. She felt like a classroom was much different than taking students out on a trail ride, especially overnight, “I don’t mind, sounds er… How you say, uh, fun?” She laughed lightly, feeling like there were better words she could use in French that she couldn’t think of in English.
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Post by Bri on May 2, 2023 21:36:05 GMT -6
"Well the school does have quite a few," Silas joked, it was surprising sometimes how big the classes were but it seemed most students thought riding a horse would be easy...until they actually took the class and figured out all the hard work that went into it. He looked over at Cosette, chuckling softly, "fun is the right word, it really isn't too bad."
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Post by Kiersten on May 3, 2023 19:08:35 GMT -6
“I have a feeling I won’t be ready to teach,” Cosette grimaced, wondering if the students would be unruly, and wouldn’t listen to her, especially since she was foreign. She shook the thoughts from her mind, not wanting to make herself worry about it. Her smile grew when he said it was the right word, glad that the two of them got along so far. “Are you just the riding instructor? Or do you teach another class?”
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Post by Bri on May 3, 2023 22:13:19 GMT -6
"It's not that bad, a little intimidating at first but the kids aren't that awful, besides I don't think Leda would've hired you if she didn't think you could do it." Silas said, smiling over at her, "teaching what you love help too, but if you ever need me I'll be around, I can whip the unruly kids into shape." He joked, looking ahead as they approached the gate. "I coach the football team but the classes I teach are all about riding." He said, hopping down from his saddle and taking a set of keys from his pocket and unlocking the gate, leading Dodger through it then holding it open for Cosette.
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Post by Kiersten on May 4, 2023 18:37:01 GMT -6
Cosette gave him a small smile, knowing there was more to her being hired than her ability to teach. “Good to know you have er, confidence in me,” She thought it was nice of him, especially since they just met, but it sounded like he knew the principal very well. “Oh, well… I just know French, obviously.” She rolled her eyes, smiling bright, knowing it was easy for her to speak French, but teaching it felt like a different world to her. She’d tutored some of her riding students who had traveled to train under her, but that wasn’t the same thing since that was all equestrian terms. Cosette pulled Estella to a stop when he hopped off to unlock a gate, taking this chance to look around, take a deep breath, and remind herself this was for the best, even if her heart didn’t agree yet. Once the gate was open, she pushed Estella into a slow walk, then waited for him to jump back in the saddle.
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Post by Bri on May 4, 2023 20:34:59 GMT -6
Silas looked up at her as she rode past, returning her smile, "I'm sure you'll be fine, if kids cause problem you can make sure they get stall cleaning duty." He joked and closed the gate behind her, making sure it locked before pulling himself up onto Dodger, giving a light snap of the reins and Dodger started to walk. "I guess if teaching riding doesn't work you could teach French." He joked, directing Dodger onto a trail.
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Post by Kiersten on May 4, 2023 20:58:42 GMT -6
“Oh, that is a very good idea,” Cosette was definitely going to use that as punishment, if she could of course. She’d have to speak with Leda, but had a feeling if Silas was already punishing students that way, Leda wouldn’t have a problem with it. She raised an eyebrow at Silas. “I am teaching French,” She stated with a chuckle. “I am only a coach to one student for English riding.” She added, Shannon’s picture popping into her head from the file Leda had emailed her.
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Post by Bri on May 4, 2023 21:35:14 GMT -6
"It's a pretty good way to get the kids to at least listen." Silas chuckled, having had a few students do it before and when Samuel was younger and would act out he'd make him much out the stalls until he got the message and shaped up. "Oh," he felt his face warm up, he must have missed something in the conversation but of course she'd teach French, she was the best person around to do that. "I thought you were teaching more riding classes."
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Post by Kiersten on May 4, 2023 21:54:10 GMT -6
Cosette noted his pink cheeks but didn’t point them out, she figured he felt a little embarrassed about misunderstanding. “Oh, no. Only the one student signed up for English riding lessons, but since she’s already a rider, Leda made me a coach instead.” She explained, wishing more students had an interest in the English style of riding, but looking at Silas from the side, she had a feeling why certain students might want Western.
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Post by Bri on May 4, 2023 22:18:54 GMT -6
"Oh, well, maybe over time more kids would want to sign up to learn how to ride English." Silas said, thinking there had to be some hope to that, he had had a few students in the past ask about different styles of writing but he was never any help in that aspect. "I could always spread the word if you want me to." He offered, giving her a kind smile.
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Post by Kiersten on May 5, 2023 13:18:31 GMT -6
“Oh, please don’t force them, I’ll be okay with one student.” Cosette was excited about it really, it was one of her favorite things she did back in France. “Teaching French when you struggle with the correct words sometimes will be er… Troublesome enough.” She grimaced, knowing that wasn’t the word she was thinking of, but she had to admit, English was getting a little easier day by day, at least, the simple words were.
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Post by Bri on May 5, 2023 14:44:51 GMT -6
"I wouldn't....force them, I'll just....convince them." He joked, reaching down and gently patting Dodgers neck. "So far you've done pretty good, I've been able to understand ya." He told her, thinking that she could only go up from here but then again teenagers could be mean but by the way she looked he doubted anyone would be to Cosette unless it was a jealous girl.
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Post by Kiersten on May 6, 2023 11:01:27 GMT -6
Cosette laughed and shook her head, but felt her cheeks flush a little when he said she was doing well with her English. “Good to know all my practice talking to Estella in English has helped,” she reached down and patted her horse’s neck, receiving a whinny in return. “How long have you had, er, Dodgar?” she asked, feeling like she didn’t remember the name right, but she figured he’d correct her if it was wrong.
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Post by Bri on May 7, 2023 21:06:58 GMT -6
Silas chuckled softly when she gave credit to her horse. He felt like if he tried to talk with Dodger the horse would ignore him and search for treats instead of doing any sort of listening. "Dodger," he corrected, voice kind, "I've had him since the day he was born, right at the ranch."
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Post by Kiersten on May 7, 2023 21:25:17 GMT -6
Cosette smiled brightly as he talked about how he had Dodger since he was a colt. “That must have been amazing, what a journey. I got Estella when she was two.” She had been raw with her training, the basics were done, but her energy was too much for others to handle apparently. Some days it was hard for Cosette to get her under control. She could feel the horse itching to run a steeple chase beneath her and debated on just racing down the trail ahead, feeling the need to fly with her. She turned to Silas, a mischievous grin on her face, “How about a race. Down the path?” She couldn’t remember which path led where, or which one she should take, but she was willing to let Estella take control.
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Post by Bri on May 7, 2023 21:53:10 GMT -6
"It was great," Silas smiled back at her, "his Dad and Grandpa are from the ranch too," he thought fondly of Dodgers family line that ran parallel to his, feeling like that group of horses was the foundation of the workings of the ranch. He settled back in his saddle, thinking it was going to be a slow ride until Cosette fixed him with another look that made his eyebrows rise and a grin break out on his own face. "Oh, you're on."
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Post by Kiersten on May 7, 2023 22:03:21 GMT -6
Cosette’s smirk turned into a smile as she got into her stance for speed, glad that Silas was willing to race even after just meeting her several minutes ago. “Ready, set, GO!” She pushed Estella into a gallop, which the horse easily obliged. Her hooves pounded the ground as the two horses raced down a pathway that only Silas knew where it led. Cosette could only hang on, but she was laughing, smiling, enjoying the feeling she had missed.
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Post by Bri on May 7, 2023 22:20:41 GMT -6
Silas straightened a little, holding on a bit tighter to the reins, it had been a while since he'd done something like this and his blood was already pumping. With a nudge Dodger shot off after Estella, for the most part Silas let the horse take the lead, knowing that Dodger and him had been out here enough times that he could trust his horse but he did nudge the horse to take the flatter trail, leaning forward a little in his saddle.
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Post by Kiersten on May 7, 2023 22:32:23 GMT -6
Cosette let out a laugh, she’d always loved the way horses moved, how fast they glided over the terrain. She only wished there were jumps for Estella to take, though knew there would be time for that later. She eyed Silas and Dodger gaining on the two of them, knowing the likelihood of them winning was low, since Silas knew the trails better than she did. That didn’t slow her down though, pushing Estella, letting her take big strides.
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Post by Bri on May 9, 2023 21:50:32 GMT -6
Silas could only grin, silently urging Dodger to go faster. It made him think of when he was younger, when he and his brother were still just kids and would take off racing on their horses without a care in the world. That feeling of flying could always make his blood pump, almost more than when he'd get thrown into the arena during a rodeo. He leaned forward a little, navigating Dodger along the trail, their bodies seeming to move together as one.
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Post by Kiersten on May 10, 2023 18:53:11 GMT -6
Cosette could see the path start to fork off, and reeled Estella back slightly, not wanting to go down the wrong path. She forgot about home, about competing, and about Henri. She had always felt free when she was riding, and she was happy the feeling was still there after what had happened.
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Post by Bri on May 10, 2023 22:00:13 GMT -6
Silas and Dodger leaned into the right of the fork, cutting the trail back to open field. The yawning expanse of tall grass seemed to spur his horse faster until finally Dodger slowed on his own, snorting and shaking out his mane after coming to a stop. Silas couldn't stop himself from laughing as he patted his horse on the neck, "great work out there bud, it was almost like old times."
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Post by Kiersten on May 11, 2023 19:49:17 GMT -6
As they slowed down, coming to the open field, Cosette felt a little sad that the ride was basically already over, the barn coming into view in the distance. If she could, she’d ride forever, but she could feel how hard Estella was breathing beneath her, and knew she’d need to rest after that. “That was a good ride, I really needed that.” She sighed happily, glad to know she could come out and ride at any time.
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Post by Bri on May 11, 2023 22:17:26 GMT -6
Silas looked over at Cosette as Dodger took heavy breaths. "I think I did too, I haven't ridden for fun in a bit." He admitted, when he was on the back of a horse he was usually teaching or herding the cows so this had been a nice change of pace. "I would have taken one of the farther trails but I didn't want to overwhelm the two of you since ya just got here." He explained, he didn't want to risk either of the horses or them getting hurt.
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Post by Kiersten on May 12, 2023 12:15:14 GMT -6
Cosette chuckled, “Over… Overwhelm. Submerger?” She muttered to herself as she formed the words he said in her mind into French, forming a response in French and then translating it into English so she could respond. “Ah, no. I would have been okay to be overwhelmed, though Estella might need a break.” She patted the horse on the neck, already planning to have a ride this weekend, maybe taking a picnic with her. What better way to learn the paths then to ride them, might as well have fun too.
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Post by Bri on May 12, 2023 22:53:29 GMT -6
Silas waited for her to get the words out, not wanting to jump in and interrupt her if she was able to figure it out herself. When she finally figured out what he meant he chuckled a little, looking over at her horse. "She probably does, she was flying back there. She's pretty impressive, though I'm sure you know that." He smiled.
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