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Post by Kiersten on Aug 14, 2023 21:02:26 GMT -6
Cosette almost hugged him with how happy she was that he helped her figure out something that she could actually do. She was already planning to reach out to a couple of sponsors, though she wasn’t sure if they’d want to bother with just a lonely high school race, but it didn’t hurt to try. “How many more stalls do we have left?” She was eager to see the flat pathway, alright thinking of the order the jumps would go in.
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Post by Bri on Aug 14, 2023 22:03:53 GMT -6
"I think we just have two more then we'll be good." Silas told her before getting outside and emptying out the wheel barrow. Once it was empty he turned and headed back inside, busying himself with emptying clean bedding into the stall before moving on to the next but caught the look on her face that could only mean that she was planning something. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, I can already see you planning out everything you'll be needing me to move." He teased.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 14, 2023 22:30:32 GMT -6
“I am capable of moving things myself,” Cosette stood a little straighter, but a smile played on her lips. She didn’t need his help, but she did like having it. “It won’t be for a while,” She waved him off as she got back to work, shoveling fresh bedding into the stall she just cleaned.
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Post by Bri on Aug 15, 2023 23:02:18 GMT -6
"Uh huh." Silas teased, he wouldn't mind helping he out, he liked Cosette's company so far and he liked to be of use. "I'll be ready to help whenever you need it." He said, starting to clean out the next stall.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 16, 2023 15:08:47 GMT -6
Cosette was eager to get out onto the trail and quickly cleaned out the last stall, making sure it looked good before tossing in new bedding. “Anything else I can help with?” She asked, leaning against the doorway to the stall Silas was working in, partially hoping there wasn’t more to do, and partially wanting to help him out as much as possible.
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Post by Bri on Aug 16, 2023 21:19:15 GMT -6
"Uh, I don't think so," Silas frowned a little as he wracked his brain for something she could do that he possibly could have missed, "I think once I'm done with this stall we'll be good to go for a ride." He told her, starting to fill the wheelbarrow once again.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 17, 2023 13:59:29 GMT -6
Cosette suppressed a squeal as she put away the tools before heading to the tack room to grab Estella’s saddle, blanket, and bridle. She could already hear her horse whinny with excitement as she brought everything over to her stall. “Someone’s just as excited as me to go riding.” Though her excitement was the idea forming in her head.
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Post by Bri on Aug 19, 2023 12:40:48 GMT -6
Silas smiled to himself and continued to work until the stall was cleaned out and filled with new bedding. He put away his tools until he was eventually able to get his own tack for his horse. "Easy there fella," he told his horse who started stomping his feet in the stall. "We'll get out in a bit." He said, starting to get his horse ready.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 19, 2023 19:24:15 GMT -6
Cosette worked quickly, but efficiently, something she was used to needing to work quickly during competitions. She slid on Estella’s bridal, which had the horse tapping her feet in a little excited dance. “I know, we are going.” She chuckled, taking the reins, and heading for the back door, glad she had a set of riding boots in her car. “We have to wait my love, we have company.” She soothed the horse as they waited for Silas.
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Post by Bri on Aug 21, 2023 0:46:10 GMT -6
Hearing Cosette talk to her horse made him smile a little, it was kind of cute-if he let himself think that for a minute but told himself not to get too involved in someone who was so new and deserved a chance to settle in before anything getting thrown in the way. Once his horse was ready Silas lead him out, "sorry it took was a minute, old boy wasn't wanting to cooperate when cinching the saddle." He shot his horse and joking glare, his horse snorting back in his face.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 21, 2023 13:32:41 GMT -6
Cosette chuckled as Silas walked his horse forward, “No worries, I know they can be a little tough sometimes,” laughing lightly when he glared at the horse, and the horse in return gave his own opinions. “I’ve already got lots of ideas in my head, I hope you have the equipment I’ll need to make it work.” She also wanted to see the stretch of land too, make sure it was long enough for it.
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Post by Bri on Aug 21, 2023 19:40:12 GMT -6
"Some tougher than others." Silas quipped, his horse snorting once again as they got outside and Silas got ready to mount. "Well we'll just have to see about that now, won't we?" He chuckled as he swung himself up onto his saddle.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 21, 2023 21:33:42 GMT -6
Cosette nodded as she slipped into her own saddle, following behind Silas as they headed for the trail. “How long is the trail?” She asked, wondering if it also circled back to the barn like some of the other trails did or if it just ended somewhere. “Does it circle back to the barn?” She couldn’t stop the question, needing to know if her ideas would work or not.
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Post by Bri on Aug 23, 2023 22:22:58 GMT -6
"It circles back to the barn," Silas nodded as he tried to remember how long the trail was, "if I'm being honest I'm not sure how long it is," he finally admitted, "it used to be written down somewhere but I'm not sure where...I just remember the trails by what's easiest for the riders."
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 24, 2023 10:53:10 GMT -6
“Good, that means I can make it a complete circuit,” Cosette said mostly to herself as a reminder, her mind making a mental list since she didn’t have paper on her to write this out. She cursed herself for not bringing a little notebook, but this was the first time she actually had an idea pop into her head since started working here. She frowned when he said he wasn’t sure how long it was, but it was written down somewhere. “Do you think it’s in your office?” She asked, her mind immediately wanting to ransack the place to find it, but knew that would be rude of her.
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Post by Bri on Aug 24, 2023 22:28:17 GMT -6
Silas nodded, directing his horse towards where the trail was, slowing to a stop and hopping down to open the gate for them. "It might be," he replied, "the last guy who had my position didn't really organize anything, I'm still finding random papers that have gotten lost inside my desk." He chucked a little, taking his horse and leading him through the gate.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 25, 2023 14:32:33 GMT -6
Cosette made a face at the thought of having nothing organized, but she knew not everyone worked like she did. “Would you be okay if I searched?” And she hoped he’d be okay if she started organizing things, maybe they could hold more events like this to help boost both their classes. She waited till he opened the gate before leading Estella through and waiting for him to hop back into the saddle after closing it.
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Post by Bri on Aug 26, 2023 0:03:15 GMT -6
"Yeah, I don't mind, I don't got anything to hide." Silas joked as he closed up the gate behind them then swung himself up onto his horse. "Pretty much now we just follow the trail and eventually it'll lead us back here," he explained, "it just big empty field but it's a nice ride." He said, giving his horse a gentle nudge and starting down the trail.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 26, 2023 15:02:39 GMT -6
For some reason Cosette felt her cheeks flush a deep red, her eyes darting away from him and towards the path. Of course, Silas was such a good guy, he wouldn’t have secrets, like her. “Alright, I’ll drop by and start searching.” She wanted to invite him, it was his office after all, but now she felt a little guilty about it. “Well, that does give room for an audience.” She figured if it as a big enough affair there would be people watching, but most likely no one would show.
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Post by Bri on Aug 26, 2023 22:00:30 GMT -6
Silas didn't notice the redness on her face, looking ahead on the trail, wondering how she was planning on setting up an event out here but figured he'd be impressed regardless of what she did. "There is a lot of empty space and luckily it's pretty flat."
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 26, 2023 22:30:43 GMT -6
Cosette nodded, noticing just that, how flat it was. It was absolutely perfect for beginners, a flat surface that went on for miles. If it wasn’t for her planning, she’d probably grow bored herself, but she was already working on a list to see if they had the jumps in the barn. As she looked around, her eyes fell on Silas, and she couldn’t stop from smiling, “How many students complain that it’s boring.” She teased.
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Post by Bri on Aug 27, 2023 22:14:45 GMT -6
Silas chuckled, "probably a few, but I don't listen to them." He replied, "they need to be able to learn how to manage this before moving on to any other trails, bored or not." He said as he looked around, he could understand trails like this being boring but he wasn't going to let his students move up to more complicated trails without practice-and showing him that they were capable of handling a horse.
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 28, 2023 18:24:32 GMT -6
That made sense to Cosette, if most students were knew to riding, they would need something simple and easy before tackling bigger trails. “What about the ones who have been ridding for years already?” Though she assumed they’d still have to ride the trail, but she wasn’t sure how she was going to handle the class, figuring she could just copy most of what he did, but with English saddles.
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Post by Bri on Aug 28, 2023 22:09:30 GMT -6
"Then I move them up to the more advanced trails," Silas replied, "but I also look at their ability to take care of their horse as well because in my mind if a student can't tale care of a horse then why should they be able to go out and ride?" He asked with a slight smile, "it's how my Dad taught me so I figured it wouldn't be wrong to use for my students."
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 29, 2023 12:20:12 GMT -6
Cosette nodded, deciding she would follow the same practice as him, if he could do it, so could she. “Did your dad teach Western riding?” She asked, wondering if he had taught at this school or elsewhere. She thought about her own dad, the one who came immediately the second the police called to tell them something had happened, and she wasn’t sure how she would have coped if he hadn’t.
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Post by Bri on Aug 29, 2023 19:53:12 GMT -6
Silas smiled when he thought of his Dad but that quickly changed into laughter and shook his head. "My dad? Teach? Naw, he wouldn't be able to hold back his annoyance and would probably get yelled for using bad language in front of the kids." He said affectionately, some people could say that his Dad has rough and tumble, probably too rough on him and his siblings but Silas wouldn't have it any other way. "I don't think my Dad could manage to not work on a ranch."
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 29, 2023 20:52:52 GMT -6
Cosette gave him a puzzled look when he laughed but started laughing when he explained about his dad. “Good to know I might not be the worst at teaching,” She teased, though she bet a few kids these days could use some tough love and rough and tumble, she knew her sister definitely could. “Do you like teaching? Or would you rather be on the ranch too?”
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Post by Bri on Aug 30, 2023 21:59:13 GMT -6
"I'm sure you'll be fine, just try to confident." Silas told her, knowing it was easier to say than do. He paused as he thought about the ranch and smiled, "I do like teaching but there are definitely days where I would rather be out herding the cattle instead of entering grades or whatever."
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Post by Kiersten on Aug 30, 2023 22:51:11 GMT -6
Cosette nodded her head, wondering if she’d be able to ignore the itch to compete, hoping if she just jumped at the school, she’d be able to satisfy it. They spent the rest of the hour riding slowly down the trail, talking, laughing, Cosette explaining her idea and Silas trying to picture it. They bump knees when they get to close, Cosette promises to bring lunch when she comes to organize the office. Silas with a smirk: It’s a date. Cosette blushing deeply, her stomach flipping nervously, but she doesn’t correct him.
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