[Gift] [Gift] Down to Business

The trek from the sale yard to the small ranch Dawson and Rick ran was a long one. From the time they left just after daybreak, to the time they walked through the archway over the main path, nearly 14 hours had passed. They’d had to stop several times for the horses, Red Wolf, Solaris, and the new horse, Baby Doll as they’d taken to calling her, to rest, but had finally made it. 

“That ride never gets any easier,” Rick groaned as he dropped to the ground from Red Wolf’s back. His knees popped and only bent to absorb the impact with great reluctance. “Or maybe I’m just getting old.” He unfastened Red Wolf’s cinch on the left side and let it swing under the stallion's belly. 

“Trust me, you’re just getting old,” Dawson shot back in jest. He didn’t mention the fact that he was just as stiff and sore as Rick was. With Solaris’ reins in one hand and Baby Doll’s lead in the other, he skipped loosening the girth and led the mares toward the barn. They had a large, empty box stall at the end of the barn that was supposed to be for a mare and foal, but it worked just as well as a temporary holding stall. “C’mon girls, let’s get you settled in. Then I’ll make you a mash.” Neither horse would complain about that. 

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The next day when the horses had rested and recovered from the long journey, Rick and Dawson turned their mounts, Solaris and Red Wolf, out into their own paddocks and then brought Baby Doll out to the round pen. Solaris’s saddle sat waiting on the top board of the fence.

“Think she’s ever been worked with?” Rick asked.

“Dunno,” Dawson shrugged. He was the more skilled of the two when it came to evaluating and training horses. “She’s sweet as can be, but that doesn’t mean she’s been broke, just handled.” He pushed the gate open and led the horse in, closing it behind him. 

Rick decided he’d be better off staying out of the way just in case and found a spot on the top of the fence to watch. 

“Alright, let’s see what you can do, Baby Doll.” Dawson unclipped the lead rope from the mare’s halter and waved it at her to push her out to the edge of the round pen. She blinked at him, swiveled her ears at Rick’s soft chuckle, and didn’t move a step. A heavy sigh fell from Dawson’s lips. 

“Great start you’re off to,” Rick laughed from on top of the fence. 

Dawson made a not-so-friendly gesture toward the other man but kept most of his attention on the mare. Off in the distance, Solaris started whinnying toward them and Baby Doll finally moved from where she’d planted herself. Trotting swiftly toward the other side of the pen, she lifted her head and called back to the chestnut mare. Not long after, Red Wolf let out a shrill whinny and a squeal of his own. 

“Ah, hell,” Dawson sighed. Now Baby Doll moved. She began trotting around the edge of the round pen, stopping every so often to call out to the other horses again. It made sense, she’d lost her herd and only knew Solaris and Red Wolf now, but it did little to help see if she had any training. 

“She’s already moving around,” Rick said, “why not just chase her around and keep her going? Maybe it’ll get that lot to pipe down, too.” He waved his hand in the general directions of Solaris and Red  Wolf. 

Dawson raised an eyebrow and shrugged. It wasn’t the worst plan his business partner had ever suggested. The next time Baby Doll passed in front of him, Dawson flicked the rope end of the lead rope toward her rump. 

“Get up,” he called after her when she began to slow, flicking the rope in her direction again. The mare’s attention was still on Solaris and Red Wolf, though. The only attention she gave to the man was to swivel an ear toward him for a second. Frustrated, Dawson flicked the rope out again, jogging toward the mare and clucking at her to try to get her moving. 

Dawson wasn’t the only frustrated one, though. In a display of impressive nimbleness, Baby Doll spun and kicked out one of her hind legs, catching Dawson right in the stomach and knocking him flat on his back. 

From the fence, Rick laughed loudly, slapping his knee with his hand in amusement. “Should’ve seen that one coming!” 

Baby Doll, back to her sweet self, finally turned her attention to the weird man lying on the ground. She walked over, head lowered, and sniffed at him daintily. Her ears were perked, her eyes were bright, and she looked for all the world like a curious puppy. 

“Damn mares,” Dawson wheezed out, trying to catch his breath. Baby Doll snorted in his face at the words. The cowboy wanted to be mad, but he could really only blame himself for the situation. 

“C’mon,” Rick said, appearing next to the man. “Up you get.” He offered Dawson a hand and pulled him up to his feet. “You can always try again tomorrow.”

“No,” Dawson countered, trying to rub the ache from his stomach. “YOU can try tomorrow, I’m taking the day off.”

Rick couldn’t argue with that.