[Vinson]

Chapter Eight: You Mean You're Gonna Sit On My Back?

A few days later, she was tacked up fully once more and led out to the ring again. But this time, Charlie didn't carry a lunge line in her hands. Her hands were gloved, and she was in clothes similar to the ones Molly had worn. Chance wasn't so sure about the meaning of that, but she let herself be led to the side of the ring, where Charlie reached over and pulled a metal block out. Chance flicked her tail, green gaze inspecting the strange things she was led a few steps away, then stopped once more. The metal block was set down, and Charlie smiled at the confused mare. "Alright Chance, we've got to try this sooner or later, so why not now, baby? Did you see how Molly was on Titan's back, in the saddle? Can I get up on you, darling?" She asked, petting the mare. Chance was confused. She was very confused. Charlie was going to sit on her back? But why? She gave a little huff as Charlie took her silence for a yes, d she was led to the side of the block. The reins went over her head, but this time they weren't tied, they were left sitting there as Charlie stepped onto the block, stroking Chance, sliding one foot into the stirrup.
Chance swung her head back to look at what was happening as she felt the extra weight, and watched as Charlie slowly swung her form over her back, putting her other foot in its respective stirrup, grabbing ahold of the reins. Slowly, watching for Chance's reaction, she sat down lightly in the saddle and forced her heels down. Chance stepped forward, testing her mobility with Charlie in the saddle - she could move just fine. She stood still as she felt just the lightest pressure on her nose, and she assumed that was the bridle. Then her sides were squeezed by Charlie's legs - did that mean to go? She hoped so, because her brain was telling her to move forward, and she did, taking the first few steps tentatively as the pressure on her nose ebbed to nothing, and then her steps were more relaxed. When a rider's legs squeeze your sides, that means to go, she thought, continuing around the ring once, then twice. "Hey, Chance, can I get a trot from you?" Charlie asked, patting the mare's neck proudly. "You took those signals wonderfully," she said as she lightly squeezed her sides, and Chance picked up a trot. Charlie relished in the smooths of it as she pose one time around, then sat the trot a second time around, getting Chance used to the different positions. She seemed to be learning quickly, and Charlie liked that. It made her job so much easier, and Chance wouldn't have to do as much work, either.
"Alright, Chance, I think you know what I'm going to ask next," Charlie murmured, and just like that, Chance picked up a canter, and around the ring they went, nice and slow, four times. Smiling, Charlie stroked Chance's shoulder before sliding out of the saddle, quickly taking it off and putting it on the gate, leading Chance back over to the block. She turned her head, confused. Did humans ride without saddles sometimes? That would be much more comfortable for her, although she wasn't sure about Charlie. As she was thinking all of this through, she suddenly found Charlie on her back, gently petting her as she gave a nudge with her heels. Chance walked forward, enjoying the slight breeze blowing against her once covered sweat lying on her pelt, tossing her head up once, just for the feel of it. Charlie let her do what she wanted to now, as long as she kept walking. Gently she lay her hands on the mare's neck, letting the reins loose after their first ride. And it was a good one, Charlie thought as she let her legs dangle, the reins loose, their bodies one for the first time.

[Vinson]

Chapter Nine: Christmas Carols And Kids
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!" The radio blared in the stables, cutting through the cool, but warming, air with its pleasant tune. Chance had just discovered Christmas carols, and she adored them - especially when the children from the neighborhood a few miles away came up to sing to the horses. They had milled around the stables, singing in their off tune voices, smiling as if this was the happiest moment in their lives. It was early morning now - Charlie had come into the stables only a few minutes ago, her pockets stuffed with treats for all the horses. Everyone got their favorite - Wisteria loved orange rind and sage cakes, Titan seemed to be obsessed with miniature candy canes around Christmas, and little Starling went crazy for honey straight out of the little bear container. They were each fed a little bit of their favorite as a Christmas gift, and they enjoyed listening to crackling, staticky Christmas songs on the radio. Chance stuck her head out of her stall as Charlie approached with her favorite treat of all time - celery with peanut butter and raisins, better known to all children as ants on a log. Eagerly she chomped down on the sticky, crunchy, chewy deliciousness, nickering as she enjoyed the burst of flavors. "How about staying inside all day with Christmas music, everyone's favorite treats, and a whole slew of children as it snows outside in below zero temperatures?" Charlie asked, smiling as Chance bobbed her head as if to say, 'best Christmas ever'.
They waited a few minutes, listened to Frosty the Snowman, and then in came the horde of children the horses had been promised, along with a very frozen looking Papa Vinson, Callie, and Cola the barn dog, prancing around everyone's feet and yapping with joy. The children immediately quieted as Charlie raised a hand in the air, and the barn doors could be clearly heard closing amongst the now silent group of eager kiddos. "Who wants today's schedule!" She shouted, and immediately the children clapped their hands, the younger ones bounced up and down with sheer joy. "Alright - we'll groom first. We've got room to have three horses out at one time. After grooming, we'll get to know each one, and if it warms up a bit after that, we can all eat a snow picnic lunch outside with the horses," Charlie said, smiling as she watched the children's faces light up. Chance nickered her approval, pawing the bedding of her stall as she awaited her turn to be groomed.
It was pleasantly warm in the barn, thanks to the heating system, and everyone was happy as Christmas tunes crackled out of the radio and brushes were pulled out of the stockpile, halters were quickly put on everyone, and Cola couldn't help himself as he yapped happily, running amongst the herd of youngsters, licking fingers and almost toppling people over as he leaped around, having the time of his life. Three tolters at a time were taken out of their stalls by the three adults running the show, and everyone waited and watched the children mull about, grab a brush, and help out with giving the horses a good grooming. Winter coats were grown out thickly, and a few of the tolters had a few high spots most of the children couldn't reach, until two lanky fourth graders came in and saved the day, running a hard brush down the taller tolters' backs, sometimes lifting the little kids up so they could reach out and kiss the friendlier, more patient tolters' noses.
Chance enjoyed the chubby fingers of the young kids running through her mane to comb it out, gently patting her head as they giggled about her making funny faces at them. She loved their laughter, their sweet, innocent, and pure smiles, and she couldn't help but to think back to that one fateful day when she had chosen Charlie as her human.
And she couldn't help but feel she had made the best choice of her life as Charlie slipped her an ants on a log.

[Vinson]

Everything's finished!
edit - and chapter nine was edited because I found a few spelling/grammar mistakes and couldn't help but fix them.