surprise!

[Snowflake]

James lead me out through the front door of my house, down the stairs, and in what I guessed was the direction of the pastures. Keep your eyes closed. James said. I could hear the smile in his voice. Whatever the surprise was, it had to be a good one. I am, I am. Impatient to find out what the surprise was, I walked a little faster as he guided me down a gentle slope. Definitely the pastures. We came to a stop, right against the paddock fence, I assumed. Open your eyes.

My eyes flew open, and focused on a large, black, beautiful horse in front of me. My eyes roved over the horse's body, taking in it's delicious conformation. A sprinter. I decided. Wow, James! He's beautiful! I exclaimed Where did you get him? James looked a little uncomfortable. He is a she, actually.. her name is Rush Hour. Two years old, never raced. I blushed with embarassment. I could have sworn this huge, bulky, yet well balanced and beautifully conformed filly was a colt. I bought her at a private sale for two thousand.

Two thousand? My mouth dropped open and I gaped at him. That was cheap for a horse of this caliber. Of course, we wouldn't know what she had until we got her on the track. Happy birthday. James grinned. It wasn't my birthday until the weekend, when I would turn twenty five. I squealed with delight, throwing my arms around him. Thankyou!
You're very welcome. I would have brought her home on Friday, but they wanted her gone today.
Why? I asked, ducking under the fence rail into the paddock. The filly stared at me interestedly, standing majestically on all four of her straight, muscular legs. I held my hand out for her to sniff.
She's a bit of a handful.
The filly suddenly snapped at me, as if on cue. I withdrew my hand and jumped back quickly out of her reach.
Oh. Well, Rush, you just need to be tought some manners.

I turned on my heel, ducked back through the fence and ran to the tack room, where we kept a spare set of grooming brushes in the event we did suddenly find ourselves with another horse as we had today. Then I darted back out of the barn, slowing before I came into the horse's view, in case she spooked. James and I groomed her, dodging kicks and bites every now and then. Good girl. I murmurred, stroking the filly's neck with slight caution after she had finally calmed and stopped her misbehaviour.

After half an hour or so of pampering the filly, James and I lead her together into the barn, using two leads in case she tried to bolt, or lunge at one of us. We lead her into an empty stall in the racing barn that had been prepared by a stablehand. Rush wandered about the roomy stall, then lowered herself to the ground, grunting as she rolled.

I think she's settled in. I laughed, taking James' hand. We left the filly to bring in the other racers, who had been let out for the day to graze.
I'll ride her tomorrow. Just to get to know her.. I paused, planning my morning with the huge filly.
She's well conditioned. I bet she'll be ready to race within three weeks. James commented.
Yeah..

finished.