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As soon as his punch landed, Ben realized maybe fighting Brock wasn't the best idea. The man had already been angry, but now he was steaming. Ben decided maybe it would be good to take this fight outside. Or, better yet, make it not a fight at all. It wasn't his best idea, but his mind was so mixed up right now that it was the best one he had. He stepped back, hands raised in a sign of surrender. "Listen, maybe killing each other isn't the best way to settle this. I think we should somehow make up a challenge, whoever loses has to leave the farm? We are at a ranch, maybe some sort of riding competition?"
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"You're just being a wimp" Brock chuckled
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(Got any exciting matches for RO planned?) . Ben forced himself to chuckle too. "Yeah, you got me there. But like you said, you could easily murder me... Why not make it fair? See who actually deserves to stay?" He rubbed his cheek where Brock had hit it. A bruise was definitely going to take residence there soon.
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Didn't have the ebs to plan this year unfortunately. Eyeballing everything no items live cover only...) Brock thought for a moment before nodding. Brock stepped out of the house an Emma rushed to Ben. She took his face in her hand, tipping it to the side to look at the bruise. "As soon as you're done with this, let's take care of that, hm?"
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Ben kind of shrugged off Emma's touch. "I'm fine. Are you okay?" After he confirmed that she was well off, he hurried to find Brock, both terrified and excited for what might happen.
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Brock had grabbed his blue roan stallion, Symphony, and was mounted up. "Grab your horse. First to the top of that mountain" he pointed at it, "gets to stay. "
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Despite the fact that losing this could cause him to lose his only job, Ben smiled. Any excuse to ride was eagerly taken, but racing was something different. He quickly resaddled an annoyed Ghost and mounted, tugging her to a stop next to Brock. "We'll start on your cue." He didn't want to seem unfair by counting down himself, though he knew Brock was definitely the type of man to cheat at a dare like this.
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Brock chuckled, grinning triumphantly even though he hadn't won yet. "3...2...1, go!" He bellowed, spurring Symphony into a gallop toward the mountain. He knew the route well and planned on using the trees to his advantage in turning around early
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Ben leaned forward and clucked, squeezing his legs against Ghost's sides. She sensed how much this meant to him, and, though she was tired from working for over an hour just a few minutes ago, sprang into an eager gallop close behind Symphony. Soon Ben couldn't see Brock or his mount due to the forest trees and hills. He realized that he had no idea where any paths or the best way up was. Ben shrugged to himself and followed close behind the sound of Symphony's hooves breaking twigs and thundering over the dirt. Soon, though, he couldn't hear even that anymore, and he began to panic. 'I guess I'll just keep going uphill until I reach the top,' Ben thought grimly, urging Ghost to keep up the pace.
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Brock worked through sortcuts off the course but his stallion kept spooking at nothing. He wouldn't budge at some places
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