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"Thanks for the tour, sir." Caleb said, tipping his hat and walking next to Salem into the barn. "I saw you riding earlier. You're good." He commented, petting Salem's nose. "Want help untacking?" He offered, changing the bridle out for a halter.
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"Anytime, we will meet you up at the house, Mal has put on a good ol' spread tonight" He smiled and turns away from them both. Cass smiles after her dad and then turns her gaze to Caleb. She dismounts, moving round to hold Salem's reins. He snorts when Caleb pats him, shaking his head. Cass smiles "Don't worry about him, he can be a bit funny with strangers" Cass said walking next to him into the barn and then leading Salem into his stall. She smiles, blushing slightly at Caleb's compliment of her riding "Oh that? Yeah ummm... That's all Salem, really" She smiled at the black stallion who was now tucking into his hay net, quickly moving his head out of Caleb's reach after the bridle was swapped out for his halter. "Thanks for your help" She smiled, patting Salem for being calm. She walked over to his saddle and removed the ropes and canteen. She placed them down outside his stall and then went to ungirth him and slid his saddle off. "Could you take this for me?" She smiled as he approached her to help her with the saddle. "I'll give him a brush and wipe down and then he'll be good for the night" She said, his jet black coat shining under the light in the barn.
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"Sure." Caleb said, going to put it on the rack he had seen earlier. He walked back and watched Cass work on the stallion. He smiled, admiring Cass' work. "What'ya doing this weekend?" He asked, knowing he would be competing again. "I can take you with me to the rodeo. It's only an hour away."
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Cass finished up on Salem turning to Caleb. A little taken back by his approach. "I'll have to see if Jaxon would be up for covering my shift" She said, her green eyes twinkling at him. "But that sure does sound fun" She smiled at him, leaving Salem's stall, closing it behind her. The staff were heading out of the barn towards the house as they finished up for the night. Cass lead the way for Caleb and closed the barn doors but leaving them slightly ajar for air flow. She turned to lead Caleb towards the house.
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Caleb smiled at Cass' response, hopin she could come. He followed her up to the house for dinner. When they got inside, Caleb glanced at his surroundings in awe. It was a nice home. He sat down at the table with everyone else.
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The staff were laughing, Mal was bringing food to the table. Beau was sat on her father's lap. Jaxon laughing with Jessop. There were two empty chairs waiting for Cass and Caleb, right next to each other. They sat down. Cass admired the spread her mother had placed, an array of meats, veggies, sauces, the like. Cass grabbed a warm plate and started to help herself to some food. She piled it high on her plate. Jessop and Jaxon were snickering in her direction. "What y'all laughing at?" She narrowed her eyes at them threatening them with a fork. They shrugged but carried on laughing all the same. The rest of the staff were joking and laughing with John and Mal and the rest of the table. Cass turned to Caleb. "Go ahead, eat" She said pointing towards the food. (Feel free to play NPC Staff)
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(K. Thanks) Caleb grabbed a plate and some food, piling his plate high as well. Caleb ate nearly silent, while a couple of guys laughed. Idiots. He thought, taking another bite. Once he had finished and put away his dishes, Caleb turned to Cass, his face inches away from hers. "Night. See ya tomorrow." He said, walking to his room. Caleb woke up an hour earlier than usual. Wierd. He thought, going to tack up. He pulled Splash out of her stall and into the cross-ties before taking off her blanket. He went to grab Splash's grooming tote and tack.
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Cass watched Caleb leave. "Good...night?" She said with a mix of confusion. She turned her attention back to the group once he'd gone. The alochol had started to work its way out onto the table. She rolled her eyes. She got up, took her plate to the sink, turning she then picked up up Beau and carried her to bed. Mal watched them leave, giving a soft smile of thanks to her daughter as the staff and John started on the tipple. Cass smiled at Beau as she got her ready and tucked her in goodnight. "Can I ride with you tomorrow?" Beau squeaked out, wriggling under the covers. "You sure can sweetie, but you'll need to use your manners first" She said booping her on the nose. She giggled in response. "Pweeaase?" Beau's green eyes looked up at her in delight. "Ok that's better but now you need to get some rest" She said pushing a strand of Beau's loose hair behind her ear. She stood up after having knelt down to tuck her in and turned towards the door. "A busy day tomorrow though" She looked at her sister, the night light in the corner glowing faintly. Beau looked at her and smiled "Goodnight Cassie" She yawned. "Goodnight Beau". -- Cass, Jaxon and Beau approached the barn. They slid the doors open for the staff to get their horse's ready. Jaxon had Beau in his arms. "Good morning" Jaxon said to Caleb. "Ready for today?" He asked. Cass went and got her tack and came back to pop it on the rack next to Salem's stall. She patted the stallion's nose as he was resting his head over the stable door. She kicked open the bolt "Back" She said, as Salem moved backwards turning to his hay in his rack. She ran her hands over his jet black shiny coat, checking him over. She went out of his stall and grabbed his grooming kit. She brushed him and then popped on his tack leaving his girth to be tightened until last. She picked out his feet. Once done, she tightened Salem's girth and lead him out in front of the barn, smilling at Caleb as she went "Morning" She said sweetly. Cass mounted outside, Jaxon by her side, when he lifted Beau up for Cass to pop her in front of her in the saddle. "Have fun" Jaxon waved them off as Cass picked him up into a steady lope. Jaxon turned back to the barn to get his own mare ready for the day's work.
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"Mornin'. Yeah, what's on the agenda?" Caleb asked, tightening the latigo. Caleb couldn't help but smile back at Cass. Damn. I'm not gonna get outta this one, am I? He thought jokingly, switching out the halter for a bridle. He made sure the mare's shoes were also on nice and tight for good traction before following the now ready Jaxon out of the barn and to their first task.
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A truck pulled up outside with a cow tipper. "Looks like the hoof inspector is here" Jaxon said over the noise of the inner workings of the barn. He got his mare ready and lead her out to great the guy who drove the truck. Jaxon mounted his mare and turned her, she shook her head, waiting for Caleb. "We are going to follow the truck down to where the eastern roster is and then we do our thing" He winked at him. Cass and Beau nowhere to be seen. Edited at November 28, 2024 12:42 PM by Velaris Stud
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