Saul was surprised when Maia dropped her head and allowed the boy to take the lead rope and stroke her. Perhaps he'd been taking the wrong approach with Maia all along and Range had the right idea. Stumped for the moment, Saul watched as Range tentatively moved forward, the chestnut mare moving behind him in a semblance of placidity. He looked confused for the moment, green eyes widening as Range got more confident the closer to the halfway mark they got. Cinnamon backed ears flashed forward at the brown boys praise of the horse that was otherwise proving to be a wild cat as far as behaviour went. It was almost too good to be true.
In fact, it was too good to be true. As Range spoke once more, complimenting the mare, he could see the shift in the air as Range paused. There was a moment of utter silence as Range's gut told him that something was going amiss. With a sharp whinny, Maia whipped her back end round, ears flat against her skull and an angry expression on her face. Range was faster, rolling into the gap in the fence and out the other side. Once her threat had moved on, she began to careen round the paddock, searching for a way out. Despite it all, the look of his nephew covered in dirt on the floor was enough to make him shake with laughter. I guess she doesnt feel the same about you, dear boy. And it looks like she gave you just as much a run for your money as she did me!
He called after the boy as he assessed the situation with his horse gone wild. She was still in the paddock, but she wasnt calming down. With a sigh, Saul took a running leap at her, landing on his middle horizontally over her back. Quick creamy fingers moved to grasp her head collar while his body moved to free itself from her back. He didnt want to be on her when she began to buck. Using the head collar as leverage, he managed to swing his right leg over her body, for a brief moment sitting on her back like he would to ride her, before slipping down her right side and grasping the collar more firmly. She gave a squeal but remained where she was. Saul heard Range comment again and turned with a grin.
That'll teach you to be so arrogant around horses!
He offered before grasping hold of the lead rope and deftly switching it back to the much longer lunge rope. It was going to take a lot to wear the mare down, that much he knew.
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