Baird smile back at the woman, a dreamy smile touching her lips. He lowered his hand-paw and stepped a little closer, just so they didn't have to shout at each other from across the field. She confirmed that the mare was hers, even giving a name. 'Mirage.' It fit the mare, she was a thing of beauty, just like most mirages that were encountered in the desert. He could attest to that, having wandered in the scorching sun of home too long and being tempted by the wavering image of dancing girls with gourds of water, he had been lucky to not follow the beauty of the mirage and had turned around and made his way back to a water source, but his mind was wandering now and he shook his muzzle slightly to bring him back to the present.
At her introduction Baird felt that this was too formal a greeting to offer his paw to shake so instead he bowed his head a little, showing that he had manners and could be respectful, "A pleasure to meet you Saqui." Her name had sounded so lilting and beautiful as it came from her tongue, but from his it came out hard, more like Sacky. He wrinkled his nose a little as he realised this, but he didn't comment on it, he could hardly change his accent or the way he spoke, if he did he wouldn't be himself any more. "I'm Baird. Baird Byrne." He indicated his shoulder, "This fine lady is Pangari, my travelling companion." He then swept his arm to the tree where his kookaburra perched, "And that fella over yonder is Gelar." With the introductions over he felt he could now compliment her horse.
He turned to the stunning equine and smiled, "She's a real beaut that one. You're one lucky sheila to have a brumby like that." He didn't realise he had slipped back into his colloquialisms, the words coming naturally to him.
Photo courtesy of pierre pouliquin
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