Horsin' Around

[Demeter]

Mirage brushed out the sweat marks left by Bane's saddle and worked free any sign of dirt or mud. Given that he was a primarily white horse, every speck showed on his hide. Once she had the horse groomed, she turned him into a paddock. She could only sigh when the two year old made short work of her grooming by rolling in the grass.

She leaned on the fence and watched as Bane kicked up his heels. "You know," she shook his halter and lead rope at him, "Your father doesn't behave in this manner. He at least waits until he's alone to roll around like a dimwit. Must come from your mother's side and she was a shameless hussy."

Mirage clambered onto the fence and sat. She really didn't know what else to do as she was here to help ease Heaven's Bane into the routine of this farm. And to help Odhran with the monster horse he'd bought. She'd snooped around the stables and decided that Bane was the purest thing on this patch of turf.

Fed up with watching the horse roll around, Mirage dropped from the railing and went in search of Odhran. She found him where she'd left him; working with that colt. Mirage sprawled out on the fence, her favorite place to sit, and watched as colt and Custos played tug of war with the idea of who was master. At a momentary lull, Mirage rolled from the fence into the paddock and draped herself across Odhran's shoulders. "I'm bored. Got anything I can do?" She asked.

[Maira]

Having decided that the colt's call name would indeed be Jester, Odhran was able to relax into his typical routine for putting new stock through their paces. The colt was rough, and had a distinct opinion that he was the master and not Odhran, but he had excellent potential. He was smart and quick and determined. Of course all of this made getting it through to the colt who was boss a bit more difficult.

When Mirage had returned and had climbed up on the fence to watch him, of course Odhran had noticed. He did his best not to let it phase him however and continued to work Jester until he felt they had accomplished something. He had just stopped the colt and was letting him stand at the end of the rope for a moment before officially ending the day's training when he felt arms drape across his shoulders. Her smell and her voice immediately overwhelmed Odhran's senses and probably for the first time in his life he cursed his vampire heritage.

At Mirage's question Odhran turned to face her, not dislodging her arms from his shoulders or dropping Jester's rope. Face to face with her now, he wrapped his free arm around her waist and caught himself answering her boldly, "Me." Then, realizing that he'd spoken what he was thinking out loud he cringed inside and waited for the smack, or the knee in the groin, he was sure was coming.

[Demeter]

At first Mirage just blinked. She really hadn't expected that forward of an answer. It didn't shock her, not when she'd grown up around some of the most sexually explicit creatures in the world but she hadn't expected it from shy and quiet Odhran. Grinning to herself, Mirage hitched herself up to wrap both her legs around Odhran's waist. She nipped at his neck.

Purring, a habit picked up from her feline relations, Mirage nuzzled at Odhran. "I'd be more then happy to do you. For the past few nights, I've been having this fantasy. You, me, no clothing and up in the hayloft. I've quite enjoyed fantasy-you. Fantasy-you makes me scream."

She wiggled her way down. "Why don't you finish up with that monster and then we can see if you can live up to the reputation Fantasy-you has created." Mirage rolled over the fence and, with a swing to her hips, headed towards the barn, "Don't make me wait long, Odhran," she called over her shoulder, "or I might just get bored again."

[Maira]

When neither her hand or her knee connected with his body, and instead she jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist, the poor man nearly fell over in shock. The nip at his neck and the purring almost completely undid him on the spot, the arm around her waist tightened and his fingers dug into her hip. The words that spilled from her totally kissable lips made him go slightly wide-eyed and grin ever so slightly. So he wasn't the only one dreaming huh? Only it sounded like her dreams were a lot more... Well just more.

She wiggled herself down and walked away leaving him practically panting. Watching her hips sway a bit more than normal left him staring for only a moment before he moved into high gear and got Jester handed off to a groom that was just coming back from lunch. "Jester here needs a bath, why don't you use the outside wash stall and then walk him dry please," he informed the groom and when the girl nodded he handed her the rope and at as fast of a pace as he could manage that wouldn't raise suspicion he headed off to the hay barn.

When he reached the hay barn, the door was standin open a crack and he slipped inside. It was dark and it smelled like hay, but beneath the dusty grass scent Odhran could smell Mirage too. Still, he closed the door behind him then asked into the semi-darkness, "Mirage are you in here?" a rustle from in front of and above him followed by a fabric something hitting him in the face confirmed what his nose had already told him. He grabbed the fabric, still warm from her body, and sniffed it deep before tossing it into the nearest pile of hay and clambering up the ladder to the loft.

[Demeter]

"Hay lofts are awesome." From her nest of hay, Mirage watched Odhran as his plucked the stuff from his hair. "And, you know, real you is so much better then fantasy-you. I don't know about you but I'd willing to have a repeat of this in an actual bed." She wiggled her eyebrows at the man before rolling over to search out her clothing.

Once she was dressed, Mirage stood and stretched. She walked over to Odhran, smiled at him, and yanked him down for a kiss. She wasn't normally this forward with men but there was something about him that just made her act a little wild. She nipped his ear and whispered a suggestion of just what they could do with a real bed before climbing down the ladder and walking from the hay barn. "Why don't I go get Bane and meet you in the arena. You have have more fun with him and I can ease your hurts later tonight.

With a smile on her face, Mirage strolled up to Bane's paddock. The colt snorted at her and she just shook her head. "Oh, you just wait a bit and then you can have all the fun you want. I'm an adult."

Swearing that the horse was rolling his eyes at her, Mirage swung over the fence and grabbed the halter and lead rope that had been hooked over a post. She quickly fixed the halter over his head and shook her head. "You're going to give him a run for his money before you're this easy for him, aren't you?"

She led the colt into the arena where Odhran was waiting with saddle and bridle.

[Maira]

That woman was goigto bthe death of him! The romp in the hay had been beyond amazing. And now she wastalking about a repeat performance in a bed. He had no doubt it would be just as good, luckily it would be a lot less pokey. He could only imagine what her easing his hurts after getting beat up by his beast of a horse would entail.

The nip to his ear, and the kiss she planted on him left Odhran not only speechless but breathless as well and he just watched in silence as she left him standing in the hay loft. It took him a couple of minutes to regain his composure but once he had, he double checked to make sure he had everything nd then he hurried to follow her to Bane's paddock.

*****

Somehow he had managed to do even worse with Bane than he had the day before. Odhran was totally willing to admit that Mirage perched along the top rail of the of he arena was probably a huge distraction, and judging by the smirk on her face she was well aware of that. He eventually lost count of howmany times Bane launched him into he air but after the last time Odhran just stayed where he fell.

It took a bit of time to get the breath back that had been knocked out of him. While he was layingthere tryin to force his lungs to start working, a big velvety muzzle started lipping at his cheek. Odhran opened his eyes and smiled at the big brute. Once he could breathe again, and in turn talk, he mumbled, "I knew you liked me, you beast." Bane just nickered then tossed his head and toreoff to the other end of the arena, kicking and bucking the whole way.

With a raspy laugh, Odhran rolled onto his side then onto his knees before getting up very slowly and painfully. Once he was fully upright he looked in the direction of his beastly horse and saw his beautiful woman whispering sweet nothings to him. He watched as she slipped Bane's halter on and removed his bridle and loosened his girth strap, then Odhran hobbled over to the gate and opened it for the pair.

Only as they made their way past him did Odhran realize that he had thought of Mirage as "his" woman, and not just a beautiful woman he was inerested in. Holy Hell. Had she already laid such a claim on his heart? Who was he kidding, he already knew that answer.

[Demeter]

Mirage worked out the sweat marks left by Bane's saddle. The colt leaned into the brush. One of reasons why he'd been selected for sale was because he'd gotten a great deal of his mother's gentle attitude along with his sire's killer instincts. And he knew when the use of those instincts.

"I'm going to have to find someone around here who's light enough to work you under sidesaddle. I worked damned hard to get you used to it, even though it really shouldn't have been done for a few more years but Trey gave the go ahead because you're already so big and strong. I won't be able to stay here much longer, big guy. It's not like he's made me an offer to stay, even though I wish he would."

She leaned against the horse. "I always told myself that I wouldn't be like the rest of my family. That I wouldn't fall in love at the drop of a pin and decided that that was it and there was no one else." She gave a short little laugh. "Looks like I have."

She finished up with Bane and left him to enjoy himself in his paddock for the rest of day. She headed towards the big house, wondering if Odhran's family was still wandering around. She just couldn't really bring her self to "tend" to his hurts when his mother was poking around the kitchen.

Except she never made into the kitchen. She was stopped short by the man and horse standing in front of the front steps. She stumbled a few steps forward. "Papa?" she asked.

Darius grinned at his youngest child and patted the neck of the horse he was mounted on. "Bringer wanted to see where his son was staying. Apparently, he's a little miffed that one no talked to him about Bane's new people. I spoke with the head of the family this morning and he said it was all right if we came 'round and had a look at the place."

The horse in question snorted and rolled his fire-red eyes. Darius inclined his head towards the horse and Mirage knew they were talking. All hell horses had the ability to telepathicly communicate, in a way, with their riders. Blade was too young to have the ability. Khan was starting to show signs of it, something that Trey was pleased about because he hoped it meant less trips sideways under tree branchs.

Darius sighed. "Hell Bringers says that he wants to see with his own eyes that The Emerald Heart, that is, Heaven's Bane's new people will treat him with the respect and honor that is due to him. That The Emerald Heart will honor the ancient agreement and treat Heaven's Bane and all the other hell horses as partners rather the slaves."

Mirage looked at both horse and rider. Hell Bringer wore no bridle, and her father didn't use a saddle since this wasn't an occasion of battle. All he used was a thick pad with stirrups to cushion his seat and provide some support for his feet and legs. They were tuned to each other. "Ummm, I guess I'll just go see if I can find The Emerald Heart, I mean, Odhran then."

She turned to leave and could only groan when she heard the clop of hooves behind her. Odhran was going to have no warning what-so-ever. Talk about surprise attack...

[Maira]

Even with the promise of Mirage tending his hurts, Odhran needed to check on some paperwork before he quit working for the day. So, when Mirage finally found him he was up to his eyeballs in vet records and other invoices in the barn office. Without looking up from what he was doing, Odhran told the young woman, "Hey Mirage, gimme just a minute and we can go back up to the house for dinner. I just need to make a call to our vet to come out and take a look at the new colts and fillies."

It didn't take him long to schedule a housecall for the new stock and then he quickly hung up the phone. He walked around his desk, oblivious to the odd look on Mirage's face, and kissed her soundly. Only when he pulled away did he notice she wasn't quite herself. Thats also when he noticed the shadow of man lurking in the office doorway and the sound of a horse impatiently pawing the ground out in the barn's aisleway. Curious, Odhran raised an eyebrow at Mirage and then said to the shadow, "You're welcome to come in, I was just finishing up some business for the day."

The man who walked into his office was a bit of a surprise. Of course he knew who Darius Delorme was. Anybody who was involved in the Dark One's horse world would know him. Also, anybody who had spent any amount of time in Hell would know him. Odhran fit both those categories and considering he had just purchased a colt descended from Darius's own stallion, a pureblooded Hell Horse, he wasn't terribly surprised that the man had come for a visit.

Odhran wasn't nervous about meeting Darius in a professional capacity at all, but the man had just witnessed him kissing the heck out of his baby girl. Odhran did his best not to look guilty and instead held out his hand to shake Darius's, all the while keeping his other arm wrapped around Mirage's waist. No point distancing himself from her now, Darius had already seen how he felt about her. "Welcome to Emerald Heart Mr. Delorme. My name is Odhran and while my father still owns the stable, I am the one that handles the day-to-day workings of the place. What can I do for you? Did you come to check up on Heaven's Bane?"

[Demeter]

Darius raised a single eyebrow at the greeting the young man gave Mirage. It seemed she'd been enjoying her busman's holiday here. While he managed to keep his face as impassive as normal, inside he was doing a little happy dance. He wouldn't have to meddle and play matchmaker to get Mirage out of her deserts and into a nursery with more grandbabies for him to play with.

"I'm here as a translator, Odhran. Hell Bringers wants to assure himself that all is well for his youngest son," Darius stepped to the side and motioned for Odhran to lead the way into the aisleway. He knew that Hell Bringer was an impressive sight. He had the height of Shire stallion with the body of a Fresian. Coal black in color with brillently red eyes. His mane and tail were thick and full, as were the feathers surrounding his hooves.

The stallion turned away from his pursual of the stable and fixed his gaze on Odhran. Darius grinned. "Hell Bringer greets you, Emerald Heart, and wants to know if you'll do right by not only Heaven's Bane but all of the hell horses your farm supports.

[Maira]

Odhran had suspected correctly when he had guessed the nature of Darius's visit, though he hadn't been correct in who was actually checking up on Heaven's Bane. To find out that Hell Bringer himself had come to check on his son made Odhran curious. He'd never, himself, been partnered with a Hell Horse old enough to communicate the way that some of them could but he had heard stories of how close Darius and his horse were. The fact that the Custos Lord was here merely as a translator for the giant black horse was a bit intimidating actually.

When Darius started speaking on Hell Bringer's behalf, Odhran listened intently. When it was time for him to answer the horse, he did his best to look in the creature's glowing red eyes. "Its an honor to meet one such as you Hell Bringer and thank you for gracing our home with your presence. I would be happy to let you see the facilities we have set aside particularly for out hell horses here at Emerald Heart to see that they are being treated to the best of our ability. It has always been a goal of mine to help strengthen the hell horse race and to encourage each and every one of our horses, hell horse or mortal, to reach their full potential."

And when he realized he was rambling, Odhran just stopped talking. He tended to ramble a lot when he was nervous and if he didn't shut up quick he'd likely just keep going until somebody actually told him to shut up...

[Demeter]

Later, after dinner, Mirage hunted down Odhran. After he’d given her father and Hell Bringer a tour of the farm, she knew the man had gotten a shock to knock several decades off his life. Hell Bringer had spoken directly to Odhran. The old horse only spoke to Darius so Odhran had been honored by Hell Bringer and praised for the work being done at the stables.

After showering away the day’s dirt and dressing for the night in a floaty white nightgown, Mirage looked through the rooms for the man. She had an affection for lace and silk and wasn’t afraid to indulge in it. And Odhran’s family had left the house on the farm for the main house a few miles down the road. Before she’d headed for the shower, she’d heard Odhran’s mother shooing the rest of the family out of the house. She’d walked right past Mirage and winked right at the younger woman.

So, she pretty much had permission to do whatever she wanted to Odhran tonight. She found him in an office, staring at some papers. Grinning to herself, Mirage slipped into the room. She tapped him in the shoulder and then sat down on the desk right in front of him. “So, Odhran, from what I can tell, we are all alone in this house. We should do something about that. Maybe we could play Yahtzee unless you have a better idea.”

[Maira]

The visit with Mirage's father and his hell horse had been nervewracking to say the least. When Hellbringer had actually spoken into his mind, it took everything Odhran had not to collapse in shock. As it was, he had made good use of the nearby fence rails to help hold himself upright. Now it wasn't that Odhran hadn't communicated with hell horses in that manner before, it was just well known that Hellbringer only spoke with Darius. Not to mention that the extreme age of the horse gave his mind a strength and power odhran had never encountered before. The two things combined were what still had Odhran reeling hours after both man and horse had taken their leave.

He was trying desperately to focus on the paperwork stacked on his desk when his mother came into the office to inform him that the rest of the family was going back to the main house in town. he only glanced up at her long enough to smile and answer, "Ok Mom," in acknowledgement before returning to glaring at the paperwork.

*****

Completely unaware of how much time had passed since he had sat down to work, Odhran had finally be able to focus after the noise in the house had died down. And once he was able to focus, it was to the exclusion of everything else. because of this, when Mirage tapped him on the shoulder and then sat down on his desk right in front of him he blinked in surprise for a moment before even noticing what she was wearing. Then hearing her asking him if he wanted to play Yahtzee he raised an eyebrow skeptically before answering, "With you dressed like that I don't wouldn't stand a chance!"

[Demeter]

Mirage blinked and looked down at herself. "What? This old thing? I only wear this when I want to be comfortable." She managed to put her most innocent expression on her face and looked at Odhran. "Why? What do you think I meant? I certainly didn't think, not even for one teensy-tinny second that you would take one look at me, be so overcome with lust that you would seduce me and ravish me here, on this big, solid, sturdy desk."

She blinked at him. "Is that what you thought would happen? I mean, I suppose we could do that, the ravishing thing. I mean, we have this big house to ourselves and its still early in the evening. It would have to be several rounds of Yahtzee before I would even be a little sleepy but that could get boring after a while."

The nightgown was sleeveless and caught up a the shoulders with ribbons. Mirage played with those ribbons while looking up at Odhran from under her eyelashes. "What do you suggest we do?" she tugged the ribbons at her right shoulder free, "Do you want to play clue?" The ribbons at the left were tugged apart.

The white fabric fell free at her back but the front was caught up on something. Mirage stood, "We could play Monopoly. Or Operation."

The young woman twitched her shoulders and the nightgown slithered down her body to pool at her and reveal something even more naughty. She stood before Odhran wearing nothing but a dusty rose colored corset, barely there panties and thigh high stockings. "Or we could play Doctor."

Mirage bent forward, grinning as she saw his Adam's apple bounce up and down, to tap him on the chin. "You can be the doctor and I'll be the patient in need of your expert touch to cure me from a horrible illness."

Mirage lay back on the desk, bringing her feet up to rest on Odhran's chair. Sprawled over the desk, Mirage fling one arm over her head and the other across her eyes. "Oh, Doctor, please help me! I'm just so hot and wet. Please, Doctor Odhran, help me!"

[Maira]

He wasn't sure he believed her when she tried to claim that she only wore that nightgown when she wanted to be comfortable. As she went on an on about other games they could play instead of Yahtzee, Odhran started to get suspicious. Then, as she untied the ribbons at the shoulders of her nighty and stood, allowing it to slither to the floor, his eyes widened in appreciation. The sight of her in that dusty rose corset, thigh-high stockings, and tiny excuse for panties was enough to make Odhran's pants more than a little uncomfortable. At her suggestion to play Doctor, Odhran couldn't help but swallow. Was this his reward for surviving her father and his horse? Or a test of some kind?

When Mirage laid back on his desk and rested her feet on his chair, getting all dramatic about needing Doctor Odhran, he couldn't resist her any longer and with an almost inaudible growl he stood up and gathered her in his arms declaring, "Laying on a desk is no place for a patient in your condition Miss, lets move you somewhere more comfortable," before carrying her off to his room where he tended her "illness" for the rest of the night and early into the morning.

*****

Odhran was actually thankful that the following day was Saturday. He rarely took days off but he really needed a day to think so he was finally going to do just that. Instead of going out to the barn to work with the new stock, Odhran left it up to the stablehands. Instead of checking the inventory and making orders of whatever they might need, he saddled up one of his mostly retired horses and went for a ride.

He'd left a note for Mirage telling her where he was going and that he'd be back later that afternoon. Also that he hoped she'd be up for dinner and drinks down at the pub later and that if she wasn't they could just order in if that was more what she was in the mood for. Mostly he just hoped she'd still be there when he got back.

Part of why he was going for a ride was just for the joy of it, and because Soot needed a bit of a stretch, but mostly it was because of Mirage. She had come into his life like a whirlwind and he just wasn't sure where they stood. He wasn't sure where he wanted them to stand. A big part of him was already daydreaming about what it would be like to have a life with her, and another part was trying to remind him that he had too much to do running the farm and that he didn't have time for a relationship. Especially nothing as serious and things very well might get with Mirage.

On his way home, Odhran swung into town and stopped to see his mother. When he left his shoulders felt a lot lighter, and his mind was much clearer. There was also a very special necklace tucked into his inside coat pocket. It was the necklace his father had given to his mother shortly after they met and when they had first started courting. He hadn't asked for it, in fact as soon as he'd walked in she told him to go make tea and wait for her in the kitchen. When she returned she had the necklace in her hand and handed it to him saying, "Your father had that look once, then he gave me this." That's all she said about the necklace, then she listened as he told her his dilemma and kissed him on the forehead as she answered him, "You are your father's son, Odhran, and if any part of you is telling you to be with this girl then you damn well better give it a try or you will regret it for the rest of your life." Those simple words had been enough, and Odhran kissed his mother on the cheek, thanked her for the tea and the necklace, and went on his way home.

When he got back to the farm, Odhran left Soot with a groom and then made his way up to the house. When he got there he called out for Mirage to figure out where she was. He wasn't sure he was ready to have a serious conversation just yet, but he was definitely ready to eat.

[Demeter]

Mirage at lunch with the staff of Emerald Heart. She'd been working with them for most of the morning, taking on the chores of one William Duncan. William, or Bucky as he mostly went by, had been stupid enough to try and handle her Dragon's Blade and ended up needing 18 stitches in his hand and arm. His reasoning, of course, was that no horse scared him. 

Bucky was a self proclaimed master of all things horse, never mind that the bulk of his duties at the stable involved the gentle, lazy lesson ponies. When the nurse that had stitched him up (this woman also happened to be Bucky's mother) asked him what he'd been thinking the approach the horse in question, he'd replied that he didn't think the animal was dangerous. He'd out it down to american, female notions that had labeled the horse as dangerous. One just had to look at the horse's owner to know that she was a delicate, silly thing and probably thought the horse was dangerous when it was just playful. 

Oh, yeah, sure she was delicate. Delicate didn't haul hay, sling saddles, ride half broken spirit horses or do extreme endurance rides. The nurse hadn't bought it either and she'd whacked the young man over the head. The accident may have been Bucky's fault but Mirage didn't mind filling in for him. In fact, she enjoyed helping the class of little kids to groom, tack and untack the fat ponies. 

The schooling and boarding stable was busy in the afternoons. She was supervising a couple if kids as they carefully hooked their ponies into the cross ties. She smiled when she saw one young girl who already had her pony put away help the others. Mirage stood ready to help lift saddles. She had an eye on one little boy who seemed to be struggling with his pony's saddle. Before the class, she'd noticed that a staff member had plonked the saddle into the pony when they boy's mother hadn't been looking. The boy's mother seemed to think that the boy could lift the saddle himself. The saddle weighed 15 pounds tops but that was a bit much for a six year old to lift up and over the back of a pony. 

Mirage eyed the boy's mother and the moment she was distracted by another parent, Mirage hustled over, snatched the saddle off and dropped it on the stand outside the pony's stall. By the time the boy's mother looked back, the kid was calmly running the stirrups up. The other parent winked at Mirage. 

Grinning to herself, Mirage moved in and around the beginning students, stopping to help whenever someone asked her a question. At the other end of the stable, the intermediate students were readying horses and ponies. She was in the middle of showing a group of beginners the proper way to pick a hoof when she noticed a pair of very shiny boots enter her field of vision. 

"You must be new here. Where is Bucky and why isn't my horse saddled yet? Stop playing with these babies, girl, and saddle my horse. The one in stall 23."

Mirage lowered the hoof of the pretty Connemara pony she'd been cleaning and slowly straightened up. She raised a brow at the woman standing next to her. The woman wore excellent riding clothing, didn't have a speck of dust in her boots and looked like a glossy magazine ad.

Mirage knew that she looked fairly grubby. Her hair was in a sloppy knot, there was a streak of dirt mixed with horse spit on her cheek and her sweatshirt and jeans were stained and coated with fur. "Bucky is out for the moment, he's probably out of a job, and I'm filling in for him. As for your horse, the one in 23, not being saddled yet, I'm a little busy. Saddle the horse yourself, lady. You're not a kid; you can handle it."

The woman gasped and shook a riding crop at Mirage. "How dare you say that to me! Do you know who I am?"

Mirage raised the other brow. "Nope, and I don't care. Saddle your own horse. You're not handicapped or a child." 

"I'm going to tell Mr, Lovaz about this! He'll fire you on the spot, groom, for poor customer service."

Mirage grinned at the woman. "He can try but I am rather indispensable to him." Mirage laughed when the woman stalked off and turned back to the children. Later, Mirage had to hold onto a stall to stay upright while she laughed at the woman. She hadn't been able to get anyone to saddle her horse for her and the moment she set a foot in a stirrup, the whole set up slid to the side. Odhran had appeared to conduct the lesson and he didn't look pleased. 

Mirage leaned in the open stable doorway and looked to the ring next to the schooling ring. She'd asked and gotten permission to set up a high jump ring. It wasn't for Bane; she'd only started to take him over rails laid out on the ground. The course was for her gelding. 

"Now you've done it. The Queen Bee is upset."

Mirage looked over her shoulder at Charles, the head groom. "Who?"

"Miranda 'just call me Randa' Uden. The one with the pretty buckskin mare. She's known as The Queen Bee."
"Ah, stall 23," Mirage watched as "Randa" took the mare over a warm up jump. "Her form is poor. She'll harden that mare's mouth with the way she's pulling on the reins. She's rushing the fences and not giving the mare enough room."

Charles grinned. "All the reasons Odhran hasn't let her move up to Advanced or beyond. His kept her in this level for seven years now. She's convinced that it's because he wants to keep her close. She thinks she's his star rider."
Mirage snorted. "Does she think she's a star rider in the same way that Bucky thinks he's the ultimate horse whisperer?"

"Pretty much. She's a spoiled rotten pain. Her daddy owns the fishing fleet in the village and has never said no to her. She's got her cap set for Odhran. Other men may be fine to play with, the esteemed Bucky for example, but he's the only one who has a net worth worthy of her net worth. Well, she tried for Kyros once, since he'll inherit the whole shebang but he shot her down."

Mirage grumbled. "Bet my net worth is bigger then her daddy's. Odhran ever seem interested?"

Charles shook his head. "She could shake her bare tatas under his noise and he wouldn't notice. He only notices her poor form and poor horse."

Mirage considered this. She'd shaken her naked tatas for Odhran last night and he'd been a slave to her. She watched as Randa's mare balked before a fence and winced when smacked the animal with her crop. "If you would pace her strides instead of rushing the fence, she wouldn't refuse. Don't get mad, circle around and try again," Mirage muttered. 

"Oh, Odhran asked me to tell you that he agrees to the idea of you Custosstrating the Puissance course to the advanced class that follows this. He also hinted that he'd welcome the distraction of you taking that monster of yours over the fences during this class. Some of the students are curious. They don't think any horse could clear those jumps."

Grinning, Mirage looked to the Puissance course she'd designed. She'd commandeered the official show ring to set it up. All of the jumps were higher then the standard gate height. Starting at 5'9", the gates could go up to nearly seven feet in height. She'd also installed a circle of standard gates along the edge of the arena as a warm ip course. She glanced at Charles. "And the idea of me doing it sidesaddle?"

"He says that if you can manage those jumps on side saddle, he'll beg you to stay and teach."

Mirage laughed. "I wonder what my salary will be. I'm gonna go get Blade ready," she said before flouncing off.""
***

Randa pouted. Odhran wasn't paying attention to her; he was walking some mousy preteen idiot through an approach to a jump. He wouldn't even get rid of that groom who refused to saddle the horse. 

She looked down at the animal. It smelled. Everything on this farm smelled but this was the only way to get Odhran's attention. He never came into town unless it was for business. Well, he had come into town a few weeks ago with some people from the horse farm. 

The horse shifted beneath her and she yanked in the reins. "Stand still, you stupid beast," she hissed. She hated the horse. The breeders had assured her that it was from prizewinning stock but the blasted thing refused more jumps then it went over. How was she suppose to impress Odhran with her skills when she had a defective animal?
***

Mirage laughed as she watched Blade dance around in circles. He was prancing about and throwing his head. Anyone who didn't know the temperamental gelding would assume he was anxious and nervous but Mirage knew better. He was excited and wanted to be out. He'd started dancing the moment she'd removed the side saddle that had been made from him. That saddle meant playtime and not work time. 

As she tucked away the grooming brushes, Mirage spotted the trunk her habit was kept in. She'd worn it to show off Bane at the fair. She had been planning to just wear her breeches and a white tee but now she considered the idea. She thought about the spotless Randa and a wicked grin crossed her face. She'd show that woman just what it took to impress Odhran. Chuckling, she pullled the trunk out of Blade's supplies. She patted his cheek and told him that she'd be right back. She took the trunk into the tack room and shut the door to change.

She stripped down to her skivvies and pulled on the leggings that went under the skirt. That way, if she needed to, she could yank the heavy, long skirt off and ride astride. As she changed, she thought about the horse prancing in her stall. She'd only been with Blade for about five years now. 

Every DeLorme did work in the stables at some point in their lives. For some it was a summer job. For her, it had turned into a vocation along side what she did for her Deity. She'd been at loose ends one summer and had taken up the task of managing her brother's office for a couple of weeks while her niece recovered from having a kid. The animal rescue organization from a few towns over had called,'said they had a severely neglected horse and the animal had a registration tattoo that was traced back to Three Willows and did they want it back. She'd said yes, because that was standard procedure and fled the office to find Trey. 

The neglected horse had been Dragon Blade and Trey told her that he'd been a designer horse. The owner bad wanted that mare and that stallion and had paid through the nose for the resulting foal. He'd been a handsome baby and Trey had been furious when he discovered that Blade had been gelded. He'd been too aggressive and the owner's mortal vet had recommended gelding. That hadn't killed the aggression and so, the owner took to beatings and neglect. 

As Mirage secured the stock to her all black habit, she recalled that the skeletal gelding with tangled mane, tail and feathers had been so docile. He'd walked off the rescue's trailer on shaky legs with overgrown hooves. She'd stood arm over shoulder with the staff of Three Willows, forming a living tunnel to the closest stall. As she'd stood there, Hell Bringer had trumpeted and screamed for the home paddock. Trey would later say the flick of the gelding's ears in response to the noisy stallion was a good thing. There was still fire in the gelding's soul. 

But the road to recovery was long. He did recover but the only person he would trust was Mirage. She'd sat with him through those long nights, gently teasing the tangles from his hair. Holding his head whenever the vet or farrier came to prod at him. The end result was a lasting friendship. 

Once she'd finished donning her riding habit, Mirage returned to Blade's stall and led the prancing horse out. "Yes, buddy, we are gonna play but we gotta warm up first. No funny business, sir," she said while using the mounting block to heave herself into the red leather sidesaddle. She took the gelding through his paces before heading towards the schooling rings. 

When Odhran heard the hooves, he looked up and grinned. Mirage saluted him as she rode into the show ring and circled the gelding around. When he signaled, Mirage turned the big gelding towards the first standard gate. 

[Maira]

To fund his breeding program, Odhran operated a riding school from the farm. The students ranged in age from five years old to adult and every riding level from rank beginner to Olympic hopefuls. Today he was stuck teaching his least favorite class with his least favorite student and seeing that Mirage had set up her Puissance course in the official show ring made him smile. He'd give anything for a distraction during this class. If he had to deal with Randa for one more lesson he was likely to explode and refund her father's money for the rest of the year's worth of pre-paid lessons. What he really wanted to do was buy the girl's poor mare from her father and after some rehab time for the mare to recover from Randa's awful treatment he wanted to not only use her as a schooling horse, but as a broodmare destined for Heaven's Bane.

After the umpteenth time of Randa's mare refusing the jump because of her rider's atrocious posture, Odhran told Randa to give another rider a turn. He then led one of the younger, better, students through the course and gave her some pointers which she quickly utilized and soon had her gelding easily taking the jumps that Randa's poor mare just couldn't thanks to her incompetent rider.

The sound of large heavy hooves prancing into the schooling ring caused Odhran to turn and smile. At the sight of the pair, Odhran didn't even try to keep the smirk from his lips. Mirage was in her formal riding habit and was perched on her sidesaddle atop her beast of a horse named Dragon's Blade. It was a pity the horse was gelded, he'd loved to have gotten a filly or colt of his to add to his own stock. As the pair entered the show ring, Odhran called the lesson to a halt and instructed all of his students to take up positions along the wall between the two rings so they could watch.

The snickers of disbelief that Blade could even trot over ground poles stopped the instant he launched himself over the first standard height gate. Shocked silence followed for the rest of the standard course. When Mirage turned Blade toward the Puissance course, there were shouts of, "No way!" and "No horse can jump those!". Odhran shushed his students and told them, "With enough training for both rider and horse, I am pretty sure even some of you here could manage those jumps."

The gasps and cheers that escaped from his students as Mirage and Blade progressed through the Puissance course were all the indication he needed to finalize a decision he'd been toying with. When the pair finished and Mirage trotted the barely sweaty gelding back to the gate between the rings, Odhran held the gate open for her and in a formal tone offered, "If you want the job, I have need of a new riding instructor." A few of the nearby students started to whisper excitedly and one was even so bold as to beg Mirage to take the job. Odhran laughed lightly and added cheerfully, "It seems you've inspired them, Mirage, and honestly I think this class in particular could benefit greatly from your instruction." Hope that she would accept the job offer was bright in his eyes and when she nodded in acceptance and held out her hand to shake on the offer, Odhran beamed and declared, "We can discuss your salary after hours today, for now go ahead and get to know your new students." That said, Odhran smiled at her once more and then slowly backed out of the schooling ring watching Mirage being inundated with questions from all of her new students.

Well, all but one, that is. Randa was glaring daggers at Mirage and Odhran was glad he was far enough away that his snicker wouldn't be heard by the brat. Knowing that Mirage was totally capable of handling anything her students could dish out he made a bee line back to his office to finalize the employment contract he'd drawn up for Mirage a while back, and also put in a call to Randa's father about her mare. When he hung up the phone with the fishing tycoon, he was the proud new owner of Siren Song and he was privvy to Randa's father's opinion that the girl was wasting his money and Odhran's time because he'd seen her at competitions and thought she was horrible. He was happy to unload Siren on Odhran for dirt cheap just so he wouldn't have to pay for her upkeep at the farm anymore. He'd told Odhran that he wouldn't stop Randa from taking lessons if she really wanted to, but if she was going to be doing that she'd be riding a schooling horse from now on.

*****

Before Mirage made it to his office, Odhran had put in another call. He'd given her big brother Trey, of Three Willows, a call to find out just how much he should be paying her as an instructor because if anybody knew what skills she possessed and would be able to pass on to students it was him. Upon hearing what Trey thought his little sister was worth, Odhran had thanked the man and hung up. The price was steep, but Odhran decided on an amount 5% higher because while the farm wasn't suffering for money, it -was- suffering for well trained staff who specialized in multiple areas and he wanted to give her good reason to stay on.

After she'd finished up class, put Blade out to pasture for the day, and had changed, Mirage had wandered into his office and when he slid the contract across his desk for her perusal he smiled at the widening of her eyes when she came to his offered salary. She looked up at him, then back to the contract, and then back to him as if unsure if she was reading it correctly. Odhran answered her unspoken questions with, "I did a little research and people with your skills are worth a lot to have on staff. I upped the offer a bit just because I want to be competitive with other stables in hopes that you won't leave us for a better offer." Her slightly dumbstruck expression made Odhran smile again.

They talked for a little while longer, discussing what her expected duties would be and what perks she'd get as an Emerald Heart staff member, and when she was getting ready to leave Odhran stopped her. His voice warm and soft, less business-like, he told her, "I don't want things to be weird between us now that you're working here, it's really just a formality and an excuse to pay you for all you've already been doing." Then, a bit more upbeat he asked her, "How about we go out to celebrate tonight?" She answered that that sounded nice and he added, "We can go to the one fancy restaurant in town and I can spoil you with champagne, or if you'd rather we can just go stuff ourselves with delicious pub food and beer. Lady's choice, just be ready by seven." Mirage beamed a smile at him, turned, and left his office with a decided bounce in her step.

*****

Odhran was waiting on the front porch of the house, it was about ten minutes to seven, and he was slightly nervous. Things were typically pretty easy between him and Mirage but tonight he had the little emerald colored silk bag holding his mother's necklace tucked in the front left pocket of his slacks. He'd had it in his right pocket but he kept fiddling with it so he had to switch it. When he heard the front door open, Odhran turned and gazed at Mirage for a moment before realizing he was staring. Like always she was beautiful but something about the sunset light just gave her a special glow.

He had meant to wait until dinner before he gave her the necklace but seeing her now, her hair up off her neck and shoulders, he just wanted to do it now. He stepped toward her, reaching into his pocket and pulled out the silk bag. "This is for you," he told her as he took one of her hands in his, turned it over, and placed the little emerald colored bag in it. He waited as she opened it and then looked up at him questioningly. "My father gave it to my mother as a token of his intention to court her." Mirage's eyebrows crept up onto her forehead and before she could say anything, Odhran held up a hand to stop her and continuted, "I went to see my mother not that long ago and before I even had a chance to mention you she gave me that. She told me only that my father had once had a look about him, much like I did at that moment, and shortly after he gave her this necklace."

Odhran could see the questions brewing in Mirage's eyes and before she could ask any of them he kissed her forehead gently and whispered to her, "Regardless of what we are, or what we may become, please do me the honor of wearing this?"

[Demeter]

Mirage called it Lightning Strike Love. From the stories she'd grown up with, she knew that most of her family had pretty much done the love at first sight deal. Maybe in some cases it had been pretty much easy as cheater pie but still, it seemed to be a habit of her bloodline and she'd always wanted it. Most of her friends called her crazy and that finding the sort of love she was talking about was impossible.

Well, mud in their eyes because she was pretty sure she'd found it. Taking advantage of the fact that she only had horses for company, Mirage danced around in a circle. The horses watched as she boogied down one side of the aisle and up the other. With a sigh, she came to rest against one of the stall doors. She reached under the collar of her shirt and pulled out the necklace he'd given her two weeks ago. Grinning to herself, she gave the little etched clover a tap and showed the charm to the horse nudging her shoulder. "Pretty, isn't it? He gave it to me. It was his mother's!"

Mirage giggled and spun around again. The last two weeks had been...blissful? Yes...they'd been full of bliss. After taking on several classes, she'd bumped that woman Randa down a level and partnered her with a hard mouth, mean spirited gelding who'd throw her rather then refuse a fence. Indeed, in the one lesson since then, Randa had met with the ground a dozen times.

She'd tried revenge, of course, but that had also backfired. Randa had started spreading vicious gossip about how the new stable girl had slept her way into a teaching position. Many of the parents had started asking questions about just who was teaching their children now. Odhran's calm and passive response was to add Mirage's profile and accomplishment to the farm's website. Seeing the list of awards had done much to shut the parents up. So had seeing her eating lunch and shopping with Odhran's mother.

She may have been sleeping with the boss but she was well qualified for the position of instructor snd she was liked by the boss's mother. Which was more then Randa could claim. Mirage giggled and wrapped her arms around her middle. Randa didn't know it yet but she'd lost all possible chances to win Odhran.

Just last week, Mirage's own mother had looked her in the eye and said to start stocking up on diapers and onesies. She planned on telling Odhran tonight after dinner. She'd waited a week in order to confront her own feelings about this surprise and she could honestly say that she couldn't be happier.

There were some nerves, she admitted as she skipped towards the schooling barn, about how Odhran would feel about this development. After all, they'd only known each other for eight weeks, give or take a few days. Either way, Mirage was more then ready for this.

The schooling barn was always a busy place between the students and the townspeople who boarded animals here but she was able to make her way to the indoor arena with little fuss. There, she leaned against the door and watched as Odhran scooped up one little girl and plopped her in front of him on Nightmare's saddle. Never going faster then a slow trot, he guided the young hunter over some low jumps. She smiled when she caught him signaling the mare to put a little extra oomph into her jumps to give the kids a thrill.

Yeah, she thought as he lowered the girl and picked up a boy, he'd make a great Dad.

***

Mirage giggled her way into the house after her lesson with Randa's group. She knew she shouldn't be laughing but the woman had gone flying over a fence to kiss the group this evening. Saddling her with Duke's Revenge was one of her better ideas as that gelding would be a better instructor. Randa would have to get better if she wanted to stay in the saddle.

After changing into Yoga pants and a tank top, she searched through the house for Odhran. She found him in the office, going through paperwork. She stuck her tongue out and crinkled her nose. With a business like Emerald Heart, paperwork was a necessary evil but it could turn even the best natured man into a raging beast. Well, she would need to distract him in order for them to have a serious discussion. "Hey, what's the policy for requesting time off?"

When he blinked owlishly at her, Mirage smiled and sat on the corner of the desk. "We never talked about that but I'm going to need at least six weeks off in about seven and a half months. And you'll probably want to find a replacement instructor in a few months. I don't know how comfortable riding will be since I've never been pregnant before."

She smiled at him while waiting for a response.

[Maira]

Very little had been able to put him in a bad mood since giving Mirage his mother's necklace. She seemed happy with the gift and how much it meant for him and his mother to give it to her. She'd settled right in at the farm and seemed to actually enjoy spending time with his family, for which he was grateful. Unfortunately, he'd been staring at the farm's books for the past two hours trying to figure out where the discrepancy was that his accountant was in a tizzy over, and that definitely made him more than a little grumpy.

When Mirage slipped into this office he didn't notice the face she made at his paperwork, he actually didn't even notice her presence until she asked him something about time off. Looking up from the books, he looked at her in hopes that she'd either repeat her question or explain more clearly what she was asking about. When she did, his dumbfounded look from before didn't change at all for a moment as her words sunk in.

After only a few moments, and some quick mental math, Odhran was on his feet and wrapping Mirage in his arms. He gave her a gentle squeeze before lifting her off the desk and spinning them both in a circle as he laughed. When he stopped spinning Odhran set Mirage down and he asked her, excitement and hope clear in his voice, "I'm not reading too much into this right? This means we're going to be parents right?" At her glowing smile and little node, Odhran had to resist the urge to twirl her again. Instead he reached over to shut the laptop he'd been working on, took her hand and scampered out of the office.

He locked the door behind them and then dragged her up the stairs behind him to his room. He left her standing by the bed as he disappeared into his walk-in closet. There was a bit of cursing, a few loud thumps, and then Odhran was stumbling out as he tripped over one of his riding boots. Once he had righted himself and straightened his now slightly rumpled appearance he walked toward Mirage with a lopsided grin turning up just one corner of his mouth. "I only got this yesterday and I wasn't exactly sure when I was going to get the chance to use it, but I guess my timing was better than I realized..." As his voice trailed off, Odhran knelt on one knee before Mirage and took her left hand with both of his.

After a barely audible gulp and with his cheeks slowly shifting to a darker shade of pink Odhran managed to speak again. "Almost the entire time we've known each other, I knew I wanted you to be a part of my life for the long-haul. After you received the necklace so warmly I had hoped that eventually you would want me as your husband. Now, knowing that our family has already started, I know that the time is right to ask you if you would please marry me, Mirage Delorme. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife?"

He let go of her hands, only to reach into his right pocket and pull out another emerald silk pouch. He undid the drawstring and tipped out a delicate gold band bearing a heart-cut emerald, accompanied by a small round diamond which he held up toward her as he awaited her answering.

[Demeter]

There had never been any doubt in Mirage's mind about how she's respond to that particular question if this particular man asked it. She happily shouted yes before leaping into his arms and peppering his face with kisses. Staying true to her exuberant nature, Mirage bounced on her toes as Odhran eased the ring onto her finger. Once it was snug against her palm, Mirage bounced closer, crashing into the man and knocking them both down to the bed. She laughed before jumping the man she could now call Fiancé.

They'd gathered his family in the morning to announce their engagement and impending parenthood. The news of the engagement had caused happy squeals from his mother and sister while his brother and father had offered congratulations. And then Deidre had started talking winter weddings in the grand hall of the ancestral family home.

Mirage interrupted her soon-to-be mother-in-law that she was leaning towards having the ceremony in about thirty days and out by the old apple tree grove.

When questioned about her obvious haste, Mirage's answer was simple. "Because it took me three hours to get that one," she paused to point a finger at Odhran," to agree to thirty days rather then thirty hours from the moment he asked. Also, I hate empire waisted dresses and refuse to look like the Goodyear blimp in the photos."

It took Deidre considerably less time then her spouse and other children to figure out Mirage's clues. With a happy squeal, the older woman leapt from her chair and ran around the kitchen table to hug the girl. Then she hauled her son into a hug before going back to Mirage. "You, as you the father of my first grandbaby," she said to Odhran while holding Mirage, "are my favorite child until you do something stupid or they do something better."

Following a breakfast with celebratory champaign (of which Mirage got a single stingy sip of), the staff of Emerald heart was informed. By the end of the day, the students also knew and by the next morning, all of the town knew that Odhran was hitching himself to his pretty American girl.

Plenty of pints were toasted to the happy couple and many trekked out to the stables to offer congratulations and to offer their help in any way possible. It seemed that almost everyone was happy for the couple. And curious as to the big hurry.

There was at least one person in town who wasn't happy. Randa Uden seethed over the news. She wasn't about to just let some American hussy flounce in and steal her shot at running this town. No one said it but everyone knew that Odhran's family pretty much ran things around here. They were her ticket away from the stench of fish.

She found and confronted Mirage in one of the stables. She curled her lip as she overheard Mirage cooing to the horse she was grooming. She said her piece about Mirage being an American upstart hussy who had no rights to swoop in and steal a man of this area. Randa, frustrated that Mirage had no reaction, stamped her feet and screamed and swatted at horse between the two women.

The horse, startled, jerked and kicked out, striking only air. Mirage, now annoyed, started to round the yearling, keeping just the tips of her fingers against his flank. Randa, scowling, smacked the yearling again. It kicked out, one hoof catching Mirage on the hip. The impact stung but she'd been clipped by older, stronger horses before. She gritted her teeth agains the throb and ordered a couple of the stablehands to remove Randa from the property.

She watched, hands clenched, as the men dragged the women from the shed. Charles, who'd been at the other end of the row and had seen the events, hurried down to take over care of the yearling. Once he had the horse secure in a stall, he turned to Mirage. "You okay? You look pretty pale."

Mirage swallowed against a wave of nausea. "Yeah, I don't think he broke anything." She'd just started to turn to find somewhere she could sit down, when pain ripped through her. Gasping, she doubled over, one arm around her belly and the other reaching out for something to hang onto. Another wave had her crying out for someone to get Odhran.

[Maira]

If he hadn't already been on cloud nine, telling his parents and siblings the news of their engagement and Mirage's pregnancy would have done so. From there, the news took off like wildfire through the town. He had a passing worry that some might not be so happy for the newly engaged couple, but he was too happy to focus on that.

Despite the good news and the impending nuptials, Odhran still had to work. Part of that work involved talking to Mirage's brother Trey about Heaven's Bane and it was during one of those phone calls that one of his stablehands burst into his barn office shouting that Mirage had been kicked and was in severe pain. Before dropping the phone and bolting out of the office, Odhran hoarsely told Trey, "Mirage is pregnant, she just got kicked, please get Genesis here..." Then the phone clattered to his desk before the line went dead.

*****

After being fetched by the stable hand, Odhran had ordered the man to get him to his fiance as fast as he could. He was pleased to find his staff hadn't moved her, risking further injury, but had instead moved the poor distraught yearling into the cross ties in the breezeway. He knelt down by Mirage's head, smoothing her hair back from her face before kissing her tenderly on the forehead. "Your mom is on the way, Love, please hold on until she gets here," he whispered to her as she cried and whimpered through the pain. The waiting for Genesis seemed to take an eternity, and by the time she finally arrived, Odhran feared it might be too late for the baby. Mirage had been clutching at her lower abdomen, clearly the source of her pain, and judging by the bruising he could see when he lifted her shirt, he wasn't confident that they would be starting their family the way they had hoped...

He heard her yelling at people to get the hell out of her way before she even entered the stall, but once she did, Odhran quickly moved aside. He relayed what the stable hands had told him, and what he'd witnessed, and as soon as Genesis went into her healing trance, Odhran slipped out. He'd heard the stable hands name Randa as the one to strike the yearling and he had the unusual urge to do bodily damage to the person who had injured his fiance and who very well may have cost him his first born child.

As he stormed out of the yearling barn, he made his way to Heaven's Bane's paddock. He didn't even bother with a bridle or a saddle when he called the stallion to him, he just told him, "Somebody hurt Mirage, we need to go hunting." The young stallion huffed his understanding and anger at the news and sidled up to the fence for Odhran to mount him. The pair were letting themselves out of the paddock when Darius came running up to them and without speaking, Odhran reached down to give the older man an arm up. Bane shifted rather uncomfortably under the extra weight, but he bore it well as he tore off the property at full speed.