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Post by Jared Martins on May 30, 2010 20:53:28 GMT -5
It was chilly for a spring day, getting into the high 30s but Jared supposed with the clouds overcast that the Sun just didn’t have it usual strength to fight them off. Leaning back in his chair, his bright baby blue eyes stared around the office. There was a metallic grey locked filing cabinet next to the door which he needed to go through and sort through the old student files. There were still some from the past couple of campers that were able to leave and return to society. Along the walls hung pictures of different groups of teenagers he’d taken pictures with once they finally left Willow Brooke. Each one was a success story and it brought hope to his eyes that he wasn’t just making everything up. The program did help young adults sort through their issues and reestablish what was truly important in their own life. Sitting back up, his hands rested on the desk, landing on a small stack of folders.
Each folder had a student’s name and a number from one to three, their riding experience from beginner to expert. The majority was beginners of the campers but here and there was an expert. All of them new to the town of Brooke Haven and to his camp; each one with their own set of problems that Jared would make sure was sorted out before they left. He rose from his seat and paced around the room while his old boots thumped across the floor softly, taking the time to examine every detail of his office. The swish of his jeans was the only noise he could make out besides his boots. It was a very quiet day in the office.
It was strange to spend so much time in the office but it to be very bare. There was a single desk right in front of the window, the once he’d just been at. A small bookcase behind the desk of assorted books that ranged from horses to the psychology of the teenage mind. Aside from the pictures on the walls, Jared had framed the deed to Willow Brooke next to a picture of his deceased wife, who the place was named after. It might have seemed pretty sad to have held on to a person for 17 years after they were gone, but Jared found it hard to move on even after it all had happened. Breaking from those depressing memories, he glanced at the files once more along with the paperwork he needed to get through. It could all wait another hour or two. Jared turned and moved to the door of his office, grabbing his blue flannel shirt to pull over his black t-shirt along the way.
It didn’t take much time for him to wave to the office staff and leave the building to find the students that should have been around the pastures. After arrive over the past week or so, it was about time they all got the talk. The pastures were a bit of a walk from the main building, but it wasn’t raining so Jared huffed along the path. He saw exactly what he was looking for. A mass of bodies hovering around the wooden post. Some looking very timid of the large beast that stood before them, others as if they didn’t care, still some that actually looked eager to do something for a change. There was hope for all of them. Jared hadn’t given up on them yet. Nor would he. What he didn’t see was an instructor to monitor the group and their actions around the animals. That didn’t settle too well with Jared, but he’d think it over later.
Pulling out a sharp whistle from under his shirt, Jared gave it one long hoot to get the handful of camper’s attention. “Listen up!” He stopped about three feet from the group so all could hear him. “I’m Jared Martins. The owner of this lovely place.” His eyes dared any one to speak right as he was. They would each have a turn to voice their opinion, but not when Jared was speaking. “Willow Brooke has one simple rule. Respect them.” Pointing to the horse, he indicated that the ‘them’ was the beast. “I don’t care if you don’t respect me, but you have all better show respect for them.” Placing his hands down on his hips, he scanned over the face of the students before nodding slightly. “One will be assigned to each one of you. You have better treated that horse like it was your own pair of legs. A great number of them have been through just as much hell as you. Don’t think for a moment they’re going to go easy on you right from the get go.” Even for the beginner riders it was going to be tough to learn to ride a horse and trust that it wouldn’t buck them off. “Any questions or comments?”
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Post by Grace Marshall on May 31, 2010 0:36:09 GMT -5
Grace was perhaps the one member of Willow Cove who didn't want to be there. She didn't want to talk to Jared. She didn't even want to be in the same vicinity as him. In fact Grace Marshall was just in the wrong place. She didn't have issues that needed to be dealt with in a Correctional Facility. She didn't need anyone to tell her that they could fix her. She didn't care that there were eyes constantly glancing at her more then she would like. No that didn't get to Grace. Grace was deep into her own dispair. Grace had watched her friend kill herself. She had seen it with her own two eyes. If that wasn't enough to break you, what was.
She wanted drugs, she wanted to use. She wanted to get high and good and lost. She didn't need this place and she didn't need to trust anyone there. She had herself, herself and well just no one. She didn't think she would ever trust anyone ever again. In fact Grace Marshall didn't want to trust. She wanted to make sure that people understood that. She was hard-a** during her admit. She was hard as could be. She was hard when they were trying to tell her she needed to admit she needed help. She didn't talk much, she didn't open to anyone. She didn't really care about the horses to begin with.
Sure they were screwed up. Sure the horses had there moments. Sure some of them were probably as wild as her. It didn't really matter to her. She didn't care and she really wasn't going to care. She didn't want to care. She was bitter and she liked it that way. Grace Marshall just wanted to tell the director where he could shove his instructions on the horses. She felt as if he could just keep his mouth shut. "I do not have to do sh*t." she mumbled out. She did not care if he heard her, she did not care if she got yelled at, scolded, punished. What ever it did not really matter to her at all. She did not really care if she got told she had to go to her room. She did not really want to have to have a serious conversation with anyone.
She tugged her jacket around her arms as she looked towards the horses. She liked horses but she didn't really want anyone to even know. She would have screamed but she knew it would spook the horses She didn't think that would be a good idea. She figured she would get in more trouble then every other student there. She did however feel like her anger was starting to get to her. "Listen, I don't think you know what the hell most of us have been though, you haven't lived our lives. So Horses have a rough life some of them are hurt and abused, but do you really know what lies down deep down in there hearts." She was talking about herself for the most part. She knew that she was loosing herself, she knew she was speaking and she didn't speak often. She usually tried to get that and keep it inside. This school was starting to get to her. This facility was starting to make her go insane. She didn't really need anyone causing issues for her at least then.
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Post by Jared Martins on May 31, 2010 7:20:58 GMT -5
After Jared spoke, there seemed to be a hush that fell over them. The only sound was that of the stallions that stood in the pasture. Clearly the teenagers were sizing him off to see how far they could get away with anything. His arms locked around his chest, waiting for someone to say anything. They would soon found out that drugs were almost impossible to get in, almost, and the only place with hard alcohol was the local Watering Hole. If the new owner had any common sense he or she would check who was legal to go in…if not, there was going to be one big fight between them. Jared wasn’t going to sit around and allow anyone that was here to relapse.
Finally, a voice was mumbled loud enough for Jared to make out the words. Smirking, he shook his head and let his eyes roam over the mass of bodies, not seeing who’d cursed out about doing shit. It didn’t matter, what he had to say could have applied to all of them. “That is where you’re wrong. You don’t do ‘shit’ then I or an instructor get to take stuff from you. Small at first such as the trips to town. But seeing as how for most of you this is it before jail, if you want to push your luck I’ll go into the office right now and fill out the paper work to transfer you tomorrow.” So far in 17 years, Jared had to do that for only one person and it had been a very last resort. In his eyes everyone deserved to straighten out their life. Besides, angry students were the ones that normally the ones that were afraid to open up to anyone. He knew from experience both himself and Markus when Jared finally snapped from his depression coma state.
One body had moved closer to the horses, but was still talking. Jared stepped through the group of students until he was on the side of her. “What’s your name? You might be amazed to learn what I know about each of these horses once they warmed up to me.” No, he hadn’t lived their lives, he’d lived his own and had learned to overcome his own problems without someone being there for him. Leaning against the post, his eyes fell on Phantom, a black coated horse with white spots here and there, but he got his name for the large white bald marking on his forehead. The large animal was eating grass right then as Jared slipped under the large fence. The moment his foot was on the other side of the fence, Phantom’s head shot up as if ready to charge at Jared, until he saw who had dared get inside the pasture. Walking slowly up to the large animal, he kept his hands up to allow the horse to know he wasn’t there to harm him. Phantom snorted while stomping his front hoof almost in a joking way. Never the less, Jared placed his hand on his forehead and rubbed the coat there, getting the horse to close its eyes as if falling asleep.
“You still want to say I don’t know a thing about these animals, then come out here and comfort this one. Granted, he likes to bite.” Jared’s eyes honed in on the girl at the fence, daring her to make a move. His fingers lightly ran through Phantom’s mane keeping the animal calm and gentle. He wasn’t entirely sure that the girl wouldn’t get bitten by the horse, it might only force her to go deeper inside herself, or it might present her with a challenge that she would want to undertake. Jared was hoping for the later one.
[OOC: if anyone else wants to join feel free to jump in]
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Post by Grace Marshall on May 31, 2010 23:07:43 GMT -5
The hush that was there when Jared had spoken was there for a while. That was until the sound of her voice came out. She glanced around towards the other group members. Then she noticed the counselors. They all seemed to be starring at her far to much. She really didn't think the whole speaking thing. She didn't really need to let them know exactly how much she needed someone. She needed to feel as if she could trust someone. Though she was stronger then she gave herself credit for. She was strong enough to keep things together, if only the party hadn't gone the way it was. She would be dead right then. She wouldn't have to be worried about being at a school, well correctional facility.
She could see his eyes searching for her voice. She could see him wondering who exactly had said it. First off, she was hapy that she mumbled it far beyond hearing. She didn't think that he would figure out it was her either. She didn't think it would even matter. Besides it was protection if she could keep things quiet. She really didn't like any of the staff members. One staff member who got on her nerves the most was Jared. He was the boss, the manager as someone would call him. He was the one that she would report to, if her behavior continued down the path that it was going.
She rolled her eyes when he heard him state, that they were wrong, that you do shit or the instructor would take things from you. Trips to town, or jail. Really Grace wasn't bound for jail. She had told them that she would commit suicide had she gone there. She had told them she would well die and then she would blame it all on them. Which of course would be true. So of course they didn't think it was wise to send her anyplace but Willow Brooke.. She didn't think that Jared would remember that. She didn't think that Jared would keep that thing, on filling out paperwork to send her there. Besides' the horses wouldn't know if they were getting attention or not.. Grace liked horses, she lked them so much, but she would rather just have fun without all the work that went along with it.
Did Grace Marshall really belong at Willow Brooke Correctional Facility. Well she was like most students and most students there, were considered almost as if this was there last hope. She had been kicked out of so many rehabs it was just hard to keep up now. She knew that Jared had her file, knew what was written on her file. It just didn't really matter to her. She didn't care and she wanted him to know that.
She didn't expect him to come closer. First Jared was asking her name. She thought he knew her name. "What you don't know my name, Isn't it on my file? Grace Marshall." She was the cops daughter. See this is why Jail was not an option for the young lady. Though she knew that she was much more quicker to get punishments from him then actual jail time. "The horses warmed up to you, what are you some kind of mind reader?' If he was a mind reader, maybe he knew why she was there. What the story of her life was.
She watched his eyes as they looked towards the horses. She had noticed a horse as well. The horse seemed to have a ghost like face for the most part, with blue eyes. She had seen it when she first arrived and had actually fell in love with it. This wasn't her first day there. Afte all she was there for the rest of her life.
Grace wasn't scared especially when it came to horses. She didn't care if she got bitten by them. She didn't care if they trampled her to death either. She was one of those types of girls that was just hard to control for the most part and she wanted to make sure that he knew that. She turned her head as she went to the fencing and climbed up over it. Jumping down, and then glancing towards the eyes of the animal. If anything, she knew how to soothe the savage beast that was inside of a horse, even an abused horse.
She walked slowly, her eyes surviving the other horses that were inside and near. This one, this phantom as one would call him. He had that wounded soul. He was like her, and she could sense it. She just didn't want to admit that she knew what was eating at the horse. She knew that the horse knew, she knew that some people would know. It didn't matter.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 3, 2010 15:11:26 GMT -5
It was truly amazing all the information that was slapped in those files Jared at stacked in his office. There was everything from medical records to anything they ever might have said to a councilor or an authority figure. The name the girl gave him snapped a couple of things in place for the owner of Willow Brooke. “Just because I have a whole file dedicated to each student here doesn’t mean there’s a picture for every file.” The ‘I don’t care’ attitude rubbed Jared the wrong way. It reminded him of his own son back in his teenager years. That same attitude that pushed everyone away while trying to remain tough and strong on the inside. A defense mechanism risen from a tough life or a traumatic experience. Grace wouldn’t be the first camper to pass through Willow with that thought and Jared knew she wouldn’t be the last. Life would be simpler if she opened up to someone, anyone, even the horse.
Thinking back, he remembered what was stamped so delicately in Grace’s file under parent/guardian. The name of a man and his ranking in the police department. A smirk threatened to break across Jared face, but since he hadn’t smiled in so many years outside of his son it wasn’t going to be seen that day. Smiling brought too many painful memories to his mind, ones that were best left away. “ If I was a mind reader, Miss Marshall, my job wouldn’t be the owner of this place. I’d be off getting rich with my gift.” Running his fingers along Phantom’s neck, he kept the horse calm and in check while waiting for the girl to make her move. His voice was smooth and commanding but there was a want to help anyone that only reached back out to the hand he offered every camper. “What I do know how to do is give everyone a second chance and see past what society has labeled them.”
For a brief moment, his eyes roamed over the stallions in the pen before glancing at the pen a couple yards away. Each one holding only three or four stallions at most to keep the fighting between them at a minimum. Not to mention that the mares for a good half mile away on the other side of the barn, out of their sight. “Each one of you can simple call them animals. That’s fine. They are animals. But their eyes have seen as many things as you have. Some more than others.” His words were for all the campers present, not just Grace. Jared didn’t want them to feel like there wasn’t someone that could related to them. For each story they had, the horses held similar ones. They wouldn’t judge them or abuse them, only accept them if they were accepted in return and loved back.
Jared waved the other staff members back finally spotting them in the group to allow Grace to get closer to the fence. It would only be by her choice to get in the pasture area with Phantom. No one would force her, not today anyways. This was more of a warm up to see if there was a chance that Grace and Phantom would get along, not perfectly but not to the point Phantom would charge the girl or she would throw a hissy. Nodding slightly as he saw her climb over the fence, Jared took a single step away from Phantom far enough to give the two of them space, but close enough to grab the horse should anything go wrong. It wouldn’t have been the first time for Jared to get bruised do to a horse being startled or feeling threatened by a student for them to fight back.
But Grace didn’t looked frightened, no, she looked as if she would hold her grown against the large beast before her. Confidence, a friendly hand and face were key elements to gaining any horse’s trust in Jared’s opinion. The girl had the confidence, but what of the hand and face?
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Post by Grace Marshall on Jun 4, 2010 11:27:27 GMT -5
The silence was a little bit of a madness. Grace of course wouldn't be stopped by the eyes looking at her. She didn't care if she had to hide the fact of her live. The torment she had seen. She was in fact shutting down to the outside world. She didn't want Jared to know why she was like that. She didn't want him to know what she was hiding. Though she knew that the files in the offices were stacked full with information. How she tried to commit suicide probably had her on the watch list.
“Just because I have a whole file dedicated to each student here doesn’t mean there’s a picture for every file.”
She smiled briefly when he stated that he had file on each of the students. "Well see there you go, you just admitted that you have a whole file dedicated to each student. So you should know why we are here then. You should know why each of us are hiding everything inside." She continued to walk closer to the horse. Her eyes danced a little bit as she glanced at him and then back to the horse. She wasn't going to get close to the horse with him around. She was hard and she was sure she could handle this phantom.
She watched him briefly, almost as if he was about to smile. Though the smile that crept up, seemed to retreat at the very moment it had happened. She wondered what he had been thinking about. She wondered if he was trying to figure her out once more. She didn't want that. “ If I was a mind reader, Miss Marshall, my job wouldn’t be the owner of this place. I’d be off getting rich with my gift.”
"Well you assume to know what has each of these horses spooked, scared, almost out of control. Thats not the way it works." Which it wasn't. Grace didn't think that Jared was going to make a good business there at Willow.
“What I do know how to do is give everyone a second chance and see past what society has labeled them.”
"It doesn't matter about people who are given second chances, when there life is out of control already, do you really know what society labels us as? Out of control, Misunderstood, Emo Students." She explained. She doubted that horse saw a death. She doubted the horse had seen that, had wanted to kill it's own self in the process.
They were horses, not just animals. They were important, but while they were important. Grace wanted to hide the fact that she had them up there as if they were very real.
She continued to make her move over towards the horse. Almost as if she was barely touching the ground almost glidng over it. She wasn't, she was just walking briskly. Her hand was low towards the ground. She finally made it over to the horse, she held a little bit of fear, but at the same time, her stubbornness held it back. She watched as Jared moved away from her and Phantom.
Soon as she was close enough, she let her hand out slowly but was bringing her hand up against the horses nose gently, as if to tell the horse that she was not going to threaten it. Her face had softened and was gentle to the horse. She didn't want the horse to get spooked at all.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 4, 2010 13:17:26 GMT -5
Jared could see Grace was going to be one tough kid to crack, but that didn’t matter much to him. He’d handled tough kids. They took time and patience both of which Jared was chalk full of. There was no denying how stubborn he could be with the teens, he’d been around a lot longer than any of them and see a great number of things. There wasn’t much she or any of the others could throw at him to push him over the edge now. Maybe those first five years he would have been annoyed by Grace the moment she opened her mouth, but he had learned from the past. “I never denied I held such files. Ask around, it’s a well known fact.” Jared cocked his head to the side, not sure what Grace was trying to prove. “I keep them well up to date; have to if I want to keep this place running.”
His hard hand continued to rub Phantom’s neck to keep the horse calm. The horse’s nostrils flared as Grace moved closer to him, even taking a step back. “Good boy.” Jared whispered to the horse feeling it’s heart pounding under its skin. “Yes, I know. But me knowing why you all are here does nothing for you or the others.” His eyes stared over at Grace, trying to get her to open up. It was only going to work it she wanted it too; if not there wasn’t much of a chance there would be progress made in Willow Brooke for her. Not that Jared was going to give up.
“You keep trying to find fault in my words instead of believing me when I say I’m here to help.” It was a cliché saying, but there was nothing wrong with the truth. Grace may not believe it, but Jared was there to see that each student was able to move past their anger and depression to feel ok with living, to see that not everything in the world was so terrible that they had to shut everyone and everything out. “Grace, I’ve seen each of these horses in action. Some were abandoned, others near death when they were found. I know how frightened they are when they’re desperate for life. They become scared from their experiences like Phantom here. However, not all of them let that one moment get to them.” As he spoke, his index finger pointed over to another stallion that was neighing and running around in a happy mood. The animal’s chestnut coat was healthy and shining while his hooves thundered over the pasture. “Bruce over there just loves attention. He doesn’t care who you are or where you’re from or whatever happened in the past. He’ll love you no matter what.”
Phantom seemed to sense Jared was talking of another horse and snorted hot air in his face. “Love you too, Phantom.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a sugar cube and it vanished in a second by the large mouth that engulfed it. “Why do you act like I know nothing about teenagers and how they act to one another and how they’re treated by other adults?” Shaking his head, his hand slid from the horse’s mane to back away and give Grace space to charm Phantom. Jared didn’t have much doubt she would be able to, but the hostility she was displaying to everyone didn’t put her in the best light in his eyes. But that came with receiving little respect from someone not matter who it was.
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Post by Grace Marshall on Jun 4, 2010 13:54:50 GMT -5
Grace had no plans on making herself to easy for Jared. In fact she was more of a mess then most people would have assumed with the type of front she leaves on herself. She doesn't trust many people and she's still getting to know Jared. Though she doesn't trust him, she has more trust in a horse then she does in Jared.
"Well I'm guessing our file has our background on there, what makes us tick, etc." She didn't really know what it would say. She figured that she was just pushing his buttons. She knew she was. "You keep the files up to date, with what notes? Notes of the staff, as they try to read into our mind?"
She watched the horse take a step back, in truth she wasn't worried. She just didn't know if the horse was going to let her get to near her. She whispered almost barely inaudiable, but more of a sweet sounding voice towards the horse. "Hey Phantom, hey boy, shhhh its alright I'm not going to hurt you." She explained to the horse. Finally she was a little bit louder enough to be heard by Jared and him alone. "It doesn't matter if you know about us, I think I beg a difer, you have this place, because you believe in second chances, then you must know what most of it contains, or you wouldn't be able to run this place right." She was a bit difficult at times.
'Here to help whom?" She turned her attention towards him, her hand moved away from the horses nose, and she just stood there. "The horses, us, me?" She wasn't sure if he really knew what he was saying.
There it was, the over confidence she had expected from Jared. He knew the horses in action, had seen them in action. Some were abandoned. Some were near death. some wanted to be found and saved. She knew she was very much like some of those horses, again she wasn't ready to admit it outloud and in truth.
"What was his life, whats his story." Now she was intrigued. She was wanting to know more. What made Phantom tick, what made him whom he was. Her hands went closer to her
She glanced over to the horse deemed Bruce. Bruce did look like he was wanting attention, but her eyes were solely set on Phantom. Phantom was a horse that was difficult. She was difficult.
She looked at Phantom once more, her deamnor seemed to change for him. She was more relaxed, more confident, and yet more understanding of the horse. Her hand slowly went to its nose, softly she rubbed it gently. Letting the horse know she wasn't going to abuse it.
Her eyes remained on the horse when she was asked the question. "Don't you know that teenagers, act a certain way around adults, then they do with other teens." Her voice was much gentler, as if not to spook the Horse in front of her. Finally Phantom nudged her hand gently, and she slowly walked closer towards his side, holding her hand underneath his mouth, she gently rested her hand against him. Then she leaned foreward and kissed him gently. "I know." She rested her hand against him, then moved towards his mane a little bit, rubbing her fingers against his mane, she rubbed down towards his area where the saddle would go. She gently caressed her hand against it. She knew that he would bite her, if she did something wrong, but she wasn't going to make any mistakes. She wasn't going to hurt him.
"Horses, animals, they sense things." Which he probably sensed what was going on in her mind. "Phantom." She cooed.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 4, 2010 16:18:08 GMT -5
“No need to guess, doesn’t take a scientist to figure out what’s in those files.” Jared’s eyes watched Grace. It was ironic with her name and how she acted. Fate or destiny tended to have a funny sense of humor with the people that came to Willow Brooke. “Notes, progress reports, whether someone is watching over their horse properly or neglecting it.” That had to be the one thing Jared wouldn’t put up with. A neglected animal would never be turned away from by him or the farm nor tolerated when it came to the students. It was bound to be the only think to set him off instantly.
Keeping quiet, Jared watched the slight nervousness that flashed through Phantom’s eyes as Grace got closer. It vanished and was replaced by his normal cold and distrusting eyes. The exterior of the girl seemed to change right before Jared’s eyes and he wasn’t sure if he could place his faith in that this was the true colors of Grace. Suddenly she was sweet, caring, and every gentle with the animal. “No Grace, I can only offer a good ear to listen to each one of you speak and offer advice but to want to move past whatever was in your life that caused to wind up here has to be your choice. I can’t force you up on that horse, nor force you past any mistakes you might have made. You stepped up to Phantom, you didn’t just blow me off. Something inside you doesn’t want to be a complete bitch to everyone.” Smirking, he had kept his voice low enough for only Grace to hear while he crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes closely watched the two beings interact. So far, so good.
“I’m here to help whoever wants an extra hand in life or is in a very dark place and needs a little guidance out of that hole.” Taking another step back, he gave the two even more room to let Grace take her time examining the horse without felling odd about him watching her. The other group of teenagers was being talked to by the councilors now about responsibilities they held while at Willow Brooke.
It seemed that Phantom had grabbed Grace’s attention and was holding very firmly. “Oh no, Grace. That I’ll hold over your head for awhile until I’m convinced you truly want to handle this horse. He needs love and affection, no attitude or sass which he’d had more than enough of for a couple of lifetimes. I’ll more than happily take anything you can dish out, but Phantom needs a gentle rider who’ll see into him.” Jared already knew Grace would care about the large black and white horse, but he needed to make sure she wouldn’t suddenly turn back around and get angry to take it out on him. But the change that had come over her, nearly made Jared give in and tell her, but he stopped himself.
“They may, but I was a teenager a very long time ago. I remember treating certain teenagers differently if they were odd or acted just a little differently. Not my prouder days.” He was proud of hearing that Grace kept her voice low and soothing while in the presence of Phantom. That was going to definitely make sure that she didn’t get her fingers snapped at as long as she kept her touches soft and gentle.
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Post by Grace Marshall on Jun 4, 2010 16:54:39 GMT -5
Grace watched him briefly when he spoke. She wasn't really looking for a answer. She just wanted some kind of truth as to if he truly understood there files. She then heard him say things like notes, progress reports. "So what your saying is, notes and progress reports as to if we get to leave this place." In Grace's mind she would be gone before then, and perhaps before she got to close to anyone. 'I don't think you'd have to worry about anyone neglecting an animal, perhaps themselves, but never a horse." Which the more that she thought about proved that she did have a soft side. Perhaps she was showing it a bit to much and that was usually when she pulled everything inside.
Jared was quiet, a little to quiet, as she could tell that Phantoms eyes were growing a bit antsy when she was that close to him. However she kept herself as gentle as she could be. She didn't want to be evil, no she wanted someone to hear her story. However she wasn't easily broken into like that. "You can't force me through anything?" She asked almost as if the man was hiding something. She didn't really want anyone her or this horse at that very moment. "You offer advice, even if someone can't tell you anything about there life." She rolled her eyes.
"He is a horse." She spoke gently. "Your human, I can't help I like to pick my battles." She rolled her eyes once more. When he stated that she didn't want to be a bitch to everyone. "I like animals." She wanted him to know that he wasn't going to hurt a horse. A horse didn't cause her problems, humans did.
"I don't think you understand." She explained. "Sometimes people don't realize there in a dark place, nor do they know how to admit that they need help." She was in a way admitting to him that she needed help. That she needed someone to understand her.
"So your not going to tell me his story, you said you knew all about him." She looked over at him. Her hand still traveling on Phantom's body, slowly going down to where his shoes were on his feet. She tried to lift his leg up gently, but it didn't work. Soon she moved herself back towards his mane again and just let her hands go over him.
She soon attempted to grab a hold of him gently enough to pull herself up. She wanted to get on top of him. She wanted to see if he would let her. "Please let me." She whispered to him. She wanted to have his trust. Wanted the horse to know that she wasn't going to hurt him. 'I'm not going to hurt him." She told Jared. "Horses don't need the abuse." Which was the truth.
She was halfway up when the horse moved slightly. She let her hand rub against her. Then finally she was over, sitting bareback. Gently rubbing his mane while she sat there.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 4, 2010 18:17:21 GMT -5
A smirk began to form on Jared’s lip, a very dry and heartless smile at the way Grace phrased the notes on the students. “For some people yes, for others just remarks on what will help them in their own way.” But he shook his head at her neck remark. “You seem to forget that only a moment ago, you said you didn’t care a thing about this place. Yet here you are. Others truly don’t care about horses, animals, or anything but themselves. Those people I have to keep an eye out for.” But the undertone of her words did give Jared hope for Grace. Yes, she would be a touch one but she cared about the large beast before her.
“A person must change by their own want to. The competitions that are held here and the exercises of getting in touch with your inner self can’t be faked nor done in a joking manner. I can guide students through them, but they…you have to go through with them with real heart.” Sighing under his breath, Jared arched an eyebrow at Grace and her new comment. Was she locking herself down again because she had shown some caring for the horse? “Sometimes a small piece of advice and make the world of difference to someone who thought no one would ever give them the time of day.”
“Do you have reason to have such mistrust with every human?” It would have been easy to read a file on someone, but to have a conversation was more worthwhile. However, he could definitely now tell, there was a soul to this girl underneath all those barriers. It was going to take some digging to pull out for the rest of the world to see, but right then with Phantom, Jared saw it. Phantom even was able to see it as he calmed down, but his eyes were still watching Grace while her hands moved up and down his body.
“Those people only need a reliable person to call out to them and show them what they are missing in the world.” There it was, that voice that gave it all way. She wanted help but wouldn’t admit it. That was nothing new to Jared only telling him that he would have to break out his strong will and stubbornness to never give up on a single person.
Staring back into Grace’s eyes, Jared nodded seeing that she would be able to give the horse the proper care. “I do know it. I took the time to find out. Phantom was owned by a rich family, rich but not very wise with horses. They bought him as at a very young age maybe six or seven months. They attempted to saddle him before he was old enough and break him in rider and all. Didn’t go too well. Phantom took to bite to keep the children and everyone away. It worked very nicely in his favor. Bored with him, they sold him to another ranch that specialized in horses with such a problem, but they weren’t able to fix the problem. I stumbled across him while at their annual competition and brought him here.” Phantom nickered at the story and lifted his head as if nodding before pausing as if frozen by the hand sliding down his leg. Once more his heart beat rose under his chest.
“Grace.” Jared’s voice was a clear warning to the girl not to push her luck with the animal while watching her make a move to mount the horse. Phantom wasn’t known to just let someone jump on his back without fair warning. But of course, what did Jared fully know. The horse might very well surprise him just as Grace had. “No one needs the abuse, but people do so to each other and animals all the time. I only hope I’m there to either stop it or lend a hand to heal the wounds. Seen and under the skin.” Grace got on Phantom’s back and Jared felt his heart leap slightly at the sight.
Phantom’s eyes dilated as he stomped his hooves in annoyance. Neighing loudly in protest, the horse leapt up on his hind legs, rearing. “Grace hold on to his neck!” Jared ran in front of Phantom and grabbed hold of the horse’s neck and pulled him down to look in his eyes. Shushing the horse, his fingers ran over Phantom’s nose in a soothing motion, calming the horse right down as if nothing had happened.
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Post by Grace Marshall on Jun 4, 2010 18:30:51 GMT -5
It was almost an instant later that Grace had feared that he would understand what she was hinting at. It appeared that Jared wasn't as stupid as Grace would have liked him to be. It wasn't like he knew what was going on in his life. She glanced towards him once more as she held onto the horse a little bit and petted its mane in a soothing voice she spoke to it gently. When he was telling the story, she knew what that meant. That the horse more importantly was probably abused, they probably whipped him, didn't us any type of soothing voice for the horse. They basically tookt he love out of it. Those were the hardest horses to well fix. "I never said I didn't care, I only said that." She didn't even want to explain. She didn't want to say anything to the fact that she was lying to him. That she truly did understand what he was speaking. She bit a litlte bit at her lip as she thought about it. "You have to understand, that I want to try to trust, but I can't." She explained.
'What am I missing in this world Jared, what am I personally missing?' She really didn't know what she could do. "I don't think I could personally get bored with this animal." She shook her head a little bit. She didn't want to say anything. She just wanted to keep everything locked up.
In a instant the horse reared up and started to take off. She was so scared that she almost panicked a little bit. Fear did flash in her eyes. Was she about to get her answer to the death that she wanted all along. No she didn't, she heard what Jared had said to do, she held onto the horses neck as tight but not as hard as she could. She didn't want to hurt him. Didn't want to be another person to abuse him. She could feel her heart leaping and beating, almost as if it was going to skip a beat. She was going to soothe Phantom but it seemed that Jared was far ahead of him. She closed her eyes tightly as she was still holding on. Almost as if she was holding onto her life at that moment. She whispered very few words that she had hoped she would never utter there at willow. "Help me." She didn't want to feel as lost as she was. She just didn't want to say that he was right. Though he was very much right in the long run.
When the horse was calm, and Jared was in front of him. Only then did her hands go loose and rub down the horses neck gently. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm sorry I went to fast." Which was the truth. She was more or less apologizing to the horse rather then Jared.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 4, 2010 20:00:24 GMT -5
Whispering sweet nothingness’s into Phantom’s hear, Jared got the horse calm and his heart beat from not pounding so loudly. Rubbing his hands through the horse’s mane, Jared gave Grace a very stern glare as he stepped around to the horse’s side. “Now, are you ready to try that again?” He wasn’t going to force her to get down if she was still up for trying to take it slow with Phantom and allow him time to adjust. The horse in question shook its hair as if doubting the true soreness in the girl’s voice. Taking a step away from Grace and Phantom, he waved for her to continue. “Take it slow.” His eyes took a moment to soften and encourage the student to become friendly with the horse once more.
Phantom’s head was high and proud, still unease about the person on his back, but ready to try over again with something slower. “Now, back to that question you had. Personally, what you’re missing is this horse.” His eyes saw how much she enjoyed the creature and even took a small pleasure in knowing that they might have a common past. “I’m not trying to get super sentimental on you, but there are a vast number of horses here without someone to look after them and give them the full love they need. I’m only one person with a small talent with animals.” It wasn’t a lie, there were more horses than students a lot of the time. Jared seemed to always be a few people short on horse. Glancing over at the fence, he saw that the councilors had noticed the commotion in the pasture, but hadn’t moved in since Jared was well known for getting wild horses under control. “This one needs a lot of affection. If you won’t open up to any of the councilors then maybe you can with him.”
“Part of trusting it at least trying to. That’s a good start.” Jared stepped back to allow Grace to take Phantom into a light walk. “Go easy on him. Just go for a small walk around the pasture. If he starts to feel jumpy or skittish hold on and I’ll come save you.” Once more he waved for Grace to take over command of the horse, who looked antsy to get moving once more. This time he was sure the horse wouldn’t freak out since he’d already gone through his tantrum. Well, as long as there was no sharp kicks to the animal’s sides or sudden movements.
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Post by Grace Marshall on Jun 4, 2010 20:26:37 GMT -5
Grace's mind was traveling a hundred miles per hour. She listened to the talk of Jared to Phantom. The horse had finally calmed down but Grace was still a bit fearful. She was still worried she was going to get hurt. She didn't want to get hurt, but she was determined that Phantom was going to like her. She was going to have the horse understand that she was exactly like the horse. When she heard Jared ask her if she was ready to do it again. She bit at her lip. 'I mean I want."
She was on him bareback at least. It was weird for her, but she had been around horses most of her life. She had rode them whenever she wanted too. She nervously chewed on her lip, she was trying to figure out what to do about the situation. If she continued, she was sure that Phantom was going to try to kill her. But she stil had faith in the horse.
"How am I missing this horse, he barely knows me. He barely trusts me, like I barely trust you." She said, her eyes blinking a little bit more. She was sure that she could do it. He wasn't trying to get super sentimental with her. Though when he spoke she listened to him. Her hand gently patted the horse.
"He tried to rear me off, I don't think I'm doing it right." She said with a sigh. Her hands though loosened there grip and then slowly started to walk with him. Being careful to not do any movements that would creep it out. She didn't kick to the sides either. She glanced towards him as if to get the encouragement she wanted. She slowly walked with him. Gently leading him with soft words, and just her hands. Though they were ready to hold tight if they needed too.
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Post by Jared Martins on Jun 5, 2010 7:49:54 GMT -5
The fear that sat on Grace’s face worried Jared, he didn’t want her to relapse into her shell after the experience with Phantom. Maybe he really should have pulled her off the moment she climbed on the horse. But that was in the past and he’d have to find a way to work around it. She didn’t look like the type to just give up, but she rather shaken from the sudden ride. Had she never been on a horse and it just get testy with the rider? Around Willow Brooke Jared saw it happen quite a bit, some students just weren’t that great with horses but they kept trying. “There’s no harm in trying again. We’ll just go easy on Phantom. Just like you, he doesn’t trust easy. So be glad you weren’t completely thrown off.” Nodding at her, Jared’s hand petted the horse’s neck reassuring him that Jared wasn’t going to leave just yet.
For someone to ride bareback after using a saddle for so many years must have felt odd to the kid. To Jared if she could do that, she was a better rider than him. Not that he wouldn’t just jump on a horse without one if it was an emergency, just it wasn’t the most comfortable ride. “It’s up to you Grace. I’ve got Phantom nice and calm right now. Either you can stay up there or get down for the day. You can try again tomorrow if you wish.”
“Well, try this. Think of the horse as you. You and this horse are very similar. Both have terrible past that have let ya’ll here. Both not willing to trust each other just yet. But this horse trusts me enough so that you wouldn’t get hurt. He knows me better than a lot of the staff here. One day, I’m positive this horse is going to go place. He has the potential. You, Grace, have potential to go places if you just open up and trust that not everyone is going to hurt you.” After his little speech, Jared reached into his pocket and pulled out a sugar cube. Phantom imminently responded with a soft joyful neigh before turning his head to take the cube. While the horse enjoyed his treat, his hand reached up and rubbed the bald pattered between his eyes.
Stepping back once more, Jared’s eyes followed the movements of Phantom and Grace. She was being very considerate not to startle the horse or kick it in the sides. A very wise move. “What do you mean you’re not doing it right? You look perfectly fine now.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Jared nodded trying to encourage her to keep going. “You just moved too fast a moment before you had his full trust. Now, he’s starting to look more comfortable with you up there. I’d say by the end of the week if you keep this up, you can try a saddle. But I’d stay bareback until then. Don’t want to spook him anymore.” This time a very small smile formed at Jared’s lip. He enjoyed seeing a horse and student finally working together after a rocky moment. Grace might not after trusted him, but she did with Phantom and that was fine by him. At lease she was opening up slightly.
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