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Post by Mierin on Jan 23, 2008 13:18:45 GMT -5
Mary Ellen listens to Gus's explanation quietly and smiles weakly at Edeline's response, but doesn't say anything. For some reason, Gus's explanation didn't feel right - she had a hunch that it wasn't just rustlers, but something else. However, since she had absolutely no idea why she thought this, and had no idea of what it could actually be, she kept quiet because she figured Gus had been farming for a long time and probably had his reasons for thinking it was just rustlers. 'I hope I am wrong about it not being rustlers' she thinks to herself as she finishes her meal.
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 24, 2008 16:57:31 GMT -5
Another "wake up child" dream later and it was the next day. No-one seemed worried about the Creepy Rustlers as they were being called. Though, they were the talk of the ranch. Most of the others would mention having magical tools just incase is was a monster. Plus, the police have a branch for this kind of stuff, now. Some suggested giving a call, but Dora refused. She didn't want that poor Cooper boy getting too deep into other peoples' problems. He had his own and the city was busy enough for him... the poor thing.
No-one really seemed too curious. That afternoon, Edeline took Mary-Ellen back to the stables to teach her to ride Betheny.
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Post by Mierin on Jan 24, 2008 20:08:04 GMT -5
Mary Ellen couldn't help but be curious by the casual attitude of the rest of the ranch, and the idea that they would need magical tools. She wondered what kind of magical tools would be the most effective, though since she had no idea exactly what kind of monster it is she didn't really know how to defend against it.
All that is pushed to the back of her mind, as she heads toward the stable with Edeline, excited about learning how to ride Bethany.
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 24, 2008 22:55:46 GMT -5
Edeline spends a lot of time making sure Mary-Ellen knows how to saddle a horse, how to get them to go and stop, and a lot of the simple things 8-yr-olds remember, when they're raised around horses, but not really taught. Betheny was very calm around Mary-Ellen, and the other horses in the stable seemed less startled by her (though all by Betheny and Goodwin shy from her).
"Now, you gotta feel the horse's movement..." Betheny explains, mounting onto Goodwyn. "An' your own. Lift yer leg like a dog who's gonna pee. Or else you're gonna kick the horse in the back, and they hate that. A lot. A lot a lot. NOw... watch how I move when the horse trots." Edeline does a few circles around MAry-Ellen as she stands holding Betheny's reigns. "See? I'm moving so I don't get smacked in the bumb every step. Makes the ride easier."
Then, Edeline walks Goodwyn over. "You ready? Remember. One foot in, then other foot over like a dog."
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Post by Mierin on Jan 25, 2008 11:28:12 GMT -5
Mary Ellen nods quietly and says "Ready." Following Edeline's instructions carefully, she puts one foot into the stirrup and swings her leg up and over, doing her best to not kick the horse as she does this.
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 25, 2008 20:03:05 GMT -5
Betheny adjusts her weight as Mary-Ellenn settles in, whinniying a little as she trots forward a bit.
"Gosh, you are light." Says Edeline. "Betheny's having no trouble. OK. we'll go slowly." Taking Betheny's reigns, Edeline slowly walks the pair around the fenced areas. Betheny clearly moved much more smoothly than Goodwyn did. At times, it looked like Goodwyn was trying to goad Betheny a little, but the older horse's patience won out, and Mary-Ellen had a very easy ride. Well... for Mary-Ellen's first time ever being on the back of a living animal...
"How's it going?" Asked Gus, from the fence.
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Post by Mierin on Jan 25, 2008 22:40:28 GMT -5
Mary Ellen is a little nervous as they start out, but soon relaxes as she sees how smoothly Betheny is moving and how easy going the ride seems to be. Beaming at Gus, she replies "So far it seems to be going really well! Edeline is a good teacher!" Mary Ellen looks like she is having fun as she continues to ride Betheny around the fenced areas.
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 26, 2008 10:33:25 GMT -5
"Right. Well, don't get too excited. Remember, Edeline. It's not safe off the farm right now." Says Gus.
"Awww.... but... even the woods?" Edeline asks, puppily.
Gus looks at Edeline, smirking a little. "Not today, sweetie. We'll be having the patrolmen up in a couple days. After that it'll be safer."
"Promise?" Asks Edeline.
"Promise. I'll even go with you and make sure our Mary-Ellen gets a good tour." Gus answers. "If you're god for it, too." He says to Mary-Ellen.
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Post by Mierin on Jan 26, 2008 21:30:47 GMT -5
Mary Ellen looks curious at Gus's refusal to let them off the farm, wondering why that was if there really wasn't anything to be worried about. Smiling, she nods at Gus and says "I'd love to get a tour of the property around the farm when it is safe."
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 29, 2008 11:14:23 GMT -5
After a long morning of riding, Mary-Ellen found herself once again at lunch. Edeline hadn't been kidding about how tiring riding can be. Though she wasn't exhausted, Mary-Ellen could feel she was working.
After lunch, it was working the bails of hay with the other guys.
After supper, Gus came and took Mary-Ellen aside for a quick chat about ranch rules. "Normally, even with new folk, we generally let them explore on their free time, but I heard about the horses in the stable." Gus says. "I don't want you goin' anywhere near animals without one of the ranchers. Edeline's fine for the horses, because they know her well enough. And they seem to be willin' to tolerate with you. But the cattle, even the dogs, could rip you to shreds if they're spooked. OK? But I don't see it as a problem. I saw you're workin' with the bails, and you shouldn't have much need to be near the aminals."
Sitting on the arm of one of the larger chairs, and business done, Gus says, "So, any thoughts on who you might have been?"
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Post by Mierin on Jan 29, 2008 19:54:59 GMT -5
Mary Ellen nods quietly as Gus explains the rules of the ranch to her. Quietly, she asks "Do you have any ideas why the horses would act like that around me? All skittish and then bowing to me? It seemed kind of odd." At his question as to who she might have been, she sighs quietly and shrugs her shoulders. "I really don't know. I get the impression I might have been an athlete because I seem to be fairly strong and in good shape. Maybe I was on the track team or something. Have you or Dora heard anything back from the police?"
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 30, 2008 8:05:33 GMT -5
Gus shakes his head. "Well, for the police, no. But the new information'll help. Sometimes we find folks wandering lost out here. Usually hikers and the like. Too weak to move. After a while, they sent out a guy by the name of Wilson. He went around, saying how little details are important, since family members are often full of them in the missing persons reports."
Rubbing his face for a second he says, "As for the horses. No clue. I know Eddy was tryin' to teach Goodwyn some horse show tricks, so that horse, I'ld get. But no-one's taught it to Betheny, to my knowledge. And Betheny never seemed the kind of horse with something to prove. Born broke, she was. Well, another mystery about you, I suppose."
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Post by Mierin on Jan 30, 2008 13:09:19 GMT -5
Mary Ellen smiles weakly as she replies "There seems to be no shortage of mysteries where I'm concerned." Sighing, she adds "I do hope that the little information I do have will help me figure out who I am and where I'm supposed to be."
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 31, 2008 12:29:39 GMT -5
A few more days of tossing hay bails and riding lessons later, the Doctor returned with another fellow, that Gus had identified as a Lt Wilson. (Yes, folks! It's him! Rozatonosky's precursor!) Edeline was quizzing Wilson about what he thought of the Mysterious Mystical Rustlers while the Doctor examined Mary-Ellen. After giving her a clean bill of health (except the amnesia), he handed things over to Wilson.
Wilson looked Mary-Ellen over a couple times, then pulled out a pad of paper. "Hello, Mary-Ellen, how are you doing? I take it they've been nice to you here?"
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Post by Mierin on Jan 31, 2008 16:18:32 GMT -5
Mary Ellen nods at Wilson with a smile as she brushes some of her hair out of her face. "I'm doing ok, thanks." she replies "Everyone has been really nice. Edeline is teaching me how to ride a horse, which is fun and I've been helping out where I can." A small sigh escapes her as she adds "I'm hoping my memories will come back soon though."
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