La Revenge

Chapter Four

“All you have to do is hold up to the reins. You are certainly safe.” Lord Lance laughs at my sacred face. It is not my fault. I am simply frightened of the animal I am on. In my defense, it is not every day I mount on a horse. Besides I clearly have trust issues with the animal. Will it fall me down, will I fall, and will it take me and gallop. Alongside, I question myself as to why I climb this horse. I also find the answer when I look at Lord Lance. I like seeing him happy. He seems s carefree and happy. It makes me feel so giddy and loved. I love this feeling.

“AH!” I scream as the horse gallop. I tried holding the reins to halt it but it seems like the animal has a mind of its own.

“Sally!” Lord Lance screams. To my bewilderment, the animal suddenly stops and walks back to Lord Lance. Wow! I am amazed as a single word from Lord Lance halt the horse’s drastic movement.

“Why do you agazed. You mouth are agape” The Lord laughs at me expression. Truth to be told, my mouth are wide open and it is because I am astonished.

“Will you teach me that?” I requested. Frankly, I like the command.

“What?” He smiles.

“You know what?” I blushed

“I am puzzled my lady. Why don’t you tell me?” He clearly knows what still he wants me to tell him. Sly.

“The command you have over the horse”

“You want to learn?” He smirk and had a teasing look.

“First, you have to know how to stand on your feet.”

“How am I going to do that?” I question

“For that, form a relationship with the horse”

“How am I going to do that?”

“Start by feeding her”

“She is a she-horse?” I am beyond stunned. ‘She behaves unladylike’ I thought as I looked at her. Lord lance suddenly laugh.

“Do tell me love, I will I try my sally to be ladylike” I blushed at the statement of his. I realized that my thought was said out loud instead of my mind. Also, lord lance called me love. It is so unfair how he teases me and I can’t tease him back. That would be unladylike.

“Forgive me, my lord! I was just expressing my thought. I had no idea I said that out loud” I apologized. If only, I was cautious about what I say. “Let’s get that behind us. Why don’t you feed sally?” he suggests. I went to the pile of grass and grab a few. As I was coming to sally. She quickly turn towards me, expecting me to feed her. I stood at a distance and fed her.

“Why don’t you go close to her and feed her. Form a bond, pet her.” Lord lance states after observing our interaction. I took his advice and decided to do as he said. Sally became more alert and shifts from me. I also shift to the direction she did. Placing the feed to her mouth, sally accepts the meal by grazing it. I pat her as she eats. I found a small scar near her eyes and I asked him about it.

“She was a young animal when I saw her. Her parents had abandoned her and she suffered from the hands of her captor. Apparently, they had no empathy for animals.” At his words, I became more affectionate to Sally. I feel her pain. I also feel abandoned, my mother died and my father leaves me. Although I am grateful for ma who took care of me till date but I can’t help feeling like I am abandoned.

“Poor sally” I sighed. I didn’t realized a tear had slipped until when lord lance wipes it away. I kept my head in such position that sally head is against my head. I closed my eyes in the moment. Sally neighs and moves from me. I guess I took much time.

“She really doesn’t like people pity her. Well not many people have sympathized with her. Frankly, she doesn’t know how to behave when one act all emotional or mushy to her. I tried that I got a powerful horse kick.” Lord lance explains her reaction.

“Oh. Are you alright?”

“It is alright now. That was in the early stage of our relationship” he reassure. I sighed in relief.

“Sally, you should not do that to your owner” I rebuke. Sally gives an attitude.

“Sally!” I correct her attitude. She neigh and walks out on me.

“Well, sally is quite lovely” Lord Lance laughs at my statement.

“She is ferocious. I am surprised that she only gave you an attitude while she gave others a memorable scar. She likes you” I smiled. I also like Sally. Although she is the only horse I have rode, she is the only animal that I find to be relatable to me.

“I fancy her too”

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The afternoon with Lord Lance turned out to be eventful. I left his home in the evening. I quite like his presence. He seems graceful but also crude, primitive. As the day grew, so is my feelings for Lord Lance. I have grown used to his presence that I no longer shutter. I rarely space out too. It feels perfect. I love this feeling.

Sally was kind to me later in the day. She lets me mount her but it was under Lord Lance supervision. We rode at a slow pace that it was basically a walk in the garden. We talked lengthy about everything but nothing in particular. Lord Lance offered that we should go wine-picking as well as honey-extracting. I accepted the offer and we shall go in few days’ time. I told Ma and she was happy with the outcome of my occasion. She also gave me a new dress to wear.