Chapter 6 Riding Crisis
770 Words
In the afternoon by the Colin Manor's stables, Eric was in a foul mood.
The frustration from the morning had lingered, making him restless and unable to eat or sleep.
Despite his grumpy demeanor, once he put on his riding gear, his arrogance and charm were undeniable.
When Faye arrived near the stables, she saw a striking resemblance between Eric and a younger Theodoric.
This was the first time she'd seen Eric in riding attire. Previously, he had deliberately avoided changing to make things difficult for her.
Today, he was finally dressed for the riding, likely because Theodoric had insisted on it.
Eric looked impressive in his riding outfit, so much so that even the maids couldn't help but glance at him.
Faye was captivated by how much he resembled Theodoric.
They had the same blonde hair, the same blue eyes, and a similarly athletic build enhanced by the fitted outfit.
'They really are brothers,' Faye thought, though she kept this to herself.
Teenagers, especially those as sensitive as Eric, often disliked being compared to their more successful siblings.
From what she had observed over the past week, Eric was no exception.
"Good afternoon, Eric," Faye greeted as she approached her horse.
"Hmph, nice of you to finally show up. Do you think you're the lady of the house now?"
Eric shot her a sharp look, though his gaze kept drifting. Faye's figure in the riding outfit was hard to ignore.
The outfit clung to her, a reminder of Theodoric's lingering presence from the night before, which only fueled Eric's irritation.
"Oh? It's only two forty, Eric. Our lesson isn't until three."
Faye gently stroked her horse's mane while glancing at him with a slight tilt of her head.
Her movements had a certain allure that momentarily softened Eric's frustration.
Still, his words were cutting.
"A teacher should arrive before the student, shouldn't they, Ms. Magdalene? Or are you now going to act like Theodoric's lover and ignore your responsibilities?"
"Please, don't be absurd. It was just one night. Even if I were Theodoric's lover, I'm still your teacher. He hasn't fired me."
With a smile, Faye tied her hair into a ponytail and led her horse out of the stable.
"If you don't want Theodoric's money to go to waste, we should start our lesson now."
She mounted her horse and headed towards the field on the other side of the stables.
The lesson was about to begin, and Eric had no choice but to follow.
'All for the sake of pocket money,' Eric muttered to himself as he climbed onto the horse the maid had brought and followed her into the field.
"Mastering the reins is crucial. How the horse moves depends on how you handle them."
"Don't grip too tightly, Eric. This horse knows you well after all these years. What you need to learn now is how to use the reins to guide your partner."
"Exactly like that. You're doing great."
Faye's voice was soothing, her guidance precise.
She was the most attentive and patient tutor Eric had ever had. Though he still put on a long face, inside, he was beginning to appreciate her more and more over the past week.
But then, she betrayed him!
Eric's grip tightened on the reins without thinking.
The horse let out a pained whinny as the reins were jerked. Startled by the sound, Eric instinctively loosened his hold. But by then, the agitated horse was already bolting uncontrollably. Terrified, Eric tried to dismount, but his foot was tangled in the stirrup, leaving him stuck.
"No!"
As the horse hurtled towards an approaching fence, Eric shut his eyes in dread.
"Eric! Open your eyes! Let go of the reins!" Faye shouted.
She kicked her horse into a gallop and raced alongside the out-of-control beast.
With one hand on the reins, Faye skillfully adjusted her position, her feet steady in the stirrups.
When Eric finally dared to open his eyes, she was already there. Without a moment's hesitation, she leaped onto his horse, taking control with a firm grip on the reins, and began expertly guiding the panicked animal.
Eric's mind went blank, his hands instinctively clinging to Faye's waist.
Gradually, the horse's frantic pace slowed, and the surrounding staff rushed over to help him down.
Faye stayed on the horse, calming it with gentle pats on its head and neck while the stable hands helped to soothe it.
Eric was still in shock, the whole ordeal feeling like a surreal nightmare.
Yet, even now, he could still feel the warmth of Faye's waist where he had been holding on.
- Writer
