Chapter 13 #2
Molly felt the excitement build as she looked forward to the afternoon ride.
She left work at three and returned to the cabin to change into her riding gear and boots.
Dressed, she walked down to the stables looking as casual as she could.
Inside, she was nervous and anxious. Outside, she was cool as a cowgirl.
Silas wasn’t around, so she went to his office and checked the assignment board.
Her ride today was Dusty. She checked the notebook on Silas’ desk and read the instructions.
Dusty was a three-year-old quarter horse, an experienced barrel racer, owned by a rancher up the Okanogan.
His daughter had raced her in high school and was now away at college.
The owner was uncertain about Dusty’s future, but with his daughter away at school, he didn’t want the valuable horse idle in his own stables, and his daughter wanted her exercised while she was away.
The instructions were as expected. Twenty minute warm up, loping and trotting, circle loops both directions, starting, stopping, backing, and other obedience training.
The second twenty minutes were slalom drills around poles emphasizing short, quick turns, bursts of speed back to the start, and repeat.
The final twenty minutes were barrel turns, working up to full-speed racing.
The owner wanted the exercises both directions around the barrels.
Molly understood this was as much for balanced muscle development as it was for skill building.
She walked down to Dusty’s stall and entered.
She spent the first five minutes just getting to know her, giving her a friendly biscuit treat, letting Dusty smell her, and get used to her hands.
She was a beautiful, well-muscled horse.
She walked her down to Jo’s stall to retrieve her saddle.
Once saddled up, Molly mounted Dusty and walked her out of the stables.
She let her walk for a few minutes before giving a gentle prod.
Dusty responded quickly to a light trot that moved naturally into a lope.
They loped out to the exercise pasture, an area set up for horse drills.
Molly worked her through light drills, starting, stopping, backing, turning both directions, gradually picking up speed.
Dusty was a well-trained horse that responded to hand signals, body shifts, and foot prods.
Molly was really enjoying the exercises, running a well-trained horse through her paces.
At the end of the twenty minute warm up, she moved her over to the track and gave her a kick that let her move to a gallop.
They ran a series of gallops, full runs at a controlled speed less than Dusty’s full speed.
The gallops were exhilarating for Molly, memories flooding back of her days competing with Jo.
After the gallop drills, Molly moved Dusty to a stick slalom course.
Dusty knew the drills and needed little guidance.
She deftly twisted and turned her body through the sticks.
Molly gave light guidance and helped with balance.
She was impressed. Dusty responded beautifully.
After the stick drills, Molly moved to the barrels, taking a few moderately paced turns both directions before finishing with a series of full-out racing maneuvers.
After the barrel exercises, Dusty was winded, sweating, and loose.
Molly took her back for a series of closing gallops before starting a ten-minute cool down that would get Dusty back to a normal heart rate.
During the cool down, she noticed for the first time Silas and Willy leaning against the rail at the corral watching.
They hadn’t seen her ride like this for a few years.
She cooled Dusty down and brought her back to the corral with a light trot, pulling up next to the guys.
Silas said, “Nice work.”
“She’s a well-trained horse. Didn’t have to do much. She knew the drills.”
“She’s lucky to have an experienced barrel racer run her through those paces.”
“She’s a lot like Jo. I was just along for the ride.”
“Having a good time?”
Molly was flushed, her fair Scottish coloring giving her away. She reluctantly admitted, “Yeah, it felt good. I guess I’ve really missed it.”
Willy said, “Thanks for helping out. We’re lucky to have an owner who can ride like that.” Molly could hear the respect in his voice. He was a skilled horseman who would appreciate her skills. She knew Silas was grooming Willie to be his replacement.
“You have a rider who just happens to be an owner.”
After brushing Dusty down, Molly left her to the stable workers and strolled down the dirt road that led to her cabin.
Her neck and face were hot, like she was aroused.
Well, she was aroused from the exhilarating ride.
She hadn’t realized how much she missed that.
Really missed it. She was not planning to start looking for another horse but realized she needed a horse.
She couldn’t live without one. Silas’ daily exercise program was going to work for a while, but she needed a horse.
Back at the cabin, she went directly to the bathroom, stripped, and stepped into a hot shower.
Oh boy, she was aroused. Was that from the ride?
Or missing Bart? Or that she hadn’t been laid in a couple weeks?
Didn’t matter. She was aroused, and how much became apparently when she soaped her breasts and between her legs.
Oh boy. She had it bad. She took a curved bar of soap and held it against the place between her legs, gently massaging.
Her neck and face were burning up as the arousal built until it was roaring at her like a freight train.
When it arrived at the station, she gasped, letting the familiar waves move through as hot water cascaded down her back.
She held the soap in place, massaging gently, letting her body complete the process.
Okay, then. She hadn’t expected that. But it felt good. Her body was alive. The stimulating ride had really done a number on her.
Or, was she just missing Bart?
The next morning, Shadow and Molly sat in the familiar waiting room. Shadow’s ultrasound was scheduled at ten. Molly was used to being inside working, not a customer awaiting an appointment. The assistant came out and invited them into the imaging room.
Molly had Shadow jump up on the table and lie down. The assistant did the triage to document the appointment before Vivian came in. The good friends exchanged a quick hug.
“How are you doing?”
The question was about Jo, not Shadow.
“Better than expected. The before was harder than the after. I’m at peace. It was time and had to be done. I’m moving on.” It was Molly’s standard answer to the many similar questions.
“And how’s Shadow?”
“She’s due in two weeks. I’d like to see how many pups we’re dealing with and if they’re healthy.”
Molly had Shadow lie still while the ultrasound tech moved the prod gently against Shadow’s stomach. Molly and Vivian moved close to the screen, studying the images. When Vivian had an image she liked, she clicked a still photo. They toggled through from one end of Shadow’s insides to the other.
“Well, the good news is that all the pups are moving. That tells us they’re alive and implies they’re healthy. We won’t know that for sure until the birth. But all that appears positive.”
Molly said, “It looks like a big litter.”
“Well, let’s try to get a count. Counting is easier from the stills.”
They studied the stills to identify individual pups.
At the end of the exercise, Vivian said, “It’s not an exact science, but if I had to guess, it would be eleven. What did you see?”
“I agree. At least ten, and I think there’s an eleventh hiding behind the tenth.”
“Who’s the father?”
“Bear is well-documented. Bear’s father has impressive credentials. So the litter has value.”
“Sweet. How’s Shadow doing?”
“Fine. I’m giving protein supplements, and I have a birthing room all set up. Any other recommendations?”
“You know the drill. Let her do the work and don’t rush the process.
Sometimes it happens fast and sometimes it just takes time.
You might give me a call when the process starts so I can be on standby.
Otherwise, you’ve done this many times. I’m sure you won’t have any problems. Shadow looks healthy and the pups look active. ”
Molly gave Shadow a biscuit and a scruff.
“Good girl. You’re about to become a mother.”