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 Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:06 pm
"I'll agree that I'm happy to see her with some kind of work ethic, sure. What I don't approve of, however, is her new way of life. Complete apathy toward her family's reputation. Married at seventeen. Living in poverty. I'm not sure you can call that growing up." Her eyes narrowed, her dislike for the boy rising a bit again. "I don't want her to wake up in ten years and suddenly have the realization that she's made some terrible decisions. Ones that can't be easily reversed. It might be fun now, while she's young, but one's outlook on life changes as one ages. After a few kids, after the years go by and the wrinkles set in and the pounds pack on, do you really think you'll still find her attractive? I'm not looking forward to the day you tire of Lee, but I'm certain it will happen."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:19 pm
"I'll love her nae matter what. Not a superficial guy, ma'am. Lee's pretty sure enough, but tha' wisnae what attracted me t' her," Rory said, frowning at the woman's accusations. "You really donnae know your daughter if you think she wonnae be happy wi' me or th' clan. W're poor, but w' ain't exactly livin' in poverty. W' hae a house an' land o' wor own, both hae jobs. She donnae really e'en need t' work, but she wants t'. Nothin' wrong wi' married at seventeen, neither. Me older sister wis married at sixteen an' me mum at fourteen. I donnae think she has apathy t' th' reputation o' you an' Mr. Katan, it's just tha', where she's standin', there's more important things in her life t' worry on now."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:39 pm
"Not living in poverty? My servants live better than you -- hell, that stable boy you just had me fire doesn't even have a job and he lives better than you. Owning a small cottage doesn't even make you middle class. I hate to admit it, but Lee's poor." Why? Why couldn't Rory have been born into a nice, wealthy, respectable family that she could be proud of her daughter for marrying into? Aside from how much he liked to go against her, he was a good catch, if you're into good-looking, sensitive, smart, hard working men. "I hope you're right, though. I honestly do. There's nothing I want more than for my daughter to be happy." Okay, that was a lie, but Lee being happy was still good if it didn't make her look bad. Sighing, she looked back at the horse, then looked toward the barn exit. "Were you planning on riding? I'd hate for this to get heated..." Something about talking to Rory made her want to hurt someone.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:45 pm
Rory sighed. "I ne'er said I wis middle class, but I know I ain't livin' in poverty. Sure, w're poor, but w' hae jobs an' a home o' wor own. That's not exactly livin' on th' street an' beggin'. Gi' me some credit on bein' able t' put a roof o'er her head an' food on th' table." He looked back at the horse. "Yeah, I think I would actually like t' gae ridn'." Riding had always calmed him down and he'd rather be working with the horses than talking with his future mother-in-law anymore today. She infuriated him with her lack of understanding and better-than-thou attitude, and he knew it wasn't helping Lee at all not to be able to get along with the woman. He looked back at Mrs. Katan. "Wis there one in particular you wanted me t' start workin' wi' or can i just pick 'un at random?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:57 pm
Mrs. Katan shrugged, bowing her head a bit, even though she wasn't entirely sincere. "I'll give you credit. For a sixteen year old from a carnival, you're taking surprisingly good care of her. You've actually managed to plump her up a bit. She isn't dead, nor does she have any diseases." That she knew about anyway. "And she isn't pregnant yet. Kudos." She waved a hand around, not gesturing to any particular horse. "Any one you'd like. The brown one at the far end on your left needs the most preparation for a show, aside from Snowflake, but they could all use the help." There was always room for improvement.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:59 pm
Rory looked down at the horse she indicated. "I ne'er done horse shows like what you do, ma'am. What sort o' work does it need?" He looked back at the woman. "You just want it ridden or does it need t' learn tricks or what?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:06 pm
Mrs. Katan cocked an eyebrow, a smirk slowly forming. "What sort of things could you teach it to do? Right now we only do shows, but..." She sighed pleasantly, looking over at the Friesian horse beside her. "I've always wondered about getting into eventing."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:09 pm
"Could teach your horses t' dance if you wanted," Rory laughed. "I donnae think tha'd be acceptable at your eventin', though, eh? What gaes on at one o' them events? Jumps an' stuff? I can teach 'em tha' easily."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:24 pm
"A bit more than just jumping, but to be honest, I'd have to look into it myself. Teaching it to jump would be a good start, though." She actually gave Rory a smile, a genuine smile, and thought more on this eventing idea.
***
Lee kicked the bedsheets off of herself, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes while they adjusted. A very nice sleep. She was half tempted to just lie back down at shut her eyes again, but knew she had errands to run. Rory's birthday was coming up, and while he hadn't specified which day it was, she figured early presents were better than late ones. Heading to her bathroom and washing up, she went out into the hall and over to Rory's bedroom. Knocking on his door, she waited a long while until realizing it would go unanswered. The girl poked her head inside to find he wasn't there. Finding the first servant around, she learned he was out back, at the stables riding horses. She should have known he'd find the stables soon enough. While she hadn't wanted him working while he was here, she decided she'd wait to scold him for being a workaholic until she got back from shopping.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:40 pm
"Alreet then," Rory said, shrugging a bit, looking back at the horse. "Where d'you keep th' tack fae it? It'll take more'n an afternoon t' get it jumpin', but I can start workin' wi' it at least." He gestured to the bay Mrs. Katan had mentioned earlier. "Tha'un th' one you want me t' train or did you hae a better'n in mind you'd rather be showin' off at th' events?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:54 pm
Mrs. Katan walked over to show Rory where the horse's saddle and equipment were before making her way to the horse in question. Honestly, she didn't know if there was another that would work better. "Start with him for now. I may have you work with another later, though. I'll have to ask around to know what it is that I'm doing here..." She really should have been better prepared for this...
***
Hopping down the stairs and toward the door, Lee didn't bother asking for a car, having gotten used to walking places by now and knowing exactly where she was headed. She ignored the few familiar faces she saw as she walked down the sidewalk, though was lucky that most around here did little walking and didn't manage to bump into too many acquaintances. Oh god, she hoped Rory would like his gift... It wasn't something that you could easily return. Her heart beat a little faster as the cluster of shops she was looking for came into view, her expression softening a bit at the sight of the sign she was headed for.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:04 am
Rory walked into the stall with the horse, looking it over then back at Mrs. Katan. "What kinda horse is he?" He leaned down, feeling along the horse's foreleg, then moved quick when it lifted the hoof in a small inward kick. The boy shook his head. "You cannae use this'un. Too spirited. He wonnae listen when guided t' th' jumps an' he'll fall an' hurt himself. Prolly th' rider, too. W'd do some trick jumpin' at th' carnival tha's prolly like what you're wantin' an' fae tha' you need a really docile horse an' one tha's strong. We use thoroughbreds an' daft horses. Sometimes one tha's a mix." He came out of the stall, shutting the gate and looked at Mrs. Katan, shrugging a bit. "I donnae think you hae anythin' less than a purebred, reet? You'll hae t' either buy a horse tha's fae th' eventin' or let me find one in your stable tha' will do it."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:38 am
Mrs. Katan frowned, looking the horse over. So, this one wasn't good enough? Eventually sighing, Mrs. Katan looked off as she spoke to the boy. "If we're looking for a Thoroughbred, I'll have to buy one." She brushed at her perfectly flawless hair. "I suppose you won't be here by the time one arrives, though." Meaning she could say goodbye to any hopes of eventing.
***
Wow, it certainly did smell in here... Lee tried to cover her nose in the least insulting way possible as she wandered through the shop, peering over at all the little creatures around her. Yes, that's right, creatures. She was in a pet shop. Finding her way over to the puppy area, Lee peered into all the little puppy enclosures, awwing and oohing at the adorableness around her. She'd come to consider herself a puppy expert, having raised Rosco all on her own. Okay, maybe with some help from Lauss, but for the most part she'd cared for him.
It took a good half an hour to debate between a golden retriever pup or a German Shepherd, finding both cute beyond imagination, before she noticed a small puppy beside the golden retriever was waking. It eyes blinked up at her, its head tilted, and eventually its mouth formed a wide smile. She didn't know what it was, but it was perfect. Those eyes sealed the deal.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:24 am
"W' hae plenty o' Thoroughbreds at th' carnival. W' could prolly just gi' you one tha' a good jumper. Train it up at Farstep where w' already got room and stuff fae it t' jump o'er," Rory said, thinking it over. "They're good jumpers, a Thoroughbred is, but you might want one wi' a little draft horse in th' mix fae strength."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:37 am
Mrs. Katan thought for only a moment before nodding her head in agreement. "It seems I'll have to go out there now..." Now she had three horses to inspect. "You know what you're talking about, though. This is what you do for a living, yes?" In that case, a Thoroughbred draft mix it was, then. Perhaps it was still possible, then.
***
Lee hurried home, a little pet carrier in hand and a wide smile on her face. Several times she had to stop to make sure he hadn't pottied in the carrier, having been warned that such a thing was likely considering the pup's age, and she thought to herself as she walked. Should she present Rory with the puppy now or whenever his birthday really was? It should be a surprise, she knew that much. But how to give it to him... She arrived at the front gate to the Katan estate before she thought of anything, and decided to let the little guy wander the front yard while she thought of what to do, allowing him to empty his bladder outside instead of on her carpet. Let's see... Walking up with a puppy wouldn't be as fun as one bursting out of a box, would it? Did she have a box that would hold a puppy? And wouldn't the box move around when she handed it to him? No, that would give the surprise away. Think of something else, Lee... She could always -- Wait, where'd the puppy go?!
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