“How about we continue side by side and move to a trot. If you decide you’re comfortable with it, I’ll go on ahead and let this beast have a short run.”
“That will work,” Harriet said.
The duo continued side by side as they moved into a slow trot. Onyx was wanting to be given his head so he could run, but Lucien did well keeping him under control. Jack was a delightto ride at the pace they were going. He was even tempered and responded well to her commands.
About that time, Lucien slowed back to a walk. She wished he hadn’t, but he wanted to make sure she was comfortable at the pace they moved on to.
“How was that?” he asked with a grin, His hair was windblown and he ran his fingers through it to push it off his face.
“Wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Jack is a very good boy.”
“He is,” Lucien replied. “Would you like to go again? After that, we can walk and let them settle.”
“Yes,” she nodded. “You go first since Onyx is so anxious to run.”
“There’s a small brook to the left. I’ll stop there.”
“Very well,” Harriet replied.
Lucien loosened the stallion’s reins and the pair bolted in a cloud of dust. He was letting him canter to blow off some of Onyx’s energy. Harriet urged the gelding to move forward at a trot. She didn’t want to do anything more until Lucien thought she and Jack were ready.
Around a bend in the path, Harriet found Lucien and Onyx waiting for them near the brook he’d mentioned. “You’re doing great. I thought we’d take in a quick gallop before calling it a day. I think that’ll be enough for your first time out. I’d hate for you to be sore tomorrow.”
“I hadn’t even thought about that,” she said grinning at him.
“I’ll try and stay with you and Jack. Afterwards, we can dismount and let the horses rest,” Lucien said.
“Let’s go.”
He led them into a slow gallop. Onyx let Lucien know he was not enjoying this by shaking his head, his black mane flying loosely. Harriet enjoyed the change of pace. Jack was an easy ride, all of his gaits comfortable.
Suddenly, something to his right spooked the black stallion. Onyx reared on his back two legs, letting Lucien know whatever it was he did not like it at all. He came down with Lucien speaking to him in a calming voice.
Snorting, the stallion tried to take off, but his master held him back with all his might. He raised up on his hind legs once more, this time tripping over something with one of his rear hooves. Onyx went down hard on his knees as Lucien dismounted as quickly as he could. He held on to the stallion’s reins.
Looking down, it was easy to see the stallion’s knees were cut and bleeding. Pulling the reins over Onyx’s head Lucien began to slowly walk the stallion in a circle, trying to assess the injury.
“What spooked him?” Harriet asked.
“I have no idea because he never spooks,” Lucien replied. “I don’t know what he tripped on either.”
Pointing to where Onyx tripped, Harriet noticed something Lucien had not. “It appears to be some old vines. Where they came from is a guess.”
“I’d almost swear they were put there because there are no other vines to be found on the path.”
Harriet swung down off Jack and walked to Lucien. “I guess we need to walk back. Those knees don’t look good.”
“Yes, we’re going to have to do that,” he replied, rubbing the stallion’s neck. His knees had to hurt by looking at them. The cuts were beyond the surface.
“I could ride back and let your men know what’s transpired.”
“That’s not necessary. We’d still have to hand walk him,” Lucien said.
“True.”
The pair walked side by side, slower than they might usually walk. Onyx’s pace was forced, and he wasn’t as rambunctious as he normally was. Healing from this was going to be a longrecovery period. The animal would have to be kept stalled and that might be for months until his knees healed enough.
Finally, they reached the point where they started. Two of Lucien’s men were waiting on them and upon seeing the stallion limping alongside him hurried over. Lucien barked orders that one of the men needed to ride Jack back to the mews and bring a wagon he’d had built to transport horses or other animals. It was convenient when coming to town for the season or going back to the country to take extra horses back or forth. It would be perfect to take Onyx back.
