“Hello Mistress Diana.”

“Hm? Giovanni? Why whatever brings you to this simple stable?”

She was currently grooming Silver Mane for his first event. He had to look his best to be presented for the first time. Diana gently scratched his ear and smiled before she turned around to actually look at Giovanni.

“That..is an impressive stallion.” Giovanni rarely gave compliments but this stallion deserved one. “Trying to steal the Male show by storm are we?”

“Well you know..It’s all about winning, right?”

“Yes..it is.” Nodding, admiring her as much as he was admiring Silver Mane. “You’ve only grown more beautiful in the time away. I really do miss you at the private shows. You always have such..fine..tastes.”

A snort escaping Silver Mane. He gave a bold ‘Step no closer’ look towards Giovanni. Diana simply chuckled at him and ran her hand along his backside.

“Easy my Stallion..Do not get worked up before your first appearance.”

“A strong spirit in him. Yet you wield it so expertly, Diana.”

“Because I am his Mistress. Now..did you come to..compliment me many times or..was there something you needed?”

“Both..well no. I had heard you were in these stables and..questioned why. But I see that they refurbished them. Tis no wonder why you are here. You have a whole stable to your self and..a close by, acceptable room to sleep in that’s near your Prize.”

“Exactly.” Smiling, walking around to the other side of Silver Mane. “You know how I am..I am not like some of the fools who only see first appearances.”

“One of your many ..soft ...qualities that I like in you. Though I barely stand that in anyone else.”

“More compliments, Giovanni? You are so ...” She chuckled and shook her head. “So..Persistent. But..now..it is my turn to pick the topic. It won’t be complimenting me.”

“What shall it be? Complimenting me?”

“No...hm..Maybe. It is about your new mare. I saw a glimpse of her yesterday.”

“Ah yes..my Snow White Caballo. My prize..My sure fire way to win the shows this year.”

“She’s quite beautiful from what I saw. Not that I saw much.”

“Would you care for a personal Introduction?” Stepping closer to her. “The private stables are right along the way to the show pen.”

Another snort from Silver mane. He glared at the man.

“So protective of me. How I love that.” She snapped his lead rope on to his halter. “Come, Silver Mane. Two leg lead..follow me.” Diana smiled. “We have a mare to go see.”

“Just have your stallion keep his distance from her..Although..” Giovanni smiled and turned. “Well..He would make a perfect Breeding prospect for her..if he were to win and beat out Arabian Pleasure. If he were to keep winning.”

“Which he will. He is my..beautiful stallion.” Her fingers caressing Silver Mane’s chest. “He is such a good boy.”

“Good for you...Spirited for..the rest of us.” Motioning her to follow. “Come..my stable Boy is grooming Caballo for the Mare’s entry.”

“Who will ride her? I am curious..”

“For the entry..no one..I’ll lead her in. But four legged riding..I shall ride her. She is my mare. If I do not..I will have Mistress Raven ride her..or..some..other..petite little Mistress.” Glancing back at her. “You weigh..what? A hundred and twenty pounds at most?”

“One hundred and fifteen..” Diana corrected him.

“Even better..and since you aren’t showing a mare..It wouldn’t be a conflict of interest. I could..watch your stallion for you or..have my stable boy look after him while you are riding her. We could use Caballo’s stall to keep him in..since she would be out.”

“I’m not sure that Mistress Raven would like that too much. I hear she rather fancies you.”

“It’s not about what she fancies. It’s about competition and winning. And..since everyone knows that a well trained Light jockey is better..that only means enhanced performance for the pony since the mare in question is a very small mare her self.”

“You always have are response..for everything..don’t you.” Said more as a statement than a question. “I’m not sure that..I could leave my stallion with you or your stable boy though. He is quite..spirited. He is very protective of me, as you have noticed, and he doesn’t like to be too far away. That is one of the reasons that I must stay near him.”

“Yes but my stable boy is very experienced..he could handle your stallion a small while.”

“No..I couldn’t. I would hate for your stable boy to be injured. I’m afraid I have had that issue..once already. Some ignorant stableboy at a local show..Wandered in like he knew what he was doing. Silver Mane needs a firm but gentle hand..like me.”

“The qualities of a true stallion. However my stable boy is very qualified and is well above Local..show standards. I have trained him my self and I know you don’t question my skills.”

“I would never question your skills. Maybe..We can see how..your stable boys does with supervision. I’m sure that you can understand my position. I would HATE to have something happen to my prized stallion and have one of your people responsible for it. He is quite irreplaceable..you see.”

“Oh..I see his quality.”

“Yes..and you know quality stock like my stallion..doesn’t often come willingly. But you well know this..considering what I hear about your new mare..”

“This way..” Giovanni opened the private stable doors for her. “There is James now..And ..my Caballo.” A sense of pride heard in his voice. “She is..beautiful..no?”

On the grooming table, she was on her all fours, of course. James was brushing and pinning her mane back for show as well as brushing the fine the silken hair of her tail.

“She is certainly..beautiful. She almost shines. And her tail..Oh dear..It’s an exact match to the mane.”

“It ought to be..it is her own. Her Mane was much longer when I first obtained her. But yes..her tail is quite lovely.” Giovanni was definitely being bold.

“I see..” Diana gently tugged Silver Mane’s lead rope. “Come Silver mane..Over here while I get a better look at this Mare.”

She placed him inside Caballo’s empty stall and unhooked the lead. Closing the gate, she then turned and walked towards the grooming table. James, reluctantly moved to the side. He hated that Giovanni let others ogle Caballo in such a way.

“James...Go and ..put some fresh carrots in the trough for the stallion while my guest..takes a look at Caballo. And do be careful..he is..as his Mistress said...spirited.”

“Yes sir..”

James moving off. He pulled carrots out and did his best to ignore the woman who was looking at Caballo. It tore him up inside so much to see her used this way that he failed to heed the warning of spiritedness.

James opened the stall gate and stepped in. A loud snort and Grunted whinny sound. Silver Mane’s eyes flared open wide. His posture became threatening and he started pawing the ground with his front ‘hoof’.

“You oaf!” Diana yelled and hurried to the pen. “Down Silver Mane.” She commanded. “Now come..” Speaking very sternly.

Silver mane snorted and shoved James aside with his shoulder as he walked past on his all fours. Diana quickly re-attached his lead rope and led him from the stall. She left James laying in the hay to the side.

“I THOUGHT You said your stable boy was smarter than this!” Scolding Giovanni now. “Is this some trick of yours to get me to trust you? Foolish..especially with such...help.” Diana huffed and led Silver mane away. “Honestly,” Grumbling. “Trying to get you worked up probably..for that Raven to win.”

Giovanni didn’t speak. He simply stood grooming table side and Glowered at his incompetent stable boy.

“I SAID..Be CAREFUL! Are you completely Inapt! Jesus boy! You should be smarter than that!” making sure to scold him so that Diana could hear before she exited the stables. “The NEXT time I tell you something..LISTEN! This is your First and LAST warning. The next foul up..will be lashes..”

Giovanni walked over to James as the boy stood and smacked him right properly across his cheek. He sent the boy back into the hay that he’d just stood from. James cowered in the hay and turned his gaze away from Giovanni. Outside he was fearful but inside his hate for this man was only growing.

“Now get up! I want her Dressed in Dressage gear and brought to me immediately while I go and TRY to convince the mistress that this was not an attempt of foul play. If you screw this up..You won’t like the results.”

Giovanni stormed out of the stables and left James in the hay. He sat up slowly and rubbed the forming bruise on his cheek.

“One of these days , my dear...sweet Caballo...” He whispered as he stood. “Someone..is going to put that man in his place. I hope I’m there when it happens.”

Looking at her. She was speechless, as usual. She dared not speak anymore. Caballo only made a soft sound from her throat and sighed as she looked forward at the stable wall. She was partially depressed but mostly, she feared Giovanni too much to step out of line any more.

“If you would only speak to me again, Caballo. You know I do not see you as he does. You know I..didn’t want..what happened between us..to happen.”

She didn’t answer still. Caballo looked down at the wrist shackles that held her on the grooming table.

“Please Caballo..”

Walking closer to her. James’s heart was being ripped to shreds with each moment of silence from her. He put his trembled hand against her cheek.

“I’m sorry Caballo..You know..I would help you if I could. I would have gladly been beaten to death as punishment if it would have spared you.”

She didn’t speak still but Caballo knew James was as much of a prisoner as she was. She nuzzled her cheek against his hand and he smiled. A weight was lifted off of his shoulders in that one moment. But another sank onto him when he looked at the White leather dressage saddle and bridal. He still had to dress her.

“You know I don’t want to do this, Caballo. But for now..I must. Keep your spirit. Hide it..but don’t lose it. Someone will help us escape this..world.”

“I...forgive you..James.”