Mid-Year Auction: OPEN FOR BIDS

[lorilie]

Rylee insisted upon Eliot looking down the row for any horses for himself. He grumbled and moaned the entire way, but obliged, not enjoying being seen with a woman leading a mule.

Suddenly, Rylee caught sight of Cara and the man who owned Arlette. She's seen the small fourteen year old around the barn and knew she had a way with horses. While she knew it was good of the man to want to meet the girl's parents, he should know that they were near a riding school, so the chances were that there weren't any parents nearby. She looked at Eliot.

"I've got to take care of that over there, bubba, you just hang tight here with Flight, I'll be back in a flash."
"Where're you goin'?"
"Over there. Do that thing with your eyes that scares people towards that man there, m'kay?"
"Ry'!" Bust she'd already gone off.

She walked over to the girl and man, and tapped the seller on the shoulder. "Excuse me sir, I'm Rylee Gorman, farrier of the riding academy on the outskirts of town. This young lady is a student there, and therefore, her parents are not here. I will have to kindly ask you to take her money and get a horse off your hands before I get the manager of the auction to prove to you and your smart@ss attitude that there is a school dedicated to riding nearby. And if that still isn't enough, that man over there with the mule with will happily convince you. Or I can call someone with authority at the school. What do you say, sir?" She rose a defiant eyebrow.

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Cara turned toward the owner of the voice at the same time that the man selling the pretty mare did, the only thing was that he was a little more than annoyed at his conversation with the young mother and her daughter had been interrupted. He looked from Rylee to Cara and back again, not sure whether to believe the woman farrier or not. "You mean to tell me that this scrap of skin attends the riding academy?" He didn't like her next words and quickly turned toward mother and child. "I am sorry to inform you, ladies, but this mare has been sold." He turned back to Cara with the same charming smile that he had used when they first started speaking as though he hadn't brushed her off as a waste of his time only moments before. "Cheque will be fine, thank you Miss."

Cara took a small pocket book out of her inside pocket and opened it up to reveal a cheque-book. She quickly wrote out the amount and signed it before she handed it over along with her lawyer's business card just in case there was any doubt in the fact that the money was real.

"Would you like me to bring her out for you?" He asked politely, keeping a careful eye on Rylee and the man she had pointed out. "She can be a bit of a handful if you don't know her."

Cara raised her chin slightly. "I can handle it from here thank you, Sir." She said as she shook his hand and walked toward the pen. She picked up the lead rope that had been cast aside as she entered the pen, and before the mare knew what was happening, she had the rope clipped onto the halter and was leading her toward the gate. "Thank you, Ma'am." Cara said softly as she passed Rylee. She didn't have a vehicle to tow the mare back in, but she knew that the walk wouldn't take long and it would give them some time to get to know each other.

[lorilie]

She smiled at his words. "Good man." She oversaw the payment, waiting for him to leave, before waving Eliot over.

At the child's thanks, she nodded with another smile, this one softer and nicer than her business self. "Anytime, hon. I'm Rylee, and this is Eliot. The long-eared lovely is Flight. I don't have a trailer, so we're walking back to the Academy. May we join you, or would you like some time alone with your darling pony?"

Rylee truly loved ponies. She'd been disappointed to not see a pony gelding up for sale, but nonetheless, she'd find one to keep Flight and Mercury company sooner or later. But the Chincoteague in front of her was quite the beaut, stunning and smooth-coated.

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Cara gave a graceful curtsy, keeping her movements smooth and precise so as to not spook her new friend. "It is a pleasure to meet you all." She said. She already knew who the farrier was, but she wasn't going to spoil a wonderful introduction.

At the offer to walk with the adults, the girl ran her tongue along the tops of her molars as she thought through her answer. As much as she would like to spend some time alone with the skewbald, she knew that there was too much that could happen when she was alone and rather than tempt fate, she gave her reply. "If it is alright with the both of you, Arlette and I would like the company."

[Onzyy]

James sought out the owner of the mare and foal. He wasn't to far away, and just then James wanted to punch th guy lights out. I'll give you $700 for them both. It was more than the two were worth, but then they could always argue the price. The owner raised a sceptical eyebrow. $900 and they're yours.
James nearly choked at the price. He had 3 horses to support and soon would become 4. $800 and that's my final offer. James also knew that people weren't interested in the mare, as he had been standing there for nearly an hour. A small frown appeared again on the man's face and he knew that he wouldn't get more out of James. $800 was a good price. Done.
James pulled out his cheque book and made out the amount and signed it. The mare and foal were finally his.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Serena looked at the mare's info sheet, and groaned. The mare came as a pair with the gelding, her brother. She wasn't prepared to take on two abused horses, and La Fae would be handful already. If she did take two then she would need help, and a lot of it. She wanted Jude's advice on this, but then again, Serena would probably not listen to it. She had a fair amount in savings, and then she also had her inheritance money.

She looked at the mare again. The two were so similar and so different. Serena's heart tugged again towards the mare. Serena walked up to the person she thought was the owner, and for once she was happy that she didn't look her 17 years of age. Excuse me sir, I'm wondering how much for the pair.
Well now lassie. For the pair, $1800.
Serena sighed, she only had so much cash on her. I'll give you $1500 cash.
Done.
The man seemed eager to get rid of the pair and now Serena had the problem of taking the pair back to the Academy.

[.Rissa.]

Zack felt like he was on top of the world. The muscles of his thighs were starting to get tired, probably from trying to hang on. He looked down at Rance, wondering how the trainer did some of the things he did. The man also seemed to tell by his face, Zack was ready to dismount.

"Just use your hands to steady yourself, swing your leg over, and slide off, your belly facing his side," Rance instructed.

Zack nodded his head and slowly slid off. He landed with a 'thud'. He patted the horse's forehead who seemed to be indifferent to the situation. The twenty-two year old turned to the owner, "How much are you asking for him?" The cowboy's misty eyes glanced back from man to man, then to the horse, "Bock is just an average horse. He ain't registered, though with enough fees, he can be," and after saying that, "You can have 'em for $800." The young man looked over to Rance, "Is that a good price?"

Rance put his hand to his cap and quickly re-adjusted it. He looked at the horse, and his mind mulled over the price. It wasn't a bad offer, he wasn't registered, he was a good broke gelding. He looked at Zack, "How much you got?"

"Uh," Zack pulled out his wallet and went through the bills, not taking them out yet. He winced, "I'm short $200." Rance looked over at the man, his handle-bar mustache alone could tell somebody he wasn't one to haggle with, but what was the hurt in trying, "Would you take $600?"

The cowboy's face remained emotionless. He leaned down and spat out of the side of his mouth. He then straightened, "I paid $2000 for his momma, she passed with only giving me him. I bred her to a stud for $500. I can't make a profit on him, and I'm not taking any less."

Rance nodded, yes, that was understandable. Bad things could happen to good horses. Life was luck of the draw. The trainer pulled out his wallet, "What are you doing?" Zack asked, alarm in his voice.

"I told you we'd find a horse." Rance added a smug grin on the end to show no hard feelings. He whipped out eight twenty dollar bills and handed them to Zack. The young man pulled the hundreds from his wallet and handed the money to the man. "I would say take care of him for me, but, it's really the other way around," he laughed. Zack chuckled lightly as he grabbed the lead and waved the man bye. He turned to Rance, "No one I know would whip $200 out for me."

Rance grew a pondering look on his face, "Me neither." He shrugged and started walking to the exit.

"But-you-you just?" Zack pointed back towards where they got the horse as he followed Rance through the crowd. He then stopped and turned to the appaloosa, "Oh."

[raclett]

Juan arrived at the auction with a empty horse trailer, he just hoped to leave with atleast one horse in it. He had already picked up a program and had gone through it quietly. He wanted to get a mare that he could breed and maybe eventually train. It seems he was a bit late and there were only two mares left. One was a smokey buckskin color almost dark enough to pass as a gorgous grulla, the mare looked young maybe around three. The other was a large built mustang gypsy cross she was pretty but not Juans type. So he walked to the pen of the three year old and looked her over. His brown eyes observed her movement. She looked rather calm considering the crowd around her. She was small but had a beautiful color. Juan reached up and waved the seller over.
"How may I help you sir?" The elderly man asked.
Juan looked at him then to the horse. "Does this here filly belong to you??" He questioned. When the elderly man nodded Juan smiled. "Well I would like to buy her. What are you asking??" Juan asked looking at the man.
The old man looked at him for a moment then turned to the mare who had walked up behind him and placed er head right over his shoulder. "Nine hundred." He said.
Juan could tell the man was sadened to sell the mare. Nine hundred seemed to be a good offer. "I will take her." He said then he pulled out his wallet and handed the man nine hundred dollars. The old man walked across the ring and pulled a rope halter and lead out of a trunk. Then putting it on the mare he lead her to the gate and gave the lead to Juan.
Juan smiled and then took his new mare back to the trailer and loaded her up.

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Katherine had been at the auction house for a while and had watched horses leave. She was here looking for a beginners horse, a horse rather than a pony, that she could use to help novice adults find their stride on horseback. The horses here were good, but nothing was what she was looking for.

"What's your story?" She asked a large grey who looked like he had some Percheron in him. He had a very sweet looking face, but unlike Cara she couldn't judge a horse by their face. "Knowing my luck, you're probably an ex-bronc." She knew that she sounded very pessimistic and hoped the gelding's owner wasn't around as she didn't want to offend anyone. Stepping closer, she read through his sheet and read it again to make sure her brain wasn't making things up. "Sounds like you are a giant version of Tonka." She loved the skewbald Shetland pony she had purchased and was teaching Aurora on.

"May I help you?"

The barn manager turned at the sound of a voice at her shoulder. "How much would you like for this bad boy?"

The woman gave a musical laugh before she looked at the gelding who was stretching over the fence toward his owner. "What would you be using him for?" She asked, a slight catch in her voice as she placed a protective hand on the gelding's nose.

Katherine smiled at the woman's attitude. "I'd like him to help adults find their confidence in the saddle." She said as she offered her hand to the gelding. "But mainly, he'll spend his days in the pasture with the eighteen year old Shetland I also own."

The woman smiled at Katherine, her eyes glowing. "As sad as I am to say good bye, I would accept fifteen hundred."

Katherine wrote out a cheque for the woman and handed it over. "I live and work at the Academy here in Blue Ridge, so feel free to come out and see him any time you like."

The woman smiled as she wrapped her arms around the gelding's neck and said her goodbyes before handing the lead to Katherine and watched them walk away.

[.Rissa.]

--No Way Out--

A new Dodge pick-up roared into the gravel parking lot towing a two-horse slant load trailer. The pick-up came to a halt and the engine died, but no effort was made to open the door. Hazel eyes stare at the dashboard. He knew this would happen. No, if he did, he wouldn't have been surprised for coming here. His father never let him ride a loose rein when it came to horses. He always pushed his son harder and farther. Avery tried to take advantage of the fact that his dad wasn't physically here to spur him into action, but that failed. Just the night before, he recieved a phone call from his father. The man knew Avery wasn't riding regulary or practicing for any local rodeos. He was more than p*ssed. Words could cut flesh, believe it or not, becuase a sharp sword stabbed the young man's heart.

The door to the black truck opened. A boot stepped down onto the gravel, followed by a second one. The door slammed shut as the cowboy made his way to the auction. He knew it had been going on the whole time, he wasn't interested. He didn't want a horse, now, he didn't have a choice. His eyes scanned empty pen after empty pen. Finally, he saw a mangy looking mare. Her mane was a bit tangled, and she needed a good trim on her feet. Her hind legs looked to lack muscle. She needed work, and definatley wasn't the quarter horses he was used to. She was a mustang cross, go figure. They were mutts of the open plains. But, she was talented. He pondered it a moment, just buy her and go. But some man was waving him down the asile, "I got what you need cowboy, how about a roan quarter horse?"

Avery reluctantly followed the man. His eyes grew wide at the size of the animal. Only God knew the loads of muscle packed behind those haunches. The cowboy took off his hat and ran a hand through his thick brown hair. The mare had the skill he was looking for, but this roan had the power. His father wouldn't be impressed by either one of them alone. The eighteen year old stuck the hat on top of his head. His eyes glanced back up the asile to the mare, then back to the roan. What the hell, I'll take them both.

The cowboy wrote out a $900 check for the roan gelding and a $1,000 check for the mustang cross mare. Taking a lead rope in each hand, he led the animal's out into the afternoon sun.

[Ω-Admin-Cara-Ω]

Cara walked through the auctions, and elderly Japanese man by her side. "I understand, Lee-san." She replied softly. "Or at least I think I do."

Mushi Lee, the Kitchi family lawyer glanced down at the girl. "You will come in to quite an amount of Power, Cara-chan." He said softly. "Possibly enough power to send that Andrews man packing."

The mere sound of the man's name made the girl go pale as they stopped up a yard that held the last horse of the first auction that had come to the large building, the auction where she had found Arlette. The wood paneling had been ripped up in placed, but never enough to go right through the panel. A clear sign of a very bored horse.

"Fine looking horse." Lee said knowledgeably as he looked at the horse. "What does he tell you, Cara-chan?"

Cara looked over and met the eyes of the yard's occupant, she quickly shifted them away so that the chestnut Arabian wouldn't feel like she was being stared at. "He's clever, but needs to be kept busy. He learns fast, but knows when he be asked to do something the wrong way. He's stubborn, but will happily give his heart to you if asked the right way." She looked around at the wood. "And he looks extremely bored."

Lee nodded his head, he knew that the girl had a magic sight when it came to horses, but he could never see what she did. He stepped over and read the gelding's information. "This says he is a handful."

Cara studied the horse again, making sure to keep her eyes on his shoulder not his eyes. "What training does he have?"

"Endurance."

"Are you and your grand-daughter interested in Ghalib." Drawled the man standing to their right. He laughed when the girl jumped into the air. "Easy, little one."

She looked at the horse again who's ears were now pinned flat against his head. "Yes, Sir." She replied. "I am very interested in him."

The man grinned as he looked at the elderly man dressed in a suit and the girl not looking any more horsey than her elder. "You can have him for five grand."

Cara's eyebrows shot up and she gave an undignified snort. "I'll give you two and a half, and I'm not even sure he's worth that much with how much work he is going to need!" She could feel Lee's look, but she wasn't backing down.

"Three." The man replied

Cara drew herself up to her full height. "Two. And that is my final offer." She lifted her eyebrows, challenging him to go higher, a tiny smile quirked her lips as she watched his shoulders drop in defeat.

"Deal. I'll catch him for you though, as he's a handful." He picked up the gelding's orange halter than looked like it was going to break any moment and a lead that looked as tatty as the halter. "Easy there." His voice shook as he entered the yard.

Cara watched as the man then tried to corner the gelding who dodged out of his way every time he got within hand's reach. "May I?" She finally asked. She was by then holding the red and white halter and lead that Lee had handed to her. As the man exited, she waited for Ghalib to stop running before she entered.

Walking into the yard, she walked straight into the middle and just stood there. After the gelding had had the chance to get a good look at her, she stepped forward in his direction. She lifted her eyebrows as the gelding darted off to the side and began to trot around the perimeter of the yard, his tail held high.

She kept step with the gelding and it wasn't too long before the chestnut worked out that he had been beaten at his own game and he dropped back to a walk and then finally came to a halt as he allowed the human child to walk up to his shoulder and slip the halter over his pretty nose, fasten it on the side of his face and lead him from the yard.

"Let's get him home." Lee said, as money had changed hands while the seller looked with a dropped jaw as he watched the girl with the horse.

Cara placed her hand on Ghalib's nose as the gelding pinned his ears flat as they approached the man who had just sold him. "I'll go and load him up."