Welcoming Wish to the Barn

[Marcel Toulouse]

Marcel stroked the neck of the little mare he lead today. He wasn't sure what had possessed him but even though she was tiny, he just loved the little mare from the moment he saw her. He had bid and had no competition, so got lucky. She was cute, and seemed pleasantly under-stressed by the whole situation. She rubbed against the offered hand, seeking to get an itch soothed. Marcel obliged, scritching her smooth grey-blue coat, dappled with spots as small as snow flakes. She had tall stockings, and would be an excellent trail horse for him, seeing as he could easily mount her from the ground (14 hands not that far up!), he chuckles to think about himself being on a mare so small. But perhaps she will continue to grow. Even if she doesn't her sweet face just would not let him pass her by.

He leads her to a newly bedded stall in the Main Barn. Shame he could not keep her near Mori, but that would really drive the boys nuts, and probably drive her into season. Not that he was against a foal, in fact, he would be very interested in breeding her when she was a bit older, but for now she was just a silly 3 year old. Marcel removes the halter and fills two water buckets, and hangs them neatly on the hooks, then throws a few flakes of hay in the corner of the stall. She can probably join the main herd tomorrow. Marc thinks she'll probably be low on the totem pole, just happy to be with the others and have some sort of direction from the herd.

"Wish," he says out loud. "Your barn name will be Wish." She nickers softly into her hay, as if agreeing with her name. He realizes she will probably grey out with age, but she is such a pretty color at the moment. He stares, as if imprinting the image into his mind. Despite knowing he probably does not need another horse, could ride other horses if he desired a break from Mori, he smiles contentedly. He hangs up her new leather halter and light blue lead on the hook on her stall door. Wish is a good buy, worth every penny and more, he is sure of it.

[Iris Kent]

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[ Horse: 1973 Chardonnay ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Marcel ]

She'd done it. She'd landed her dream job: being manager of a barn that wasn't owned by her mother. It was all Iris could do not to sashay down the aisles of the airy barn that she was now in charge of, grinning from ear to ear. She now had a reputation to uphold. And part of that reputation included caring for her horses. Although she had three, only one had arrived at Saving Grace so far. Her mother was driving the other two out in the family trailer in a few days. 1973 Chardonnay, her Warmblood Thoroughbred mix was waiting patiently in her stall. Even though she loved all of her horses equally, Charlotte still had a special place in Iris' heart. She was just so sweet and gentle that it made Iris' heart melt. She smiled at the pretty palomino as she buckled the mare's halter, and snapped her lead line on. She led the mare through the barn, letting the palomino get fully acquainted with her new settings. Luckily, Charlotte adjusted easily to new situations. Iris knew she wouldn't so lucky with her other two horses. She fed the mare a peppermint from her breeches pocket, and continued down the way to the nearest pair of crossties. Once she was safely snapped on the ties, Charlotte lowered her delicate head expectantly, her flaxen forelock falling over her eyes. Iris chuckled to herself and rubbed the mare's forehead, pushing the hair to the side. "You're so spoiled, aren't you?" She cooed to the palomino. The mare nickered in agreement. Just then, Iris caught sight of a man leaving a stall, hanging up a halter and lead line. She must have not noticed him when she walked by with Charlotte. She took a deep breath. Horses Iris could handle. It was the people she wasn't exactly certain with. But, nevertheless, she had to bite the bullet and get to know not only the horses of the barn (her barn!), but their owners as well. She smiled tentatively at the man, walking over and offering her hand to shake. "Hi, I'm Iris Kent, the new main barn manager." She glanced into the stall he'd just exited. There stood a petite grey horse, with the prettiest bird catcher spots she'd ever seen. "Is she yours?" Iris asked, gesturing to the delicate little mare.

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[Marcel Toulouse]

Caught up in the moment, Marcel hadn't even noticed the woman in the barn. So he was a bit startled when someone suddenly spoke to him. He takes her offered hand, though, and gives it a firm if gentle shake. "Hi, I'm Marcel. I work over in the stallion barn." Somehow he hadn't even noticed they had a new main barn manager. Just went to show how isolated the barns could be from each other. Especially the stallion barn, as it was farther away, and not many ventured there.

He turns back to Wish, who is still contentedly munching hay. "She is now. Just bought her at auction. Couldn't resist. So different from my stallion. Just so... peaceful." Mori was more of go getter, active type. "So, enjoying it here so far?" he asks, trying to keep up polite conversation, though he really hopes she is. He had never thought about getting another horse, he had just stumbled across her. Though now that he had her, he couldn't imagine thing ever being different. Perhaps when she was older he would breed her and Mori. Both horses were seriously talented. And beautiful. But he would have to wait on that.

"You got a horse around here yet?" he adds, trying to keep his thoughts from wandering too much. He is not the best conversationalist, but he is making an effort.

[Iris Kent]

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[ Horse: 1973 Chardonnay ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Marcel ]

She seemed to have startled the man by speaking, so she took a step back, waiting for him to regain his composure. But he seemed okay when he shook her hand and introduced himself, so she smiled again. "The stallion barn's really nice, and all the horses are so gorgeous." She'd already visited all of the barns, since she'd probably need to confer with the other managers soon enough. She'd been especially taken with the stallion barn, which was good, since she had a stallion who was going to be spending most of his time there. Mister Bliss, her racehorse that had never won any races. But that was fine with her, since he proved to have talents in other areas that interested her much more. Iris looked back to Marcel as he explained about his horse. She nodded in agreement, thinking about the vast difference between Charlotte and Bliss, and knowing the feeling. "She's lovely," Iris told him honestly. She considered his question for a moment, twisting a strand of honey blonde hair around her finger. "Yes, it's been great so far..." Truthfully, she was a little homesick, but she knew she'd get used to Saving Grace Ranch soon. Once Bliss and her new prospect Carey got there, she'd have no time to think about missing home. Iris turned to watch the small mare in the stall munch on a flake of hay. When Marcel spoke again, it was her turn to be startled. "Yes, I have Charlotte here now. She's the palomino on cross ties over there," She gestured to the mare who was standing patiently a few feet away, ears perked forward curiously at the two people. "I'm waiting for my mom to drop my other two off." She told him.

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[Marcel Toulouse]

Iris seemed a bit hesistent with her answer about her time so far at the barn. Marcel knew it could be an adjustment, but for him it was so long ago. And he had nothing to be homesick for. This was his home. "It certainly is a good place" he says evenly. He'd seen people come and go. Mostly other fosters, but it seemed like a place a person could build up, and thrive. He hoped he would, as he already had. He brushes his hand through short clipped hair. Much less hot for summer this way, but it seemed a bit weird for him, now. It might make him look too young.

He glances out into the aisle, towards the palomino mare. She seemed pretty content herself. "She's cute. What type?" Marcel was not always great at telling horse breeds apart. It was much harder, considering all the crossbreeds that existed within the ranch. He raises his eyebrows at her mention of two other horses. "I wouldn't know what to do with three horses. These two are all I can handle for now, though eventually I'd love a foal to train. He'd already considered breeding his stallion and mare, but he'd wait a bit until his mare was a bit more mature. 3 was barely past the baby stage.

[Iris Kent]

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[ Horse: 1973 Chardonnay ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Marcel ]

He looked far more content with his surroundings than she felt, she noticed. Now uncomfortable, she shifted her weight from foot to foot, still playing with her hair. Hopefully someday she would feel just as at ease as he seemed, maybe even more so. If she was going to be a successful barn manager, she had to make this place her second home. "Yes, I'm sure I'll end up loving it soon enough, I guess I just miss home a little bit." She managed a small, sad smile. At least she'd have her horses to help her. When Marcel inquired about Charlotte, Iris gave him a genuine smile. He probably didn't know it, but nothing cheered her up more than talking about her horses. "She's a Warmblood/Thoroughbred mix," She explained happily. Although a lot of people (where Iris came from at least) disliked crossbreeds, she knew that Charlotte could smoke any of the purebred competition any day of the week. She had the best of both worlds. "It's not so hard having three of them," Iris told him, "But any more and I wouldn't know what to do with myself." She chuckled.

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[Marcel Toulouse]

Maybe Marcel was lucky. He'd never been homesick. He probably never would be, until he left Saving Grace. Sure he'd felt awkward and resentful upon first arriving. But not now. "There's lots of cool places to check out. The trails are awesome, especially in the summer. His smile is genuine, hopeful. Mori was a purebred, but he did not discount the power of a mixed breed. Function and training are more important than pedigree to Marcel, so he smiles as Iris tells him about her mare. He nods at the next part. Somehow, one would always find time for the horses one had, but never be able to imagine more than that. And yet, if another was acquired, again one would find the time. "Well, I guess we'll be seeing each other around quite a bit, maybe even at the shows." He slides shut the stall door and pulls the latch down. He'll work with Wish tomorrow, give her a chance to settle in first.