New Beginnings

[Lost]

It had not been a good day for Faith Taylor. Hell, it'd not been a good year for Faith Taylor. Well, that wasn't strictly speaking true, she had to concede to herself. After all, two months ago her father had written to her, telling her he intended to leave his stud farm to her in a couple of years when he retired. There was a catch. There was always a catch with her father, and this time it had been a big one. Before he would sign the deeds over to her, she must first break her own horse, unaided, and win a prestigious competition on it. For many, this might sound an exciting challenge. Not Faith Taylor. Not after the fall, after the broken bones, after watching her own horse get shot when she was just a child. She had vowed she would never get on a horse again. And now, after all this time, her father was making her break that vow. All in all, it hadn't been a good day.

On the surface, it didn't seem a big deal. If she didn't want to ride, didn't care for horses, then she wouldn't want a stud farm, right? Wrong. She knew how much a stud like her father's was worth, knew that it could put an end to her being forced to work in a run down bar six nights a week - knew that this was too good an opportunity to pass up. So here she was, back in America for the first time in 15 years, out in the middle of nowhere, without a bar, club or motorway in miles, to catch a horse.

She swung her leg over the side of her motorbike, and pulled the helmet from her head. Switching off the ignition, she glanced at the ranch with disdain. It had belonged to a grandfather she had never met - on her father's side, of course, her mother being English - before it was passed down to her father, and was now being loaned to her. Although looking at it, she was starting to wish she'd saved herself the hassle and got a tent. Her eyes fell on the large white horse box, and she swore loudly. She'd told him not to drop the animal off before lunch, she'd been planning on taking a look around the place - not that she was entirely ungrateful for the distraction; she was starting to wish she'd never laid eyes on the place. Maybe she should've just stayed in London.

Too late for that now girl, she told herself, striding purposefully towards the horsebox. Time to get the beast out and kick it into life. As far as she was concerned, the sooner she caught a wild horse and got out of this place, the better. She swung down the ramp and glanced disdainfully at the large black rump and inquisitively turned head pointing at her. So, this was Willow.

[Lost]

"So you're Willow," Faith stated blandly as she stepped nervously into the box, avoiding the plate-sized hooves that seemed sure to kick her at any moment. "Bloody stupid name for a horse if you ask me," she added as she squeezed past the black giant that was staring at her with interest. It was huge, much bigger than she had expected. Maybe she should've gone to see it herself, but it wasn't like she really cared. She'd only need it for a few weeks, until she got close enough to a wild horse, then she could send the d**n thing off to the knackers. World would be a better place with one less horse in it anyway.

Shoving its annoyingly big head out of the way as it tried to nuzzle her, Faith unclipped the rope and then yanked on it, dragging the surprised beast out of the box. The sound of hooves clattering on concrete summoned the driver as if from nowhere, and he grinned at black haired girl and the ebony Frisian; a stunning pair.

"Hi there, you managed to find her then? Magnificient animal, isn't she?" he chirped away happily, offering his hand to shake and illicting a frown from Faith. She'd much rather be back on her bike than holding this stinking animal, and she certainly didn't think it was "magnificient" that was for sure. Faith pulled a bundle of notes from her pocket and shoved them into the man's out-stretched hand.

"No need to wait around," she told him unkindly, then spun on her heel, and half led, half dragged the frisian behind her towards the paddock. She was pleased to note that at least the idiot had obeyed her instructions enough to have the horse already tacked up - a right fuss they'd kicked up about it, though she didn't know why. Wasn't like it mattered, the horse had it on often enough - it had been a riding school horse, it must be used to it by now. She stopped by the gate with its peeling white paint that lead to the pasture, grown with weeds and showing its neglect, and tied the horse to the fence by her reins.

"Don't you dare move," she threatened, striding away towards her bike in search of her only change of clothes.

Willow, meanwhile, tugged uncomfortably at her reins, and then settled, unable to reach the grass because the reins were tied too short. She was feeling a little weary after the long journey - it had been a long time since she had been boxed for so many hours. Placidly, she gazed about at her new surroundings, which she had not had time to look at before, such had been her new mistress's haste. Truth be told, she longed for the bustle of the riding stable, and was missing her stable mates. But she must try hard to please her new human - after all, that was a horse's job.

When Faith reappeared a short while later, she had swaped her bike leathers for an old pair of jeans and a second hand pair of riding boots. She untied Willow's reins from the gate, opened it and pulled the hastily stepping horse inside. The girl tied the gate shut once more, and without a word, heaved herself into the saddle, dropping heavily into it. Willow shied to one side at the sudden and unexpected weight, earning herself a slap across the back of the head.

"Get out of it, stupid beast," she swore at it, then kicked her boots heavily into the mare's side. Willow shot forward, into the waiting bit which grabbed painfully at the corners of her mouth, dragging her back down to an uncertain walk.

"Behave yourself, you brute, or you'll get another one," the girl threatened the horse, heaving on the reins when a touch would have done to get her round the corner. Lifting the leather straps in one hand, Faith slapped them heavily against Willow's shoulder, yelling as she did:

"Now get forward!"