<div class="floatleft">(http://[url=http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/b5/Charlie-full.jpg]http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/b5/Charlie-full.jpg[/url])</div><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Charlotte “Charlie” Cooper</span></span><br/><strong>Current Location:</strong>The Stables<br/><br/>All was not quiet in the stables of the stately Henshaw country estate and, as usual, the uproar was caused by the arrival of a new horse.<br/><br/>Voices were raised in fear and frustration as the stable hands tried to back Lord Richard Fowler’s prized stallion into a stall. The reluctant mount stomped his feet and tossed his head angrily, and refused to be pushed or bullied.  The men dashed this way and that, careful to avoid the strong legs of the horse and the possibility of great injury but their fear nearly allowed the horse to break free.  Through it all, Charlie quietly watched from her seat in the corner, her hands polishing the brass finishings of a bridle while she looked out from under her cap.  It wasn’t her job to interfere but she knew if someone didn’t do something soon it was going to go from bad to worse.<br/><br/>“What is the name of all that’s holy is going on here!”<br/><br/>The rough loud voice of the stable master broke over the commotion as his experienced eyes assessed the situation.<br/><br/>“Charlie, you daft lad, don’t just sit – get up and help!”<br/><br/>That was all she needed to hear. She stopped what she was doing and slowly walked up to the huge animal, carefully remaining in his line of sight as she approached.  She spoke quietly as she moved closer to him, her nonsense words just loud enough for him to hear if he quieted.  And quiet he did, as if recognizing he was finally receiving the respect he deserved.  She reached up and scratched him between the ears before casually taking hold of his bridle.<br/><br/>“Come on boy, let’s get out of here.”  She whispered to him and started to lead him away from the mess he had created.<br/><br/>“Charlie, what the hell are you doing?”  The stable master’s voice was forceful and easily carried to Charlie, but he was wise enough to not yell and risk upsetting the horse again. He knew Charlie was a strange, daft sort of lad but he gave the boy credit for having a way with the horses.<br/><br/>Charlie stopped her progress to the stable door just long enough to answer in her husky voice, “I’m taking this great beastie for a walk while a bigger stall is found for our beauty here. That one is too small. He doesn’t want to be backed into something he can’t see and if he is led in we’ll spend the next few days talking to his arse-end.”<br/><br/>While Charlie waked the horse around the paddock the stable was set to right. When they returned the stable was empty but a proper sized stall awaited the animal with fresh water and feed.  The stallion walked into his new stall with his majestic head held high.<br/><br/>“I see your new accommodations meet your high standards", she said with a smile. "I knew you meant to be no trouble, you just like having it your way. Don’t you? “<br/><br/>Charlie picked out a curry and began to brush down his sleek coat as she continued heap upon him the flattery he deserved.<br/>