The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Subtle Trouble on 07-12-2010, 18:46:12</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 18:46:12</strong>
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				Ever since she could remember, Keaton had loved horses. Most animals, really, but it was horses that she wanted to spend her life with. It's why as a child she had begged her parents for lesson, and as a teenager she'd spent every moment she could working at the local stable, to continue her lessons, and for money for college. She wanted to be a vet, or rather, a horse specialist. She could already train horses, mostly, and taught classes of novice riders. She'd taken a few years before school started, to make more money, so she wouldn't graduate with debt, and to really get to know everything she could about horses without machines and surgery. They called her the horse whisperer, at the stables. Like it was supposed to embarrass her.<br><br>Keaton was short, and lithe, often being mistaken for a sixteen-year-old, instead of her age of twenty. She still had two years of saving before she had enough for all of the school years she would need, and then it would be back to a crappy apartment, waking up at the ass crack of dawn and teaching snot nosed kids to keep their toes in, now with the added bonus of giving shots and helping the mares give birth every spring. Somehow, though, that sounded wonderful. <br><br>She sighed softly, as she curried down Debar, the old, gentle horse who likely only had two riding years left. Singing softly to him, she brought the comb across his withers in big, firm strokes, unsettling the dappled gray hair, and giving him a good, full-body scratch. He'd been rolling in the mud yesterday, and she was covered from tip to toes in mud-dust as a result. She needed to hose him down, and then curry him again, after he was dry to get him clean again. His owner, Crissy, has a dressage competition tomorrow, and needed him pristine. Keaton sighed, softly, and looked at him.<br><br>"You're a brat, and she's a bitch. How many times do I have to ask you not to roll in the mud right before a competition? I'm the one who has to groom you. I know she did it once, and it was hilarious, but I assure you, it will never happen again. Besides, I'm nice to you." She grumbled softly to the big gelding. She didn't truly mind, though. He was her favorite, even if his owner wasn't, and grooming horses was what kept her sane. She loved it more than riding them. She loved the way Debar hugged her every time she stood before him, and how the same movement over and over dulled her thoughts. <br><br>Finally, she stood back, satisfied that all of the mud had been dislodged from him - and onto her. Under the fine dusting of gray, her ash blond hair was plaited down the middle of her back sternly. She couldn't afford the bangs flopping into her ice blue eyes, though they always did, anyhow. Her frame was thin, and athletic, from a lifetime of grooming, riding, and mucking out stalls. her nse was pert, upturned in the most annoyingly cute way possible, and her lips, when not covered in dust, were full, and the pink color of a freshly scrubbed face. <br><br>She wore serviceable jeans, tucked into muck-boots, and a gray t-shirt that she'd had for years. Her family had never had money, and they'd taught her to work for everything. And she had.<br><br>"All right, you old coot. Let's get you soaped up, huh?" She suggested, unhooking the cross ropes from his bridle, and attaching a leadshank. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 20:57:38</strong>
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				There was a quiet smile on Adam Trevelayne's face as he stood leaning with his shoulder on the side of the open stable gate. The rich black coat he was wearing over his italian Tessori was in real danger of getting its fabric caught in the greasy hinges if he leaned the wrong way, but the man in the early 40s was stock still as he watched the easy moves of the young woman working with and on her equidarian charge. There was no doubt to the trained eyes of the manytimes horsepurchasing male that of the two race animals he was looking at, the mare was the one of the better breeding and higher... prize potential. Because with the curves the young lady was displaying, she was certainly beyond comparing to a mere filly.<br><br>He eventually stood up and avoided a rip in his coat merely by chance, but might not have paid it much mind anyway - the stable owner and CEO had long ago learned to focus on what was important to him and his plans. And right now it was focused on the woman he was approaching at a calm step. "You sure know how to make an old man happy young lady", he said with a smile as he removed a glove and placed his hand gently on the neck of the horse, looking steadily into the big brown eye. His voice was deep yet soft and measured, and meant to be heard as such both for the old gelding and the young mare. "He probably knows it too. I suspect that he might be making some extra work for you just so he can enjoy it. Some of these veterans know more tricks that you expect of any animal." The hand patted the neck a little and moved slowlt to stroke the muzzle lightly a few times. "Clever old guy." <br><br>Then he turned to the lady only half his own age and gave her the first direct look over a small but easy smile. The man's black hair had been shaped by a hairdresser dedicated to the work, but the wind had tousled locks loose anyway and a few straws were plastered incongruously to his slightly greykissed sides without him knowing. "You would be Keaton, right? Mr Nickleton told me he had increased the staff on this shift since the last time I came around to inspect my.... ummm, in short I'm the owner of this facility. Pleased to meet you Keaton, I'm Adam Trevelayne. It looks like you are enjoying your work?" He offered her his sunbrowned hand only after it had been in the coat pocket and retrieved a small apple which he gave to Debar. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 21:15:02</strong>
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				Keaton near jumped out of her socks as the smooth voice called from the exit. She quickley hushed the horse, before he had time to even think of spooking, and turned him in the wide aisle, to squint into the sunlight. She blinked, her eyes assessing the expensive coat, well-groomed hair, and the easy way he moved. She'd seen a picture of her once, when she first got hired. He owned a chain of stables, closer to the city to where she lived. She'd moved here about two years back. An eyebrow cocked, as he rested an ungloved hand against Debar's neck. A snort from the giant animal warned her, and Keaton gave him a soft tug. This man was important, her boss' boss' boss, and she didn't need to lose her job because Debar decided he didn't like his manners.<br><br>A soft noise of understanding escaped her lips, as he suggested the reason for Debar's filthy coat, and she offered a wry grin. She was nervous around the man, she always was around older men, especially those with power, but she would be damned if she showed it. "Is that what you're doing?" She asked Debar, before looking back to him, holding fast to Debar's leadshank as he tried to back away from the hand on his muzzle. He settled, however, at the offer of a treat. Maybe the older man wasn't as unfamiliar with animals as she'd originally judged, just horses.<br><br>"I wouldn't put it past him. He's quite the clever animal," she replied to him. A blush sprang to her cheeks, as he inquired as to her name. "I am, sir." She replied. "I'm glad to meet you. I'm sorry my hands..." She trailed off, raising her hand to show him the filth caked across her palm, and under her close-trimmed nails. "I would shake, but I don't want to gt you any dirtier than being in the stable will." She explained briefly. "And yes, I very much enjoy working with your horses, and those that board here, Mr. Trevelayne. It's my passion." She offered. <br><br>She stood uncomfortably in front of the impeccable man, with Debar disheveled by the currycomb, and herself covered with dust, and her boots muck. She wondered why he was there, in the stable. He was no more dressed for it than she were a charity dinner.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 22:52:07</strong>
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				"Oh dear." The smile tugging on the man's lips broadened. "There is no need to call me sir. Aren't we colleagues in this business after all?" Then he gripped her dirty hand and squeezed it firmly, absently drying it off on his coat shortly afterwards. "I can assure you that I would sleep a lot better at night if I never had to squeeze hands with anything worse than horsedung on them. Some of my shareholders.... " The sentence trailed, then was better off unfinished. "Being passionate about... your job is a good thing. I wish I could say that about all my employees!"<br><br>Adam looked around the stable with slight bewilderment for a moment, then sat down on a bale of hay beside her. Somewhere in London, a fashion designer had a heart attack. The man leaned back onto the rough wall and looked up at Keaton with a disarming smile. "Anyway, and actually for that reason, our meeting isn't entirely accidental. I did intend to have a word with you and I hope you will be interested in listening." While he waited for that to sink in, Adam did his best to not look at her with too probing eyes. After all he had already had a few good eyefulls. But now, this close, her natural scent after hours of work was coming to his nostrils even through the odours of the stable, and it was a heady lungeful. For a moment, desire threatened to become physically manifested but it was nothing that the cut of his suit couldn't conceal. The young blonde was certainly reminding his body that it was male to the... hilt.<br><br>"I have had reason to place some general enquiries to a number of my stable facilities about the staffing and your manager has had some praise given in your direction. Since Nickleton is tighter with praise than he is with even the Christmas bonuses, my curiousity was raised and I thought I'd see the 'horse whisperer' at works since I was coming here anyway." Adam didn't mention that if he hadn't known Tony Nickleton to 100% prefer young men he'd assumed that Keaton was working the manager's bed parttime. There really had been a lot of praise, and if&nbsp; Adam hadn't carefully worded the enquiries to make it sound like he needed to reduce the staff rather than looking for one of the best, Tony might had found it wiser to not mention her at all. The stable manager would not be happy to learn that Adam had snapped up his best worker. But of course that hadn't happened yet.<br><br>He nodded toward the horse. "By all means do continue your work, I can talk in the meanwhile. Sorry if I'm not going to be of too much help.... I am pained to admit that I don't do much of that kind of work these days, even if I still love to ride." The man actually managed a moment's blush worthy of a much younger man. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>08-12-2010, 00:25:20</strong>
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				Keaton watched, as he absently rubbed the grit off his hand, and fought the urge to roll her eyes at the hypocritical actions. Surely he didn't with his hand off after shaking it with his <em>shareholders</em>. She couldn't truly hate the man, he never cut budgets on the horses, but she still remembered her friend, Anna, who had been let go shortly after she was hired. Anna had been good with horses, but she'd split her time between the stable and dance. Keaton still couldn't quite understand how that equated into her firing, but one day her friend had been gone.<br><br>Again, as he flashed his teeth, Keaton flushed, and offered a soft smile in return, until he pulled out her joking nickname. "I'm not really... It's a joke, Mr. Trevelayne." She said. "It's because I talk to the horses like they're people... And I can figure out what's bothering them. I just do a lot of reading about horses." She looked away, hoping against hope that he hadn't taken it literally, and that he hadn't planned on capitalizing on it. She couldn't talk to horses. She didn't really believe anyone could. At least not and have the horse answer.<br><br>"I... um, I was actually bringing him outside to give him a shampoo. He's showing tomorrow, and he needs to be dry before I start the braids... If you want, I'll be done in about half an hour, and I could come find you, if you need to speak with me. It's really messy and... well" She trailed off, not wanting to insinuate that he was in no way dressed to be around animals. It was his establishment, after all, and he held the sword over her head. What did he want her for? She just taught classes and took care of the horses. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>09-12-2010, 20:55:26</strong>
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				Adam found the young woman's flushed talk thoroughly endearing. It made her look vulnerable. He rose up and brushed off his coat automatically; it didn't really work. The man gave her an apologetic look. "You shouldn't take it negatively I think. I really do believe that 'horse whisperer' was a coin minted by the Robert Redford movie, you know? From before your time, I guess." For a moment Adam looked a little put out, then brightened again and grinned broadly. "Actually, I didn't arrive all by myself. I was following a couple of new purchases here, two Friesian mares. They are being unloaded and fed a little right now, but I am sure they are itching for some excercise after the plane and car ride. Why don't we give them some fresh air?" <br><br>He pointed out through the open gate, where indeed a twin horse trailer was open and two chocolocate-colored equine goddesses were now standing stiffly outside being tended by another worker. The man winked. "Grooming them will be the next shift's work and not extra duties for you... i had a word with Tony." Then he pointed to a covered straw basket standing discreetly just beside the gate. "And since the weather is nice AND I know for a fact that the terrain around here is lovely, why don't we make a little picnic out of it?" For a moment he looked wistful. "It's not as if I get to ride every day any more." Then he nodded to her and turned toward the gates. "Very well, I guess half an hour is as much time I need to take care of the paperwork with Tony. And put on something more... suitable. See you soon, Miss Keaton!" Adam Trevelayne departed in a small cloud of dust and straw.&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 05:36:47</strong>
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				"I know the movie, I've just never watched it," she replied softly, as he mentioned the film that coined the phrase. Her eyes followed, as he gestured to the two beauties, and her breath stalled for a moment. They were magnificent, and absolutely gorgeous. "Oh..." She whispered for a moment, as she watched one of the other keepers attach a feed bag to each of their bridles. As he suggested they take the new ladies out for a ride, she nearly choked, let alone the picnic basket.&nbsp; "I... ah..." He wanted HER to ride a brand new horse? One that likely cost more than she made in three years? Why? How could she agree? How could she say no? <br><br>"Y-yes please!" She finally managed, at the suggestion, before he left. She looked to Debar, baffled, and blinked a few times. "What in the world do you make of that?" She murmured, before taking him away to be washed. Thirty soaking minutes later, Debar was back in his stall with firm instructions not to mess up his shiny clean coat. And Keaton was dripping in the middle of the floor. She needed to change, she always left an extra pair of clothes for just these typed of emergencies, but a pair of stained, and ripped jeans and an old white and red plaid flannel were hardly appropriate to talk with the CEO with. But it was either that or wet, stained jeans with a stable t-shirt. It was really the lesser of two evils he would find her in. At least these clothes didn't stink.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>11-12-2010, 00:59:36</strong>
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				Half an hour later saw Adam return from the office building wearing what he had deemed suitable for riding; worn brown boots, some Levi's and a black turtleneck sweater. Nothing special. While he had been gone the other keepers had put full riding tackle on the eager horses. Picking up the picnic basket while on course for the bigger of the mares, he attached it to the back of the saddle before hitching a boot in a stirrup and hoisting himself up in the saddle. Adam patted the brown beast on the neck, balancing with ease and looking down at Keaton with the smile of a boy. "This is, according to the paperwork, "Mistrjal Frolic Eleganta".... so I think she better get used to Misty. At least while I am around. Your girl is 'Cocoa Vanilla Explosion'. Feel free to think of something sane; I'll get Tony to take care of the paperwork."<br><br>Holding the reins he looked around the place. There were four main exits from the stable and office area; one leading toward the car road, another to the grazing, a third to the excercising paddock and a fourth was a gate leading out of the compoud and into nature. Adam led 'Misty' toward the gate and a keeper jogged toward it and opened it. meanwhile he was looking back at Keaton and nodding toward the gate. "Coming, miss?" It was somewhere between a bidding and a question, and the other keeper was looking at Keaton with barely concealed amusement.<br><br>Adam was happy, with the day and the horse and the weather. He was also noting just how well the young girl was filling that old shirt, and the look at her eyes while she watched the horses. He wondered how she would react to other unexpected sights. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>17-12-2010, 16:39:20</strong>
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				Keaton Sighed slightly, as she stepped out of the barn to wait. She nodded hello to Richard and Gail, who had taken care of the two beauties. She stood back a bit, from the two of them, and smiled softly. "Hello, babies." She crooned softly, smiling, and offering her flat hands for them to sniff, and get her scent. They both craned their necks, whuffing her hands softly, before she moved forward, stroking their shoulders. They were well trained, and not at all nervous around her, but she still showed them respect. <br><br>She turned, as she heard Mr. Trevelayne's footsteps behind her, and stepped from between the horses. She smiled, as he introduced hr to them by name, mounting up a moment behind him. She settled easily into the saddle, and looked over to him. As he started off, Keaton's knees squeezed softly into Cocoa's sides, and she shifted, to indicate she wanted to go forward. The mare took up a sedate walk, comfortably with barely any jostling. She was a dream.<br><br>"I think Cocoa is fine for an every day name, though the show name is still a bit ridiculous." She finally spoke up, trying to fight down a blush at his tone of bidding her. She closed her eyes, trusting Coco to follow after Misty. She checked every once in a while, but she followed obediently, still slowly, exploring the smells of her new environment. "Thank you for asking me to help get them used to the place. I really appreciate this opportunity, Mr. Trevelayne." She spoke up, after a moment or two.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 15:29:42</strong>
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				Adam smiled. "To make what I am sure is another archaic reference to you... You have seen nothing yet." He lead on into the uphill-heading road at a steady trot, which would surely be a good warmup for the equine muscle machinery he was balancing on top of. In the early autumn the birches and oaks along the road were a potpurri of green and yellow with only the odd pepper of red, and the gravel road was not muddy at all. It was the perfect day for a picnic, a ride, and... what else? He did not let his thoughts stray further along THAT road. The businessman might have been living a successful life by most definitions and feminine company for a night was easy to obtain - but he was single, and had been for a good while. There still are some things you can't buy outright.<br><br>That pattern of thoughts naturally led him to look at the girl beside him. Keaton sat in the saddle like she had grown out of it, and the motions of the moving horse beneath her had an effect on her ....features... which was most charming. He led his horse close beside her and smiled. "It is certainly your opportunities I am having on my mind right now, miss Keaton." Well, those too." Is it correct that you are, beyond this job, fairly unattached in the world?" 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 15:42:07</strong>
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				Keaton blinked to him, and tilted her head to the side. "I... um..." She mused, baffled by the question. Her hips rolled with every step Cocoa took, and she held herself straight, shoulders back in a relaxed posture. She leaned slightly forward, as they mounted the hill, allowing Cocoa to choose her own pace for the moment. "I suppose..." She finally answered properly, looking to him with a slightly baffled look. Why would he be interested in her opportunities? She was just a stable hand. There were people more qualified than she was. And she would be leaving in a year or two, she couldn't imagine they would want to promote her without a guarantee she would stick around. And she hadn't made it a secret that she was saving up for school.<br><br>But what if he did want to promote her? Make her supervisor? There was a nice pay difference between hand and supervisor. She would still get to do the stuff she loved, but she could also make sure the other hands were doing right by the horses. She knew some of them liked to skip the extra work, and she didn't think it was right. She kept her silence, as they crested the hill, waiting for him to give her more of an explanation. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 01:42:10</strong>
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				Adam looked slightly embarrassed for a moment."Well you see miss Keaton, I happen to have a staffing problem that I have been unable to solve for a while. At another of my facilites, I happen to have a few horses who are in need of special attention - attention that the veterinarians available to me have failed to provide, since it seems to be more a psychological problem rather than something that can be cured with injections or physical treatments." He looked at the girl with a skewed grin. "I guess you can say I am in the market for a... horse whisperer."<br><br>The were coming to a long even stretch and he nudged 'Misty' on into a canter, expecting his companion to follow. "I am aware that there are a few others in our business who are known for their qualifications in this field, but they have a tendency to be well established where they are, and disinclined to move on some minor employer's whim. Part of the problem is that I would really prefer for those poor horses to stay where they are now...*<br><br>He looked at the girl with pure beckoning in his face. "I know this is going to come as an unexpected and surprising proposal miss Keaton, but I really would consider it opportune if you could come with me to our facility at Bahamas for a little while. Your salary will be tripled for the duration of course, we have all the conveniences you would expect of say a better hotel and the private beach is good, and maybe you will have been able to make a difference in just a month or two. Will you at least consider it for my three horses' sake?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>26-12-2010, 18:20:05</strong>
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				Keaton listened carefully, as he explained exactly what he needed her for, and the benefits of moving. Her jaw dropped at 'Bahamas', and she stared at him, for a long time after he finished. It was lucky that she was so at home on a horse, or else she would have likely fallen off. "Y- You want me to go to the Bahamas?" She finally asked. "I... I'm not a horse whisperer!" She finally managed to squeak. Did he honestly think she could fix a horse with psychological problems? She'd never had to do that before. What sort of problems would she be dealing with?<br><br>It was an amazing opportunity, especially with the tripled salary. It would almost be like a vacation. But still... She doubted she would be able to deliver on what she expected. "Mr. Trevelayne, I appreciate the offer, but... I doubt I'll be able to fix your horses. I can try, but I'm not&nbsp; horse whisperer. I would love to take you up on the offer, believe me, but... I can't promise results." She hated telling him that. It sounded like an amazing opportunity She'd never gone further than New York from home. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>28-12-2010, 21:32:08</strong>
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				Adam beamed at Keaton. "Excellent! I am quite content to just hope for results. Frankly that is more than what I have had for a while - the horses are physically in good shape but after getting little more than a shrug and a suggestion to try the sausage factory from two different veterinarians, I was quite afraid I would have to just give up. But now at least I can hope. But you can meet your new charges when we go to Bahamas - tomorrow morning. I assume you have a good bathing suit? Never mind, I will have one flown in if you don't." Then he let the big horse have free reins and it joyously broke into a full gallop, stretching its muscles to their full potential for a little while as the road lead on.<br><br>A mile ahead there was a small hill leading up from the hill with extra tasty grass due to a nearby spring, and on top of it was a flat plateau circled by a few leafy birches. Adam led Misty up the hill, put a hobble on her and let the mare graze freely after releasing the picnic basket. He then set about making a light repaste on top of the blanket; fresh cheese, real butter, french bread, a couple of red wine bottles (One Merlot, one Cabernet Sauvignon) and a modest non-alcoholic one, plates and cutlery and two slightly incongruous clear plastic cups - the mark of someone who had picked pieces of fine glass out of baskets before. And a photo album consisting of a number of photos of three perfectly normal-looking very well bred horses, until you saw the closeups of their eyes. These horses were.... unhappy. And not just with the cameraman.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 18:15:24</strong>
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				Keaton stared blankly as Mr. Trevelayne galloped off. They were going tomorrow morning? What about her apartment? What about finding someone to sublet, and packing and putting her things into storage? What about packing? It took Cocoa a moment, to realize that Keaton wasn't going to urge her to follow, nor was she holding her back, and she set off in a canter, waiting for Keaton to adjust her seat, before speeding to a gallop. As they reached the top of the hill, Keaton slowed the mare, and brought her to a halt. She dismounted, and gave Cocoa a hearty scratch, thanking her for the ride, before she, too, hobbled her, though she doubted the two would run off. But it was better safe than sorry, she supposed. <br><br>Keaton carefully approached the spread, and stared down at Mr. Trevelayne. "Did you say we were leaving tomorrow?" She asked softly, not sitting. "I need time to get my things in order, put my things in storage. Either break my lease or find someone to sublet my apartment... I can't afford rent there if I'm living somewhere else..." She said, trying not to look at the open album. She didn't want t know what had happened to the horses. Why their eyes looked dead. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 19:41:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He looked at her blankly for a few moments. "....rent? Oh, never mind that - just give the relevant payment information to Tony and he will take care of everything. Consider the rent paid by the company for as long as you are with me, and remember to put it on your tax sheet as a bonus payout or something." Adam smiled. "Any other little details? Pot plants that need watering or something? I'll have Tony send someone to fix that too." He gave her a very serious look. "There is very little that I allow to stand between me and my objectives for long, Miss Keaton. I must respect it if you really do not want to come with me and see to these horses, but right now you are my best hope for helping them and I will do practically anything to achieve it."<br><br>Adam sighed as he picked up the album and looked at a few pictures, then put it closed down on a corner of the blanket. "There was a highway traffic accidents while those three were on their way to a competition in Hamburg. The Autobahn is smooth but there are mishaps some times." He looked grim for a few moments. "There were six of the horses in one big trailer, traveling in the high speed lane. When that Porsche 911 following them didn't brake when the trailer did, the two hindmost horses were crushed instantly. The fourth horse took two hours to die... two hours of screams and blood and glass and flames while the emergency team cut the trailor open to get them out. These three didn't have a scratch or a burned hair. And they eat and drink and if you drag them after you, they will follow. But they don't neigh and they don't mate and they don't react much to any stimuli. Perhaps they would have been better off with a merciful bullet that night after all." He looked at her with sad eyes. "And if you can't help them, that is what I will do with my own hands. I may not be a horse whisperer, or even the very best of owners, but I don't let my horses suffer. My fear is that I am doing that already." He looked down and away from her and looked at the food, selecting a knife to cut a loaf. "Do you like Port Salud? This one is nice and ripe."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 20:54:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Keaton listened silently, her heart breaking as he spoke. She slowly knelt, to look through the pages of the album. How could she not go? She nodded silently. She would go. Tomorrow morning. She would do her very best to help those horses. As he changed the subject, she looked up, confused for a moment. "Sorry? Oh... I don't drink wine, thank you, though." Her voice was absent, as she returned to looking at the horses. It was going to take a long time for them to even begin to be rehabilitated. "How long ago was it?" She asked. She wanted to know everything about the horses before she went into the paddock with them. <br><br>Her brow furrowed softly with worry, random tendrils of hair falling into her face as she studied the horses. Her plump bottom lip caught between her teeth as her fingers slowly slid down the pages, caressing the images. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Captain Maltese</strong> on <strong>05-01-2011, 17:57:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He could not help smiling. "Port Salud is a cheese. Very nice flavor, if a rather distinct aroma." Adam cut a little slice off the wedge and chewed into it, then sat down with his arms resting on his knees and looked at her. "About two months ago. They were transported to the island I own; Germany is going to be dark and cold soon and it was thought that a change of scenery could be for the better. So far we have not noted any progress - but at least they aren't cold." He shook his head, then looked at the food. "I have some non-alcoholic wine here too. It's little more than fruit juice in reality... but I guess that at your age you haven't had a chance to learn what real quality wine tastes anyway." The man chuckled. "The drinking age limit on Bahamas is 16 incidentally, but I wouldn't expect that to be an argument for coming along." So was the age of consent, but he didn't mention that.<br><br>"'Kalevalla Gistromeda' and 'Cinco Coloro' are Arabs, a mare and a stallion, who were going to be breeders. They are the same dark coffee color, see? The little mocca Appalachian one is a young mare named 'Pensacola Ginny Ginnie'. I swear I had nothing to do with creating those names, either... and all I care about right now is see them react to being called ANY name." He sighed, and found a thermos of coffee from the basket which he filled up a cup with. "Perhaps you would like to try the caffee instead?"&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Dream Job (Captain Maltese and Subtle Trouble)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Subtle Trouble</strong> on <strong>26-01-2011, 17:36:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Keaton finally looked up from the album, as he corrected her folly. How was she supposed to know wine from cheese? She drank beer and ate cheddar, and when she felt fancy, brie. She hugged her knees to her chest, as he mentioned the drinking age, and offered her the coffee. That she took him up on, sipping it black, and swallowing the bitter brew. She sighed, softly, and looked up to him. There was nothing she could do for them now, so she would have to wait. As she finally surveyed the spread, being able to identify exactly nothing there than by category, she looked back up to him. He was very obviously rich. She couln't believe he ate this sort of thing on picnics with employees. What did he eat when he was entertaining someone important, smoked koala meat?<br><br>"When is the flight tomorrow?" She asked softly, he thought never crossing her mind that he could be trying to impress, or seduce her.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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